2018 Russia World Cup, quarter-finals preview
- 6 years ago
The 2018 FIFA Russia World Cup has been packed with surprises, upsets, and a level of excitement we haven't witnessed in recent tournaments.
What started off with 32 teams from around the globe,... is now down to its final eight.
If you've been missing your football fix over the past couple of days,.... never fear.... as the games are back tonight and they promise to be mouthwatering matchups.
Lee Seung-jae takes a look.
The 2018 World Cup in Russia has been one of the most entertaining World Cup tournaments in recent memory,... all thanks to a heap of incredible performances, some mind-blowing goals and a number of truly historic upsets.
And while the World Cup has had its share of surprises,... France and Uruguay making it to the final eight is anything but surprising,... as the two football powerhouses kick off the quarter-finals on Friday.
In what should be an intriguing tactical battle between two sides with two very different styles,... the focus will be on France's 19-year-old sensation Kylian Mbappe,...
who's scored three goals in his country's four matches so far.
Meanwhile, Uruguay,... who boast a tight defense,... might have some trouble on the offense,... as their top goal scorer Edinson Cavani is reportedly doubtful,... after sustaining a calf injury against Portugal in the last round.
Following the France-Uruguay game,... it'll be a battle of the World Cup favorites and the leading scorers,... as Brazil takes on Belgium.
While Brazil might be the favorites to win it all this year,... Belgium is the only undefeated team in the tournament so far,... and are boasting a three-game streak where they've scored at least 3 goals,... including the dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Japan in the last 16.
Brazil, meanwhile, have scored just seven goals in this tournament,...
despite having the most shots with 77 and the most shots on target with 31.
Come Saturday,... will football start to come home?
Saturday's quarter-finals kick off with England taking on Sweden,... who has been on a dream run at this year's World Cup.
While England might be the favorite,... Sweden boasts an impressive international record against England with just one defeat in their last eight competitive encounters.
While Sweden boasts a defense that has five clean sheets in their last six matches,... it'll be a task defending against the tournament's top goal scorer in Harry Kane,... as England looks to win their first World Cup since 1966.
And finally,... with the home crowd behind them,... the host nation Russia look to continue their astonishing run,... this time against Croatia,... as the two nations close out the quarter-finals.
Goals may be hard to come by in this game,... as the two sides have taken and conceded fewer shots on target than the other six quarter-finalists.
But Russia will look to ride the wave of optimism after defeating Spain,...
while Croatia will surely do the same,... after beating Denmark in dramatic fashion.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang
What started off with 32 teams from around the globe,... is now down to its final eight.
If you've been missing your football fix over the past couple of days,.... never fear.... as the games are back tonight and they promise to be mouthwatering matchups.
Lee Seung-jae takes a look.
The 2018 World Cup in Russia has been one of the most entertaining World Cup tournaments in recent memory,... all thanks to a heap of incredible performances, some mind-blowing goals and a number of truly historic upsets.
And while the World Cup has had its share of surprises,... France and Uruguay making it to the final eight is anything but surprising,... as the two football powerhouses kick off the quarter-finals on Friday.
In what should be an intriguing tactical battle between two sides with two very different styles,... the focus will be on France's 19-year-old sensation Kylian Mbappe,...
who's scored three goals in his country's four matches so far.
Meanwhile, Uruguay,... who boast a tight defense,... might have some trouble on the offense,... as their top goal scorer Edinson Cavani is reportedly doubtful,... after sustaining a calf injury against Portugal in the last round.
Following the France-Uruguay game,... it'll be a battle of the World Cup favorites and the leading scorers,... as Brazil takes on Belgium.
While Brazil might be the favorites to win it all this year,... Belgium is the only undefeated team in the tournament so far,... and are boasting a three-game streak where they've scored at least 3 goals,... including the dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Japan in the last 16.
Brazil, meanwhile, have scored just seven goals in this tournament,...
despite having the most shots with 77 and the most shots on target with 31.
Come Saturday,... will football start to come home?
Saturday's quarter-finals kick off with England taking on Sweden,... who has been on a dream run at this year's World Cup.
While England might be the favorite,... Sweden boasts an impressive international record against England with just one defeat in their last eight competitive encounters.
While Sweden boasts a defense that has five clean sheets in their last six matches,... it'll be a task defending against the tournament's top goal scorer in Harry Kane,... as England looks to win their first World Cup since 1966.
And finally,... with the home crowd behind them,... the host nation Russia look to continue their astonishing run,... this time against Croatia,... as the two nations close out the quarter-finals.
Goals may be hard to come by in this game,... as the two sides have taken and conceded fewer shots on target than the other six quarter-finalists.
But Russia will look to ride the wave of optimism after defeating Spain,...
while Croatia will surely do the same,... after beating Denmark in dramatic fashion.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang