Looking ahead to knockout phase
Europe and South America typically dominate the round of 16
MOSCOW — The thunder-clapping Icelanders have gone home, along with the Egyptians and Peruvians.
Now comes the business end of the World Cup, a club dominated by European and South American teams that rejects most new applicants as unwanted hoi polloi.
History is instructive: Europe earned 41 of 64 quarter-final berths and South America took 16 since 1986.
Among the other regions, Africa and CONCACAF got three apiece and Asia one.
A look at the round of 16:
SATURDAY
France vs. Argentina
Lionel Messi & Co. were on the verge of elimination before Marco Rojos’s 86th-minute goal against Nigeria. With an average age of 26, France is among the youngest teams, led by dynamic 19-year-old striker Kylian Mbappe. At 31, this likely is Messi’s last chance for the World Cup title he needs to match Diego Maradona in the minds of many Argentinians.
Uruguay vs. Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time FIFA Player of the Year with four goals in the tournament, leads the European champions against a Uruguay team known foremost for the bite marks Luis Suarez left in Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini four years ago. Uruguay is the leastpopulous of the round of 16 teams.
SUNDAY
Spain vs. Russia
Russia should have huge support at Luzhniki Stadium, making it closer than the 10th vs. 70th matchup in the rankings. Andres Iniesta, who scored the goal that won Spain’s first World Cup title in 2010, remains on a rebuilt roster that struggled defensively in the group stage.
Croatia vs. Denmark
Tottenham past vs. Spurs present, with Luka Modric leading Croatia and Christian Eriksen sparking Denmark. Croatia was among the most impressive group-stage teams, beating Nigeria, Argentina and Iceland by a combined 7-1.
MONDAY
Brazil vs. Mexico
El Tri fans hope for the elusive “quinto partido” — to reach a World Cup quarter-final for the first time since 1986, which was on home soil. This is their best chance in years, with an attack led by Javier Hernandez and Carlos Vela. Center back Hector Moreno is suspended for yellow-card accumulation. Brazilian players are trying to atone for the 7-1 humiliation against Germany in the semifinals at home four years ago. Philippe Coutinho has become as important to the Selecao attack as Neymar.
Belgium vs. Japan
Belgium was among three teams to go 3-0 in group play, joining Croatia and Uruguay, and No. 61 Japan will be a heavy underdog against the thirdranked Red Devils. Star forward Romelu Lukaku started the World Cup with consecutive two-goal games but missed Belgium’s group-stage finale, as he was out with an ankle injury.
TUESDAY
Sweden vs. Switzerland
In its first World Cup in the postZlatan Ibrahimovic era, Sweden is looking to get past the round of 16 for the first time since finishing third in 1994. Swedish midfielder Sebastian Larsson is suspended, as are Swiss defenders Stephan Lichtsteiner and Fabian Schar. Switzerland is led by midfielders Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka.
Colombia vs. England
Harry Kane, whose five goals lead the World Cup, heads a young England team that finished group play without a shutout for the first time. Los Cafeteros, led by James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao, advanced over Senegal on a fair play tiebreaker based on fewer yellow cards and were the only team to reach the round of 16 after losing their opener.