LAST-16 LOWDOWN

TODAY SPAIN v RUSSIA Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD — SPAIN 4 RUSSIA 0 DRAWS 2 Spain haven’t lost to Russia in their current guise after the Soviet Union broke up. The most important contest came in the Euro 2008 semi-final, which Spain won 3-0.

KEY PLAYERS — Naturalised Spaniard Diego Costa is getting back to his peak Chelsea form. Russia also have their own fearsome centre-forward Artem Dzyuba.

PUB FACT — Russia covered more ground in their first two group games than any other country but dropped off for the dead rubber against Uruguay.

PREDICTION — A big shock if Russia stop Spain, who are fancied to reach the final from the weaker half of the draw.

CROATIA v DENMARK Nizhny Novgorod, 7pm

HEAD TO HEAD — CROATIA 2 DENMARK 1 DRAWS 1 Their first meeting came at Hillsborough, where Davor Suker scored his famous chip over Peter Schmeichel at Euro 96. Honours even overall.

KEY PLAYERS — Luka Modric is probably the best Croatian player of all time and was outstanding in the group stages. Danish keeper Kasper Schmeichel, son of former Manchester United star Peter, needs to be alert.

PUB FACT — Six of Croatia’s seven goals in this World Cup have been scored in the second half.

PREDICTION — Denmark, who have conceded once in three matches, could take Croatia into extra-time.

TOMORROW BRAZIL v MEXICO Samara Arena, 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD — BRAZIL 23 MEXICO 10 DRAWS 7 Mexico have won none of their four previous games against Brazil at the World Cup (D1 L3). They have not scored either and conceded 11.

KEY PLAYERS — Philippe Coutinho has been directly involved in three of Brazil’s five goals. Javier Hernandez is a threat for Mexico but he has only had one shot in 270 minutes here (he scored, though).

PUB FACT — Mexico are the team with the most games played at the World Cup without ever winning it: 56.

PREDICTION — Brazil look to be growing into this tournament and should ease into the quarters here.

BELGIUM v JAPAN Rostov Arena, 7pm

HEAD TO HEAD — BELGIUM 1 JAPAN 2 DRAWS 2 Belgium’s only victory against Japan came in November 2017, a 1-0 win secured with a goal by Romelu Lukaku.

KEY PLAYERS — Lukaku has scored 23 goals in 20 appearances, scoring four goals from four shots on target in Russia. Keisuke Honda has scored (4) or assisted (3) seven of Japan’s last 10 goals at the World Cup since 2010.

PUB FACT — Belgium have never kept a clean sheet in their 11 knockout games at the World Cup, losing eight.

PREDICTION — With Lukaku in such hot form, it is hard to see anything other than a Belgian victory.

TUESDAY SWEDEN v SWITZERLAND St Petersburg Stadium, 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD — SWEDEN 10 SWITZERLAND 10 DRAWS 7 Sweden are unbeaten in their last three games against Switzerland (W1 D2).

KEY PLAYERS — Andreas Granqvist is Sweden’s penalty taker and has two goals here. Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri, with one goal in Russia, is a danger.

PUB FACT — Since 1954, Switzerland have always been knocked out whenever they’ve reached the last 16 (1994, 2006, 2014), not scoring a single goal.

PREDICTION — Sweden’s thrashing of Mexico in their last game could spur them on here, too.

COLOMBIA v ENGLAND Spartak Stadium, Moscow, 7pm

HEAD TO HEAD — COLOMBIA 0 ENGLAND 3 DRAWS 2 England beat Colombia in their only previous World Cup meeting, in the group stages of the 1998 tournament.

KEY PLAYERS — Harry Kane could become the first player to score in six consecutive games for England since Tommy Lawton in 1939. Juan Quintero has been involved in three of Colombia’s five goals.

PUB FACT — England have failed to score in only one of their 18 World Cup knockout games [Portugal 2006].

PREDICTION — England can win... if they find the fire they showed in the first half against Tunisia and Panama.