SATURDAY:
HOLLAND V USA
Holland didn't look very convincing during the Group Stages yet they still finished top of their group. Their performance in their last game against Qatar was much improved as their passing was much more crisper and they controlled the game well.
Cody Gakpo has arguably been their only shining light at this World Cup and you can tell why some of Europe's top clubs are after him. He's the joint top goal scorer with 3 and has put in some good performances for the Dutch alongside that.
USA looked comfortable in their final group game against Iran and should've won it by a lot more. They'll be more than happy with e result itself but they'll still feel that they should've scored more with the chances they had. Their wastefulness in front of goal could be a worry for them going into this game.
This game is arguably their biggest test of the tournament so far due to the quality of players they'll be up against. Some could say that the England game was a test. But in this one they'll be up against players who are better than some of England's players which makes this game more of a test.
PREDICTION: 1-0 (AET)
Part of me thinks that this game will either go to extra time or penalties as both sides are not great in the final third but decent defensively. I'm going to back Holland here as they'll have enough defensively to keep out a wasteful USA attack and I can see them punish the Americans for that.
ARGENTINA V AUSTRALIA
Argentina were comfortable throughout in their final group game against Poland and particularly in the second half where they moved the ball a lot quicker. They could've won the game by more with the amount of chances they had and the lack of effort from Poland.
Their performance against Poland was probably their best one of the tournament so far and it will give them confidence going into this game. They didn't look convincing in their opening two games and now they have both a performance and result to build on.
Australia are back in the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time since 2006 which is their best World Cup finish to date. Their current team is not as strong as the team they had back then but their performances at World Cup have been decent and encouraging.
They'll feel encouraged by their recent performances in particular where they've looked disciplined in defence. They've also offered a threat on the counter like they did against Denmark and they'll probably adopt that style in this one with it being against one of the tournament favourites in Argentina.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm backing Argentina to win here because they should have more than enough quality to win the game. Australia will try and make it difficult for them but Lionel Scaloni's side should still win this one comfortably with the quality they have.
SUNDAY:
FRANCE V POLAND
France looked disjointed for much of their defeat to Tunisia with the nine changes they made playing a big part in that. Many people said going into the World Cup that their strength in depth is strong. But clearly it isn't as strong as most of them thought after their poor performance in the first half.
They'll no doubt bring their big hitters back in for this one as most of them were probably being rested for this very game. But Didier Deschamps will still demand a response from his team after their lacklustre performance against Tunisia.
Poland were very poor in their final group game against Argentina where they offered no attacking threat and showed no willingness to get forward. They were lucky to go through after a performance like that and they could've lost the game by more.
They'll need to offer a lot more in this one if they're to reach the Quarter Finals and especially as it's a knockout game. Some teams usually up their game in the knockout rounds and the Poles will certainly need to do that. But I'm not sure they will as they'll look to spend most of the gaming being difficult to beat.
PREDICTION: 4-0
I'm obviously going to back France to win here and comfortably after Poland's poor performance against Argentina. They'll try and make it difficult for France but with the quality that the French have going forward, they should win this one rather handsomely.
ENGLAND V SENEGAL
England looked in the mood in their final group game against Wales with their performance much improved after the drab showing against USA. They moved the ball a lot quicker and were control of the game throughout.
They will however be tested in this one as any team would be at this stage of the tournament. Senegal are very strong defensively and because of that England may have to be patient like they were against Wales. But this time they're going to have to work for the win.
Senegal will also be tested here as England probably have the stronger team on paper. They'll look to frustrate England defensively as their backline is arguably the strongest area of their team but they might let themselves down going forward as their attack is not clinical.
They really could do with Sadio Mane here as his pace and runs in behind would've caused England many problems had he not been injured. With out a player of his calibre for this one, Senegal could struggle in the final third as their forward players are not clinical in front of goal.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm backing England to win this one but I don't think it be straightforward. Senegal will set themselves up to be difficult to beat as they're strong defensively but with the options that England have on their bench, I can see them find a way to win this game.
MONDAY:
JAPAN V CROATIA
Japan have been the surprise package of this World Cup having beaten both Germany and Spain to finish top of their group. Nobody saw this coming at the start of the tournament but Japan will still be full of confidence going into this game. Especially after beating Spain.
They exploded out the blocks in the second half against Spain as they went ahead inside the first six minutes of the half. They had to put their bodies on the line towards the end of the game and they did so brilliantly as they made many crucial blocks and got the ball away at every opportunity.
Croatia were quite fortunate to qualify from their group given the chances Belgium had against them but they did do enough to earn the point they needed. They were arguably the better side in the first half where they could've gone ahead had the offside against them not been given.
I said going into their final group game against Belgium that they were an ageing team. I still think they are but they do however have some good young players in their squad like Josko Gvardiol for example. Having these young players in their side is a promising sign moving forward.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I fancy Japan to win here because I can see their energy and pace causing Croatia a number of problems. Croatia are more experienced at this level but with the Japanese full of confidence and looking like a team full of energy, I can see them cause another shock here.
BRAZIL V SOUTH KOREA
Brazil were disappointing in the final third against Cameroon and their wastefulness in that area was probably what cost them. They did make a load of changes for that game as their place in the last 16 was already confirmed and I was fully expecting the players coming in to step up. But not all of them did.
There will be questions over Neymar's fitness going into this tie as he is expected to return for this stage of the tournament. I can't see him playing the full 90 if he is available as he will have just returned. But having him back will be a massive boost for the Brazilians.
South Korea were organised and disciplined in their final group game win over Portugal where they also showed great character to come from behind after going behind after just 5 minutes. It was a massive win for them for obvious reasons and one that will give them a lot of confidence going into this game.
Nobody saw South Korea make it out of a group containing both Uruguay and Portugal at the start of the tournament and they took points off both of them to qualify. They're back in the knockout stages for the first time since 2010 and they'll no doubt be looking to cause another upset here.
PREDICTION: 2-0
Whether Neymar plays or not, I still think Brazil will this game simply because of the strength in depth they have. We may not have seen the best version of them yet but with the quality they have and the knockout stages likely to be more open than the group stages, they should win this one and convincingly.
TUESDAY:
MOROCCO V SPAIN
Nobody though that Morocco would qualify from their group at the start of the tournament never mind top it given how tough it looked on paper. They deserve a lot of credit for this and it will no doubt give them a lot of confidence going into this game.
They have a decent team on paper when you look at it and especially with standout players in Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi. Both have been key for them at this tournament and will look to cause Spain problems with their crosses into the box and pace out wide.
Spain were in complete control in the first half against Japan and they like a lot of us were surprised with their opponents' reaction. The substitution of Alvaro Morata was a strange one and it was arguably a decision that cost them the game as they lacked that focal point up top to trouble the Japan defence.
There was a lot of hype around Luis Enrique's side after their opening game win over Costa Rica. But their last two results have probably lowered the excitement. They've given them a reality check and they just need to find a plan B in terms of how they will play against certain teams.
PREDICTION: 0-1 (AET)
I'm backing Spain to win this one because I can see them find that extra bit of quality to win them the game. Morocco will give it a good go but I think the Spanish will just edge it here after extra time.
PORTUGAL V SWITZERLAND
Portugal were frustrated by South Korea in their final group game after missing some crucial chances and struggling to get in behind the South Korea defence on multiple occasions. They did make some changes for that game and one or two of the players they rested were a big miss for them. Especially Bruno Fernandes.
They'll have their big hitters back for this one after resting some of them for their final group game against South Korea. With that being the case, they'll be expected to respond here.
Switzerland have qualified from their group at a major tournament yet again and you have to say that they're experts at doing that. They're not a team who will score a lot of goals but they are tough to beat and well drilled with one or two players who can provide a goal threat. Despite their team not having a lot of goals in it.
They'll go into this game looking frustrate Portugal like they frustrated Brazil for much of their game against them. They beat France in the knockouts at the Euro's last year and they'll fancy themselves to do the same to Portugal in this tie.
PREDICTION: 1-0
I'm backing Portugal to go through here because I think they'll have just enough quality to win the game. Switzerland will make it difficult for them but with the options that Portugal can bring off their bench, I can see one of them have a say in the outcome of this game.
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