7) Sweden lock horns with Switzerland at Saint Petersburg Stadium today evening for a place in the last 8 of this tournament. Both teams are meeting for the first time in a major tournament like this & the win predictability meter shows Sweden with 32% chance & their Swiss rivals at 36% chance, which makes it pretty even for results at this stage. The game may well turn out to be a dour & physical challenge of nerves & converting miserly openings, failing which, going into extra time & even penalty shoot out for a result.
With the exit of Spain in the bottom half, both the teams have a realistic opportunity of making it to the finals, if they win this tie. Both the teams have suspension issues & will miss some crucial players for today. However, as per many suggestions, the likely playing eleven for Sweden could be, Olsen in the goal, with Lustig, Lindelof, Granqvist, Augustinsson, Claesson, Svensson, Ekdal, Forsberg, Berg & Tiovonen.
The Swiss battle eleven could be Sommer in the goal, with Lang, Djourou, Akanji, Rodriguez, Xhaka, Behrami, Dzemaili, Shaqiri, Drmic & Zuber.
While Sweden come into this game with momentum after thrashing Mexico 3-0, the Swiss machinery would also be in confidence after drawing with Brazil in the group stages. However Switzerland will sorely miss their captain & central defender, Stephan Lichtsteiner & Schar, both out with suspensions.
8) In the last of the round of 16 matches, much fancied England take on a resurgent Columbia at the Spartak Stadium. England have a better record against their Latin American rivals having faced five times earlier, with an unbeaten record till now & the win predictability meter also shows the Three Lions at 46% chance, while Columbia clocks a 24% chance. Coach Gareth Southgate's English eleven were fluent in the group stages, before losing the tie to Belgium, in what is largely rumoured to be a tactics to open a potential freeway to the finals. Columbians, on the other hand have a huge injury concern revolving around their star James Rodriguez, the Golden Boot award winner in the previous World Cup. Coach Jose Pekerman would be hoping for his star to recover in time & boost his team's chances for an unlikely victory.
The expected line ups could be, England - Pickford in the goal with Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier, Alli, Henderson, Lingard, Young, Sterling & captain Kane.
Columbia - Ospina in the goal, with Arias, Davinson, Sanchez, Mina, Mojica, Uribe, Carlos, Sanchez, Cuadrado, Quintero, Rodriguez & captain Falcao.
While most of the experts would tip England to win easily, with a superior bench strength, I would not rule out another upset, as Columbians may just find their touch to go past an overconfident English eleven.
With the exit of Spain in the bottom half, both the teams have a realistic opportunity of making it to the finals, if they win this tie. Both the teams have suspension issues & will miss some crucial players for today. However, as per many suggestions, the likely playing eleven for Sweden could be, Olsen in the goal, with Lustig, Lindelof, Granqvist, Augustinsson, Claesson, Svensson, Ekdal, Forsberg, Berg & Tiovonen.
The Swiss battle eleven could be Sommer in the goal, with Lang, Djourou, Akanji, Rodriguez, Xhaka, Behrami, Dzemaili, Shaqiri, Drmic & Zuber.
While Sweden come into this game with momentum after thrashing Mexico 3-0, the Swiss machinery would also be in confidence after drawing with Brazil in the group stages. However Switzerland will sorely miss their captain & central defender, Stephan Lichtsteiner & Schar, both out with suspensions.
8) In the last of the round of 16 matches, much fancied England take on a resurgent Columbia at the Spartak Stadium. England have a better record against their Latin American rivals having faced five times earlier, with an unbeaten record till now & the win predictability meter also shows the Three Lions at 46% chance, while Columbia clocks a 24% chance. Coach Gareth Southgate's English eleven were fluent in the group stages, before losing the tie to Belgium, in what is largely rumoured to be a tactics to open a potential freeway to the finals. Columbians, on the other hand have a huge injury concern revolving around their star James Rodriguez, the Golden Boot award winner in the previous World Cup. Coach Jose Pekerman would be hoping for his star to recover in time & boost his team's chances for an unlikely victory.
The expected line ups could be, England - Pickford in the goal with Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier, Alli, Henderson, Lingard, Young, Sterling & captain Kane.
Columbia - Ospina in the goal, with Arias, Davinson, Sanchez, Mina, Mojica, Uribe, Carlos, Sanchez, Cuadrado, Quintero, Rodriguez & captain Falcao.
While most of the experts would tip England to win easily, with a superior bench strength, I would not rule out another upset, as Columbians may just find their touch to go past an overconfident English eleven.
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