With the four teams playing in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup set, the line-up of countries playing in the last four has not met the expectation of pundits.
Brazil, England, Germany and Spain were expected to be among the semi-finalists but all these countries crashed out by the quarter-final stage leaving some unexpected countries to take centre-stage.
The biggest surprise to reach the last four is Morocco - a country that stunned top sides Portugal, France and Spain on its way to secure its place among the big boys of world football.
The Atlas Lions became the first African country to reach the semi-finals after defeating the Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal 1-0 to secure their place and also keep alive their hopes of lifting the trophy.
The three other teams - Argentina, Croatia and France - remain in Qatar, each still hoping to win the title in a week's time in the Asian country with those betting on the World Cup completely outwitted over the outcome.
It is a semi-final line-up few could have predicted, but one with plenty of intriguing storylines which could play out over the coming days.
Morocco will take on their former colonial masters France in one of the last four matches while Argentina will play Croatia to decide which two sides clash in the final.
The biggest talking point in the semi-final matches surrounds Lionel Messi and whether the Argentina superstar can win the World Cup for the first time by boosting his side with his talents.
That is because with his glittering career that has seen him win 10 Spanish league titles, another in France, four Champions Leagues, the 2021 Copa America and a record seven Ballon d'Or awards as the world's best footballer leaving him with just one award to win to make his career complete.
This will make him catch up or emulate other all-time greats such as Brazil's Pele or Argentina's Diego Maradona who also helped their countries' to win the World Cup titles.
The 35-year-old Messi has not been able to win the sport's biggest prize is desperate to end his country's 36-year-old wait for another world title since Maradona led them to their last World Cup win.
The closest the South American country has come since then was when they were runners-up in 2014 with Messi in the side and with his career drawing to a close he would be desperate to secure that in history.
If he is able to help Argentina to repeat the feat - Messi could perhaps secure his legacy as the greatest of footballers.
Morocco have already secured their place in the history books by becoming the first African team, and the first Arab side from a country with a Muslim majority, to reach a semi-final of a World Cup.
With just two high profile players in the person of Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech and Paris St-Germain's Achraf Hakimi, Morocco defied expectation to reach this stage and this could be what could spur them on for further greatness when they clash with France.
Les Bleus are trying to becomes the first side since Brazil 60 years ago in 1962 to successfully defend the men's World Cup and Morocco could be the team that would prevent them from achieving their aim.
And a repeat of the precious tournament's final could be on the cards if France beat Morocco and Croatia can see off Argentina.