2018 World Cup – The Bat Flip

World Cupdate: Allez Les Blues; France Wins World Cup

Welcome to your daily 2018 FIFA World Cup update, or World Cupdate, where we recap the past day’s proceedings from Russia while previewing what is still to come. These features will run every morning throughout the duration of the tournament and feature highlights, major news, and much more from Russia.

Here’s What Happened: Sunday, July 15th

Four weeks of football led us back to where it all began, at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final. Like all Finals that preceded it, this year provided the opportunity for history to be made regardless of who won the match. France and Croatia delivered fans a show when it mattered most and will go down as one of the greatest Finals in World Cup history.

France 4-2 Croatia

Drama headlined the 2018 FIFA World Cup and Sunday’s Final served as the perfect end to the tournament when France and Croatia squared off in Moscow to determine a champion.

What can often be a cagey match due to teams not wanting to make a mistake was anything but as both sides but on an absolute show for all 90 minutes. Keeping with the theme of this tournament, an own goal opened the scoring to put France in front early. That was just a sign of things to come as the game opened up from that point on.

Croatia dominated early and found an equalizer but France were right back in front after Antoine Griezmann converted a VAR awarded penalty for a 2-1 halftime advantage.

France’s talent and relative fresh legs made a major impact in the second half when Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappé scored just six minutes apart to push France in front 4-1 and all but seal the game and title for their country. Croatia were able to pull one back off a howler by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris but it was not nearly enough as France locked down on defense to close out the game.

The victory gives France its second World Cup title in its history and joins an exclusive group of nations to win multiple FIFA World Cup titles. On the other side, it was obviously not the way Croatia hoped to end its dream run but will still return home as heroes with the best finish ever for the nation at a World Cup.

Goals

Mario Mandzukic | FRA (18′ OG)
Ivan Perisic | CRO (28′)
Antoine Griezmann | FRA (38′ PEN)
Paul Pogba | FRA (59′)
Kylian Mbappé | FRA (65′)
Mario Mandzukic | CRO (69′)

Highlights

France was too much for Croatia to handle in the FIFA World Cup final.

Watch all the highlights in our 90′ in 90″ ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/8A1gTLxbRx

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 15, 2018

And then there was one. 🇫🇷

Live look at the world champions moments after the final whistle: pic.twitter.com/2rNke8mdRh

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 15, 2018

With that, the 2018 FIFA World Cup has come to an end with France sitting on top of the football world. This Final served as the perfect end to a tournament filled with drama and the unexpected. Before you know it, we’ll be back at it again in four years when the world comes together for the beautiful game.

Goals of the Day

Often times, the World Cup Final can be a cagey match with little scoring. That was not the case this year as France and Croatia combined for six goals in an absolute thrilling 90 minutes of football. Here’s the three best from one of the best Finals in recent memory.

Ivan Perisic (Croatia)

Down 1-0 from an own goal, Croatia kept up the pressure and were rewarded with an equalizer off this screamer by Ivan Perisic that gave Hugo Lloris no chance of saving.

Ivan Perisic equalizes!

His shot takes a slight deflection past Lloris to make it 1-1. pic.twitter.com/D2eayynKUN

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 15, 2018

Paul Pogba (France)

Quietly one of the best players at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Paul Pogba silenced the critics over the course of his time in Russia and put the cherry on top with this strike that turned out to be the World Cup winning goal.

Pogba puts France up 3-1! pic.twitter.com/GGbqabnvmo

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 15, 2018

Kylian Mbappé (France)

The coming out party for Kylian Mbappé at this World Cup was capped off in the Final with this strike in the second half that put France up 4-1 and all but sealed the title for France.

Kylian Mbappé gets in on the action!

The 19-year-old becomes the first teenager to score in a FIFA World Cup final since Pelé. pic.twitter.com/4fqjCSWJL0

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 15, 2018

Sunday’s Final provided with perhaps the best action of the knockout rounds and served as the perfect end to what was a wild World Cup tournament.

Final Bracket

One final look at the World Cup bracket with France being crowned champions.

After a chaotic group stage portion of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the knockout rounds had a high bar to live up to and in many ways they surpassed the drama of the group stage with a stirring performance by all teams involved.

World Cup Awards

The end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup means it is time to hand out some individual awards to reward great performances over the last month of competition. Winning the title may be the ultimate goal but these players earned these awards with great personal efforts during the tournament.

Golden Ball (Best Player)

Luka Modric (Croatia)

Golden Boot (Top Goalscorer)

Harry Kane (England); 6 goals

Golden Glove (Best Goalkeeper)

Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)

Best Young Player

Kylian Mbappé (France)

Other Awards

Silver Ball (Second best player): Eden Hazard (Belgium)

Bronze Ball (Third best player): Antoine Griezmann (France)

Silver Boot (Second leading goalscorer): Antoine Griezmann (France); 4 goals, 2 assists

Bronze Boot (Third leading goalscorer): Romelu Lukaku (Belgium); 4 goals, 1 assist

Here’s What’s Next: Looking Ahead

Just because this World Cup has come to a close that does not mean we cannot look ahead to what the future of international football has in store for fans. Future schedules are already with many great international competitions worth your time. Here’s a brief look at what’s coming up down the road in the football world.

2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Location: France

Dates: June 7, 2019 – July 7, 2019

wwc_2019.0.jpg — via starsandstripesfc.com

France may very well still be celebrating the men’s World Cup victory when they welcome the women to the country next year for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Location: United States

Dates: June 18, 2019 – July 18, 2019

The 2019 CONCACAF will mark the first major competition for the United States Men’s National Team since missing out on the 2018 World Cup. This tournament should serve as a good litmus test for the new generation of American talent before 2022 World Cup qualifying begins.

2020 European Championship

Location: Europe

Dates: June 12, 2020 – July 12, 2020

For the first time, UEFA’s continental championship will be held across several different host cities all over the continent with the Final being hosted at Wembley Stadium in London.

2022 FIFA World Cup

Location: Qatar

Dates: November 21, 2022 – December 18, 2022

Perhaps the most controversial World Cup ever, Qatar will play host to the world in a winter World Cup to compensate for the oppressive summer heat of the Middle East.

2026 FIFA World Cup

Location: North America (Canada, Mexico, United States)

Dates: Summer 2026

The World Cup returns to United States soil when the country will be the main host of the 2026 tournament. This will be the first time the tournament features a 48 team field, expanding from the normal 32 teams.

This brings to an end our daily World Cupdate features highlights all the action from the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Stay tuned this week for our full recap of the tournament with a look back at all the action from the group stage through the Final as France triumphs in Russia to win the World Cup.

FIFA World Cup: Final Preview

Four weeks of football in Russia have led us to this, the Final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. It will be France and Croatia battling out at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow to determine a champion.

This will be the first World Cup Final for France since 2006 but its third trip since 1998 where they won the tournament as the host nation. For Croatia, they will be taking part in their first World Cup Final and will be the second smallest nation ever to play in the match.

Winning the World Cup brings fame and prestige that will last a lifetime. Both of these nations will be playing for immortality later today when they take the pitch for the final time in Russia.

The Teams

We started this World Cup with 32 nations and now we are left with just two. France and Croatia both took different paths to this final and now they will go head-to-head to determine who wins the 2018 FIFA World Cup. They will play at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow where the tournament began just four short weeks ago. When the final whistle blows, one side will be heading home world champions.

France

Sunday will mark France’s third World Cup Final since 1998 but its first since the 2006 tournament in Germany. A winner on home soil in 1998, France can add a second star to its crest with a victory over Croatia and cement this golden generation in history. A popular pick before the tournament, it is no shock to see France in this situation and they will be the heavy favorites heading into the Final.

How they got here: def. Belgium 1-0 in the semifinals.

What to expect: If it’s not broke then don’t fix it and right now France is anything but broke. Three dominant performances in the knockout stages have France on the cusp of glory. Kylian Mbappé will likely win the Golden Ball as the best player in this tournament but everything is clicking right now for France. Look for them to get an early goal then suffocate a tired Croatia.

Projected Lineup

Screen Shot 2018-07-15 at 12.17.42 AM.png — via thehardtackle.com

Croatia

Croatia will become the second smallest nation (behind only Uruguay) to compete in a World Cup Final. This moment is the capstone on a golden generation of talent for Croatia featuring the likes of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic. They entered the tournament as a dark horse and now find themselves on football’s biggest stage following three comeback wins in the knockout rounds.

How they got here: def. England 2-1 in extra time in the semifinals.

What to expect: The biggest question for Croatia entering this game will be what energy they have left following three straight extra time contests, two of which went to penalty kicks. Playing 360 minutes of soccer in the course of little over a week can wear a team out quickly. Going against a rested France side will not be easy, but Croatia can strike on the counter when the opportunity arises.

Projected Lineup

Screen Shot 2018-07-15 at 12.17.54 AM.png — via thehardtackle.com

There is no question both France and Croatia are deserving of being in this World Cup Final and it should provide a great finish to a great tournament in Russia. Though one side will be the heavy favorites when they game kicks off, this World Cup has already shown that anything can happen.

Third Place Match Recap

FIFA will never be an organization to turn down some extra cash so we are presented with the Third Place match at every World Cup as a consolation prize for the semifinal losers. That means it was Belgium and England serving up the appetizer for Sunday’s World Cup Final.

Belgium 2-0 England

Surprisingly, both Belgium and England started mostly full squads in this match which is normally reserved for rotation players to get some game time. There was still some Golden Boot business to sort out between Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane but neither had any major impact on the outcome of this match.

Just four minutes into the contest, Belgium drew first blood when Thomas Meunier slotted home an Eden Hazard cross in front of goal for a 1-0 advantage early on. It turned out to be all Belgium needed in the end.

England pushed the rest of the game for an equalizer, even dominating the match at times but could never find that elusive goal. Pushing hard late in the match, England were caught on the break and Eden Hazard sliced his way through the defense and finished off a nice solo effort to give Belgium a 2-0 lead and put the game on ice.

With the result, Belgium earn its best finish ever at a World Cup, beating its fourth place finish from 1986. England will leave Russia with a disappointing yet surprising fourth place finish, its best since the 1990 World Cup.

Goals

Thomas Meunier | BEL (4′)
Eden Hazard | BEL (82′)

Highlights

The Belgium closed out their FIFA World Cup campaign with a win over England in the third place game.

See how it happened in our 90′ in 90″ ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/xt9vLIJt2k

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 14, 2018

That puts a wrap on the 2018 FIFA World Cup for both Belgium and England. They will now head home disappointed they could not reach the ultimate goal, but still proud of what they were able to accomplish in Russia.

World Cup Final

A little over four weeks of action calumniates today with the World Cup Final between France and Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Many expected France to be in the situation prior to the start of the tournament and proved its favorite status throughout the past month. Croatia on the other hand were a popular dark horse pick to make a deep run but advancing to the Final still came as a surprise to many.

Both sides are deserving finalists and earned their way into this Final through good football and perseverance. Playing three straight extra time matches in the knockout rounds will have many wondering just how much Croatia has left in the tank but you can never count them out. On the other side, a disappointing group performance from France was quickly erased from memory following three dominant showing in the knockouts.

Whichever side remains standing when the final whistle blows in Moscow later today, you can be assured they have earned that trophy. France will be seeking to add a second star to its crest while Croatia tries to become the second smallest nation to ever win a World Cup.

France v. Croatia

thumb2-france-vs-croatia-geometric-art-abstraction-4k-final — via besthqwallpapers.com

Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow)
How to Watch: FOX
Players to Watch: Kylian Mbappé (FRA), Luka Modric (CRO)

A proven powerhouse taking on a scrappy underdog is the best way for this seesaw World Cup to come to and end. France have been here before and can join an exclusive club of two-time World Cup champions with a victory. On the other side stands Croatia, searching for its first World Cup title after three rigorous knockout games saw them play 360 minutes of football to make it here.

Everything is clicking for both sides at the moment and should provide for a great final match for what has been a somewhat surreal World Cup tournament so far. A well rested France will be the favorites coming into the match but Croatia has proven time and again you cannot keep them down for long.

Only 90 minutes (or perhaps a little more) separate us from a World Cup champion. It is sure to be a great match between two deserving sides so make sure you do not miss a second of the action from Moscow.

Match Specifics

You can watch the World Cup Final live on FOX or by streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time

World Cup Final Predictions

Everyone is making predictions for this World Cup Final so we figured we might as well include ours as well. Robbie and Shawn both give their thoughts on the match and seem to be leaning towards France to hoist the trophy. Our Twitter followers even got in on the action and seem to agree with Robbie and Shawn.

Robbie

France 3, Croatia 1

Robbie says: It just feels like everything is falling into place for France at this tournament. They have looked dominant in all three knockout games to this point and now they face an exhausted Croatia team in the Final. Just too many weapons up and down the lineup for Croatia to keep up with. Kylian Mbappé wraps up his Golden Ball performance with a goal and France win its second FIFA World Cup title.

Shawn

France 2, Croatia 0

Shawn says: Playing the equivalent of four matches in the span of three match dates has to catch up with Croatia at some point. Right? Croatia performed admirably in getting to this final, but the emerging juggernaut that is this current – and developing – generation of French football is a far sight better than Russia or even England. Look for Kylian Mbappe to do something absurd with the ball on his way to an early goal, while possibly netting the second for funsies. Maybe Croatia nets a late goal in stoppage time, but France has been exceptional since sleepwalking through group play.

Twitter

Who will win the World Cup?

Vote for #FRA or #CRO below.

— The Bat Flip (@thebatflipblog) July 14, 2018

It’s a clean sweep for France here at The Bat Flip and Twitter seems pretty convinced it is going to be France lifting the trophy and adding a second star to its uniform.

Golden Boot Outlook

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Screen Shot 2018-07-15 at 12.16.34 AM.png — via beIN Sports

Barring a hat trick by Kylian Mbappé in the Final on Sunday, Harry Kane of England will be the Golden Boot winner for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He would be the second England player to win the award at the World Cup.

Once the World Cup Final is over we will have one last World Cupdate post on Monday morning recapping the action and that will bring an end to our daily 2018 FIFA World Cup content. There will be a full tournament recap running later in the week so keep checking back so you don’t miss out.

World Cupdate: The Stage is Set

Here’s What Happened: Wednesday, July 11th

For the first time in history, Croatia will take part in the World Cup final following a 2-1 extra time victory over England in the second semifinal of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. England struck early and seemed to be on its way through until Croatia ramped up the pressure in the second half and forced extra time for a third straight match.

Running on what looked like fumes, Croatia found a winner in the second extra time period and will advance to the World Cup Final on Sunday in Moscow where France will be waiting.

Croatia 2-1 England

For 45 minutes, it looked like England was perfectly positioned to return to the World Cup Final for the first time since winning it all in 1966. England were in the lead at halftime courtesy a free kick beauty from Kieran Trippier and they simply looked dominant in the opening half. The only criticism for England was its inability to capitalize and score a second goal to pad the lead.

After halftime, it looked like two different teams were playing as an exhausted Croatia team fought back and took control of the game. A deserved equalizer finally came Croatia’s way in the 68th minute off the foot of Ivan Perisic and they almost took the lead moments later when Perisic hit the woodwork.

Neither side could find a winner in regular time so the teams headed to a combined fifth extra time game of the tournament. Four minutes into the second extra time period, Mario Mandzukic slipped behind the England defense to receive a pass and neatly slide it into the back of the net for the goal that sends Croatia to its first ever World Cup Final.

Whatever Croatia has left in the tank will be needed when they take on a well rested France team in the Final on Sunday. England exceeded all expectations but will feel they missed several opportunities on Wednesday. They will now head to St. Petersburg for the Third Place match with Belgium on Saturday.

Goals

Kieran Trippier | ENG (5′)
Ivan Perisic | CRO (68′)
Mario Mandzukic | CRO (109′)

Highlights

Croatia continued their incredible FIFA World Cup run by upsetting England in extra time.

See how it happened in our 90′ in 90″ ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/YTqPwBvaAR

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 11, 2018

That will close the door on the semifinals at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and we now know it will be France and Croatia playing for the World Cup title on Sunday in Moscow.

Goals of the Day

Croatia and England scored three times as many goals in their semifinal match than what France and Belgium produced just 24 hours earlier. Any goal at this stage is important and possibly history making. All are worthy to be highlighted.

Kieran Trippier (England)

Coming into Wednesday’s match, Kieran Trippier had never scored a goal in an England uniform. He changed that just five minutes into the match with this dazzling free kick to give England the early lead.

DREAM START FOR ENGLAND!

Trippier beats Subašić on the free kick to put the Three Lions up 1-0 early against Croatia! pic.twitter.com/em1IQ9SRml

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 11, 2018

Ivan Perisic (Croatia)

Croatia were 20 minutes away from crashing out of the World Cup before Ivan Perisic saved the day with an equalizer in the 68th minute. Perisic just beat Kyle Walker to the ball and used a karate kick to level the score.

CROATIA EQUALIZE!

Ivan Perišić beats Kyle Walker to the ball to pull Croatia level with 20 minutes left in the game. pic.twitter.com/O0xaQRULT7

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 11, 2018

Mario Mandzukic (Croatia)

Deep into its third extra time game in as many matches, Mario Mandzukic scored the goal that will be remembered for the rest of time to Croatian fans across the world.

MANDZUKIC GIVES CROATIA THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/mz8WLlqiQm

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 11, 2018

Check back Sunday for more great plays from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Bracket Update

Four weeks of great football have led us to this final weekend of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Kicking off the show on Saturday will be the Third Place match between Belgium and England. Both of these teams came out of Group G and reached the semifinals before losing. Belgium won the group stage match between the two sides and it remains to be see just how many regulars will suit up for this rematch.

Sunday marks the culmination of the last 30 days of football with the World Cup Final at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. France and Croatia will take the pitch one final time in Russia to determine a World Cup champion. France will be playing in its third World Cup Final while Croatia will be making its inaugural trip to the biggest game on the international stage.

Finals Outlook

Third Place Match: Belgium v. England; Saturday, July 14th @ 10:00 AM

World Cup Final: France v. Croatia; Sunday, July 15th @ 11:00 AM

As we have done with each knockout round, there will be a special preview section for the upcoming Third Place and World Cup Final matches to be played this weekend. Keep your eyes peeled for that to drop sometime in the next few days so you can be primed for this final weekend of World Cup action.

Here’s What’s Next: Final Weekend

Two matches remain in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and both will be played this Saturday and Sunday but each will be carrying a different weight. Saturday kicks off the final weekend of play with the Third Place match between Belgium and England. All the action comes to a close on Sunday where it all began in Moscow with the World Cup Final between France and Croatia.

Third Place Match : Belgium v. England

thumb2-belgium-vs-england-geometric-art-abstraction-3rd-place-match-4k.jpg — via besthqwallpapers.com

Date: Saturday, July 14th
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Saint Petersburg Stadium (St. Petersburg)
How to Watch: FOX

Oftentimes, teams playing in the Third Place match will start a lot of subs to get them playing time and experience. There is not much to play for here except for a bit of consolation heading home with one final victory. Belgium and England will be disappointed that they both missed out on the real prize but there is a chance we could see Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane go head-to-head for the Golden Boot title.

World Cup Final: France v. Croatia

Date: Sunday, July 15th
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow)
How to Watch: FOX

PREVIEW

You can watch all these games live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time

Golden Boot Update

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Screen Shot 2018-07-11 at 6.35.13 PM.png — via beIN Sports

No change in the Golden Boot standings following Wednesday’s semifinal match. Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku will face-off in the Third Place match on Saturday but it’s hard to say right now if either will play.

Keep up to date on everything World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in Russia.

World Cupdate: Viva La France!

Here’s What Happened: Tuesday, July 10th

Twenty years after reaching its first World Cup Final, France returns to the Final following a 1-0 victory over Belgium in the first semifinal match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. A rather lackluster contest was decided in the 51st minute off a header from defender Samuel Umtiti that found its way past Thibaut Courtois for the game’s only goal.

Chances were few and far between for either side and France was comfortable simply playing for the 1-0 result. Style points mean nothing at this point and France is more than fine with that as they book a spot in the World Cup Final against either England or Croatia.

With some down time between now and Sunday’s Final, France will sit back and watch England and Croatia play the second semifinal on Wednesday to see which side will be joining them in Moscow for the trophy.

France 1-0 Belgium

What should have been one of the best games of the tournament turned out to be more of a disappointment for fans. None of that will matter to France who defeated Belgium 1-0 in their semifinal match to advance to the World Cup Final for the first time since 2006 and third time since 1998 when France won.

A goalless first half gave way shortly into the second half when France defender Samuel Umtiti scored a beautiful header off a corner kick to push France in front in the 51st minute. Umtiti’s goal opened up the game a bit as France pushed for a second while Belgium became desperate for an equalizer.

All the effort was for nothing however since neither side could find a way past the two keepers to put more goals on the board. After six minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle blew and France was off to the World Cup Final to take on either England or Croatia on Sunday.

For Belgium, its last great shot at international glory may have slipped away in the semifinal but the tournament is not yet over for them. They can go home with a bit on consolation if they can win the Third Place match scheduled for Saturday.

Goals

Samuel Umtiti | FRA (51′)

Highlights

France advanced to their 3rd FIFA World Cup final in country history with their win over Belgium.

Catch all the highlights in our 90′ in 90″ 👇 pic.twitter.com/UClRLIjtHO

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2018

One World Cup Final spot is settled and now we wait to see who joins France in Moscow when England and Croatia face-off in the second semifinal scheduled for today.

Plays of the Day

Not too much in the way of standout plays from the first semifinal game on Tuesday afternoon but we did get two moments that really stood out. Samuel Umtiti scored the goal that put France into the World Cup Final and Kylian Mbappé showed why he’s a head above the rest.

Samuel Umtiti (France)

Just a shade over five minutes into the second half, defender Samuel Umtiti scored the goal that eventually pushed France into the World Cup Final on Sunday. Rising above everyone, Umtiti beautifully deflected a header into the net for the lone goal of the match.

SAMUEL UMTITI!

The center back heads home the corner to give France the 1-0 lead. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/Y5MtXUpvDg

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2018

Kylian Mbappé (France)

No goal came of it, but this back-heel no look pass from Kylian Mbappé to Olivier Giroud is top class. Mbappé is likely to win the Best Young Player award for the tournament and could be a frontrunner for the Golden Ball as best all around player. Plays like this are what set Mbappé apart from the rest of the field.

OMG Mbappé 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GjCvhdxyH9

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2018

Check back tomorrow for more great plays from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Bracket Update

We know for certain France will be playing in the World Cup Final on Sunday. What we don’t know if who they will be going up against at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. That will be decided today between England and Croatia.

Belgium may not be able to raise the trophy but its tournament still goes on as they will play in the Third Place match on Saturday in St. Petersburg against the loser of England and Croatia.

Finals Outlook

Third Place Match: Belgium v. Loser ENG/CRO; Saturday, July 14th @ 10:00 AM

World Cup Final: France v. Winner ENG/CRO; Sunday, July 15th @ 11:00 AM

Here’s What’s Next: Wednesday, July 11th

One semifinal down and one to go where it will be determined who joins France in the World Cup Final on Sunday in Moscow. Two unlikely semifinalists in England and Croatia will do battle with the winner heading to the World Cup Final and breaking a long drought in the process. If England emerge victorious, it will be the Three Lions first trip to the Final since 1966 when they won the tournament. Should Croatia prevail it will be the first trip to the Final for the nation.

Coming off a somewhat disappointing game between France and Belgium we can only hope England and Croatia provide some fireworks for all the fans tuning in on Wednesday.

Croatia v. England

thumb2-croatia-vs-england-geometric-art-abstraction-round-4-4k — via besthqwallpapers.com

Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow)
How to Watch: FOX

One of these sides will be ending a long World Cup Final drought with a victory on Wednesday. Croatia has never been to the Final in 20 years of competing as an independent nation and England have not made the trip since winning it all in 1966 on home soil. Coming off two extra time games, Croatia will need to muster whatever energy it had left in the tank to keep up with a mostly fit England side.

Projected Lineups

You can watch all these games live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time

Golden Boot Update

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Screen Shot 2018-07-10 at 7.40.20 PM.png — via beIN Sports

No change to the Golden Boot standings and it is becoming increasingly likely this is Harry Kane’s race to lose.

Keep up to date on everything World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in Russia.

FIFA World Cup: Semifinals Preview

The long and winding road that is the World Cup has led us to here, the semifinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. What once was a tournament of 32 nations is now a tournament of just four, all playing for immortality. France and England have both raised the trophy in the past in tournament played on their home soil. Belgium and Croatia have both been to this stage but never further.

All four nations are in the midst of a golden generation just at different stages. France and England are entering a new golden generation of players and arrived in Russia as the two youngest teams in the field. For them, this could just be the beginning of a great international run. Belgium and Croatia on the other hand are in the latter days of their respective golden generations, knowing this could be the last time they ever get an opportunity as grand as this one.

There will be loads of talent and great football on display across these two semifinal matches in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Who comes out on top of either match is really anyone’s guess and there is no wrong answer. It all begins later today with France and Belgium squaring off for a spot in the World Cup Final. Make sure you don’t miss a second of the action.

The Teams

Only four teams remain standing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and it’s an all European affair in the semifinals. Many expected France and Belgium to reach this stage but not everyone was as hot on England and Croatia. Two past champions and two searching for a first title will be on the pitch over the next two days fighting for a spot in the World Cup Final.

Belgium

In the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 1986, Belgium and its golden generation are just two wins from winning its first World Cup. A near dead even matchup with France awaits on the the horizon and beating Brazil in the last round sends a message to the remaining teams that Belgium is afraid of no one.

How they got here: def. Brazil 2-1 in Quarterfinals

What to expect: We may not know the full starting lineup for Belgium until the last possible second when match sheets are due from the managers. Roberto Martinez made a few major changes for the Brazil match and it paid off. We will have to wait and see what tricks he has up his sleeve for France. Whatever the case, expect the Red Devils to be fully loaded at all positions.

Projected Lineup

Screen Shot 2018-07-03 at 9.36.58 PM — Expected Starting XI

France

As the youngest team in the tournament, there were some questions to just how far this France side could go even with plenty of talent to go around. Well, they have proven good enough to reach the semifinals and could potentially put themselves in position to win a second World Cup. It will be a border rivalry with Belgium in the semifinals with a spot in the World Cup Final on the line.

How they got here: def. Uruguay 2-0 in Quarterfinals

What to expect: Relentless attacking options give France the ability to play on the front foot and control possession. Problem with that is, especially in this match, is Belgium are just as strong and can matchup with France’s talent. Look for France to get the ball into space and allow its creative playmakers the opportunities to make something happen.

Projected Lineup

Screen Shot 2018-07-03 at 9.24.14 PM — Expected Starting XI

England

Sometimes it’s easy to forget just how much hard luck England have had on the international stage since winning the World Cup in 1966. Between penalty shootouts and just plain bad teams, England have made it to the semifinals for the first time since 1990. If you remember back to the final day of group stage play, England did everything in its power to lose to Belgium and fall to the easier side of the bracket. Well the plan worked and now England are on the cusp of bringing the title back home.

How they got here: def. Sweden 2-0 in Quarterfinals

What to expect: England should have opportunities to take the game to Croatia who tends to lay back and hit on the counter. Controlling possession and creating chances for Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling up front is a good way for England to press the Croatia back line. Possession also means England can tire out an already exhausted Croatia side who is coming off consecutive extra time matches to get here.

Projected Lineup

Croatia

It has taken two penalty shootouts in the knockout rounds but Croatia has successfully advanced to its first World Cup semifinals since 1998. Entering the twilight of a golden generation of its own and finally broke through on the international stage. Luka Modric has been maybe the best player of the tournament and they are getting scoring from a variety of different players. If there was ever a year a small country like Croatia were going to hoist the trophy, it’s right here in Russia.

How they got here: def. Russia 4-3 on penalties in Quarterfinals

What to expect: Common sense says no matter what lineup Croatia puts on the field on Wednesday it will be loaded with tired bodies. In two knockout games, Croatia has played 240 minutes of football and that is not counting the two additional penalty shootouts. Look for them to sit back and take chances on the counter to preserve as much energy as possible and catch England off guard.

Projected Lineup

That brings to a close this brief look at the eight teams who will be taking part in the Quarterfinals at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. All eight have battled to get here and sit on the brink of at worst a fourth place finish on the game’s biggest stage. Unfortunately, for four of them, this will be the end of the line.

The Bracket

A look at the 2018 FIFA World Cup bracket as it stands heading into the Semifinals.

Just four matches remain at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and it all kicks off on Tuesday with France and Belgium. From there, the weekend brings us the Third Place game on Saturday followed by the main even on Sunday where two sides will battle it out for the World Cup title.

Semifinal Matches

Just four teams left standing from the original 32 that began the tournament just four weeks ago. France and Belgium will kick off the semifinals festivities on Tuesday followed by Croatia and England going on Wednesday. The two winners advance to the World Cup Final to be played on Sunday in Moscow while the two losers will meet in the Third Place match on Saturday.

France v. Belgium

thumb2-france-vs-belgium-geometric-art-abstraction-round-4-4k — via besthqwallpapers.com

Date: Tuesday, July 10th
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Saint Petersburg Stadium (St. Petersburg)
How to Watch: FOX
Players to Watch: Paul Pogba (FRA), Eden Hazard (BEL)

On paper, this looks to be the best of the two semifinal matches at this World Cup. Both France and Belgium entered the tournament as two of the favorites to win the World Cup and have only further established themselves through five games in Russia. Wealthy attacking options on both sides coupled with depth everywhere else means this should be one of the best games of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Prediction: France 3, Belgium 2 (A.E.T.)

Croatia v. England

thumb2-croatia-vs-england-geometric-art-abstraction-round-4-4k.jpg — via besthqwallpapers.com

Date: Wednesday, July 11th
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow)
How to Watch: FOX
Players to Watch: Luka Modric (CRO), Harry Kane (ENG)

Prediction: England 2, Croatia 1

That completes just a very brief look at the pair of matches that will compromise the semifinals stage at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Check back on Wednesday afternoon to see how bad our predictions turn out to be.

Golden Boot Outlook

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Screen Shot 2018-07-07 at 10.44.34 PM — via @beIN Sports

Only four of the top ten goal scorers at the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be in action during the semifinals and Harry Kane still leads the pack with six goals in the tournament.

Once the semifinals begin on Tuesday, we will continuing with our daily World Cupdates recapping the previous day of action along with a preview of what’s still to come as the tournament enters the final few days. Make sure you are checking back with us everyday to keep up to date on the latest news from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

World Cupdate: Russia’s Fairytale Comes to an End

Here’s What Happened: Saturday, July 7th

Quarterfinals action at the 2018 FIFA World Cup resumed on Saturday and we now know the two teams joining France and Belgium in the semifinals. England powered past Sweden in the day’s first match by a score of 2-0 and booked its first semifinal trip since 1990 while Croatia ended Russia’s fairytale run in a penalty shootout for its first semifinal trip since the 1998 World Cup.

England controlled its match against Sweden for the most part, using two set piece goals to build a lead Sweden could never recover from. He wasn’t called on much, but when England needed Jordan Pickford he came up with the timely saves to keep the Three Lions in front and advance to the semifinals.

A second straight penalty shootout was needed for Croatia to join England in the semifinals, making it the first time ever a nation has won consecutive penalty shootouts in the same World Cup.

Everything you could possibly need to know and much, much more can be found in today’s World Cupdate.

Sweden 0-2 England

For the first time since the 1990 FIFA World Cup, England will be playing in the semifinals following a commanding 2-0 win over Sweden in the quarterfinals on Saturday and are one step away from their second ever World Cup Final. In control for most of the match, England never looked to be in trouble and played a great match after taking the lead in the first half.

You may be used to Harry Kane scoring goals for England at this point, but it was a different Harry playing the hero on Saturday. Centre back Harry Maguire got his head on the end of a corner kick in the 30th minute to put England in front. That lead was doubled in the second half when Dele Alli did the same off a free kick in the 59th minute. Jordan Pickford continued his heroics making timely stops but it never felt like England was losing control of the game.

Back in the semifinals for the first time in 28 years, England will take on Croatia with a spot in the World Cup Final on the line. Sweden return home disappointed but national heroes for its performance in Russia.

Goals

Harry Maguire | ENG (30′)
Dele Alli | ENG (59′)

Highlights

England kept their run going with a convincing 2-0 win over Sweden in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals.

Watch the highlights in our 90′ in 90″ 👇 pic.twitter.com/CF4U2lSX78

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 7, 2018

Russia 2(3)-2(4) Croatia (Croatia win 4-3 on penalties)

Both Russia and Croatia needed penalties to win their respective Round of 16 matches so it should be no surprise that it came down to penalties to decide a winner between the two. When the dust settled, it was Croatia winning a second consecutive penalty shootout to move on the to semifinals and bring to an end Russia’s incredible run on its home soil.

The two team traded goals in the first half but neither side could find a winner in the second half, sending the game to extra time. It appeared Croatia found a winner in the first half of extra time but Russia answered back in the 115th minute to keep its dream alive. In the penalty shootout, Croatia prevailed courtesy of two Russian misses and advanced to the semifinals for the second time as an independent nation.

Croatia will meet England in the second semifinals match to be played on Wednesday in Moscow while Russia see its dream run come to an end in the quarterfinals of its home World Cup.

Goals

Denis Cheryshev | RUS (31′)
Andrej Kramaric | CRO (39′)
Domagoj Vida | CRO (101′)
Mário Fernandes | RUS (115′)

Highlights

The hosts gave it a good run, but in the end Croatia came out on top.

Catch all the highlights of Russia vs Croatia in our 90′ in 90″ ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/RvmsMIGX4r

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 7, 2018

And of course, here is the full shootout to watch if you so desire.

Croatia became only the second side to win back-to-back penalty shootouts in FIFA World Cup history!

Watch every penalty 👇 pic.twitter.com/Dya3dBXkd4

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 7, 2018

That is a wrap on the quarterfinal stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. England and Croatia will join France and Belgium in the semifinals to be played on Tuesday and Wednesday. Each side will be guaranteed two more games with the Third Place match coming into play next Saturday.

Plays of the Day

Another day of great saves and great goals gave us plenty to choose from for our best plays from Saturday’s schedule of action. Here’s the three best from Match-day 2 of the quarterfinals.

Jordan Pickford (England)

Already an English hero for his performance against Colombia in the shootout, Jordan Pickford added his legend with this second half save to keep the Three Lions in front. Pickford was not exceptionally busy on Saturday, but he came up big when he had to.

Pickford hasn’t had to do much today, but he just came up big for England! pic.twitter.com/k2vA0jMFXj

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 7, 2018

Denis Cheryshev (Russia)

One of the best stories of this World Cup has been the emergence of Denis Cheryshev for Russia. Coming on as a substitute in the first game of the tournament, Cheryshev has been one of the best players for the host nation and added to his great World Cup with this golazo against Croatia.

MY GOODNESS, Denis Cheryshev 😱 pic.twitter.com/GC70eDB7cv

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 7, 2018

Mário Fernandes (Russia)

On the brink of being eliminated from the World Cup, Mário Fernandes etched his name in Russian football lore with this 115th minute header to keep the home side alive and force a penalty shootout.

RUSSIA EQUALIZE! pic.twitter.com/OdHGvfLyBZ

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 7, 2018

Check back Wednesday for more great plays from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Bracket Update

Semifinal number two is now set with Croatia and England meeting on Wednesday in Moscow to determine who will play in the World Cup Final and which side will be relegated to playing in the Third Place match.

Semifinals Outlook

Tuesday, July 10th: France v. Belgium; 2:00 PM

Wednesday, July 11th: Croatia v. England; 2:00 PM

Those are two great matches with a ton of great storylines that make up the semifinals at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and we will be bringing you a special preview breaking down everything you need to know to prepare yourself. Look four our semifinals preview to drop on Tuesday morning before France and Belgium get the proceedings underway.

Here’s What’s Next: Tuesday, July 10th

After a few days off, semifinal action will get underway at the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France and Belgium playing for a spot in the World Cup Final on Sunday. Both sides are coming off big time victories over South American opponents and have the look of being worthy champions. Unfortunately, only one will have the opportunity to raise the trophy in Moscow.

France v. Belgium

thumb2-france-vs-belgium-geometric-art-abstraction-round-4-4k.jpg — via besthqwallpapers.com

Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Saint Petersburg Stadium (St. Petersburg)
How to Watch: FOX

Projected Lineups

You can watch all these games live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time

Golden Boot Update

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Screen Shot 2018-07-07 at 10.44.34 PM.png — via beIN Sports

Only four of the top ten goal scorers at the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be in action during the semifinals and Harry Kane still leads the pack with six goals in the tournament.

Keep up to date on everything World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in Russia.

World Cupdate: Europe Rule the Day

Here’s What Happened: Friday, July 6th

Coming into the Quarterfinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, eight sides remained alive, six from Europe and two from South America. Four European sides on the right side of the bracket meant Europe was guaranteed a shot at a fourth straight World Cup title. Following Friday’s action, Europe is now guaranteed a fourth straight World Cup title after France and Belgium eliminated South American sides Uruguay and Brazil respectively.

Now six team remain with two quarterfinal matches still to play on Saturday, but we do know it will be an all affair European the rest of the way. France are beginning to look like the team everyone expected in a 2-0 beating of Uruguay while Belgium sent Brazil’s hunt for a sixth star down in flames by a score of 2-1 in Friday’s second game.

Everything you need to know about Friday’s action can be found in this World Cupdate.

Uruguay 0-2 France

France is back in the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2006 following a 2-0 victory over Uruguay on Friday. Goals from Raphaël Varane and Antoine Griezmann were more than enough to push Les Blues through to the next round.

Hugo Lloris made a spectacular diving save late in the first half to keep France in front and Uruguay never looked threatening going forward the rest of the match. Missing Edinson Cavani meant more of the burden fell on the shoulders of Luis Suárez but he could never solve the France defense.

This could very well be the end for a very good generation of Uruguay players on the international stage but how it all shakes out remains to be seen. France on the other hand, are into the semifinals as the youngest team in the tournament and are looking like a champion in the making.

Goals

Raphaël Varane | FRA (40′)
Antoine Griezmann | FRA (61′)

Highlights

France got goals from Varane and Griezmann AND kept the shutout to advance to the semifinals.

Watch the highlights of Uruguay vs France in our 90′ in 90″ ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Zru12sAcxZ

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 6, 2018

Brazil 1-2 Belgium

For this golden generation of Belgium football, this quarterfinal match with Brazil was the biggest game of their lives. Having never advanced beyond the quarterfinals in any major international competition, Belgium knew it needed a win or waste maybe its greatest generation of players ever.

An own goal by Brazil coupled with a KEvin De Bruyne laser beam on the counter-attack pushed Belgium to a 2-0 lead in the first half. On the brink of its second ever trip to the World Cup semifinals, Belgium locked down on defense in the second half. Brazil was able to pull one goal back with 15 minutes remaining, but Belgium and Thibaut Courtois didn’t blink to hold on for the 2-1 victory.

With the win over Brazil, Belgium now advance to the semifinals where they will meet fellow European side France on Tuesday. Brazil head home, still sitting on five stars and the next opportunity they get in 2022, it will be 20 years since its last World Cup title.

Goals

Fernandinho | BEL (13′ OG)
Kevin De Bruyne | BEL (31′)
Renato Augusto | BRA 76′

Highlights

Brazil vs Belgium lived up to the hype.

Watch all of the highlights in our 90′ in 90″ ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/LUjWuzXKfr

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 6, 2018

That does it for the first day of Quarterfinal action from the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France and Belgium advancing on to the Semifinals on Tuesday. Saturday sees another pair of Quarterfinal matches as two more teams will keep their World Cup dreams alive for at least one more match.

Plays of the Day

There were enough goals on Friday to make a top three but there were also two spectacular saves that absolutely need highlighted. For that to happen, we will be adjusting our segment to highlight the best plays from Friday rather than just the goals.

Hugo Lloris (France)

Trailing 1-0 in the first half, Uruguay had an opportunity to equalize just before halftime but France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had different ideas. A dangerous free kick was sent into the box where it found the head of a Uruguay attacker but Lloris made a fantastic stretch to reach the ball before it could find the net.

What a save by Hugo Lloris!

…but Godin *probably* should’ve scored the rebound 😁 pic.twitter.com/itE0yGv1Nf

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 6, 2018

Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)

No one knew it at the time, but this thunderbolt from Kevin De Bruyne turned out to be the goal that put Belgium into the World semifinals for the first time since 1986. Finishing off a brilliant counter-attack, De Bruyne smoked the ball hard and low past the goalkeepers reach for a 2-0 lead.

The counter attack was brilliant, but let’s take another look at that STUNNER by Kevin De Bruyne 😍😍 pic.twitter.com/ZUbd611bXe

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 6, 2018

Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)

If De Bruyne’s strike was the goal that put Belgium in the semifinals then this save by Thibaut Courtois was the nail in the coffin for Brazil. Deep into stoppage time, Neymar took a shot from outside the box that was curling in for an equalizer before the big Belgian goalkeeper got a touch on it to push it over the bar.

Thibaut Courtois saved the day for Belgium in stoppage time. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/IwJyNkOBAH

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 6, 2018

Check back tomorrow for more great plays from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Fail of the Day

For the third time this World Cup, there was a fail so egregious that it had to brought to everyone’s attention. Already trailing 1-0 to France in their quarterfinal match, the margin for error for Uruguay was zero. Unfortunately, Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera committed a true howler off a shot from Antoine Griezmann that allowed France to cushion its lead and eventually win the match.

Oh no, Muslera…

The Uruguayan’s howler puts France up 2-0! pic.twitter.com/PPZE0wBGNE

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 6, 2018

If there is any silver lining for Muslera (there isn’t) it is in knowing that this fail did not end up being the deciding goal in the end.

Bracket Update

Match-day 1 of the Quarterfinals is in the books and one Semifinals match is set between France and Belgium on Tuesday. Both teams are guaranteed two more games at the 2018 FIFA World Cup with the Third Place match in play. Saturday’s matches will determine the second Semifinals match scheduled for Wednesday.

Semifinals Outlook

Tuesday, July 10th: France v. Belgium; 2:00 PM

Here’s What’s Next: Saturday, July 7th

Saturday marks the second day of Quarterfinals play at the 2018 FIFA World Cup with two matches on the schedule, just like Friday. In the first match, Sweden and England will meet with both sides looking to end long Semifinals droughts. The second match will see Russia try to continue its fairytale run through its home tournament while Croatia look to spoil the party and head to its first Semifinals in 20 years.

Sweden v. England

Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Samara Arena (Samara)
How to Watch: FOX

England and Sweden are both ending long Quarterfinals droughts in this game and both will be looking to end long Semifinals droughts with a victory. Sweden suffocated Switzerland in the Round of 16 and advanced thanks to a Emil Forsberg tally in the second half. England ended a history of futility in penalty kick shootouts by beating Colombia 4-3 after ending the game tied at one goal a piece. Both sides will be at full strength in their attempts at history on Saturday.

Russia v. Croatia

Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Fisht Stadium (Sochi)
How to Watch: FOX

Somehow, someway, Russia is still alive in its home World Cup after eliminating Spain on penalty kicks in the Round of 16. Entering the tournament as the lowest ranked side in the field, Russia has shattered all expectations and is on the brink of its first Semifinals appearance since the Soviet Union days. On the other side is Croatia, looking to make its second Semifinals since becoming an independent nation in the ’90s. It’s hard to say how fatigue could impact this match as both teams needed extra time and penalties to get here.

You can watch all these games live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time

Golden Boot Update

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Screen Shot 2018-07-06 at 5.05.02 PM.png — via beIN Sports

Only major change to The Golden Boot standings is Antoine Griezmann hopping into the Top-10 courtesy his second half goal on Friday. Harry Kane remains on top and has a huge opportunity to put a stranglehold on the award with another big performance on Saturday.

Keep up to date on everything World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in Russia.

FIFA World Cup: Quarterfinals Preview

The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is about to enter the home stretch when the Quarterfinals kick-off on Friday and Saturday. Eight teams survived a frenetic Round of 16 and will now play for a spot in the Semifinals to be contest next week. So far, this tournament has been defined by the unexpected and is starting to feel like any of the remaining sides could hoist the trophy in Moscow.

Much like the Round of 16, us here at The Bat Flip have created a special preview for the Quarterfinal round. Inside you will find everything you need to know about the teams and matches, along with a quick look at the bracket to get you prepared for all the action coming your way.

Our World Cupdate segment will also return on Saturday and Sunday, recapping all the daily action from Russia. Make sure you are checking back each and everyday to ensure you are not missing out on any of our great World Cup content.

Now, let’s dive in to the Quarterfinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The Teams

Eight teams compromise the Quarterfinals field at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Here’s a quick look at how they all got to this point and what you can expect from all eight when they take the field this weekend.

Russia

Perhaps the most incredible story to this point as been the performance of Russia in its home World Cup. Few expected this team to make it out of the group let along knockoff Spain to advance to the Quarterfinals. Given the way this tournament has gone, it should not surprise anyone is Russia can pull off another upset to keep this fairytale alive.

How they got here: def. Spain 4-3 on penalties in Round of 16.

What to expect: It remains to be seen just how long Russia can carry this magic but sometimes funny things happen when you are the host. Russia will likely have to play a similar game against Croatia that they did against Spain and hope for offense off the counter attack.

Projected Lineup

France

France entered Russia as the youngest team in the tournament and will be a threat for trophies over the next 8-10 years. Forget the future however, this France side has its eyes on winning the World Cup this year and are finally playing like a team that could hoist the trophy. A disappointing group stage left many questions, but a sensational performance against Argentina have people back on the bandwagon.

How they got here: def. Argentina 4-3 in Round of 16.

What to expect: Attacking options seem unlimited for this France team with older stars like Olivier Giroud playing alongside burgeoning young talents like Kylian Mbappé. Another strong showing should give Mbappé a big advantage in the “Best Young Player” race but it will take a group effort to win the entire thing. Expect them to carry possession against Uruguay and play on the front foot as much as possible.

Projected Lineup

England

England erased a lot of bad memories with its penalty shootout win in the Round of 16 but there is more history to make in the Quarterfinals for The Three Lions. A victory puts them into the semis for the first time since 1990 and it’s beginning to look like a smart decision to sit back in the final group match.

How they got here: def. Colombia 4-3 on penalties in Round of 16.

What to expect: Harry Kane leads the Golden Boot race and has scored in all three games he has played in Russia. England’s midfield will be trying to get the ball on his foot as much as possible in hopes he can continue his hot tournament. This will not be easy against a strong defensive side like Sweden but it will be England’s best hope for victory.

Croatia

Four strong performances have turned Croatia from a dark horse into a potential favorite as the World Cup enters the last eight. Surviving against Denmark and avoiding Spain slots them in as favorites to reach at least the semis for the first time since 1998. They must not underestimate a Russia side looking to pull another upset.

How they got here: def. Denmark 3-2 on penalties in Round of 16.

What to expect: Croatia is filled with a lot of talent playing at the top leagues in Europe and that experience is showing in Russia. Croatia has the talent to attack and score thanks to a strong midfield and quality finishers up front. If they can get an early goal against Russia, they can shut the game down and advance.

Projected Lineup

Uruguay

Looking to relive its Semifinal run from 2010, Uruguay have looked impressive in all four of its games to this point. Easily winning the group then battering a decent Portugal side has Uruguay a game away from another trip to the semis. One spot of trouble for them entering its match against France, striker Edinson Cavani may be sidelined with an injury.

How they got here: def. Portugal 2-1 in Round of 16.

What to expect: Without Cavani, attacking options could be limited and the burden will fall to the feet of fellow striker Luis Suárez. Having two attacking options like Suárez and Cavani is never a bad thing, but they work so well together that missing one can severely affect their game plan. Still, expect strong defense and a reliance on Suárez to rule the day.

Projected Lineup

Screen Shot 2018-07-05 at 8.42.52 PM.png — Expected Starting XI (4-3-1-2)

Brazil

Brazil is starting to look like the Brazil everyone expected coming into the tournament and that is bad news for the other seven teams still remaining. Looking to vanquish the demons of 2014, Brazil rolled past Mexico but the job gets harder with Belgium on the horizon. The weight of an entire nation starving for another World Cup will be resting on its shoulders.

How they got here: def. Mexico 2-0 in Round of 16.

What to expect: Experts often say Brazil plays the most beautiful brand of football in the world and it is hard to argue against that. When Brazil are playing at its best there is no better football team in the world, its just an embarrassment of riches. You can expect to see great attacking and great defense, both of which have led Brazil to this point.

Projected Lineup

Screen Shot 2018-07-03 at 9.30.09 PM — Expected Starting XI (4-4-2)

Belgium

No team has looked more convincing of its status to this point than Belgium. Wins in all four of its matches have it on the cusp of its first semifinal appearance since 1986. Belgium will be going up against favored Brazil but have the weapons and the depth to keep pace in what could be the best game of the Quarterfinals. This could be the final time this golden generation of players get a shot on the international stage.

How they got here: def. Japan 3-2 in Round of 16.

What to expect: A scare in the Round of 16 was not enough to shake the confidence of this Belgium side who many picked to win the World Cup. Skilled in all areas of the pitch, Belgium will likely need to hit on the counter attack against a possession heavy Brazil side. Look for Eden Hazard to continue his strong play with the ball at his feet.

Projected Lineup

Sweden

Another surprise quarterfinalist hoping to return to the Semifinals after an extended drought. When you think of Sweden, football may not immediately come to mind but the country has a strong tradition in the sport. A fourth place, two third place, and a runner-up finish all highlight Sweden’s history at the World Cup. They can add another chapter to that history with a victory over England.

How they got here: def. Switzerland 1-0 in Round of 16.

What to expect: Lots of defense and hitting back on the counter attack. Sweden played its way to Russia with suffocating defense and have only allowed two goals in four games during the tournament. They play very strong at the back but have the weapons up front to inflict some damage when they get a chance.

Projected Lineup

The Bracket

A look at the 2018 FIFA World Cup bracket as it stands heading into the Quarterfinals.

DhNGfKFUwAA_GNb (1).jpg — via @FOXSoccer

Four matches will constitute the Quarterfinals schedule at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, beginning on Friday with Uruguay taking on France followed by Brazil facing-off against Belgium. Saturday will feature the other pair of matches with Sweden going up against England and hosts Russia looking to continue its fairytale run against Croatia.

The four winners from the Quarterfinals stage will advance to the Semifinals scheduled to be played on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. All four winners are also guaranteed two more games in Russia. Winners of the Semifinal matches move on to the championship match while the losers will meet in the third place match.

Quarterfinals Matches

The Quarterfinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup are upon us which means the tournament is down to its final eight teams vying for the title of World Champion in a little more than a weeks time. Those eight remaining teams consist of a few familiar faces everyone expected to be here along with a few who have turned this tournament on its head.

Four matches across two days will determine which four sides move on to the Semifinals and which four sides board a plane back to its home country. If the Round of 16 was any preview of what to expect moving forward, then fans should be in for quite a treat during the Quarterfinals.

Uruguay v. France

via besthqwallpapers.com

Date: Friday, July 6th
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Nizhny Novgorod Stadium (Nizhny Novgorod)
How to Watch: FS1
Players to Watch: Luis Suárez (URU), Kylian Mbappé (FRA)

Two past World Cup champions do battle in the first Quarterfinals match looking to keep their dreams alive of adding another trophy to their collection. France won a seven goal thriller over Argentina in the Round of 16 while Uruguay defeated Portugal courtesy of an Edinson Cavani brace. Bad news for Uruguay is, Cavani is expected to miss this match with an injury. France is healthy and looks to be clicking on all cylinders after a rough group showing.

Prediction: France 3, Uruguay 1

Brazil v. Belgium

via besthqwallpapers.com

Date: Friday, July 6th
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Kazan Arena (Kazan)
How to Watch: FS1
Players to Watch: Neymar (BRA), Eden Hazard (BEL)

On paper, this match has all the looks of being the best match of this Quarterfinals stage. Both Brazil and Belgium were popular picks to win the World Cup prior to the tournament and have looked the part through four games. Both won their respective groups, but while Brazil cruised against Mexico in the Round of 16, Belgium needed a late goal to slip by Japan. Injuries and suspensions are not an issue for either team so they will be fully armed for this showdown.

Prediction: Belgium 2, Brazil 1 (A.E.T.)

Sweden v. England

via besthqwallpapers.com

Date: Saturday, July 7th
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Samara Arena (Samara)
How to Watch: FOX
Players to Watch: Emil Forsberg (SWE), Harry Kane (ENG)

Prediction: England 2, Sweden 0

Russia v. Croatia

via besthqwallpapers.com

Date: Saturday, July 7th
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Fisht Stadium (Sochi)
How to Watch: FOX
Players to Watch: Artem Dzyuba (RUS), Luka Modric (CRO)

Prediction: Croatia 3, Russia 1

That completes just a very brief look at the four matches that will compromise the Quarterfinals stage at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Check back on Saturday afternoon to see how bad our predictions turn out to be.

Golden Boot Outlook

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Screen Shot 2018-07-03 at 7.42.00 PM — via beIN Sports

Six of the top ten leading goal scorers at the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be in action during the quarterfinals, led by current Golden Boot leader Harry Kane with six goals to name in Russia.

Once the Quaterfinals begins on Friday, we will continuing with our daily World Cupdates recapping the previous day of action along with a preview of what’s still to come as the tournament marches forward. Make sure you are checking back with us everyday to keep up to date on the latest news from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

World Cupdate: England Make History

Here’s What Happened: Tuesday, July 3rd

Sometimes history repeats itself in the most expected of ways and we all just nod along because the outcome is exactly what we always knew was coming. Then there are the times when history is thrown out the window and a new story is written. That was the case today when England, losers of three World Cup penalty shootouts, wrote a new history for the country’s football team by finally prevailing in a penalty shootout at the World Cup.

When Harry Kane put England ahead in the second half, you felt like maybe this year really was different, then Colombia equalized in stoppage time and it seemed like the same old England. When extra time ended, the painful memories of shootouts past came rushing back. Jordan Henderson missed his penalty and it looked like deja vu for The Three Lions. But then the improbable happened and England prevailed, thanks to new national heroes Jordan Pickford and Eric Dier. England won a penalty shootout at the World Cup. The quarterfinals, and Sweden, await.

Everything from Tuesday’s action can be found in today’s World Cupdate.

Sweden 1-0 Switzerland

Perhaps the most difficult game to predict from this Round of 16 slate at the 2018 FIFA World Cup was this matchup between Group F winner Sweden and Group E runner-up Switzerland. It was no shock to see the Swiss playing in this match because they were a popular pick to finish behind Brazil in the group. What was surprising was seeing Sweden being the opposition after overcoming Germany and Mexico to come out on top of its group.

This match went about as expected and the longer the two sides went without a goal the more you felt like the first goal would be enough to win the game. That turned out to be the case when Emil Forsberg scored from a deflection in the 66th minute to put Sweden in front. With the lead, Sweden could settle back and showcase its defense, which happens to be a strong suit. Switzerland tried to find an equalizer but it never came to pass.

Sweden will now advance to its first quarterfinal since 1994 and only its second since 1950. Switzerland will now head home knowing its missed a prime opportunity to make a deep run in Russia.

Goals

Emil Forsberg | SWE (66′)

Highlights

It was a close game, but Sweden came out on top.

Check out the highlights of Sweden vs Switzerland in our 90’ in 90” ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/uUqI3CpAD0

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 3, 2018

Colombia 1(3)-1(4) England (England wins in penalty shootout 4-3)

Now may be a good time to start stalking up on supplies because sports outcomes in 2018 may eventually trigger the apocalypse. Since February, the Philadelphia Eagles have won the Super Bowl, the Washington Capitals have won the Stanley Cup, and now, England have won a penalty shootout in the World Cup.

England’s torturous history with penalty kicks on football’s biggest stage is well documented, but now The Three Lions can add some good history to that book. After allowing Colombia to equalize in second half stoppage time, England had to face its biggest fear when they could not find a winner in extra time. For a brief period, England actually trailed in the shootout but were back on level terms after a Colombia miss. That was followed by a Jordan Pickford save and Eric Dier goal to send England through to its first quarterfinals since 2006.

In the quarterfinals, England will go up against a surprising Sweden side who are also erasing a long quarterfinals drought. The match will be on Saturday with a spot in the semifinals on the line.

Goals

Harry Kane | ENG (57′ PEN)
Yerry Mina | COL (90’+3′)

Highlights

Colombia vs England was wild.

Watch all of the highlights in our 90’ in 90” ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/uI0u1kvZQG

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 3, 2018

And for those who wish to watch it again, the full penalty shootout.

Want to relive that penalty shootout? We’ve got you covered. pic.twitter.com/EWuDJGgYXj

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 3, 2018

That’s a wrap for Round of 16 action at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Sweden and England joined the likes of Uruguay, France, Brazil, Belgium, Russia, and Croatia in the quarterfinals to be played this coming Friday and Saturday. Winner of the four quarterfinals matches will advance to the semifinals.

Goals of the Day

Not many goals from Tuesday’s slate of action but there were enough big ones to make our list for the three best from the final Round of 16 matches.

Emil Forsberg (Sweden)

Probably not exactly how Emil Forsberg drew it up in his head but it counts all the same and sends Sweden to its first quarterfinals since 1994.

Gotta shoot your shot!

Emil Forsberg’s strike gets deflected into the back of the net to put Sweden up 1-0 on Switzerland. pic.twitter.com/3BymUALvp8

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 3, 2018

Yerry Mina (Colombia)

Colombia were on the brink of elimination before Yerry Mina saved the day again to give his side life against England. All three of Mina’s goals at this World Cup have come via the header.

YERRY MINA COMES UP CLUTCH! The center back equalizes late for Colombia! pic.twitter.com/NEVTTpghqp

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 3, 2018

Eric Dier (England)

A lot of pain and frustration for England fans was wiped away in an instant when Eric Dier scored his penalty to send England through the quarterfinals. This was England’s first penalty shootout win in World Cup history.

Ospina gets a hand to it, but Dier sends England through to the quarterfinals! pic.twitter.com/nWdwfkoGeJ

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 3, 2018

Check back on Saturday for more great goals from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Bracket Update

Sweden and England both advance from Tuesday’s matches and set the fourth and final quarterfinal matchup. The left side of the bracket will play its matches on Friday while the right side gets an extra day of rest before its matches on Saturday.

Quarterfinals Outlook

Friday, June 6th: Uruguay v. France; 10:00 AM

Friday, June 6th: Brazil v. Belgium; 2:00 PM

Saturday, June 7th: Sweden v. England; 10:00 AM

Saturday, June 7th: Russia v. Croatia; 2:00 PM

Those are four tantalizing matches that make up the quarterfinals at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and we will be bringing you a special preview breaking down everything you need to know to prepare yourself. Look four our quarterfinals preview to drop on Friday morning before Uruguay and France get the proceedings underway.

Here’s What’s Next: Friday, July 6th

There are two days off between the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals but its never too early to look ahead, beginning with a pair of must-watch matches taking place on Friday. Two former World Cup winners in Uruguay and France will face-off while five time champion Brazil continue its journey to a sixth star against fellow favorite Belgium.

These are two matches you will surely not want to miss so start your weekend early with more action from the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Uruguay v. France

Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Nizhny Novgorod Stadium (Nizhny Novgorod)
How to Watch: FS1

Three World Cup titles between these two sides but only one can advance to the semifinals in Russia. France finally looked like the team everyone expected against Argentina but Uruguay have conceded only one goal during this World Cup. These are two hungry teams who know they are just steps from glory.

Brazil v. Belgium

Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Kazan Arena (Kazan)
How to Watch: FS1

Brazil can see a sixth World Cup title on the horizon but Belgium have sights set on its first. This could very well the best matchup of the quarterfinal round as two pre-tournament favorites prepare to do battle. Brazil cruised by Mexico but Belgium needed every second on the clock to get past Japan.

You can watch all these games live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time

Golden Boot Update

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Screen Shot 2018-07-03 at 7.42.00 PM.png — via beIN Sports

Harry Kane gives himself a two goal cushion over Romelu Lukaku for the Golden Ball lead courtesy of his penalty kick goal against Colombia. Yerry Mina jumps into the fourth place but his tournament has come to an end. Six players currently sitting in the Top-10 will be action during the quarterfinals.

Keep up to date on everything World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in Russia.

World Cupdate: Favorites Come Through

Here’s What Happened: Monday, July 2nd

The 2018 FIFA World Cup has not been kind to favorites thus far. Spain and Germany are both gone, Argentina never stood a chance, and even those that are still alive have looked unconvincing at time. Monday’s action gave two favorites a chance to send a message and book a meeting the quarterfinals. One moved on with ease, while the other needed every second to get the victory.

Opening Monday’s action was Group E winner Brazil taking on Group F runner-up Mexico who already knocked off Germany in the group stages. Sadly for Mexico, a second upset was not in the cards as Brazil used two second half goals to cruise into the quarterfinals for the seventh straight time.

Things did not go quite as smoothly for fellow favorite Belgium who needed a stoppage time goal to eliminate upset minded Japan. Two early second half goals put Japan in front but Belgium’s talent and depth pulled them back into the game and eventually gave them a late victory for a quarterfinal spot.

If you missed any action from Monday you can find all you need to catch up inside today’s World Cupdate.

Brazil 2-0 Mexico

As it turns out, what looked to be a Mexico side that could finally break its long quarterfinals drought was just a mirage as Brazil proved to be too much for El Tri to handle in the Round of 16. Neymar and Robert Firmino scored the goals for Brazil in the second half to push the five time World Cup champions one step closer to a sixth star.

An exciting back and forth first half had many wondering if Mexico could pull off another upset at this World Cup but the Brazilian fire power was just too much to handle for the whole 90 minutes. Once Neymar opened the scoring, the life was sucked out of Mexico and they could never find a way back into the game.

Brazil will now head to its seventh straight World Cup quarterfinals where Belgium is waiting after its thrilling victory later in the day. For Mexico, its a trip to the airport and back home as its World Cup quarterfinals drought hits 22 years.

Goals

Neymar | BRA (51′)
Roberto Firmino | BRA (88′)

Highlights

Brazil ended Mexico’s FIFA World Cup hopes behind a solid performance from Neymar.

Watch all the highlights in our 90’ in 90” ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/AGHdvhNwxw

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2018

Belgium 0-0 Japan

If Brazil coasted in its Round of 16 matchup then fellow favorite Belgium had whatever the exact opposite of that is. A goalless first half was quickly erased when underdog Japan struck twice in four minutes to grab a 2-0 lead in the 52nd minute. Belgium (and pretty much everyone watching) were stunned and looked to be on its way out of the World Cup. Luckily, Belgium has the talent to climb its way back into almost any game, regardless of how bleak it may be.

In the blink of an eye, Belgium scored twice in a five minute span to bring the game back to level terms with roughly 15 minutes to play. Then, just when it appeared we were getting our third extra time game in two days, Belgium found a winner in second half stoppage time from substitute Nacer Chadli. In the span of 25 minutes, Belgium went form out of the World Cup to the quarterfinals. Sometimes outright talent alone is enough to carry you.

Japan over exceeded all expectations by simply advancing out of the group but this loss will still sting for a long time. On the other side, Belgium will be happy to advance but can thank its lucky stars for their immense talent. They will now face Brazil in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Goals

Genki Haraguchi | JPN (48′)
Takashi Inui | JPN (52′)
Jan Vertonghen | BEL (69′)
Marouane Fellaini | BEL (74′)
Nacer Chadli | BEL (90’+4′)

Highlights

Belgium stormed back from down 2-0 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Watch the highlights of this instant classic in our 90′ in 90″ ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/KiiIiFKf2r

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2018

Three quarterfinal matchups are now set in stone and two pre-tournament favorites will square off on Friday for a spot in the semifinals. The final quarterfinal match will be known following Tuesday’s pair of matches.

Goals of the Day

We are back to featuring goals today after giving the goalkeepers some love from Sunday’s matches. Big stars scored for Brazil but it was the Belgium/Japan match that provided us with the three best from Monday.

Takashi Inui (Japan)

For a brief time, it looked like Japan might be the latest underdog to pull off an upset at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Takashi Inui was a major reason his side was on the brink of knocking out Belgium thanks to this strike.

Who saw this coming?!

Inui hits a rocket from outside the box to put Japan up 2-0 on Belgium! 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/Bw2famzZiR

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2018

Jan Vertonghen (Belgium)

This header from Jan Vertonghen was unusual but it counts all the same and put Belgium on the comeback trail after falling behind 2-0. It’s hard to say how the rest of this game plays out if this goal never finds it way in the net.

Vertonghen pulls one back for Belgium!

GAME ON! pic.twitter.com/KIO2uwDaDU

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2018

Nacer Chadli (Belgium)

Goals do not get much bigger or much more dramatic than this game winner from Nacer Chadli. From 2-0 down to 3-2 up in under 25 minutes, Belgium fought back and booked a spot in the quarterfinals with this last second goal.

We dare you to find a better counterattack!

Chadli finishes off a beautiful team play to give Belgium the win late in stoppage time. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/lbUxZDzG0E

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2018

Check back tomorrow for more great goals from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Bracket Update

The left side of the bracket is living up to the hype with two tantalizing quarterfinal matchups scheduled for Friday. We will know out final quarterfinal matchup following today’s matches between Sweden/Switzerland and Colombia/England.

Quarterfinals Outlook

Friday, June 6th: Uruguay v. France; 10:00 AM

Friday, June 6th: Brazil v. Belgium; 2:00 PM

Saturday, June 7th: Russia v. Croatia; 2:00 PM

Here’s What’s Next: Tuesday, July 3rd

One final day of Round of 16 action is on the schedule Tuesday and after it’s all said and done we will know who will be playing in the fourth and final quarterfinals match.

Unexpected Group F winner Sweden look to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1994 while opponent Switzerland will be playing for its first quarterfinals spot since 1954 when it hosted the tournament.

In the day’s second match, Group H winner Colombia will try to continue its mini-roll here in Russia and book a quarterfinals spot for the second tournament in a row. They will go up against England who are looking for a quarterfinal berth for the first time since 2006.

Sweden (1F) v. Switzerland (2E)

Screen Shot 2018-07-02 at 11.31.30 PM — via realsport101.com

Screen Shot 2018-07-02 at 11.31.38 PM — via realsport101.com

Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Saint Petersburg Stadium (St. Petersburg)
How to Watch: FS1

Not many expected Sweden to be in this position but here they are and they hope to keep this run rolling for as long as possible. It has been over 20 years since Sweden has made the quarterfinals but its been even longer for Switzerland who last made the final eight in 1954 when its was the host. Both nations qualified via the UEFA playoffs but have more than enough talent to keep playing past the Round of 16.

Colombia (1H) v. England (2G)

Screen Shot 2018-07-02 at 11.31.53 PM — via realsport101.com

Screen Shot 2018-07-02 at 11.32.03 PM — via realsport101.com

Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Spartak Stadium (Moscow)
How to Watch: FOX

England did everything in its power to get this matchup in the Round of 16 now its up to them not to waste it. The Three Lions have looked impressive so far in Russia but history could rear its ugly head at any moment. Colombia on the other hand looked dead after an opening match defeat but rebounded nicely to win its group. Whoever wins this match will likely be favored in the quarterfinals regardless of the opponent.

You can watch all these games live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time

Golden Boot Update

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Screen Shot 2018-07-02 at 9.45.59 PM.png — via beIN Sports

Big chance for Harry Kane to put some distance between himself and the rest of the field with a goal or two against Colombia later today. No change in the Top-10 following Monday’s matches.

Keep up to date on everything World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in Russia.