Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands reach the World Cup quarterfinals as Spain meets Brazil

Padel World Cup quarterfinals today from 6 pm: Spain-Brazil, Argentina-Germany and Italy-Sweden, plus the women's draw and three first-time teams.

Three flags that had never been this deep in a padel World Cup are alive in Doha this Thursday. Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands all reached the FIP World Cup quarterfinals on the final day of the group stage, and the Dutch did it in both the men's and women's events.

The big nations still hold the best seeds. Spain and Argentina topped their groups on both sides of the draw, so the last eight is a straight test of whether the surprises can last. Teams return to court from 6 pm.

The men: three first-timers and a Spain-Brazil tie

Argentina and Spain stay on course

Argentina finished first in Group A after beating France, with Agustin Tapia and Tino Libaak winning 6-3 and 6-4 and Fede Chingotto and Franco Stupaczuk adding another point. Spain beat the UAE 3-0, with Juan Lebron and Javi Leal, Paquito Navarro and Jon Sanz, and Mike Yanguas and Coki Nieto all winning.

The newcomers

The Netherlands beat Australia to reach the last eight for the first time, which means both Dutch teams are in the top eight, something never recorded before. Sweden also reached the top eight for the first time after beating Paraguay 2-1. Germany completed the trio with a 2-1 win over Qatar, with Agustin Reca and Matthias Wunner among the winners, and its first World Cup quarterfinal.

The quarterfinal draw

Argentina face Germany, Italy meet Sweden, Spain play Brazil and Portugal take on the Netherlands. Portugal topped Group C with a 2-1 win over Chile, and Italy beat Brazil to win Group D.

The women: Spain and Argentina again set the pace

Spain, a clean sweep

Marta Ortega and Ari Sanchez won 6-1 and 6-1, Gemma Triay and Claudia Fernandez won 6-0 and 6-0, and Andrea Ustero and Martina Calvo won 6-2 and 6-0. Across the three matches against Brazil, Spain dropped four games. Brazil still went through as runner-up of Group A on match record.

Argentina and the rest

Argentina swept France 3-0. Delfi Brea and Claudia Jensen won 6-0 and 6-0, Aranzazu Osoro and Martina Fassio won 6-2 and 6-2, and Virginia Riera and Julieta Bidahorria won 6-1 and 6-1. Italy beat Sweden 3-0, with Giulia Dal Pozzo and Giorgia Marchetti winning 6-0 and 6-0.

The closest group decider was in Group D, where the Netherlands beat Portugal 2-1. Marcella Koek and Bo Luttikhuis won 7-5 and 7-6 in the match that settled first place, after Janine Hemmes and Tess de Vocht had come back to win 4-6, 6-3 and 6-4.

The women's quarterfinals

Spain face Sweden, the Netherlands play France, Argentina meet Portugal and Italy take on Brazil.

What to watch on Thursday

The two Spain ties and the two Argentina ties are the headline matches. Germany against Argentina is the sharpest contrast in the men's draw: a team playing its first World Cup quarterfinal against the side that topped Group A. In the women's draw, the Netherlands, who won the group decider against Portugal, now meet France, runners-up in Argentina's group.

Italy is the other side to follow. It won its group in both the men's and the women's events, and meets Sweden in the men's quarterfinal and Brazil in the women's.

A top-eight finish was already a first for three countries. Whether any of them can go further is the question the next round answers.