Today at the World Cup: Tuesday, July 3 | Football News



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 James Rodriguez hobbled off with 31 minutes gone from Colombia's win over Senegal

James Rodriguez hobbled off with 31 minutes gone from Colombia's win over Senegal [19659004] The knockout stages of the World Cup continues on Tuesday with the final two last-16 encounters in Russia.

World Cup light fixtures
World Cup come

Who's playing today?

Sweden v Switzerland (Last 16) – St. Petersburg, 3pm

Colombia v England (Last 16) – Moscow, 7pm

What's the deal?

The winner of Tuesday's games will go to Samara on Saturday for a place in the last four of the World Cup. They are the only team of the world to have won World Cup, Sweden reached the end in 1958.

Sweden have been revitalized since the retirement of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, hinted captain Andreas Granqvist after his country upset the odds to help knockout of the World Cup in the group stage.

"Granqvist said

 Andreas Granqvist scored Sweden's only goal their 1-0 win over South Korea

Andreas Granqvist scored Sweden's only goal in their 1-0 win over South Korea

"Ever since Janne (Andersson) "We have a team we know that we've been able to see you for two years."

when we do that we can be ve ry strong and get good results. "

It's a similar story for Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic, whose side was unbeaten in a group of five-time champions Brazil, something he puts down to their impressive team spirit.

" We have managed to bring together different cultures, different talents, different ideologies and they help us to play really good football, "Petkovic told a news conference.

" We have a team where the chemistry is right, that really goes goes together,

England manager Gareth Southgate will lead the world in their first World Cup knockout victory in 12 years with victory over Colombia.

(19659009) "Maybe it's a trap we've fallen into the past," he said. "A few of these players were in the last (European) championships."

"And then having gone away from being ahead and feeling comfortable that they should be won. approach was not correct. I do not expect the same tomorrow. "

Could be made more difficult with James Rodriguez in the face of the Three Lions, having recovered from an ankle injury sustained in Colombia 1-0 win over Senegal in the group stages

Coach Jose Pekerman said: "We had good news after his medical tests. After his MRI (scan) we knew he did not have a serious injury

 James Rodriguez hobbled off with 31 minutes gone of Colombia's win over Senegal

James Rodriguez hobbled off with 31 minutes gone from Colombia's win over Senegal

"We still have one-and-a-half days to see how he feels, and we are always hopeful that he will be able to the following games. "

Ones to watch

Harry Kane: The Tottenham striker has only played 153 minutes of World Cup football goal, having scored five times, only Gary Lineker (10) has scored more World Cup goals for England.

The captain 's importance to Gareth Southgate' s side of the world. 24-year-old, who was left against Belgium, finds the net Sixteen-year-old Tommy Lawton is back in 1939.

Juan Quintero: The 25-year-old Russia. He has been directly involved in this edition of the World Cup, scoring in his country's game against Japan before delivering assists against Poland and Senegal.

And with doubts now surrounding James Rodriguez's fitness, Quintero's importance to Jose Pekerman's side can not be underestimated

Xherdan Shaqiri: It's a massive day for Switzerland, who have had the chance to reach a first World Cup quarter-final since 1954. Since then, they've always been knocked out when they've reached the round of 16 (1994, 2006, 2014), Not scoring a single goal in any of those three games.

Since Switzerland reached the quarter-finals at the World Cup 1954. Shaqiri is the only Swiss player to have scored in the knockout stages of a major tournament. The 26-year-old scored in the last 16 at Euro 2016 against Poland and he will be looking to follow that up in St. Petersburg, hoping to help Switzerland make history in the process.

 Xherdan Shaqiri scored a late winner for Switzerland in their 2-1 win over Serbia

Xherdan Shaqiri scored a winner in Serbia 2-1 win over Serbia

Also look out for …

50 up for Sweden

The game against Switzerland will be Sweden's 50th game at the World Cup, becoming the 11th team to reach that tally.

Lichsteiner suspended

defensively, and new Arsenal signing , Stephan Lichtsteiner will be a notable absentee for Tuesday's round-of-16 game against Sweden. The 34-year-old is suspended after picking up two yellow cards in the group stages.

His absence will be a rarity for his country, though, after the Swiss captain missed just 25 minutes out of their 1590 played at major tournaments since Euro 2008.

Will James Rodriguez be fit to face England?

"I'm very concerned, it's very worrying," Jose Pekerman said after James Rodriguez limped off after just 31 minutes of Colombia's 1- 0 win over Senegal. "It's a very difficult situation for us."

Rodriguez is a crucial part of Pekerman's side, The 26 -year-old has scored six goals and provided four assists in just over seven World Cup games and he's already his country's third all-time top scorer with 21 goals.

But can they get him fit in time? Pekerman now faces the challenge of winning the Golden Boot winner.

The set-piece battle …

Set pieces have played a huge part in this World Cup so far and there are [JohnStones'doubleagainstPanamabothcamefromset-pieces

 John Stones' double against Panama both came from set-pieces

John Stones 'double against Panama both came from set-pieces

Three of Colombia's five goals in this year's World Cup (two from corners, one from direct-free kick) England scores more goals from dead-ball (1965)

Stats of the day

The World Cup.

Since (and including ) 1966 World Cup final, 50% of England's knockout games at the tower have gone to extra-time (7 out of 14). One of the best shots in the world, all lost by England (Germany 1990, Argentina 1998, Portugal 2006).

On this day

Six-a-Side Fantasy

Pick your dream team for England v Colombia to win the guaranteed £ 1k jackpot.

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