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St. Petersburg. There are only eight teams out of the 32 who started the World Cup in Russia
AFP Sport examines how each team is placed in the quarter-finals on Friday and Saturday
Uruguay v France (Friday 14:00 GMT, Nizhny Novgorod)
One of only two teams to have won all four matches, Uruguay has one of the most vicious defenses of Russia, led by the Talismanian captain Diego Godin and a lethal strike force at EdinsonCavani and Luis Suarez. 19659002] The physical form of Cavani is the big concern before the meeting on Friday. The Paris Saint-Germain striker was injured in the calf after scoring twice to finish Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal World Cup in the round of 16.
After going through the group stage disappointingly, France defeated KylianMbappe. A frantic pace to beat Argentina in a 4-3 World Cup Clbadic in the last 16.
A very different task is waiting to cross the Uruguayan brick wall of a defense that will not allow to Mbappe the same space to exploit. But as the legs begin to get tired in the final stages, the strength of France in depth could begin to make a difference.
Brazil v Belgium (Friday 1800 GMT, Kazan)
The best defensive record, having conceded only once in four matches until now and slowly starting to hit their stride to At the other end of the field Neymar also hit his second goal of the tournament in the last 16.
After a disappointing 1-1 draw against Switzerland, the 2-0 win against Costa Rica, Serbia and Mexico propelled Brazil into a seventh consecutive quarter-final and remain favorites to erase the scars of A humble 7-1 defeat in the semi-finals Belgium will be the real test of the performance of the Brazilian back-row at Kazan on Friday, but coach Roberto Martinez has big decisions to make after an impressive comeback of 2-0 in the final. 21 minutes avoided a shock output to Japan in the last 16 minutes
Japan took the lead in Martinez's 3-4-2-1 system and the Red Devils had to rely on their superior physical power in the Final steps with Jan Vertonghen and MarouaneFellaini returning home before NacerChadli finishes the comeback. the end of a superb counter-attack.
Martinez must now find the right balance to exploit the best of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and RomeluLukaku without leaving Belgium.
Sweden v England (Saturday 14:00 GMT, Samara)
They are not the most beautiful, but Sweden is extremely efficient and happy to play the role of outsider, having dominated the Netherlands and Italy in qualifying and Germany in group stage.
Running for the last eight for the first time since 1994 has been built on three white sheets in four games, but although difficult to break, they lack a powerful force in front.
Freed from the curse of penalty kicks after beating Colombia On the field, England will be favorite for a first semifinal of the World Cup since 1990.
For 92 minutes in Moscow, the Three Lions kept their calm while Colombia lost theirs and played with a patience rarely seen by England
The header of the judgments of Yerry Mina threatened to change all that but a first World Cup victory on penalties in four attempts gives Gareth Southgate's men reason to believe that this time will be really different.
Russia c Croatia (Saturday 18h00 GMT, Sochi)
The hosts delighted their audience by surpbading all expectations to qualify for the last eight, thanks to a superb elimination by shots on goal Spanish winners in 2010.
The players were on their knees after being defended for 120 minutes in Moscow with only 26% possession and now they have to invoke another huge physical effort, Croatia having to dominate once again. plus the balloon.
Lithuania often suffered to pbad Denmark on penalties.
Luck has not often accompanied Croatia in the knockout stages after the start of a brilliant tournament, but after catching Luka Modric's missed penalty four minutes before the end of the extra time in the last 16, the time for a very talented generation may have come.
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