Source: The Bangladesh Today, Friday, 27 June, 2014
Link: http://thebangladeshtoday.com/sports/2014/06/world-cup-round-of-16s-match-schedules/
- Top two teams from the tournament’s eight groups have advanced, slotting into a pre-determined bracket;
- Teams that finished first in one group will face second place-finishers from others;
- Games start on Saturday and will happen two-per-day until the quarterfinals are set on Tuesday;
- If a game is tied after 90 minutes, there’ll be 30 minutes of extra time, then penalty kicks;
- Your margin for error is over – it’s now win or go home;
- Yellow cards carry over from group stage and will continue matter in the knockout round.
Here are the eight matches, which begin on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. Eastern.
Winners of each day’s games play each other in the quarterfinals. Your bracket
is below.
Schedule
Saturday, June 28
Brazil vs. Chile, 10:00 p.m. BST, Belo Horizonte - The
home nation will be favorites, but a midfield that failed to impress during
group stage will have its hands full with an energetic Roja. Slotted
adjacent to Colombia-Uruguay, this pod ensures one South American team will
make it to the tournament’s semifinals.
Colombia vs. Uruguay, 2:00 a.m. BST, Rio de Janeiro - The
day’s second all-South America matchup with see the CONMEBOL champions,
without Luis Suárez, take on the favored Cafeteros. Colombia’s
attacking midfielder James Rodríguez has been one of the stars of the
tournament, while Edinson Cavani will be asked to step up in the wake
of his suspended teammate.
Sunday, June 29
Netherlands vs. Mexico, 1o:00 p.m. BST, Fortaleza - The
Dutch have been as strong as any team in the tournament, but allowing only one
goal in group play, Mexico’s already showed the quality to keep up with
the Oranje. Their veteran defense led by Rafa Márquez will be
tasked with slowing the competition’s most potent striker tandem: Robin van
Persie and Arjen Robben.
Costa Rica vs. Greece, 2:00 a.m. BST, Recife - The
least-likely of the knockout round match ups features two teams who’ve found
success without seeing much of the ball. Greece’s last minute winner against
the Ivory Coast clinched their first knockout round spot, while Costa Rica were
the surprise winners of one of the tournament’s deepest groups. Shockingly, one
of these teams will be in the quarterfinals.
Monday, June 30
France vs. Nigeria, 10:00 p.m. BST, Brasilía - Though
they were drawn in their last group game by Ecuador, France has been one of the
tournament’s best teams. Nigeria, much like Greece and Algeria, were the beneficiaries
of a thin group, finishing second behind Argentina. On paper, this is one of
the most lopsided of the round’s matchups, but given the surprises we’ve seen
throughout the tournament, there’s no Round of 16 mismatch that can’t be
overcome.
Germany vs. Algeria, 2:00 a.m. BST, Porto Alegre - Despite
stumbling in their second group game against Ghana, Germany remains one of the
tournament’s favorites, with a possible matchup against France
potentially providing semifinal quality in the round of eight. To get
there, however, the Germans will have deal with the team they controversially
put out of the 1982 World Cup. Though collusion with Austria kept Algeria from
getting out of the teams’ group in Spain, Algeria is finally into the knockout
round after Thursday’s draw with Russia.
Tuesday, July 1
Argentina vs. Switzerland, 10:00 p.m. BST, São Paulo – Four
goals from Lionel Messi pushed the Argentines to the top of Group F,
while Switzerland recovered from its thrashing by France to make the final
16. Both teams have a wealth of attacking talent, but Argentina’s is amongst
the best in the world.
Belgium vs. United States, 2:00 a.m. BST, Salvador - Belgium
is one of four perfect teams remaining in the tournament yet failed to show
it in any of their three group matches. They’ll still be favored over the
U.S., however, though the resiliency the Americans showed to get out of a
difficult group will force the Belgians to play closer to their potential.
No comments:
Post a Comment