After three weeks of unrelenting drama and excitement, the World Cup took a rare time-out on Wednesday as the eight surviving teams tried to catch their breath before the quarter-finals kick off on Friday.
A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup.
India have won all their six games against Pakistan in the World Cup.
There were no surprises as the preliminary list of 30 Indian probables.
Even if Ireland fail to make the quarter-finals of the cricket World Cup they and the other associate members have shown enough promise to warrant inclusion in future tournaments, skipper William Porterfield said on Saturday.
Costa Rica achieved "wonderful things" at this World Cup and are proud to bow out having conceded only two goals and without losing a game, coach Jorge Luis Pinto said on Saturday.
In the search for tactical supremacy, soccer's big guns and some young pretenders have turned to the chapter marked 'counter-attack' to blast their way into the World Cup quarter-finals.
Key facts on the 11th edition of the cricket World Cup.
Wimbledon champion Andy Murray says he is unlikely to play in Britain's Davis Cup quarter-final clash in Serbia this weekend but could travel to Belgrade in support of the team.
Meg Lanning's Australia, long the benchmark in women's cricket, will bid for a record-extending fifth T20 World Cup title after a rocky ride to their sixth final. Harmanpreet Kaur-captained India arrive at the MCG undefeated and without having bowled a ball in the rained-out semi-final against England.
Eriksson, known in Sweden simply as "Svennis", led England to the 2002 and 2006 World Cup quarter-finals, and to the 2004 European Championship, managing a golden generation of players that besides Beckham included stars such as Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard.
Brazil have sacked head coach Dorival Jr, the country's football confederation (CBF) said on Friday, after the five-times World champions were thrashed 4-1 away to fierce rivals Argentina in a humiliating qualifying loss in Buenos Aires.
Play will be continued from where it stopped on the scheduled day of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final if it spills over into the reserve day, as per the playing conditions of the tournament.
With their morale low after a shock loss to Bangladesh, an injury-hit England take on the West Indies in a crucial group B match in Chennai on Thursday requiring an outright win to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
The Indians will have to be at their best in all departments to get the better of the ever-improving Red Lions, who will be out to prove a point after a not-so-impressive opener.
Factbox on the third World Cup quarter-final between Australia and Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.
The event played in one location over seven days in November could start next year, pending approval by the ITF Board.
New Zealand, considered perennial dark horses, know how to punch above their weight.
Argentina start as hot favourites to beat Iceland in their opening World Cup Group D match on Saturday but the toughest opponent for the runners-up four years ago may be themselves rather than the tiny tournament debutants.
Rajneesh Gupta highlights all the important numbers for the England team from cricket World Cups.
Rajneesh Gupta highlights all the important numbers of the Pakistan team from cricket World Cups.
The Pakistan-Australia match, analysed by Manu Shankar, Abhishek Mande and Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
Legendary India players Sunil Gavaskar and VVS Laxman were of the view that making the showpiece event a 14-team affair with the inclusion of the likes of Afghanistan and Scotland would significantly diminish the level of competition in the league stage.
India rounded off their league engagements in Snooker World Cup by registering a 4-1 victory over Brazil in the last group 'C' match at Bangkok Convention Centre in Thailand.
Defending champions India crumbled under pressure in a battle of sub-continental rivals as Pakistan beat them by two wickets in a thrilling rain-hit Super League quarter-final in the ICC Under-19 cricket World Cup in Lincoln, New Zealand, on Saturday. Pakistan now take on the West Indies in the first semi-final on Monday. The West Indies beat England by 18 runs in the other quarter-final.
Spain fell victim to own patience and Russian resistance
The ICC is giving cricket fans across the world an opportunity to bid for an official piece of the 2015 World Cup history.
Belgium fought back from two goals down to beat Japan 3-2 with an added-time goal from substitute Nacer Chadli on Monday to set up a World Cup quarter-final with Brazil.
The 2014 World Cup was a captivating carnival of football with high drama and Germany displayed their credentials as worthy champions.
Russia forward Denis Cheryshev said he got quite emotional after his team upset the odds to eliminate highly fancied Spain at the World Cup and move unexpectedly to the last eight, sending football fever to sky high levels in the host country.
Millions of African fans mourned the agonising exit of Ghana, their last hope for World Cup glory, while four more nations stepped up to battle on Saturday for the remaining longed-for semi-final berths.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Mbappe, 23, scored twice as the defending champions beat Poland 3-1 in the last 16, taking his tally to five goals in Qatar and nine overall at the World Cup.
India's top men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty withdrew from the BWF Sudirman Cup Finals due to illness.
Australia are the unsurprising favourites to clinch a fifth World Cup.
Pop star Shakira will perform before the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro on July 13, headlining a closing ceremony that includes guitar virtuoso Carlos Santana and rapper Wyclef Jean.
Brazil's Neymar said on Friday he was unsure if he would play again for the national team after their heartbreaking World Cup quarter-final defeat to Croatia on penalties.
Former great or British Royal likely to give away the trophy to the new champions
Sachin Tendulkar was at his witty best as he fielded questions from fans during an 'Ask Me Anything' (AMA) session on Reddit on Monday, August 25.
