WORLD CUP ROUND OF 16 FORECAST
Who will progress to the quarter-finals? What are the key player match-ups?
ROUND of 16 kicks off today as France face Argentina in Kazan. England face a tricky test against Colombia following their defeat by Belgium.
On Tuesday, we will know the quarter-final line-up as the World Cup hots up.
The round kicks off today with a heavyweight clash between 1998 winners France and twotime champions Argentina, before Uruguay face Portugal later at night.
Daily Mail brings you all you need to know about the eight matches.
FRANCE v ARGENTINA Venue: Date: Kick-off: France form: Haven't really got going despite winning their group. Defence looks solid though even if the attack hasn't fired yet and the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe will surely click eventually. Argentina form:
Poor. Scraped through by the skin of their teeth thanks to a late Marcos Rojo winner against Nigeria after dire performances in defeat against Croatia and while drawing against Iceland. With Lionel Messi though, anything is possible.
Key match-up: Paul Pogba v Javier Mascherano
Croatia made mincemeat of Argentina's midfield and Mascherano, who gave away a penalty against Nigeria, is a fading force. The introduction of Ever Banega against Nigeria helped him but if Pogba turns up France could dominate the game.
Verdict: France to edge it. URUGUAY v PORTUGAL Venue:
Date: Kick-off: Uruguay form: Eased through the gears in the group stage, culminating in an emphatic win over Russia which will have their rivals worried. Lacked creativity against Egypt and Saudi Arabia but their mean defence is yet to concede a goal. Portugal form:
Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick against
Spain aside, they've been average.
Worryingly though their defensive solidity from the Euro 2016 triumph seems to have abandoned them.
Key match-up: Diego Godin v Cristiano Ronaldo
Arguably the best centre back in the world against arguably the best centre forward in the world. The two know each other well having done battle in Madrid for Atletico and Real respectively over the last eight years.
Verdict: Low-scoring game that could go to extra-time. Portugal to nick it.
SPAIN v RUSSIA
Venue:
Date:
Kick-off:
Spain form:
Patchy. Like their Iberian rivals, surprisingly struggled against Iran and particularly
Morocco. David
De Gea has made uncharacteristic errors but
Diego Costa has provided the focal point their fluid midfield needs. Isco has been exceptional. Russia form:
Saudi Arabia and Egypt were caught like rabbits in the headlights of this super-fit Russian machine but they reverted to type in their first real test against Uruguay. Solid enough but lack the individual brilliance to trouble the best sides.
Key match-up: Diego Costa v Sergei Ignashevich
Barring a bizarre assist for Luis Suarez’s goal, 38-year-old centre back Ignashevich has looked solid but Costa will provide him with his biggest physical test yet. The Spain striker will be relishing playing against an injury-depleted, ageing defence.
Verdict: Spain to win but they could make hard work of
it. CROATIA v DENMARK Venue: Date: Kick-off:
Croatia form:
The form side of the tournament. Brushed aside Argentina and Nigeria with ease and showed their depth as their second string beat Iceland. Emerging as contenders with a magnificent midfield of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Marcelo Brozovic. Denmark form:
Can count themselves slightly fortunate to be in the knockout stages having been outplayed in all three matches. Defence has been solid though and they will argue the gameplan has worked a treat so far.
Key match-up: Luka Modric v Christian Eriksen
Modric has cemented his status as the best midfielder on the planet with a fine World Cup so far and Eriksen will need to upstage him if Denmark are to progress.
Verdict: Croatia to win comfortably. BRAZIL v MEXICO
Venue:
Date:
Kick-off:
Brazil form:
Haven’t set the tournament alight yet but are rightly still favourites to lift the World Cup on July 15. Neymar has acted like a spoilt brat at times but the world’s most expensive player seems to relish that role and you feel more is to come from him.
Mexico form:
Started the group stage brilliantly with that shock win over Germany but ended it badly with a 3-0 thrashing by Sweden. Have South Korea to thank for reaching the last 16 and will need to rediscover their Germany form to stand any chance.
Key match-up: Alisson v Javier Hernandez
Brazil will almost certainly score — and probably score a couple — but they will cough up chances. If Hernandez can take them then Mexico could shock the world again.
Verdict: Brazil to win by at least two goals.
BELGIUM v JAPAN
Venue:
Date:
Kick-off:
Belgium form:
Coming through their group with three wins from three will have made the rest of the tournament sit up. They breezed past both Panama and Tunisia, scoring eight goals, and their entire squad will be full of confidence after victory over England.
Japan form:
Qualified for the knockout stages in farcical circumstances as they allowed Poland to win knowing they would edge out Senegal on fair play. Shocked Colombia but played against 10 men for 85 minutes and are probably the weakest side left.
Key match-up: Romelu Lukaku v Maya Yoshida
For Japan to have any chance of coming through this match they’ll need to shackle one of the most feared strikers in Russia. Yoshida has gone toe-to-toe with the Manchester United striker in the Premier League but will need to be at his very best here.
Verdict: Belgium through, and with some room to spare. SWEDEN v SWITZERLAND Venue:
Date:
Kick-off:
Sweden form:
Impressive effort to top the group. Would probably be 100 per cent too if Jerome Boateng had been sent off earlier in their last-gasp defeat by Germany. Very well organised and showed character to bounce back so well against Mexico.
Switzerland form: Unperformed in their two easiest games — they were lucky to beat Serbia and could only draw with Costa Rica — but showed they can mix it with the best by drawing against Brazil. Four goals conceded in three games will be a concern.
Key match-up: Emil Forsberg v Stephan Lichtsteiner
Both sides lack firepower and will be looking for goals from midfield, with Leipzig wide man Forsberg Sweden’s main threat. Arsenal new boy Lichtsteiner will look to nullify that threat and make his trademark marauding runs down the right.
Verdict: Toughest game to call. Swiss to win it on penalties.
COLOMBIA v ENGLAND Venue:
Date:
Kick-off:
Colombia form:
Look to be nearing their peak just in time for the knockout stages after a shaky start. Were stunned by Japan in their opener but comfortably saw off Poland and beat an impressive Senegal side. Strength all over the pitch. England form:
All the early enthusiasm may well have been tempered slightly by defeat by Belgium in Kaliningrad, but with the majority of Gareth Southgate’s first team well rested and fresh from two wins, confidence should still be high.
Key match-up: Kyle Walker v Radamel Falcao
England’s first-choice back three will come up against an attacking threat unlike that of Tunisia and Panama. Kyle Walker has question marks over his head as part of a back three following his mistake in the opener and the South Americans — and their main threat Falcao — will be looking to put him to the test.
Verdict: A very close game, but England can find a way into the quarters.