You cannot assume that how those sides have played in this format would be how they would play in a different format. When there is almost no jeopardy i nthe group, you get stodge. That's been the case here. When there has been jeopardy in previous tournaments, we often got great games. I've been watching this tournament for 40 years. This year's edition is in the bottom third - but that's as much to do with the format as anything else.
We may yet get some good games in the last 8, though, as the cream is eventually reaching the top, it seems.