World Cup Round of 16 Final Day: Preview and Odds
Published July 3, 2018 by Sol FH
Sweden vs. Switzerland followed by Colombia vs. England today at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Sweden vs. Switzerland, 15:00 GMT, Saint Petersberg Stadium
Sweden overcame the odds that were set against them before the start of this year’s World Cup Competition. They were underdogs that virtually all naysayers thought would never make it out of the Group Stage. It would’ve been hard to think of anything other than an early exit with team’s like Germany and Mexico in one’s group. Instead, Sweden has been one of the stronger looking teams at this year’s tournament, playing like a well-oiled machine with some of the best defense of any team this year.
Robin Olsen has been outstanding for Sweden so far in goal, and lest we forget the big Captain, Andreas Granqvist who has been a sniper so far. When the Blue and Yellow crushed Mexico 3-0, it turned a lot of heads, but its 2-1 loss to Germany was due to a few missteps.
Switzerland is a different kind of team, using the precision that the country is well-known for and applying it to the pitch. They pass very well and cover the pitch beautifully, but they have had their issues too. They have nothing to lose like the last time they ever made the quarterfinals was in 1954. They will be counting on the talent of Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka to carry them over the Swedes.
Bet365 Sports likes the Swiss chances a little bit more than Sweden’s. The odds at bet365 Sports are in favor of the Swiss at 2.70, while Sweden is at 3.10. A draw after ’90 will give 3.00.
Columbia vs. England, 19:00 GMT, Spartak Stadium
England is finally back in World Cup form after a decade of early exits. They made a very positive impression in the Group Stages and are now favorites to knock out Columbia and make the quarterfinals. Gareth Southgate has done a great job in getting his team into the right mindset prior to games, "For this team, this is a brilliant opportunity to go beyond where more experienced teams have before them. The lads have got the chance to write their own stories."
The tournament has become a lot more interesting with the departures of Germany, Spain, and Argentina, and England can see it’s path to the late stages and perhaps even to a Final berth.
Columbia is still wondering whether its star James Rodriguez will be fit to play. He was injured against Senegal and might not be able to make the date, but the Columbians are performing quite well despite losing their crucial goal scorer.
So, what do the bookmaker’s think? At bet365 Sports, England is the favorites to win the match at 2.15, while Columbia is behind at 4.00. If it ends in a draw before extra time and penalty shots, punters will make 3.20.
Tune in again today and if you feel like it, there are also live in play lines available. The matches are sure to be action-packed and it will be thrilling to see which teams round out the quarterfinals.
