LAST 32 PREVIEW WITH UK KICK-OFF TIMES
1 Sunday 28th June – Los Angeles – 8pm
Group A Runners Up South Africa v Group B Runners Up Canada
South Africa were the beneficiaries of an underperforming South Korea team with the ageing Son Heung-Min as they won 1-0 in the final group game and snatch second place.
Canada impressed in their 6-0 win over Qatar after coming from behind to draw with Bosnia , where the introduction of Cyle Larin provided areal spark and he equalised. A defeat to Switzerland in their final group game was disappointing but not a disaster, it does however mean they have to travel to USA for the next round.
I would imagine Canada would be too strong despite having lost home advantage by finishing runners up in their group. South Africa were fortunate to come through a weak group with South Korea and Czechia underperforming.
2 Monday 29th June – Houston – 6pm
Group C Winners Brazil v Group F Runners Up Japan
Brazil won Group C with emphatic 3-0 wins over Haiti and Scotland despite an opening 1-1 draw with Morocco. Vinni Jnr is undoubtedly their main man scoring in all three games.
Japan beat Tunisia 4-0 and had creditable draws with Holland and Sweden.
Japan play great entertaining football while Brazil have world class in the vital positions of goalkeeper and central defence with a matchwinner in Vinicius Jnr. I think Brazil will have too much in both boxes for Japan.
3 Monday 29th June – Boston 9.30pm
Group E Winners Germany v 3rd place Paraquay
Germany although impressive in their opening 7-1 win over Curacao , were pushed to the limit by a good Ivory Coast team and it took until injury time before the Germans claimed a 2-1 victory.
Paraquay are a tough defensive team and bounced back after an opening USA tidal wave where they lost 4-1 before beating Turkey and qualifying with a 0-0 draw against Australia.
Germany will be nervous after loss to Ecuador but should raise their game to beat Paraquay.
4 Tuesday 30th June – Monterey – 2am
Group F Winners Holland v Group C Runners Up Morocco
Morocco after drawing with Brazil, went on to defeat Scotland 1-0 and Haiti 4-2 and continue to look impressive. Morocco are solid defensively and tend to make quick starts and then try to hold on as they did in pre tournament friendly with Norway before repeating against Brazil and Scotland. Haiti exposed weaknesses as the Morocco squad starts to struggle with injuries and perhaps the frequency of lifting their game.
Holland after struggling in a draw with Japan hit form against Sweden and Tunisia . The introduction of Brian Brobbey has given them an added dimension, which they missed against Japan.
This will be an intriguing tie but I would expect the solid defence of Morocco to limit Holland but the Dutch attacking power may prevail. Morocco may hold out and take the game to penalties, this should be one of the most evenly matched games of the round,
5 Tuesday 30th June – Dallas – 6pm
Group E Runners Up Ivory Coast v Group I Runners Up Norway
Ivory Coast came through as runners up to Germany having beaten Ecuador with a late goal and a comfortable win over Curacao. The lost to Germany after pushing the Germans all the way before conceding an injury time goal to lose 2-1. This should be a very close game with both teams good in attack.
Norway with the goals of Erling Haaland will provide a tough test for Ivory Coast. Norway rested through full team against France after good wins over Iraq and Senegal.
I think Ivory Coast have the stronger defence but their performance late in the game against Germany suggests an opening for Norway’s potent attack.
A close game and I can see Norway scoring a late winner, proving their decision to rest players against France to be the correct one.
6 Tuesday 30th June – New York – 10pm
Group I Winners France v 3rd Place Sweden
France look the strongest team of the competition in the Group stages with maximum points and scoring ten goals over the three games. It will be interesting to see how they cope as the strength of opposition increases but are firm favourites to win the World Cup.
Sweden have a great attacking threat when they beat Tunisia 5-1 but equally their defence was exposed by Holland in their 5-1 defeat. The draw with Japan was just playing out the final game for both,
This should be a relatively simple win for France who seem to be peaking at the right time. Kylian Mbappe seems to have hot form on the biggest stage.
7 Wednesday 1st July – Mexico City – 2am
Group A Winners Mexico v 3rd Place Ecuador
Mexico ensured their last 32 game at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City after winning their opening 3 games. It was great to see Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa playing at his 6th World Cup.
Ecuador after losing a late goal in their opening game to Ivory Coast to lose 1-0 were then frustrated to draw 0-0 with Curacao before a vibrant 2-1 win over Germany got them through as a best 3rd place team.
I would expect Mexico to progress with home advantage.
8 Wednesday 1st July – Atlanta – 5pm
Group L Winners England v 3rd Place DR Congo
England won their group after a great performance to beat Croatia 4-2 in the opening game before poorer performances in 0-0 draw with Ghana and a 2-0 win over Panama.
DR Congo came back from an early set back to draw with Portugal in their opening game then suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia. A final night of the group stage saw them again come from behind to win 3-1 over Uzbekistan to secure a best 3rd place finish.
This will be a tough game for England but they should prevail
9 Wednesday 1st July – Seattle – 9pm
Group G Winners Belgium v 3rd Place Senegal
Belgium after a poor start drawing 1-1 with Egypt and 0-0 with Iran clicked into gear in their final game to beat New Zealand 5-1.
Senegal came through as the only 3rd place team to qualify with 3pts on goal difference after opening with two defeats 3-1 to France and 3-2 to Norway they beat ten man Iraq 5-0.
Belgium should have too much quality in attack
10 Thursday 2nd July – San Francisco – 1am
Group D Winners USA v 3rd Place Bosnia
USA after their opening two wins have the home nation firmly behind them and hoping for progress to the later stages and repeating their run when they hosted the tournament in 1994.
Bosnia were quite poor although they did scrape into last 32 with a win over Qatar.
I would expect USA to win, with Christian Pullisic back in the team and the management of Mauricio Pochettino.
11 Thursday 2nd July – Los Angeles – 8pm
Group H Winners Spain v Group J Runners Up Austria
Spain are growing into the tournament and with Lamine Yamal and Neco Williams returning from injury after suffering a draw with Cape Verde without their star men , then saw off Saudi Arabia easily before winning the group against Uruguay.
Austria are a tough European team with vast experience, having as expected beating Jordan and losing to Argentina they needed a draw with Algeria to qualify and were fortunate when Algeria surprisingly took a 3-2 lead in injury time before tall substitute Kalajdzic scored to take them through. Arnautovic remains their talisman.
Austria will provide tough opposition to a Spain team who have only briefly hit form in the tournament so far. Spain should have enough talent to beat Austria but will be a closer game than many imagine.
12 Friday 3rd July – Toronto – 0.00pm
Group K Runners up Portugal v Group L Runners Up Croatia
Croatia bounced back from their opening 4-2 defeat to England to beat Panama 1-0 and Ghana 2-1 with Luca Modric still at the centre of everything Croatia do at the age of 40.
Portugal having drawn with both DR Congo and Colombia qualified courtesy of their 5-0 romp over Uzbekistan. The Colombia 0 Portugal 0 was one of the most entertaining games of the tournament despite no goals being scored.
Ronaldo , the question is , are Portugal a better team with or without their main man at age 41.
A repeat of the Croatia v Portugal game which I attended at City Ground Nottingham 30 years ago at Euro 96. Modric v Ronaldo , this could be the final game at a major tournament for the loser.
Logic says Portugal should win this but I have a feeling Croatia are starting to play at this World Cup as Ronaldo tries to carry the team on his shoulders.
A game which should be close but I can see Croatia winning.
13 Friday 3rd July – Vancouver – 4am
Group B Winners Switzerland v 3rd Place Algeria
Switzerland despite a shock draw 1-1 with Qatar look as solid as ever in group stage football. A 4-1 win over Bosnia was followed by a 2-1 win over co hosts Canada.
Algeria came back from their opening loss to Argentina to beat Jordan before the extraordinary 3-3 draw with Algeria.
Algeria had their peak moment when they scored to lead 3-2 in injury time against Austria but the experience of Switzerland in tournament football should be too much, particularly Granit Xhaka.
14 Friday 3rd July – Dallas – 7pm
Group D Runners Up Australia v Group G Runners Up Egypt
Australia opened with an impressive win over Turkey and made it through in second place after losing to USA with a draw against Paraguay which suited both.
Egypt beat Australia either side of draws with Belgium and Iran.
Egypt might have too much defensive solidity for Australia and have a good attack with Mo Salah leading the line.
15 Friday 3rd July – Miami – 11pm
Group J Winners Argentina v Group H Runners Up Cape Verde
Argentina dominated the group with all 5 goals in their opening 2 games scored by Lionel Messi as he became leading scorer in World Cup history.
Cape Verde are the story of this World Cup with 0-0 draws against Spain and Saudi Arabia either side of their 2-2 draw with Uruguay which was my game of the group stages.
Argentina should have too much in attack to progress
16 Saturday 4th July – Kansas City – 2.30am
Group K Winners Colombia v 3rd Place Ghana
Colombia have look an excellent team providing entertaining football. Their opening 3-1 win over Uzbekistan and 1-0 win over DR Congo took them through to the knockout stages. A marginal offside decision stopped them beating Portugal.
Ghana qualified as one of the best 3rd place teams after beating Panama 1-0 with an injury time goal before a 0-0 draw with England was enough to seal qualification before their 2-1 loss to Croatia.
Colombia should win this comfortably.
Football is Academical 