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Nicolas Atkin

We’re down to the final eight teams at the 2018 World Cup – and there are certainly some cracking games in store.
Russia 2018 has been a captivating tournament with only one goalless draw in the group stage, and a thrilling round of 16 that threw up plenty of shocks.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo may no longer be in town but there will still be plenty of stars on show in the quarter-finals, from Neymar to Luis Suarez, and Eden Hazard to Antoine Griezmann.
So let’s take a look at what’s coming up this weekend:

Uruguay v France
Friday, July 6 (10pm Hong Kong time)
Nizhny Novgorod
Head-to-head: Uruguay 2 wins, France 1 win, 4 draws
If World Cup history is anything to go by, this one won’t be a classic – France and Uruguay have shared two 0-0 draws at the tournament, in 2002 and 2010. The South American side also beat the Europeans 2-1 in 1966.
But that will all go out the window on Friday, and we should be in for an entertaining match with the tournament’s meanest defence up against France’s lively attack.

Kylian Mbappe announced himself on the international stage with a double in France’s 4-3 win against Argentina in the last 16, and Griezmann showed signs he is starting to fire.
Uruguay have conceded just one goal in four games, but with Edinson Cavani an injury doubt the burden will fall on Suarez to perform more heroics.


That could mean Uruguay sit back even more than usual and try to contain France, hoping to catch them on the counter attack. France are fancied, but Uruguay are no mugs and could pull off the shock.
Prediction: Uruguay 0-0 France (Uruguay win on penalties)
Odds: Uruguay $2.80, France $1.50 (Oddschecker)
World Cup wallchart 2018 PDF free download: last 16 bracket predictor with fixtures, dates and kick off times for knockout stages

Brazil v Belgium
Saturday, July 7 (2am)
Kazan
Head-to-head: Brazil 3 wins, Belgium 1 win
The sides haven’t met since 2002, when Brazil beat the Belgians 2-0 in the last 16 thanks to goals from Rivaldo and Ronaldo.
It is Neymar who has taken up the mantle for the Selecao from that duo, and the Paris Saint-Germain forward is starting to fire after a slow start to the tournament.
Belgium scraped through after coming back from two goals down against Japan on Monday while Brazil broke down a stubborn Mexico side thanks to a Neymar goal and assist.

Roberto Martinez’s side will have to step things up if the “Golden Generation” are to finally win a tournament.
They’ve scored more goals (12) than any team at the tournament, while Brazil have conceded the least goals (1). Something’s got to give, but the goals have dried up for Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku after doubles in each of his first two games.
Prediction: Brazil 2-0 Belgium
Odds: Brazil $1.59, Belgium $2.62
Fifa World Cup: Neymar injury play-acting draws criticism as Eric Cantona warns Brazil star ‘be careful’

Sweden v England
Saturday, July 7 (10pm)
Samara
Head-to-head: Sweden 7 wins, England 8 wins, 9 draws
These two sides are no strangers to each other. They shared group stage draws at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, while England edged a five-goal thriller in the groups at the 2012 European Championship – before Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored that goal in a 4-2 friendly win for the Swedes five months later.
Zlatan got all four goals that night the last time the two teams met, but Sweden didn’t feel the need to call on his services in Russia.

It seems to be working out just fine for them, but Sweden still look a little light up front and could struggle to trouble England’s backline.
England have conceded one goal in each of their four matches, three of them from set plays – an area where Sweden will look to take advantage.
Gareth Southgate’s side will come into the match riding a huge wave of optimism after securing England’s first World Cup penalty shoot-out win, and Harry Kane is leading the race for the Golden Boot with six goals – though Sweden have a miserly defence that has shipped just one goal in four matches.
Prediction: Sweden 1-2 England
Odds: Sweden $3.12, England $1.45
Fifa World Cup: we are insufferable but please forgive us – penalty shoot-out pain is ingrained in England psyche

Russia v Croatia
Sunday, July 8 (2am)
Sochi
Head-to-head: Croatia 1 win, 2 draws
Croatia won the most recent meeting between the two sides, a 3-1 friendly victory in November 2015, and are heavy favourites against the hosts, despite Russia’s heroics against Spain.
Luka Modric and Co needed penalties to beat Denmark – after Modric himself missed a penalty in extra time that would’ve wrapped things up.
The performance summed up the hit and miss nature of this Croatia side, who can dazzle in one game and drive their fans to despair in the next.

Russia were supposed to provide easy opposition for 2010 champions Spain, but put in a dogged display to win on penalties after trailing 1-0.
The hosts are the lowest-ranked team in the tournament but have been greater than the sum of their parts.
Russia will look to continue to ride a wave of national optimism in front of a raucous crowd, but this could be one step too far.
Prediction: Russia 0-3 Croatia
Odds: Russia $2.55, Croatia $1.60






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A Brazilian fan kisses a replica of the World Cup trophy. Photo: AFP

epa06861421 Albin Ekdal (L) of Sweden and his teammmate Viktor Claesson celebrate after the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Sweden and Switzerland in St.Petersburg, Russia, 03 July 2018. Sweden won the match 1-0. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: Editorial Use Only, not used in association with any commercial entity - Images must not be used in any form of alert service or push service of any kind including via mobile alert services, downloads to mobile devices or MMS messaging - Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage - No alteration is made to, and no text or image is superimposed over, any published image which: (a) intentionally obscures or removes a sponsor identification image; or (b) adds or overlays the commercial identification of any third party which is not officially associated with the FIFA World Cup) EPA-EFE/TOLGA BOZOGLU EDITORIAL USE ONLY

TOPSHOT - Belgium's forward Romelu Lukaku reacts as the ball goes wide during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Belgium and Japan at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don on July 2, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Filippo MONTEFORTE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS

epa06855807 Players of Russia react after winning the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Russia in Moscow, Russia, 01 July 2018. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: Editorial Use Only, not used in association with any commercial entity - Images must not be used in any form of alert service or push service of any kind including via mobile alert services, downloads to mobile devices or MMS messaging - Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage - No alteration is made to, and no text or image is superimposed over, any published image which: (a) intentionally obscures or removes a sponsor identification image; or (b) adds or overlays the commercial identification of any third party which is not officially associated with the FIFA World Cup) EPA-EFE/SERGEI CHIRIKOV EDITORIAL USE ONLY

epa06856586 Luka Modric of Croatia reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Croatia and Denmark in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, 01 July 2018. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: Editorial Use Only, not used in association with any commercial entity - Images must not be used in any form of alert service or push service of any kind including via mobile alert services, downloads to mobile devices or MMS messaging - Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage - No alteration is made to, and no text or image is superimposed over, any published image which: (a) intentionally obscures or removes a sponsor identification image; or (b) adds or overlays the commercial identification of any third party which is not officially associated with the FIFA World Cup) EPA-EFE/TOLGA BOZOGLU EDITORIAL USE ONLY

epa06858255 Neymar of Brazil celebrates scoring the 1-0 lead during the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Mexico in Samara, Russia, 02 July 2018. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: Editorial Use Only, not used in association with any commercial entity - Images must not be used in any form of alert service or push service of any kind including via mobile alert services, downloads to mobile devices or MMS messaging - Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage - No alteration is made to, and no text or image is superimposed over, any published image which: (a) intentionally obscures or removes a sponsor identification image; or (b) adds or overlays the commercial identification of any third party which is not officially associated with the FIFA World Cup) EPA-EFE/WALLACE WOON EDITORIAL USE ONLY

epa06852169 Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates scoring the 3-2 goal during the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between France and Argentina in Kazan, Russia, 30 June 2018. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: Editorial Use Only, not used in association with any commercial entity - Images must not be used in any form of alert service or push service of any kind including via mobile alert services, downloads to mobile devices or MMS messaging - Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage - No alteration is made to, and no text or image is superimposed over, any published image which: (a) intentionally obscures or removes a sponsor identification image; or (b) adds or overlays the commercial identification of any third party which is not officially associated with the FIFA World Cup) EPA-EFE/SERGEY DOLZHENKO EDITORIAL USE ONLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Harry Kane of England reacts after scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the second half of a World Cup round-of-16 match against Colombia at Spartak Stadium in Moscow on July 3, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

FILE PHOTO: World Cup - Round of 16 - Uruguay vs Portugal - Fisht Stadium, Sochi, Russia - June 30, 2018 Uruguay's Luis Suarez celebrates after the match. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo

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A replica of the World Cup trophy is brandished by a football fan at Russia 2018. Photo: AFP

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.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The knockout stages move on to the last eight at Russia 2018 and we’ve got everything you need to know

The knockout stages move on to the last eight at Russia 2018 and we’ve got everything you need to know