With the 2018 FIFA World Cup quarter finals getting set to kick-off on Friday, here are some facts about the teams who qualified for last 8 in Russia.
FRENCH CONFIDENCE
France have not been beaten by South American opponents at the World Cup since losing to host Argentina in 1978. They have won 5 and drawn 4 since then.
URUGUAYAN EXPERIENCE
The quarter-final against France will be Oscar Tabarez’s 20th World Cup match as Uruguay coach. That puts him level with Bora Milutinovic and Mario Zagallo in 4th place for matches coached at the World Cup.
BELGIAN HOPES
This will be Belgium’s 5th match against Brazil. Their only World Cup meeting was in 2002, when Brazil won 2-0 with goals from Rivaldo and Ronaldo.
BRAZILIAN RUN
Brazil are on a run of 3 consecutive wins and 310 minutes without conceding a goal at Russia 2018.
BACK IN THE USSR
The last time Russia were in the quarter-finals was as the Soviet Union in 1970. They were defeated by Uruguay.
CROATIAN CHALLENGE
For the 3rd time in their 5 World Cup appearances, Croatia will meet the host team. They have lost the previous 2 (to France in the 1998 semi-final and Brazil in the 2014 opening match).
DRAWING SWEDISH STALEMATES
The Swedes have played the English twice before in the FIFA World Cup, and both matches ended in draws (1-1 in 2002 and 2-2 in 2006). Interestingly Swede Sven Goran Eriksson was coaching England on both occasions.
ENGLISH JINX BROKEN
England beat Colombia on penalties in the Round of 16. It was their first successful World Cup shootout after 3 defeats (West Germany in 1990, Argentina in 1998 and Portugal in 2006).
