It is World Cup Quarter Final time and our Who Cares Guide returns to look at all of the games.
For those who don’t have enough time to fully get into this World Cup, this is our shortened preview so you can keep up with fellow family, friends, and absolutely everybody everywhere with your new found World Cup Quarter Finals knowledge.
It is essentially all of the previously published previews conveniently all in one place to make it slightly easier to ignore.
Sit back in your favourite chair, and prepare for our Who Cares World Cup Quarter Final preview.
SO WHO PLAYS WHEN?
SATURDAY 0:00 (AEST) QUARTER FINAL 1
URUGUAY v FRANCE
SATURDAY 4:00 (AEST) QUARTER FINAL 2
BRAZIL v BELGIUM
Winners play each other in Semi Final
SUNDAY 0:00 (AEST) QUARTER FINAL 3
SWEDEN v ENGLAND
SUNDAY 4:00 (AEST) QUARTER FINAL 4
RUSSIA v CROATIA
Winners play each other in Semi Final
WHO IS LIKELY TO WIN?
Betting information
RESULT – Uruguay $4.60 France $2.00 Draw $3.10
TO QUALIFY – Uruguay $2.80 France $1.44
BRAZIL v BELGIUM
To Qualify – BRAZIL v BELGIUM
RESULT – England $1.90 Sweden $4.80 Draw $3.25
TO QUALIFY – England $1.44 Sweden $2.80
RESULT – Croatia $2.20 Russia $3.85 Draw $3.10
TO QUALIFY – Croatia $2.50 Russia $1.53
OUR SUPER MULTI
#URUFRA – Card Index > 40 Points $2.30 (10 pts Yellow – 25 pts Red)
#BRABEL – Coutinho Anytime Goalscorer $3.60
#ENGSWE – Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.44
#CRORUS – Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.44
$1 Multi pays $17
Follow our “full” Match previews below…
GAME 1 – SAT 0:00 (AEST) – URUGUAY v FRANCE
HOW DID THEY GET HERE?
Uruguay have been the quiet achievers of this World Cup so far, yes they had an easy group but they got through with three wins, no goals conceded and are they only team to beat host nation so far. Which strangely enough could well be the final.
Edison Cavani has been one of the players of the tournament so far, not just from scoring two goals in the last game, but has been great in all of the games, where Suarez hasn’t been quite up to the same standard. There’s also their dolphin like water tight defence. Good enough to contain no less than Ronaldo last time out.
France awoke from the slumber that has been their World Cup before beating Argentina in a pulsating game, with so many highlights. They were much the better side throughout, but somehow went behind, and almost conceded a late goal to allow Argentina to draw.
There were some standout performances from the likes of Pogba, and Mbappe, and a super goal from Pavard, and there is much to get excited about. But that was against an Argentinian side who are nowhere near as defensively solid as Uruguay.
There was talk that Uruguay were a great dark horse, but would stumble out of the easy group and get knocked out by the first decent team they play. That didn’t happen, and there’s plenty of value on offer for them to upset France in the quarter final.
QUARTER FINAL PATHWAY
URUGUAY – 1st Group A – 9pts – GD +5
R16 – Uruguay 2 Portugal 1
The one goal against was Uruguay’s first goal conceded for the tournament so far.
FRANCE – 1st Group C – 7pts – GD +2
R16 – France 4 Argentina 3
France’s four goals in their last match was one more than the group stage effort.
WHO CARES HISTORY
Head to Head – Uruguay 2 Draw 4 France 0
Last Match – Uruguay 1 France 0 – 2013 Friendly
France are yet to beat Uruguay in Internationals. The 4 draws have all been 0-0. France have scored just one goal v Uruguay.
WHO CARES FOR A BET?
RESULT – Uruguay $4.60 France $2.00 Draw $3.10
TO QUALIFY – Uruguay $2.80 France $1.44
OUR BEST BET – Card Index > 40 Points $2.30 (10 pts Yellow – 25 pts Red)
WHO CARES WHAT WE THINK?
What we think will happen…
A Suarez goal is the deciding moment of the game and Uruguay win 1-0.
What will probably happen..
A tense first half is opened up in the second half by the French, and then Suarez is sent off for something silly.
What our animal tipster Muttstradamus thinks…
Uruguay
What our small children think…
France
WHO CARES ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE?
Who’s next?
The winner of this game will play the winner of Brazil v Belgium. Tough gig.
What to watch out for…
More Mbappe magic.
More Pogba magic.
Will Cavani play?
Can the French break down the World Cup’s tightest defence.
Finishing with…. a match preview Haiku
France have awoken
The Uruguay wall awaits
As do the front two
GAME 2 – SAT 4:00 (AEST) – BRAZIL v BELGIUM
HOW DID THEY GET HERE?
After their first round shock of a draw against Switzerland, the Brazilians have been doing it with some comfort since. They ensured Mexico left the World Cup at the Round of 16 stage for the seventh World Cup in a row, with a decent performance. Certainly not as tense the Belgians last match in the Round of 16.
The Belgium v Japan game burst into life in the second half, and it looked as if another upset was on the cards with the Japanese leading 2-0. On came Fellani, and whether it is coincidental or not, the Belgians picked up after that. Or perhaps it was the staring in the face of an early, slightly embarrassing exit.
Before that Belgium were involved in the game no one wanted to win in Group G against England. So two scratchy performances is not the best of form coming in it. Brazil appear to have got their less convincing games out of the way earlier in the tournament, and that may be the difference.
This is the biggest game of the quarter finals, for neutrals anyway.
QUARTER FINAL PATHWAY
BRAZIL – 1st Group E – 7pts – GD +4
R16 – Brazil 2 Mexico 0
Brazil are one of two teams to concede just the goal goal in four games so far. Uruguay are the other. The potential next opponent.
BELGIUM – 1st Group G – 9pts – GD +7
R16 – Belgium 3 Japan 2
No team has scored more than Belgium’s 12 goals in 4 games.
WHO CARES HISTORY
Head to Head – Brazil 1 Belgium 0 Draw 0
Last Match – Brazil 2 Belgium 0 – 2002 World Cup
Just the one game between these teams so far.
WHO CARES FOR A BET?
RESULT – Brazil $2.10 Belgium $3.70 Draw $3.40
TO QUALIFY – Brazil $1.53 Belgium $2.50
OUR BEST BET – Coutinho Anytime Goalscorer $3.60
WHO CARES WHAT WE THINK?
What we think will happen…
Brazil to dominate, but score late in the second half after a bunch of dives, after he’s been kicked a few times too.
What will probably happen..
Goals galore with perhaps a 4-2 scoreline to Brazil.
What our animal tipster Muttstradamus thinks…
Brazil
What our small children think…
Brazil
WHO CARES ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE?
Who’s next?
The winner of this game will play the winner of Uruguay v France.
What to watch out for…
Neymar’s brilliance, and other antics. And possibly a new hair style.
Can Lukaku break his flat-track bully tg and score against a big side in great defensive form.
Can Willian continue his form all the way into a Barcelona shirt.
Hazard v Coutinho.
Hopefully plenty of goals.
Finishing with…. a match preview Haiku
Belgium nearly slipped
Japanese nearly surprised
Brazil get better
GAME 3 – SUN 0:00 (AEST) – ENGLAND v SWEDEN
HOW DID THEY GET HERE?
England famously attempted to lose their last pool game in Group G to avoid the tough side of the draw, and they have been fully rewarded with only Sweden, and Croatia or Russia left in their way of making the final. So you could say their gamble has paid off handsomely. Especially when you look at the other side of the draw and see their Group G buddies Belgium taking on Brazil in the quarter finals.
England were not great last time out against Colombia, and can probably be thankful that James Rodriguez didn’t play, as he could have been the missing piece of the puzzle. But winning when not playing the very best is a great quality to have. Especially the winning part. And the hoodoo of penalty shootouts has finally been laid to rest. Cynics will now have to find something different to make snide remarks about.
Can England win it? And then win it all? Hopes and expectations have been seriously raised now for England. They probably should make the final from here. Some pressure.
Sweden have quietly gone about their business at this World Cup. They are the only side to lose to Germany, and were good in that game too, They had a good win over Mexico in the group stages 3-0, but have grinded out the other wins. The 1-0 Round of 16 match was particularly lucky as the only goal came from wild deflection. But that’s what the Swedish do, and England should be wary again.
The Swedish coach said they would use the disrespectful goal celebration of the Germans to fire themselves up, and it has worked thus far.
QUARTER FINAL PATHWAY
ENGLAND – 2nd Group G – 6pts – GD +5
R16 – England 1 Colombia 1 (4-3 pens)
England are one of two teams that are left that finished 2nd in the group. Penalty shootout win against Colombia was their first in a long time.
SWEDEN – 1st Group F – 6pts – GD +3
R16 – Sweden 1 Switzerland 0
The Swedes continue to fly under the radar a little, and could frustrate England out of the World Cup.
WHO CARES HISTORY
Head to Head – England 2 Sweden 2 Draw 3
Last Match – Sweden 4 England 2 – 2012 Friendly
Very even record between the two nations, can’t see as many goals as the last match.
WHO CARES FOR A BET?
RESULT – England $1.90 Sweden $4.80 Draw $3.25
TO QUALIFY – England $1.44 Sweden $2.80
OUR BEST BET – Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.44
WHO CARES WHAT WE THINK?
What we think will happen…
A cagey affair ending 1-0 on the back of a Harry Kane penalty or a 1-1 and extra time win for England.
What will probably happen..
0-0 after 120 minutes and then England win on penalties.
What our animal tipster Muttstradamus thinks…
England
What our small children think…
Sweden
WHO CARES ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE?
Who’s next?
The winner of this game will play the winner of Croatia v Russia
What to watch out for…
Harry Kane continue his march to the Golden Boot
Harry Kane smiling
How long will England persist with Dele Alli
Will Jordan Pickford become England’s greatest number 1, or will the keeper curse hit.
Can England do it twice in a row from the penalty spot.
Will the Swedes progress and what will the Zlatan reaction be.
Finishing with…. a match preview Haiku
Expectations high
A nation awaits glory
Shootout experts now
GAME 4 – SUN 4:00 (AEST) – CROATIA v RUSSIA
HOW DID THEY GET HERE?
Did anyone really think that Russia would get out of the group, let alone past Spain into the Quarter Finals? Liar. But who could forgive the team progressing as far as they have, knowing what will probably have happened to them if they failed.
As it stands they have not only invigorated the nation behind them, but a number of players will have probably helped themselves to a better European club, and a bit fat pay increase.
Maybe they weren’t pretty against Spain, but after watching a 1000 passes and more, who really cares about style when you can actually win a game.
Have they got one more surprise in them, you could argue that Croatia are not as good as Spain, but also not as good as Uruguay. What does that mean? Very little going on this World Cup so far.
Croatia stormed through the supposed Group O Death, which did feature Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland with three wins from three matches, the most impressive was the dismantling of Argentina.
They snuck home against Denmark, but could easily have wrapped it up before then, as they were the better side in the second half, and had a penalty missed by Luka Modric near the end of extra time.
Both of these sides got through on penalties, Russia have had an extra day of rest, and will that plus a vocal home support get them across the line? The more we think about it, the more Russia look good for an upset.
Croatia are one of two teams left at the World Cup that needed an extra playoff to make the tournament. Sweden are the other.
QUARTER FINAL PATHWAY
CROATIA – 1st Group D – 9pts – GD +6
R16 – Croatia 1 Denmark (won 3-2 on pens)
One of the few to leave the group stage with 100% record, they got past a tough Denmark, but still loked good. Remain the dark horse, and hopefully Modric won’t miss his next penalty.
RUSSIA – 2nd Group A – 6pts – GD +4
R16 – Russia 1 Spain 1 (won 4-3 on pens)
One of only two teams to make the Quarter Finals without winning group. No one in past 8 World Cups has made the Semi Finals and not topped group.
WHO CARES HISTORY
Head to Head – Croatia 1 Draw 2 Russia 0
Last Match – Russia 1 Croatia 3 – 2015 Friendly
Just the one game with goals and a result in it between these two sides.
WHO CARES FOR A BET?
RESULT – Croatia $2.20 Russia $3.85 Draw $3.10
TO QUALIFY – Croatia $2.50 Russia $1.53
OUR BEST BET – Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.44
WHO CARES WHAT WE THINK?
What we think will happen…
Croatia’s star midfield pairing run the show, and deliver for a goal a half to knock the hosts out.
What will probably happen..
Russia will blow the Croatians away like the Saudi game and take us all by surprise. With Mr Putin watching, glaring from the grandstand.
What our animal tipster Muttstradamus thinks…
Russia
What our small children think…
Croatia
WHO CARES ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE?
Who’s next?
The winner of this game will play the winner of England v Sweden
What to watch out for…
Modric and Rakitic. Sounds like a Croatian Cockney Comedy Duo. Can play.
Finishing with…. a match preview Haiku
Putin might be there
Russian surprises at end?
Hmmm lose if you dare
