El Tris campaign got off to the best possible start, when a Hirving Lozano goal was enough to see them defeat reigning champions, Germany, in the opening game.
Qualification for the Blue Samurai was within touching distance after collecting four points from their first two matches.
Watford: Another season, another new manager?
Prediction: France2-1 Argentina (AET)
Prediction: Colombia 1-2 England (AET)
Belgiums route to the finals: 3-0 vs Panama, 5-2 vs Tunisia, 1-0 vs England (1st in Group G)
Brisbane Broncos vs South Sydney Rabbitohs: Preview, lineups…
View our Uruguay vs Portugal Preview
Prediction: Sweden 1-2 Switzerland (AET)
Swedens route to the knockouts: 1-0 vs South Korea, 1-2 vs Germany, 3-0 vs Mexico (1st in Group F)
Two convincing wins over Panama and Tunisia gave Roberto Martinezs side the maximum nine points, as his side qualified with ease.
Croatias route to the knockouts: 2-0 vs Nigeria, 3-0 vs Argentina, 2-1 vs Iceland (1st in Group D)
Uruguay will pose a formidable opponent, and the Portuguese need to sharpen up if they are to progress.
Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
We look at the eight fixtures that lie in wait as the festival of football continues.
The midfield battle will be key on Saturday afternoon as Kante and Paul Pogba will look to dominate proceedings.
Chelsea: Should Ruben Loftus-Cheek consider a season in…
Wins over Tunisia and Panama will have lifted spirits though England will need to ensure Thursdays defeat doesnt halt momentum.
After stuttering to a 1-1 draw with Iceland, the warning signs of a massive collapse were showing. The second fixture with Croatia saw Lionel Messi and company fall apart as they were thumped 3-0.
After being held by Switzerland in the opening round of games and then needing added time to beat Costa Rica, Brazils stock was falling.
The Spanish topped the group, though, and will face a hungry and efficient Russia on Sunday. If Spain are to get anywhere near recreating 2010s heroics, then they need to raise their game.
Manchester City: Does Pep Guardiola have too many good players?
7pm BST/2pm ET Saturday, June 30
7pm BST/2pm ET Monday, July 2
The French, despite winning their group, havent hit the heights that many expected them to in their first three matches, and have lookedlabouredand rusty.
They finished in second spot after being held in the final group game but the tenacity and hard work on show will be enough to worry any future opponent.
We use cookies and similar technologies to help give you the best experience on our site. If you continue to use this site, well assume that youre happy to receive all cookies.More info about our cookies policy.
While the bottom-half of the draw may appear weaker, England should be wary of the threat Colombia pose.
The Danes are undefeated heading into the knockout stage after two draws and a win over Peru, but have only scored twice.
7pm BST/2pm ET Tuesday, July 3
The support from the home crowd will help, but to get past Spain, theyll need more than noise.
A lacklustre performance wasnt helped by an early dismissal, though Colombia resumed normal service by beating Poland 3-0 and then edging past Senegal, 1-0.
The South Koreans win over Germany, though, miraculously saved the Mexicans as they finished second in Group F. They will need to find that winning mentality again soon, though, if they are to threaten Brazil.
Is Ronald Acuña Jr. the future of the…
View our France vs Argentina Preview
If they are to get anything out of Croatia, then they must find an attacking edge, and fast.
St Petersburg Stadium, St Petersburg
7pm BST/2pm ET Sunday, July 1
Gareth Southgates side looked on course to have a real chance to finish top of Group G, but a stifled performance against Belgium on Thursday night saw them beaten, finishing second.
The Swedes deservedly topped Group F after a drama-filled final round of matches.
The Swiss had a steady, consistent group stage, which saw them claim three points in the late stages of games against Serbia and Costa Rica.
After edging past Nigeria, the Croats then dismantled Argentina, 3-0, before a late winner against Iceland in the final game saw them top the group in style.
After the first football-free day on Friday since the beginning of the tournament, Saturday will see another two teams sent packing in the first all-or-nothing round.
2018 World Cup Bracket: Round of 16 preview, predictions and…
Spains route to the knockouts: 3-3 vs Portugal, 1-0 vs Iran, 2-2 vs Morocco (1st in Group B)
The Portuguese are another side who may consider themselves lucky to have escaped from a group that many expected them, and European rivals Spain, to coast through.
Chelsea: Should Ruben Loftus-Cheek consider a season in…
As the FIFA World Cup group stages come to a close, we take a look at what awaits us in the knockout round.
2018 World Cup Bracket: Round of 16 preview, predictions and schedule
2018 World Cup Bracket: Round of 16 preview, predictions and schedule
The group stages couldnt have gone much worse for the South Americans, who can count themselves fortunate to have emerged from Group D.
View our Colombia vs England Preview
Sweden needed to beat Mexico on the final day by two goals, or hope that Germany didnt beat South Korea. Everything came at once for the Swedes, as a 3-0 win over the Mexicans, followed by the shock 2-0 win for South Korea over Germany saw them top the group.
Brisbane Broncos vs South Sydney Rabbitohs: Preview, lineups…
The South American nation recovered well after an opening day defeat to Japan gave them a false start in Group H.
Colombias route to the knockouts: 1-2 vs Japan, 3-0 vs Poland, 1-0 vs Senegal (1st in Group H)
IMPACT Wrestling set two huge matches for Wrestling…
Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels: Lineups, preview and…
A more comprehensive win over Serbia, though, was enough to secure top spot. However, manager Tite will need to tighten a nervous defence if theSelecaoare to go all the way in Russia.
A mini-collapse on the final day against Poland, though, threatened a glorious opportunity. Colombia, also needing a win to seal their fate, scored late on as Japan gambled on their discipline holding out.
An embarrassing early exit was on the cards for Jorge Sampaoli whose involvement in team affairs has been heavily scrutinised since the Croatia defeat as his side faced a must-win final game against Nigeria, with Marcos Rojo being the unlikely hero
Chelsea: Should Ruben Loftus-Cheek consider a season in Germany?
Russias route to the knockouts: 5-0 vs Saudi Arabia, 3-1 vs Egypt, 0-3 vs Uruguay (2nd in Group A)
Frances route to the knockouts: 2-1 vs Australia, 1-0 vs Peru, 0-0 vs Denmark (1st in Group C)
Toil and trouble: why Counter Strike should embrace…
Their reward is a last 16 tie with Denmark, and the Balkan nation are slowly emerging as serious dark horses for the crown.
The pre-tournament favourites are another heavyweight side that has failed to live up to its expectations during the group stages.
The Croatians were one of the more impressive sides in the group stages, as they cruised to a maximum nine-point haul.
Want to share your opinion? Why notWrite For Us?
Cristiano Ronaldo has won the plaudits so far, though there were someconcerns about his personal performance in the final group game.
3pm BST/10am ET Tuesday, July 3
The Japanese are the first nation to progress to the knockout rounds by virtue of FIFAs Fair Play system, though some will doubt their chances of getting much further on the evidence on Thursdays late antics.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Gold Coast Titans: Lineups,…
Belgium enter the last 16 as Group G winners after beating England 1-0 on Thursday evening.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Gold Coast Titans: Lineups,…
Englands route to the knockouts: 2-1 vs Tunisia, 6-1 vs Panama, 0-1 vs Belgium (2nd in Group G)
Uruguays route to the knockouts: 1-0 vs Egypt, 1-0 vs Saudi Arabia, 3-0 vs Russia (1st in Group A)
The host nation has been a surprise package so far this summer. After dismantling Saudi Arabia 5-0, and putting three goals past Egypt, their place in the last 16 was confirmed after two matches.
3pm BST/10am ET Monday, July 2
Russia, though, may be slightly concerned after being comprehensively beaten by Uruguay in the final game.
Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels: Lineups, preview and…
Sweden are playing with belief and the ability to never give up though the strength in depth that the Swiss possess will be another big ask.
Japans route to the finals: 2-1 vs Colombia, 2-2 vs Senegal, 0-1 vs Poland (2nd in Group H)
The European champions were not safe from elimination in the ill-tempered crunch clash with Iran and were saved by some poor finishing.
Switzerlands route to to the knockouts: 1-1 vs Brazil, 2-1 vs Serbia, 2-2 vs Costa Rica (2nd in Group E)
IMPACT Wrestling set two huge matches for Wrestling…
Argentinas route to the knockouts: 1-1 vs Iceland, 0-3 vs Croatia, 2-1 vs Nigeria (2nd in Group D)
Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku will all be fresh to face Japan after being rested against England, and will worry a shaky Japanese defence.
3pm BST/10am ET Sunday, July 1
Is Ronald Acuña Jr. the future of the…
After brilliantly entertaining crowds worldwide in the 3-3 draw with Portugal in the opening round of matches, the Spanish were then held by a plucky Iran, before an added time goal from Isco spared their blushes.
Similarly to Portugal, Spainlabouredthrough Group B. The backroom managerial fiasco couldnt have done much to help them prepare for the group stage with Spain looking sluggish throughout.
If the French are to hit the pre-tournament expected heights in Russia, they need to find the rhythm that saw them qualify for the party so convincingly.
Denmark will feature in the last 16 after a steady group stage saw them finish in second spot on five points.
The Uruguayans head into the last 16 with the best defensive record from the group stages, though they have arguably been largely untested so far.
Uruguay are playing tournament-style football, gradually ramping up their style and pace with each passing game. Portugal have beenlacklustre, so a victory will be firmly in mind on Saturday evening.
Everton, Wolves, Bournemouth, Fulham, Crystal Palace: 5 Premier League surprise packages
VAR drama, a record number of penalties and some fantastic goals so far the 2018 World Cup in Russia has delivered.
Toil and trouble: why Counter Strike should embrace…
3pm BST/10am ET Saturday, June 30
Now that the first group stage is over, we look towards the latter stages of the competition as the stakes are raised.
Switzerland are strong all over the pitch, and as Brazil discovered, tough to beat.
Portugals route to the knockouts: 3-3 vs Spain, 1-0 vs Morocco, 1-1 vs Iran (2nd in Group B)
Mexicos route to the knockouts: 1-0 vs Germany, 2-1 vs South Korea, 0-3 vs Sweden (2nd in Group F)
Mexico then went on to beat South Korea before a final day collapse against Sweden threatened an unlikely elimination.
James Rodriguez has been struggling with injury issues, and Colombia will want a full-strength side to face a rejuvenated England.
View our Sweden vs Switzerland Preview
Denmarks route to the knockouts: 1-0 vs Peru, 1-1 vs Australia, 0-0 vs France (2nd in Group C)
Didier Deschamps France team topped Group C, though few would have predicted that they would face 2014 finalists, Argentina, in the opening stages of the knockout rounds.
Brazils route to the knockouts: 1-1 vs Switzerland, 2-0 vs Costa Rica, 2-0 vs Serbia (1st in Group E)
Having faced off against hosts Russia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the passage to the last 16 for La Celeste looked simple. Despite making hard work of their opening two fixtures, Oscar Tabarezs side have looked untroubled.
Football writer and Championship enthusiast, currently based in the Middle East.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.