Eight teams remain in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Some of them were expected to be here, some of them not so much. Who will be among the elite four? We’re about to find out in the next two days.
Uruguay vs France
“Uruguay will be like Atlético,”
“They will take their time, fall, go to the referee. We will have to get used to that because the match will be boring, and they will want to bring us into that.” – Antoine Griezmann
That’s exactly right and exactly what we should anticipate, especially with Cavani unlikely to feature. Uruguay has the best defence in the World Cup and without Edinson Cavani, Oscar Tabarez will be forced to rely on it more than ever.
Didier Deschamps has problems finding ways to bring the best out of his ultra-talented squad and tends to revert to old and tested schemes when the going gets tough. France will dictate the tempo and control possession, but opportunities will be few and far in between. Mental toughness and defensive concentration hold the keys to the winner.
Uruguay vs France expert picks
Most experts agree it’s going to be a close contest. BBC’s football expert Mark Lawrenson has France edging out its South American counterpart 1-0. ESPN experts agree, while CBS’s are a bit more divided (4-2 in favour of France).
Brazil vs Belgium
Brazil have the most shots (77) and the most shots on target (31) in the 2018 World Cup. They’ve also conceded only once and have not been behind in a game. The answer for Belgium becomes obvious. Score first and you’ll win. Easier said than done. La Seleccao will be without the suspended Casemiro, so it’ll be intriguing to see Manchester City teammates going against each other as Fernandinho tries to contain Kevin De Bruyne. Tite will be smart to exploit Belgium’s weakness on the flanks.
Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli came from the bench and changed the game against Japan. Will Roberto Martinez pull off a tactical surprise and reward them with spots in the starting lineup or will he take the safe route by sending the same team which appeared clueless in the Round of 16? To beat the best, you need to take some risks.
Brazil vs Belgium expert picks
All experts expect goals (at least two) in this contest and while most of them agree Belgium will score, they also agree Brazil will win. Only 2 out of 17 have Eden Hazard and Co. advancing.
Sweden vs England
When people think Sweden, they think Zlatan Ibrahimovic. If he doesn’t play, this team doesn’t have a chance. Well, it does. Janne Andersson’s Sweden has actually been better since Zlatan retired from the national team. Yes, their style is not exciting to watch, but it fits with what they can do and brings them results.
England are the only quarter-finalists who have not kept a clean sheet in Russia. Luckily for them, they face a team which doesn’t score often. Sweden’s strength is their defensive organization. The Three Lions have the players to open up some holes, especially out wide.
Sweden vs England expert picks
ESPN heavily favours England, with only one expert choosing Sweden to progress. Three experts do think it’ll come down to penalties, though. Everybody else tends to sway England’s way as well. Not much love for Sweden, like usual. Can they defy the odds again?
Russia vs Croatia
This is definitely not a quarter-final many predicted. Stanislav Cherchesov’s men have gone further than anyone inside and outside the country deemed possible. The pressure is off (if the pressure can be off when you’re the host), as every next step is a new chapter in their miraculous story. Russia will not be scared, nor will it be as defensive as it was against Spain.
Croatia will look to rebound from a poor performance against Denmark in a match more to their liking. Even if they are the favorites on paper, that’s not how they’ll feel in Sochi and it plays right into Zlatko Dalic’s men comfort zone. Back in their home country, this match is seen as an ideal opportunity to repeat the success of 1998. If somebody told a Crotian fan Russia will be the quarter-final opponent of the team he cheers for, he would’ve kissed you on the cheek and screamed: “We are in the semi-finals!”
Russia vs Croatia expert picks
These two sides have taken and conceded fewer shots on target than any of the other six quarter-finalists. That means goals should be at a premium. CBS’s Igor Mello has an interesting take on the matchup: “…the host nation scores the only goal of the match on another soft penalty-kick call by the officials, which will give the conspiracy theorists another field day.” He’s the only one who has Russia advancing. Everyone else believes Croatia will step up and do what’s necessary to set up a semi-final meeting with England.
