A LOT was made before the tournament of the climate taking its toll on players in Brazil, and those qualifying for the World Cup last 16 may have just proved the critics right.

Brazil themselves sailed through, as did Argentina, Chile and Colombia, while Uruguay overcame a leggy Italian side to book their spot in the knockout.

European heavyweights Italy, along with England, of course missed out to Costa Rica and both appeared fatigued after that opening bout in Manaus.

Roy’s boys’ tournament didn’t end early just because they began their campaign in the Amazon, but the idea heat and humidity has played its part should not be underestimated.

Last night the USA progressed at the expense of Portugal, Algeria went through for the first time in their history instead of Russia, while Nigeria dumped out Bosnia and Mexico trumped Croatia.

There is, as always, the anomaly with France and Switzerland knocking out opponents from warmer climates in Ecuador and Honduras, but only five European teams have made it into the second round.

That was the argument, that a World Cup in a hotter, more humid country would benefit those nations from warmer climes – and why shouldn’t it?

Come Qatar it will be a gamble as to who can survive the desert intensity. But it is refreshing to see a tournament not dominated by European giants, instead by the flair and creativity displayed by the sides familiar with the climate.

Whatever the weather, Costa Rica – a 50-1 shot to win Group D – deserve their place in the knockout stages after more than standing up to the big boys, while Chile have wowed fans with their gung-ho approach.

As much as power continues to be lapped up by top clubs in domestic football, the international divide is narrowing and so called ‘lesser’ countries are showing they can cut it among the best in the world.

It is not unusual to see a country up their game on home turf, such as South Korea in 2002, or ‘park the bus’ and bumble a way through, such as Greece in Euro 2004, but the underdogs who have progressed this time around have a real purpose.

Costa Rica were worthy winners against Uruguay and Italy, there was no such defensive approach or the attitude of looking to just knick a goal.

Now, with Greece up next, they could well book a quarter-final spot – not bad for a country with a population of less than 5million.

USA, who have gone one step further than England in looking to adopt the ‘German model’ by just acquiring actual German players and management, have also shown they have an ever-growing presence in the game.

Jurgen Klinsmann’s side enjoyed a deserved win against Ghana and were unlucky not to take all three points against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

Progressing from one of the so-called group of deaths should be success enough for the USA, but they now face Belgium in Salvador and could be buoyed by the heat of the Brazilian afternoon.

With Switzerland facing Argentina, Greece playing Costa Rica and the Netherlands looking at a tricky tie against Mexico, the number of Europeans could be down to two by the quarter-finals.

But that is what has made this tournament one of the most exciting in recent memory, the heat, the goals and the abundance of underdog stories are what the neutrals desire.

Enjoy it while it lasts, there may be a somewhat different atmosphere come Russia 2018.