World Cup Last 32 Predictions

SUNDAY:

SOUTH AFRICA V CANADA

South Africa will be playing in the knockout stages at a World Cup for the first time in their history and they've been a side who have improved game by game.

Canada will also be playing in their first World Cup knockout match in this game after failing to make it out the group stages in each of their previous two appearances at these finals.

Jesse Marsch's side will come into this side as the favourites because they arguably have more quality in their side compared to South Africa.

Because of this I think they'll be the side that come out on top here with Jonathan David being among the goal scorers.

PREDICTION: 0-2

MONDAY:

BRAZIL V JAPAN

Brazil have shown their quality in each of their last two games against Haiti and Scotland with both being an improvement on their flat performance against Morocco in their opening game.

It's been good to see Vinicius Junior finally deliver in a Brazil shirt on the biggest stage and by doing so he has silenced his critics as his performances for Brazil were being questioned heading into this tournament.

He's scored 4 goals at this tournament so far and he'll be looking to bag more with the form he's been in at this tournament.

Japan have never won a World Cup knockout game and they'll be looking to change that in this game because they're more than capable of upsetting the odds.

They've caused some shocks at past World Cups and I can see them give Brazil a good game here because of their underdog mentality.

But I think Brazil will find a way to win the game because they have the quality in their side to do so and a manager who can win games in a variety of ways.

PREDICTION: 2-1

GERMANY V PARAGUAY

Germany got outmuscled by Ecuador in their final group game and especially in midfield as Ecuador looked stronger in that area of the pitch.

They'll be expecting another tough game in this one as Paraguay are a side who like to get men behind the ball and make it difficult for teams.

Paraguay looked defensively well organised against Australia and will need to be that in this one because of the quality that Germany possess in attack.

They will make it difficult for the Germans by getting men behind the ball, but I think Julian Nagelsmann's side will find a way to win because they have the quality in their side to do so.

PREDICTION: 2-0

TUESDAY:

HOLLAND V MOROCCO

Holland have won each of their last two games fairly convincingly against Sweden and Tunisia and have played some decent football at this tournament overall.

This game however will be a tougher test because Morocco are capable of giving anyone a game and upsetting the odds like they did in Qatar four years ago.

Morocco showed resilience and character to come from behind twice and beat Haiti in their final group game and I can see them use that resilience in this one to stay in the game.

The AFCON champions are a competitive side on their day and I can see them making it difficult for the Dutch by being competitive and a tough team to play against.

But I think the Dutch will just nick it here because I can see them finding a way to win the game as they have the quality of players to help them win tight games.

PREDICTION: 2-1

IVORY COAST V NORWAY

Ivory Coast will be making their first ever appearance in the World Cup knockout stages in this game and have impressed in every game they’ve played in so far.

They've been organised, tough to beat and have also posed a threat on the counter with the pace they have in wide areas.

I was very surprised that Norway rested players against France including Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard which surprised me more.

I know they were already through but given the quality of side they were facing and the fact that they still had a chance to win the group, I was very much expecting them to field a stronger team.

They'll bring their rested players back into the team for this one including their two big hitters and because of this I think they'll come out on top and reach the last 16.

PREDICTION: 1-3

FRANCE V SWEDEN

France have arguably been the most impressive side at this World Cup so far and they showed why in their final group game against Norway.

Ousmane Dembele stole the show in that game with his hat trick and is beginning to make his mark on this tournament after scoring in the game before against Iraq.

Sweden needed a brilliant strike from Anthony Elanga against Japan to see themselves into this round as one of the best third placed teams.

They've caused teams problems at this tournament and I can see them having a good number of chances in this one as well.

But they can be got at defensively as Holland showed and with the quality of attacking players that France have, I can see the French exploit this weakness.

PREDICTION: 5-1

WEDNESDAY:

MEXICO V ECUADOR

Mexico really turned on the style in the second half of their final group game against the Czech Republic where they made a number of changes after already clinching their place in the knockout stages.

It was good to see 17 year old Gilberto Mora start and get his goal in that game and I'm hoping that he at least gets a cameo from the bench in this one.

Ecuador were excellent against Germany in their final group game with their win being the result that sent them into the knockout stages as one of the best teams to finish third.

They were competitive throughout that game and I'm expecting them to be competitive in this one as well because they're that kind of team.

But I think Mexico will have just enough to see themselves through to the last 16 as they'll have home advantage on their side and should also have enough quality to win the game.

PREDICTION: 2-1

ENGLAND V DR CONGO

England were much improved against Panama as they moved the ball a lot quicker than they did against Ghana.

They'll need to move the ball quickly in this one if they're to reach the last 16 because DR Congo are a side who can make it difficult for teams by getting men behind the ball and being tough to break down.

They were like that in their opening game against Portugal where they got a deserved draw and I think they'll replicate that gameplan in this one.

But whilst I think that they'll make it a tough game for England, I can still see Thomas Tuchel's side come out on top as they should have enough quality to see themselves through to the next round.

PREDICTION: 2-0

BELGIUM V SENEGAL

Belgium put in a much improved performance in their final group game against New Zealand by moving the ball a lot quicker.

They secured top spot in their group by winning that game and they'll come into this one with a lot of confidence on board as a result of both the result and their performance.

Senegal thrashed Iraq in their final group game to qualify for this round as one of the best teams to finish third and were massively helped by Iraq having a man sent off and some poor defending from them as well.

They won't make it easy for Belgium in this one as they're a side who are tough to beat and are a threat on the counter attack.

Belgium have struggled to break down sides who are tough to beat in Egypt and Iran and I think Senegal will set themselves up in a similar way to those two sides.

But I think Belgium will find a way to win the game because they have the quality of players to help them do that.

PREDICTION: 2-1

THURSDAY:

USA V BOSNIA

USA have been one of the most impressive teams to watch at this World Cup and especially in their first two games against Paraguay and Australia.

They made a number of changes against Turkey with most of the players rested being on yellow cards and they all should come back into this team for this one.

Bosnia qualified for the knockout rounds by being one of the best teams to finish third and they'll pose a tough test for the US in this one as they're a side who are tough to beat and like to get men behind the ball.

They were impressive in their final group game against Qatar where they played more on the front foot but in this one, they'll probably sit back and make it difficult for the US as the latter will have most of the possession.

They will make it difficult for Mauricio Pochettino's side by being difficult to beat, but the USA should still have more than enough quality to come out on top in this one.

PREDICTION: 2-0

SPAIN V AUSTRIA

Spain are yet to show the best version of themselves at this World Cup and we're now at the stage of the tournament where the best teams begin to show that.

They did beat Saudi Arabia convincingly in their second group game but in the other two they were not at their brilliant best and we could finally see them at that level now we're in the knockout stages.

Austria were involved in a World Cup classic against Algeria where they needed a very late goal from Sasa Kalajdzic to both rescue a point and book their place in the knockout stages.

As good as their attacking play was in that game, their defending was not the best and they'll need to shore up at the back ahead of this one because of the quality of side they're facing.

They'll still look to play on the front foot and press high as that is how Ralf Rangnick likes to play, but I think Spain's quality could be too much for them.

PREDICTION: 3-0

FRIDAY:

PORTUGAL V CROATIA

Portugal were involved in arguably the greatest goalless draw at a World Cup against Colombia and will be wandering how they didn't score.

That draw cost them top spot in the group meaning that Ronaldo will not face off against Messi's Argentina in the Quarter Finals should they win this game and their last 16 tie.

Croatia were second best for much of the second half against Ghana after being the team in control of the first half.

But they still found a way to win the game which is what teams with the quality and experience they have do.

They are whoever still an ageing side and can be got at defensively as England showed in their opening game.

Because of this I think Portugal will come out on top because of the quality they have in attack and the fact that they're a younger team with a lot more energy.

PREDICTION: 3-1

SWITZERLAND V ALGERIA

Switzerland have played better in the second half of games than they have in the first at this World Cup and especially their last two against Bosnia and Canada.

Both games saw them struggle to create clear cut chances in the first half but in the second half they looked much improved and opened the game up more.

Algeria boss Vladimir Petkovic used to manager Switzerland and faces them for the first time since leaving them after Euro 2020.

Most of the Swiss squad played under him when he was their manager and his knowledge of those players and the team could give Algeria a chance.

But I think the Swiss will get the better of their old boss in this one as I think they'll have enough quality to win the game.

PREDICTION: 2-1

AUSTRALIA V EGYPT

Australia have been a team who play on the counter attack at this World Cup and they're up against an Egypt side who also like to play on the counter attack.

Egypt are making their first ever appearance in the knockout stages at a World Cup after going out at the group stage at each of their last three appearances at these finals.

Because both sides like to play on the counter attack, I can see this being a very close game with not a lot between the two sides.

But I think Egypt will just edge it in extra time because of the quality they have in attack which is stronger than Australia's on paper.

PREDICTION: 1-2

ARGENTINA V CAPE VERDE

Argentina started Messi on the bench in their final group game against Jordan and it didn't do them much harm as they still controlled the game and gave the opportunity for other players to step up.

But there was no way he was going to sit out the entire match as he later came on and scored the winning goal from his delightful free kick.

He's probably been the player of the tournament so far as he's the top goal scorer with 6 goals and has been the best player on the pitch whenever he's played.

Cape Verde have been the story of the World Cup so far after picking up results against both Spain and Uruguay on their way to getting out of their group.

Now here comes their biggest test of the tournament against the defending champions and the greatest player of all-time.

They'll probably do what they did against Spain in getting men behind the ball and be difficult to beat and I can see them setting themselves up that way.

But with Argentina having a player like Messi on their team and Messi being a player who always finds his way through tight defences, I think the defending champions will find a way to win the game with Messi being at the heart of it.

PREDICTION: 3-0

SATURDAY:

COLOMBIA V GHANA

Colombia were arguably the better side against Portugal as they had most of and maybe the better chances on the day.

It was so cruel for them to have their late winner denied by VAR due to a marginal offside which the linesman deserves credit for spotting because it was incredibly tight.

Ghana will probably do what they did against England in this game by getting men behind the ball and being difficult to beat because Colombia are almost certainly going to have most of the possession.

I can see them doing exactly that but as Colombia are a side who like to move the ball quickly unlike England in that specific game, I think they'll come out on top in this one.

PREDICTION: 2-0