As the 2014 FIFA World Cup rolls on, the surprises continue to mount. Here are some of the major headlines that came about during the round of 16:

1. Brazil Still Not That Good

Four games in and it has become clear that the host nation is not on the same level as past incarnations.

Despite possessing a true star in Neymar, the rest of the team is questionable at best. Throughout the game against Chile, Brazil seemed to be caught in its own zone and constantly in danger of being penetrated defensively. The team rarely had any bite offensively, and Neymar was constantly kept out of the game by the physicality of the Chilean defense. Rumor has it that he is not completely fit and this would be a disaster for the hosts as they are set to face off against a more in-form Colombian side. Props must be given to Julio Cesar for his strong work in goal, but even he must be thanking God for the two posts that saved him from being labeled as a scapegoat yet again. If that blast from Mauricio Pinilla had been a bit lower, then Brazil would be watching at home on Friday.

2. Uruguay Is Truly a One-Man Team and Edinson Cavani Is Not the Star Player

With Luis Suarez, Uruguay managed two victories. Without him, the team lost two matches.

While it is no surprise that Uruguay is far superior with its top player on the pitch, no one would have imagined how impotent the nation is without him. Especially when you have a player of Edinson Cavani's caliber. Against Colombia, Los Charruas looked lost on the attack. Cavani was invisible for long stretches and was unable to find any space past Colombia's defenders. The remainder of the team seemed content to fire long balls his way in the early going, and then relied heavily on trying to win the aerial battle against Colombia in the late stages of the match. Neither strategy worked and the team wound up with a 2-0 loss. Diego Forlan, who was the key player to the team's fourth place finish, was woeful in what is probably his final match wearing his country's uniform.

3. Costa Rica Is Cinderella

Despite putting together a brilliant display in the group stage, Costa Rica was unable to channel the same level of intensity in its round of 16 date with Greece.

The team looked a bit disorganized in possession and lacked in ideas on the attack. The lack of technical brilliance also started to show through. But even then, Costa Rica remained the little engine that could, and wound up being the first CONCACAF nation to qualify for the quarterfinals since the U.S. achieved the feat in 2002. This team will face its toughest challenge yet in the quarterfinals against the Netherlands, but this tournament has already been a massive success. And who knows? Maybe this is in fact the team of destiny.

4. Algeria Puts Up a Fight

Germany versus Algeria looked rather straightforward on paper.

The Middle Eastern nation was in the knockout rounds for the first time ever and had nowhere near the quality that its rivals had. But the Algerians refused to be written off and managed to put up a terrific fight against one of the top teams in the world. While Germany looked slow on the attack, Algeria had confounding pace and directness on their side. The team had numerous chances to put the game away in regulation but eventually faded out in extra time and lost. Despite being down 2-0 in the waning seconds, the team bounced back and scored a consolation goal and should walk away from these finals with their head held up high. They made a supposed super power look woeful for over 90 minutes.

5. Argentina Continues to Disappoint

The Argentines are through to the round of 16, but just barely.

The team, which is rich in star players that include Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero, should be dominant offensive. Aguero has an injury excuse while Messi has actually lived up to his promise. But the rest of the team has failed to show up. Di Maria was better in the Switzerland game but he lacked the creativity and brilliance that made him one of Real Madrid's MVPs in 2013-14. Argentina's passing game was constantly disrupted by the Swiss and the defense continued to show its cracks. A lucky post was the difference between a win and heading to penalties.