England’s Eric Dier scores a penalty shot past Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina during the Round of 16 match between Colombia and England at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Spartak Stadium, in Moscow, Russia, on July 3. England edge out Colombia 4-3 on p
Uruguay’s Cavani unlikely to face France
MOSCOW, July 4, (AFP): The World Cup hit the pause button on Wednesday as the eight remaining teams geared up for the quarter-finals after England became the final side to qualify following a penalty shootout win against Colombia.
Neymar’s Brazil are the favourites to win a record-extending sixth World Cup at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on July 15 but France, Belgium and Uruguay are all in their side of the draw.
Gareth Southgate’s England are the only former winners in the bottom half of the draw, along with host nation Russia, Croatia and Sweden.
England’s victory against Colombia on Tuesday takes Gareth Southgate’s team into what looks like a winnable match against the Swedes, who edged out Switzerland 1-0 in the last 16.
On a dramatic night in Moscow’s Spartak Stadium, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a key save from Carlos Bacca before Eric Dier’s spotkick gave England their first-ever win on penalties at a World Cup at the fourth attempt — ending a jinx that has dogged them for so long.
The Sun tabloid coined his save the “Hand of Jord”, harking back to Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” incident in 1986, when the Argentine used his hand to put the ball into the net against England.
“It’s the headline we have waited a lifetime to write ... England win on penalties (Yes really!),” the paper said.
The largest British audience for a live sporting event since the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics watched the shootout — 23.6 million viewers tuned in.
Southgate said he was already looking forward to Saturday’s quarter-final against Sweden in Samara, with a last-four clash against either Croatia or Russia up for grabs.
“This was special but I want us to go on,” said Southgate, whose own penalty miss saw England lose to Germany in the semi-finals of Euro 96 at Wembley.
“Sweden is another team we have a poor record against. We have underestimated them for years. They have created their own story and made history. I don’t want to go home yet.”
England captain Harry Kane leads the goalscoring charts in Russia with six strikes, two clear of Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku.
Janne Andersson’s Sweden have recovered well from a heartbreaking group-stage defeat by Germany, edging out Switzerland 1-0 in the last 16 thanks to a goal from RB Leipzig midfielder Emil Forsberg.
In the other match in England’s half of the draw, host nation Russia — riding a wave of euphoria after their shock win against 2010 winners Spain — face a Croatia side inspired by Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric in Sochi on Saturday.
For all the drama around England, the winner of the tournament is more likely to come from the top half of the draw, where the teams can boast a combined eight tournament wins.
Favourites Brazil will come up against Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ in Kazan on Friday while an exciting young France side spearheaded by the lightning-quick Kylian Mbappe take on a shrewd Uruguay outfit in Nizhny Novgorod.
Much of the focus surrounding Brazil’s challenge has inevitably been on Neymar.
But the world’s most expensive player has hit the headlines as much for his perceived play-acting as for the on-pitch performances that have helped his side ease into the last eight without ever being seriously troubled.
Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio said the stoppages caused by Neymar’s antics stalled his team during their 2-0 last-16 loss to Brazil, claiming the Paris Saint-Germain forward’s reaction to Miguel Layun stepping on his leg was a “shame for football”.
Belgium’s Eden Hazard, Lukaku, Dries Mertens and Kevin De Bruyne are likely to give Brazil’s defence the biggest test of their campaign so far, although the South Americans have only conceded once in four matches.
“This is the sort of game you dream about as a little boy and we can enjoy it from the first second,” said Belgium coach Roberto Martinez.
France never got out of first gear in easing through the group stage, but turned on the style as Mbappe dazzled in a classic 4-3 victory over Argentina to set up the clash with Uruguay.
Uruguay’s success has been built on a solid defence led by Atletico Madrid pair Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin, with Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani doing the damage at the other end with five goals between them.
Cavani is likely to miss his side’s World Cup quarter-final against France on Friday after suffering a calf injury in the last-16 win over Portugal.
The Uruguayan Football Association (UFA) posted photos of Wednesday’s training session on social media, with Cavani a notable absentee.
After tests on Monday, doctors confirmed the Paris Saint-Germain star had suffered bruising to his left calf, although he had not torn a muscle.
Veteran Belgium defender Vincent Kompany said on Wednesday Brazil are the best team at the World Cup but his side are not losing any sleep at the prospect of playing them.
The most talented Belgium team for decades face the ultimate test on Friday when they take on the fivetime winners in Kazan for a place in the semi-finals.
“Individually, Brazil are the strongest team in this World Cup,” Kompany, who made the last of his international appearances as a substitute in the 1-0 win over England, told reporters.
“That is a compliment but it doesn’t affect our chances against them. None of us are going to sleep at night thinking ‘We have already lost to Brazil’.
“Defensively they are solid, they win all their defensive duels and in attack, they are not scared to take people on one-on-one.
“They always have a key to unlock any situation.”
Manchester City stalwart Kompany, 32, said although Belgium boast their own outstanding individual players such as Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, the only way they will beat Brazil is to play as a team.
“We are going to look them in the eye. But if we make this a match of individuals, then we’ll lose,” he said.
“We have developed an attractive style of football, we have scored a lot of goals and showed our good side,” said Kompany.
“If we play well against Brazil, we can attract even more supporters. Neutral fans appreciate good football, like the Netherlands used to play.
“We’re constantly improving. We just have to step up to another level against Brazil. At least I hope we can.”
“What would you say to him? You are a Brazilian journalist? Ah, I see you’re too scared to reply. I don’t care (what Neymar does). If it becomes a match of individual performances we’ve got no chance.
“If we play as a team, if we fight for each other, we can do it and that’s what matters to me.”
KAZAN, Russia, July 4, (RTRS): At a World Cup rocked repeatedly by the fall of giants, Brazil and Belgium have managed to hold firm in the maelstrom and will meet in a blockbuster quarterfinal in Kazan on Friday.
Most pre-tournament modelling has been put through the shredder by the eliminations of traditional heavyweights like Germany and Spain.
However, the clash of the fancied South Americans and Belgium's 'Golden Generation' has given the most casual of analysts reason to feel smug that, at least, they got one thing right in their scenario plotting.
The teams have progressed through different means but each arrive with confidence after rousing wins in their last starts.
Inspired by Neymar brilliance and the wiles of Willian, Brazil sent a tough Mexico side packing with a 2-0 defeat that cemented Tite's side as favourites to claim a record-extending sixth World Cup trophy.
It was hardly such smooth sailing for the Belgians, who suffered a huge scare in their last-gasp 3-2 win over Japan.
But their marauding finish, banging in three consecutive goals late in the tie to erase a 2-0 deficit, was a sobering reminder of the firepower at Roberto Martinez's disposal.
Against Brazil, however, Belgium's formidable attack featuring captain
Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku may be hard pressed to break down a stingy defence which has conceded one goal in their four matches at the tournament, and a total of six from their past 25.
Their win over Mexico showed textbook defending from the central pairing of Thiago Silva and Miranda, assisted by full backs Fagner and Filipe Luis.
If there is one glimmer of hope for Belgium, it might be the suspension of holding midfielder Casemiro, who picked up his second yellow card during the Mexico game.
The Real Madrid man has been key to Brazil's structure, so his likely replacement, the 33-year-old Fernandinho of Manchester City, will have big shoes to fill.
Although Luis put in a solid display against Mexico, Tite may be tempted to recall his preferred left back Marcelo, who missed the match with a back injury but returned to training.
At the other end, Brazil's attack has clicked after a disappointing start to the tournament, and even Neymar's much-criticised histrionics could not completely overshadow a dominant performance against Mexico.
They will look to exploit a Belgium defence that has let through four goals and has a trio of big centre backs that may be exposed for pace by the nippy Neymar, Willian and Philippe Coutinho.
Belgium, bidding to reach their first semifinals since 1986 in Mexico, face a huge challenge to knock off Tite's men but after surviving Japan, they already feel they are playing with house money.
"We can enjoy it from the first minute," Martinez said.
"I don't think anyone expects us to go through to the semifinals."
The winner will bid for a place in the final against either France or Uruguay.
Fleet-footed France will have to find a way past the tournament's jointmeanest defenders Uruguay in the first of two inter-continental World Cup quarter-finals on Friday.
The South Americans kept Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo at bay in their 2-1 last-16 win, and that goal conceded was the only one against them so far in Russia – a defensive feat only matched by Brazil, who play Belgium later on Friday.
But France banged in four goals in their last 16 game against Argentina, and will be hoping their formidable attacking trio of Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe can turn it on again at the Nizhny Novgorod stadium.
Nineteen-year-old Mbappe scored two goals in the Argentina game, becoming the first teenager since Brazilian great Pele in the 1958 final to score two goals in one World Cup match.
But it was his amazing 70-metre sprint earlier in the match, to win France a penalty, that stunned viewers worldwide.
"I was wondering whether he was riding a scooter," joked France midfielder Florian Thauvin of the teenager whom Uruguay's defenders must be having nightmares about.
On the surface, though, Uruguay look relaxed and their experienced central defenders Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin are relishing the chance to foil both Mbappe and their friend and Atletico Madrid team mate Griezmann.