Final eight ready to fight it out for a semi-final spot
Uruguay v France
The first quarter will pit the young attacking talent of France up against the experienced defensive stability of Uruguay.
While they only scraped out of Group C without looking threatening, Les Bleus came to life against Argentina.
Young superstar Kylian Mbappe led the way with two goals as well as earning the penalty that Griezmann dispatched. This standout performance rocketed him into favouritism to claim the Golden Ball as the player of the tournament.
While the French put four past Argentina, they will face a much tougher task against Uruguay. Atletico Madrid centre back and Uruguayan captain Diego Godin has been inspirational from the back. His performances are the main reason why the small South American nation has only conceded one goal all tournament.
That goal came against Portugal, where Edinson Cavani's two sublime goals were the difference.
However, in a huge blow to La Celeste, Cavani limped off with a hamstring injury that will likely rule him out in this clash.
Even so, don't expect France to have it all their own way. Les Bleus tend to struggle against teams that have a well organised defense.
Before the World Cup, France could only manage a 1-1 draw with the U.S.A, and only just got the job done in their first World Cup game against the Socceroos.
Key Players
Luis Suarez (Uruguay)
With Cavani's absence, Suarez will have to stand up and play his best game in the light blue. He has had a solid tournament thus far, netting two goals and being a menace for opposition defenders to deal with. In this game he comes up against Barcelona teammate Samuel Umtiti, who won't give Suarez an inch of room to get a shot away.
While it will be a tough ask for Suarez without his strike partner, he has more than enough quality to produce a game winning moment, provided he keeps his mind on football and not well-documented 'antics'.
Paul Pogba (France)
Since his deflected shot found the net against Australia, Pogba has failed to have the influence we all know he's capable of. An imposing figure in the middle of the park, the Manchester United man has completed a mediocre 77% of his passes in Russia.
While Didier Deschamps' conservative tactics haven't helped his game, Pogba needs to show why he is one of the world's most talked about players.
"Along with Brazil, Uruguay have the equal best defensive record in Russia, only conceding 1 goal"
Betting Tip
Double chance, Uruguay to win or draw @ $1.85
Reasoning: While many are getting carried away with France's attack after one game, they played an Argentina defence that was shaky to say the least. Uruguay are likely to sit deeper where the speed from Mbappe and Co. will have less of an effect.
While the draw looks the most likely outcome, Suarez might pop up and score the winner.
Brazil v Belgium
It's a shame that these two teams are playing each other in a quarter, as this fixture has the quality to be fit for a final.
With the two best squads in Russia, this game will be a feast for football fans. Seeing the likes of Hazard, Neymar, De Bruyne and Coutinho all flaunt their boundless talent will be worth getting up at 4am for Australian fans.
But it's not just the attacking players who are among the world's best, with each side's defenders more than accomplished in their craft.
While the spotlight has been on Neymar for Brazil, both for positive and negative reasons, it has been ex-Liverpool and current Barcelona man Coutinho who has been Brazil's best. If he takes Brazil to the final, he is surely the favourite to win the Golden Ball as player of the tournament.
On the Belgian side, Chelsea's Eden Hazard has been brilliant in the red shirt of Belgium.
If Kevin De Bruyne can lift his level to match Hazard, Belgium won't be stopped, even by the Brazilians.
Even though the Red Devils have been scoring goals for fun in Russia, the Brazilian centre-back pairing of Thiago Silva and Miranda is a far tougher wall to break down than what they've faced thus far. This game will likely come down to a freak bit of skill from either side.
Key Player match up
Philippe Coutinho vs Kevin De Bruyne
Even though Coutinho is dominating every stat except for big chances created, this is partly due to the fact that he plays in a more advanced role for Brazil than De Bruyne does for Belgium.
Furthermore, De Bruyne's poorer pass completion rate could be down to the fact that he attempts more ambitious balls, borne out by the fact that he has created three more big chances than Coutinho.
However, Coutinho has still had a far better tournament, and is the player who Brazil will look to to either create or score a winning goal.
"Brazil have the equal best defence at the World Cup, only conceding 1 goal, whilst Belgium have the best attack, scoring a whopping 12 goals"
Betting Tip
A draw at the end of 90 minutes @ $3.30
Reasoning: If both teams play at their best, there is no splitting these teams. With heavy expectation on both teams, it may come down to who deals better with the pressure. If this is your thinking, you'd lean ever so slightly towards the South Americans, as Belgium are noted chokers in big tournaments.
Sweden v England
Every mad Pommy is singing at the top of their voice that "football's coming home". While this is partly tongue in cheek, you get the feeling that they've managed to convince themselves that their Three Lions are indeed on the cusp of a World Cup victory.
The first step is to deal with Sweden, a team that shouldn't be underestimated.
The Swedes are highly organised in defence and more than capable of putting the ball into the net at the other end of the park.
Captain and centre back Andreas Granqvist has been particularly inspirational, getting the job done in defence but also adding a World Cup goal to his name- the winner in Sweden's opening game against South Korea.
He will have to contain the Golden Boot leader and probably the most in-form striker in world football, Harry Kane.
While Sweden shouldn't be underestimated, England shouldn't be overestimated, despite all the hype. Against the Colombian's, the Three Lions created very little in front of goal, relying on penalties to scrape through.
Players like Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling need to find another gear to break down a Swedish team that will no doubt sit deep and play on the counter.
The Swedes will need to be more clinical in front of goal to progress though.
Against Switzerland, they wasted several good chances before eventually finding the winner via a lucky deflection. This game will be tight, with Kane's class looking like the point of difference.
Key Players
Harry Kane (England)
It couldn't be anyone else. Even though 3 of his 6 goals have been penalties and another, a freak deflection off a wayward Ruben Loftus-Cheek shot, Kane has been a fantastic all-round contributor.
His ability to receive the ball deep and either play in a teammate or draw a foul is often overshadowed by his goal scoring prowess. And with 6 goals from only 9 shots, the Swedes better be wary if Kane decides to have a ping at goal.
Emil Forsberg (Sweden)
The RB Leipzig attacker is Sweden's most influential player. Despite failing to really light up the group stage, Forsberg had his best game against Switzerland, and it was his shot that was deflected past Yann Sommer to earn Sweden's quarter-final berth. England will need to be switched on to cut off his passes to Sweden's strike duo of Marcus Berg and Ola Toivonen.
"Only one of England's nine goals in Russia have come from open play. Sweden have kept an equal best 3 clean sheets at this tournament, only conceding to Germany"
Betting Tip
Draw at the end of 90 minutes @ $3.10
Reasoning: While Kane could lead England to victory, Sweden's organisation looks too solid to be breached too many times if at all. Remember, England's only two wins thus far have come against Tunisia and Panama. Don't overestimate.
Russia v Croatia
Russia have been the absolute bolters of their home tournament, surprising everyone including their own fans to secure a quarter-finals berth. With 150 million locals behind them, this has been home ground advantage taken to the next level.
The Russian's haven't been faultless, and can be thankful of Igor Akinfeev's heroics in the shootout against Spain for their continued survival. A 3-0 loss to Uruguay in the group stage was perhaps a better indication of their quality.
Croatia on the other hand have been highly impressive, with the midfield duo of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic demonstrating why they are two of the best creative players in world football.
With the experience of Mario Mandzucic and Ivan Perisic a continual threat in the attacking third, Russia's defenders will need to put in another tireless shift to repel them for 90 (or even 120) minutes.
They remarkably kept Spain to only one goal despite being dominated in the possession and shots at goal stats.
However, unlike Spain's midfielders who like to play one touch passes to each other, reminiscent of a training exercise, Modric and Rakitic are far more dynamic players.
They are not afraid to dribble or get their head up and shoot from range, already demonstrated in this tournament.
While Russia will sit deep once again, you feel they need to go with a more attacking line up and start Denis Cheryshev who was benched against Spain.
Cheryshev is fast as well as dangerous in front of goal, having already found the back of the net 3 times for his nation at this tournament.
Key Players
Luka Modric (Croatia)
Croatia's captain has been brilliant in Russia, with his only blemish being a missed penalty (that his through ball created) towards the end of extra time against Denmark in the Round of 16. With 2 goals and a pass accuracy of 86%, Modric is a constant threat on goal, playing higher up the pitch for Croatia than he does with club side Real Madrid.
Aleksandr Golovin (Russia)
Golovin is Russia's undeniable star, and key to their chances to progress into the Semis. His versatility has been on display in this tournament, playing in the front line when he usually plays as a central midfielder at club level. With 1 goal and 2 assists, Golovin has had a solid tournament, but needs to play the game of his life to get Russia over the line.
"Russia has had the minority of possession in all four games so far, including only 21% against Spain"
Betting Tip
Croatia to win in 90 minutes @ $2.20
Reasoning: Despite having the whole nation behind them, Croatia has too much quality on the park. Sacrificing possession to the likes of Modric and Rakitic may prove a fatal error, and why Russia need to play a more attacking brand of football.
Jul 05, 2018 07:01 PM
AAP
Uruguay v 
France
Brazil v 
Belgium
Sweden v 
England
Russia v 
Croatia
