Few could have predicted this matchup in the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup before the tournament started, so making a Russia vs Croatia prediction might seem like a fool’s errand. But whoever survives the quarterfinal on Saturday at Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi will deserve its spot in the semifinals against either Sweden or England.

Sweden slipped past Switzerland to advance to the quarterfinals, and there's no more popular narrative surrounding the team than its apparent addition by subtraction in not including Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 23-man squad. Zlatan World Cup rumors were swirling after Sweden knocked off Italy in a two-legged playoff last fall. But manager Janne Andersson elected to leave Zlatan behind and go with the team that navigated through a difficult UEFA qualification.

He’s the bowl-cut donning, navy shirt wearing, finger-sniffing mastermind behind Germany’s masterful national team. Joachim Low is also the coach who showed up with an appalling team during this year’s World Cup. Before the World Cup, Low renewed his contract as manager till 2022, but after Germany’s embarrassing way out this year, speculations ran wild about Low’s premature departure. 

It was the outcome England dreaded most: After going out on penalties in ’90, ’98 and ’06, it was penalties again in '18 — this time in the Round of 16 against Colombia. What’s more, after conceding a 92nd minute equalizer to Yerry Mina, you could imagine that English spirits weren’t exactly flying high.

Colombia looked absolutely buried in the 92nd minute of Tuesday's Round of 16 match against England. The Three Lions were only up one, but Colombia looked unable to do anything apart from bitch at American referee Mark Geiger. I had already written a nice little introduction about the blossoming of the Special Relationship on the biggest stage, but then Mateus Uribe forced a corner.

Neymar antics are a controversial subject. 

The question of whether Brazil’s superstar should be punished for his constant feigning, flopping and deceitful attitude leaves no one indifferent.

There are two sides to the story. First, you've got perhaps the most skilled player at dribbling who gets fouled, well, a lot. He is in fact the most fouled player of this World Cup thus far and is therefore considered to be a victim. 

France takes on Uruguay in the first quarterfinal of the 2018 World Cup at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Friday, July 6, at 10:00 a.m. ET. The match will serve as the tournament’s first truly fascinating clash of styles: the attacking zest of Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba versus the hard-bitten play of Diego Godin, Jose Gimenez and Luis Suarez. It’s all on the line with the winner advancing to the semifinal to meet either Brazil or Belgium. 

As expected, the Sweden vs. Switzerland match was low scoring and relatively low action, finishing 1-0 for the Blågult. Sweden is through to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1994 thanks to the Emil Forsberg goal vs Switzerland, one he probably celebrated a bit too much given the strike’s quality.

It should come as no surprise that teams from Europe (UEFA) and South America (CONMEBOL) have advanced to the knockout stages far more frequently than teams from Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF) and Central and North America (CONCACAF). Although the World Cup qualification spots take into account the relative strength of each region, the allocation also considers the importance of having a truly global spectacle.

Champions. No, world champions. What does it take to earn that preposterously prestigious title? Today, both Brazil and Belgium took a step towards finding out. In many ways it was well deserved — Brazil rode some individual moments of excellence to a 2-0 win, Belgium came back from 2-0 down to win in the 94th minute.

But then there’s the fact that this Brazilian side is decidedly evil and Belgium’s golden generation almost hilariously fucked it up again well short of its first genuine test.