In the end it's all about the winning mentality. The top teams have it. And at the 2014 FIFA World Cup it has made all the difference.
Yes Mexico won a lot of hearts, so did Colombia, Algeria and Chile. But when it came to the business end of the tournament the wheat has separated from the chaff.
The first two teams to reach the semi finals are Germany and Brazil, ranked 2 and 3 on the FIFA rankings respectively.
The big teams have the big stars and when push comes to shove it's this big match mentality that sees the top sides through.
Every world cup has its underdog. This world cup's was Colombia and in Costa Rica there is still an underdog story unfolding.
There have been upsets- Spain, Portugal, Italy's group stage exit were unexpected.
Brazil's hard fought win over Colombia may have ended in heartbreak with Neymar's injury, but having qualified for the semis it has allayed fears of an upset at the hands of the Coffee Men, who many thought would stage a huge upset by knocking out the hosts.
Germany's win against France was similar. It was calculated, calm and had a sense of inevitability about it.
Never did they look in trouble. Yes, Benzema had a shot brilliantly saved by Neuer, but that's how it is with the top teams. At the most crucial moments, their quality gives them the edge.
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