20 minutes – Ochoa wants to wizard again against Neymar

In the eighth final on Monday, the roles seem clear. Brazil will also be the big favorite in Samara against Mexico (4 pm) and four hours later in Rostov-on-Don against Japan. The winners meet in the quarterfinals

Does Titus have to change the defense?

If this happens by the self-image of the Brazilians, the knockout round against Mexico can only be a stopover. The last time they failed in 1990 in the first knockout round of a World Cup, then 0: 1 against Argentina. The Seleção is assured of a 1-1 draw against Switzerland by two wins 2-0 against Costa Rica and Serbia, the group's victory in the group E. But totally convincing, the South Americans have not done it yet. Above all, the superstar Neymar was so much more through the inputs than by the footballer Kabinettstücke.

Neymar is embarrassed with a swallow against Costa Rica. (Video: SRF)

Neymar advanced to the round of 16 with a yellow card in the match against Costa Rica. In Brazil, double striker Philippe Coutinho and Casemiro are also biased in yellow. In addition, the use of the left Marcelo back is still not safe. The Real Madrid striker was sent off with a shameless sting against Serbia and then withdrew from the training.

The Mexican Wall wants to shine again

Brazil has conceded no goals in its last four World Cup matches against Mexico. The goal difference between these games is 11: 0. In 2014, both teams clashed in the group stage. The game is over 0-0. The Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made the offensive desperation Brazilian at that time. The same thing applies to the "Wall of Mexico" this time.

Lozano scored the only goal of the day with a sensational 1-0 win against Germany. (Video: SRF)

Mexico is almost always in the final of the second round. Six times in a row, they took the last place in the knockout tournament, against Bulgaria (1994), Germany (1998), United States (2002), Argentina (2006 and 2010). ) and Holland (2014). This time it should be different, this time they finally want to be able to play a fifth match. They were in the quarter-finals for the last time at the 1986 World Cup.

High Pressing Leads to Freedom

We can expect the Mexican offensive to put pressure on Brazilian defenders early to ensure an orderly rise to the world champion record prevent. Thus, the Mexicans acted in their two wins against Germany and South Korea. But the high pressing gives the Brazilian strikers Neymar, Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus free space, that it is better not to leave them.

Coutinho scored with a dream goal 1: 0 against Switzerland. (Video: SRF)

Brazil will miss the injured Douglas Costa today, Mexico miss Héctor Moreno, who is suspended after his second yellow card for the knockout round. For him, Rafael Marquez, 39, could enter the starting lineup. The former Barcelona defender will be the first player to play five quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup

Undefeated against the crunch

The other match of the day will see Belgium and the Japan to face it. The Japanese were second in Group H thanks to the Fifa Fair Play ranking – Senegal, third, had more yellow cards than the blue Samurai.

In the preliminary round, Belgium produced the most goals and goals. Thus, the team of Spanish coach Roberto Martinez has so far respected the ratings, according to which she must be ranked as co-favorite for the title. Still in the match against Japan, the Belgians go in favorite. The Red Devils want to advance to a quarterfinal of the World Cup for the third time. Up to now, they have only succeeded in 1986 in Mexico and in 2014 at the last finals in Brazil. The team has been undefeated for two years and 22 games and will go into the match with the proper self-confidence.

Purpose of Adnan Januzaj against England. (Video: SRF)

Japan's opponents have never played in the quarter-finals. In 2002 and 2010, Asians each reached the knockout stage. There they failed in 2002 in Turkey and eight years ago in South Africa on penalties in Paraguay. In Japan, four players could claim the record of Japan's World Cup record: Kawashima, Hasebe, Nagatomo and Okazaki are in eleventh place in the final round. After losing 1-0 to Poland in the last group match, the Japanese should return to 4-2-3-1 by playing the first two games.

WM-Center

(tzi / sda)