FIFA World Cup 2018: Review of the Round of 16 and an insight into the Quarterfinals

The FIFA World Cup 2018 has thrown in quite a few surprises even before reaching the quarterfinal stage. It has also been one of the highest-scoring World Cups - with 56 matches played and eight still to go, the goal tally stands at an impressive 146 at par with the final tally of the 1982 World Cup and behind the final tally of only 4 previous tournaments - 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2014. Only one game so far, the group stage clash between France and Denmark, has ended up goalless.

The world saw Germany buck the trend with the champions exiting the tournament at the group stage with two unexpected defeats against Mexico and South Korea ensuring that the football world will see new champions at the end of this tournament. Croatia finally lived up to the expectations from their widely proclaimed golden generation going through the group stage without a loss and showing a lot of promise.

Uruguay, Croatia and Belgium were the only three teams to go through to the Round of 16 stage winning all of their games in the group stage. Here is how the Round of 16 clashes turned up and how they provide an insight into the quarterfinal matches.

R16 #1: Argentina vs. France

Argentina hobbled through the qualifiers and similarly through the group stage of the tournament and met an expected end against the mighty France. However, they did not go as quietly as some would have expected and in the process provided a high-scoring (4-3 in favour of France) game against France in the first Round of 16 clash. 19-year old Mbappe scored twice and earned another penalty showing promise as his team made their way through to the top eight. The game also saw two beautiful long-range goals- the first from Angel Di Maria shooting a goal from almost 40 yards out and then from Pavard whose stunning shot curled into the top left corner of the goal.

R16 #2: Uruguay vs Portugal

Uruguay took the lead with Cavani heading home a wonderful cross from Suarez. The goal, however, was not enough to see the South Americans through as they conceded for the first time in the tournament when Pepe's header evaded Muslera to equalise. Then finally Portugal were caught on the counter-attack and Cavani once again rose up to the occasion to brilliantly finish with a curling shot in the bottom corner of the net. Diego Godin, as usual, showed a lot of composure at the back and every Uruguayan player showed a lot of determination to keep out the Portugal attack. Portugal had more shots on goal than Uruguay but they were not good enough to breach the Uruguayan defence. Suarez showed much more composure in his role as he created many opportunities and saw a lot of the ball as well.

QF #1 France vs. Uruguay

Paul Pogba during a training session

France will have to work more on their defence if they are looking to keep out Suarez and Cavani. They cannot concede as they did against Argentina and expect to score as freely as they did against them. A little defensive help from the Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba will come in handy for his team. Uruguay, on the other hand, have shown balanced performance in attack and defence. They will have to keep up the good work if not improve on it at the back in order to keep out the French attack and proceed in the tournament.

R16 #3: Spain vs. Russia

Spain saw 75% of the possession and passed the ball a massive 1137 times but keeping to their style of play they did most of that around the midfield. Though, Russian high pressure defending also contributed to the above fact. Spain's only goal came from Russian defender Ignashevich's foot which was neutralised by Dzyuba's strike from the spot which came as a result of a handball from Pique. In the penalties, Russia did not have to take the fifth kick as they scored in all four attempts and Igor Akinfeev heroically saved two of Spain's to win 4-3 on penalties.

R16 #4: Croatia vs. Denmark

Denmark scored the fastest goal of the tournament to go ahead in the 57th second. Within minutes though, Croatia caught up with them courtesy a strike from Mandzukic. Notwithstanding the frequency of the goals in the first four minutes of the game, the goals were not really of a convincing nature. The teams cancelled out each other throughout the match with Denmark seeming to be the more convincing among the two. When Luka Modric could not convert from the spot in extra time courtesy a fantastic save, it seemed Denmark were back from the dead. But the penalty shootout turned out to be the story of two heroic goalkeepers- Danijel Subasic for Croatia and Kasper Schmeichel for Denmark. Subasic made it into the record books with three saves while Schmeichel ended up with two saves and Croatia moved into the quarters

QF #4: Russia vs. Croatia

Luka Modric during a training session

Russia will have to do more than park the bus in their match-up against Croatia. They will have to show more composure in their attack and not just kick the ball aimlessly into their opponents half just to defend again - which they did so many times against Spain. However, that does not mean they can rest at the back. They will have to see to the threat of Modric passing sly balls to Rebic piercing their defence. Croatia will have to improve their attack slightly from their Denmark game and keep doing what they have been throughout the tournament. However, Russia will enjoy a huge support from the home crowd.

R16 #5: Brazil vs. Mexico

The El Tri started the match with the same tactics that they applied against Germany- they attacked their hearts out but they did so in vain. Rarely did Mexico work Alisson Becker, as most of their attempts were blocked out by the solid back line of Brazil. Neymar in the Brazilian attack seemed a lot better than how he started the tournament. With him on the left wing showing a bit of his swagger, Willian on the right wing played his best game so far, running through the Mexican defence just for the fun of it. Fernandinho also showed some good signs, in the end, starting off the chain to lead up to the second Brazilian goal. Mexico never made it past Alisson.

R16 #6: Belgium vs. Japan

Perhaps the most thrilling game of the World Cup so far. Japan unexpectedly took the lead early in the second half through striker Haraguchi. They even built on it a few minutes later through a brilliant long-range effort from Inui. But the Belgians had other things in mind. Vertonghen headed the longest header in a World Cup to give Belgium their first. Fellaini equalised with another header. When in the dying minutes, Japan were attacking from a corner, the Belgians counter attacked and Chadli scored a third with less than 30 seconds remaining on the clock. Japan won hearts but Belgium qualified.

QF #2: Brazil vs. Belgium

Brazil has already shown solid defensive work in the games leading up to the quarterfinals. But to win against Belgium, they will have to improve even upon that and bring out a perfect defensive line to keep out perhaps the most dangerous attacking line-up apart from their own in this World Cup. Belgium has a great attacking line-up but to win against Brazil, they will have to work on their defence- Brazil will not lose a 2-goal lead like Japan did. In the end, it just might come down to who has the best defence. The winners of this game can easily turn out to be champions, as they clearly have been the two best teams in the tournament so far. This can easily turn out to be a match that the people will remember for a long long time.

R16 #7: Sweden vs. Switzerland

If only the Swedish attackers could finish better, the match would have been out of the reach of the Swiss early in the first half but their finishing seemed to be right out of a third division English club. Both sides did not play as they have done before in the tournament. Attacks seemed to fizzle out in the midfield. Overall, the game lacked energy and thankfully, a strike from Fosberg deflecting off a Swiss defender ended up in the back of the net bringing the match to an end in regulation time.

R16 #8: England vs Colombia

England took the lead through Harry Kane. This line can work in the review of every England match this World Cup. Colombia were good apart from the six yellow cards that made their tactics known to the world. England were better. Still, they had to go into penalties courtesy an injury-time header from the tall Colombian defender Mina. Jordan Pickford proved his mettle as England overcame the ghosts of their pasts to win 4-3 on penalties.

QF #3: Sweden vs. England

If Sweden play like they did against Switzerland, England is going to walk all over them. However, if they play like they did against Mexico, England will have to keep a strong defensive line. Sweden will also have to defend well to keep Harry Kane and Sterling out. Given their performances so far into the tournament, England should not have a hard time against Sweden but who's to say that this World Cup will not provide another shocker.

The Overview

Only one among Brazil, Belgium, France and Uruguay is going to the finals. On the other hand, the other team that will play them (one among England, Sweden, Croatia and Russia) are going to the finals after at least 50 years. So, every team has got all to play for and none of the matches can be trivialized. This World Cup will just get a lot more exciting.