As it stands, 12 teams have sealed their spot in the RO16, with the final four spots up for grabs. Groups G and H play their third and final matches, with Brazil and Portugal already assured of their progression having won their first two games.
Netherlands v USA
A high flying American team meet Group A winners Netherlands, with the Dutch facing their first real test in their 2022 World Cup campaign. Gregg Berhalter’s USA team has performed slightly below expectations, failing to beat Wales and England and only registering a 1-0 win against Iran, in the group stage. Watch out for Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo, who has scored three goals in three games.
Netherlands v USA kicks off at 8:30pm, IST, December 3
Argentina v Australia
Having already faced an upset at the hands of Saudi Arabia, the Lionel Messi-led South American team will be wary of the Socceroos, who have bounced back after a dismal start to their campaign to beat Tunisia and Denmark and seal their knockout spot. Watch out for rising Manchester City starlet Julian Alvarez as Lionel Scaloni looks to win the whole shindig in what is likely Messi’s last World Cup.
Argentina play Australia at 12:30am, IST, December 4
France v Poland
Didier Deschamps’ French team come into the round of 16 truly humbled, losing to a upstart Tunisian team 1-0 in their final group game. Robert Lewandowski comes into the game having scored his first World Cup goal just a little while ago, while France’s Kylian Mbappe is on top of the goal scoring charts with three goals to his name.
France and Poland face off at 8:30pm, IST, December 4
England v Senegal
Gareth Southgate’s men topped their group, albeit unconvincingly, to book their passage to the RO16 and will now face a brilliant Senegal team that won two of their three group stage matches. Watch out for a revitalized Marcus Rashford – who is one of four forwards at the top of the scoring charts with three goals – and a well-organised Senegal team who could cause yet another upset in this year’s finals.
England v Senegal kicks off at 12:30am, IST, December 5
Japan v Croatia
Hajime Moriyasu’s disciplined Japanese side shocked Qatar with their sensational victories against Germany and Spain in the group stages, sealing the second spot in Group E. Croatia come into the RO16 looking like a shadow of their former selves. Finalists in the last World Cup, in 2018, Luka Modric and Co. scraped through the group stage this time around, winning only one game – against Canada – and drawing the other two. Japan are well placed to cause a massive upset once again.
Japan play Croatia at 8:30pm, IST, December 5
Morocco v Spain
Luis Enrique’s side will be very wary of the Moroccan team, who topped Group F to book their spot against Spain. The Spaniards come into the game having lost their final group game against Japan 2-1. Morocco, on the other hand, are so far unbeaten in the 2022 World Cup having registered wins against Belgium and Canada. Watch out for playmaker Hakim Ziyech of Morocco, who has been instrumental for the Atlas Lions so far.
Morocco face Spain at 8:30pm, IST, December 6
The other two games in the round of 16 will be played at 12:30am, IST, December 6 and at 12:30am, IST, December 7, with Brazil and Portugal confirmed to take part, while Switzerland, Cameroon, Serbia, Ghana, South Korea and Uruguay all in contention for the remaining two spots.
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