Well, the World Cup last-16 certainly didn't disappoint us.
We had Samba magic from Brazil, an England performance that lit the fires of optimism back home and another masterclass from defending champions France.
Cristiano Ronaldo could only watch on as Portugal smashed Switzerland, Lionel Messi steered Argentina past Australia, while the Dutch kept motoring on.
Then we had two thrillers that went all the way to penalties, with Croatia beating Japan, and then a sensational upset as Morocco dumped out Spain.
But which players were the top last-16 performers? Sportsmail has selected its team of the round.
(4-3-3)
GK: Yassine 'Bono' Bounou
The man who goes by the name of 'Bono' unleashed all manner of U2 puns as Morocco sensationally beat Spain on penalties in just the latest World Cup shock.
Yassine Bounou, as the Sevilla goalkeeper is formally known, saved spot-kicks by Sergio Busquets and Carlos Soler having kept Luis Enrique's side at bay over 120 minutes too.
Morocco have still only conceded once in this World Cup - including shoot-outs - and even that was an own goal by defender Nayef Aguerd against Canada. A 'Beautiful Day' indeed.
RB: Achraf Hakimi
You could probably make a case for any of the Moroccan defenders but Hakimi wins the right-back spot because of his absurdly cocksure Panenka to clinch victory.
Also the fact he made a beeline straight to his mum as the celebration started.
But the Paris Saint-Germain star was excellent throughout, not only keeping Spain's attackers quiet but also bombing forward to whip in some testing deliveries down the other end.
CB: Dejan Lovren
Croatia know all about going the distance at tournaments and it came as little surprise they needed extra time and penalties to overcome a stubborn Japan.
It feels like all the focus has been on Josko Gvardiol as he positions himself as centrally as the Christmas tree in Harrods shop window for Europe's top clubs.
But against Japan it was Lovren, now 33 and playing for Zenit Saint Petersburg, who not only kept the opposition out but supplied the cross from which Ivan Perisic headed Croatia level.
CB: Virgil van Dijk
The Dutch haven't yet scaled the heights at this World Cup, with Louis van Gaal's side more functional and efficient than stylish.
But they did kick up a gear in their 3-1 win over the United States, with Liverpool star Van Dijk offering the kind of foundation any side would dream of.
He was excellent as he so often is and helped nullify what threat the US conjured. Completed his day's work by having a sneaky dig at Man United and now moves on to the task of pocketing Lionel Messi in the quarter-final on Friday.
LB: Theo Hernandez
The Frenchman has arguably been the outstanding left-back of the World Cup so far and it now falls to Gareth Southgate and England to find a way beyond him for Saturday.
The AC Milan man produced another solid display both defensively and offensively as France saw off Poland with relative ease in the last-16.
Who England decide to put up against him - and there's a strong argument Bukayo Saka could be their best bet - could well determine who wins through to the semi-finals.
MID: Denzel Dumfries
Undoubtedly the man of the match as Holland beat the United States, Dumfries created two goals and then scored the third.
Louis van Gaal's side have plenty of incisive players but Inter Milan's Dumfries was just too hot for the Americans to handle. His goal was well-taken, too, having been left criminally unmarked at the back post.
Just to complete his big day out, Dumfries also made a crucial goalline clearance. Not at all bad. Now it's Argentina up next.
MID: Jude Bellingham
The World Cup's breakout star - or certainly one of them - and he's English.
Bellingham is going from strength to strength with every passing game and the 19-year-old was exceptional in the 3-0 win over Senegal.
He combined with Jordan Henderson to superb effect for the opening game, showed great energy to cover the midfield and knew precisely when to stay and when to drive forward.
France will be a significant step up but why would you doubt him?
MID: Sofyan Amrabat
It wasn't at all easy to stand out in a team full of Moroccan heroes but they certainly wouldn't have beaten Spain without the dogged midfield play of Fiorentina's Amrabat.
His precision tackling helped negate the not inconsiderable threat of Gavi, Pedri and Sergio Busquets and what was truly remarkable was that he still had the stamina to sprint deep into extra time after most who started the game around him had been taken off.
Amrabat had better find an ice bath and a masseur quickly because Morocco will need all of that energy once again when they play Portugal on Saturday.
FWD: Vinicius Jr
Brazil have well and truly arrived at this World Cup and illustrated precisely why so many consider them to be the tournament faves.
Neymar had an exceptional game on his return but he was just shaded by Vinicius Jr. Putting the indignity of having to wear old boots behind him, the Real Madrid star tore South Korea apart, scoring the opener and supplying the chipped assist for goal No 4.
By that time Brazil were dancing their way into the last eight and the trajectory of Vinicius' career soars ever higher.
FWD: Goncalo Ramos
Ronal-who? How could you possibly not include the man who so stylishly filled the biggest boots in football and deflated its biggest ego at the same time?
A star is born after Benfica's Goncalo Ramos, 21, scored a superb hat-trick in Portugal's 6-1 thrashing of Switzerland after coach Fernando Santos made the very bold call to put the Incredible Sulk on the bench.
Whether such a classy treble is enough to keep his place in the quarter-final against Morocco may well fill a few column inches between now and Saturday.
FWD: Kylian Mbappe
Another easy choice. Another two goals in France's win over Poland took Mbappe to five overall and he looks odds-on to win the Golden Boot.
Mbappe had started the season in unstoppable form for PSG and he's taken the World Cup in his stride.
It will be fascinating to see how England plan to shackle him at the weekend because he is the one player you don't want to be facing right now.
HERE'S HOW SPORTSMAIL'S BEST LAST-16 TEAM LINES UP
