France v Uruguay

The young man must maintain his form and the old man must find his fitness. France’s Kylian Mbappe and Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani mean so much to their respective countries, but for very different reasons.

Mbappe’s influence is obvious. Apart from his two goals against Argentina, he got Les Bleus believing in their joie de vivre again. Watching so much talent play within themselves for so long was like watching old footage of The Beatles on mute. After a while, it becomes an exasperating exercise. But Mbappe pumped up the volume, raised pulses and got French bums off seats for the first time at this tournament. That’s as it should be. Mbappe believes he has the natural attributes to win games on his own. He does. But his swaggering confidence needs to be infectious.

The real crisis of confidence, however, is in Uruguay’s attack. The South Americans can win without Cavani. They’ve had to many times in the past. But the timing of his injury is awful. He scored both goals in the previous win against Portugal. For the first time in a World Cup, the relationship between Cavani and Luis Suarez was paying dividends. Together, they would possibly profit against a generous French defence that loves to give out a goal or two. Suarez adores a physical scrap, but he’d prefer Cavani alongside him. Uruguay’s game-changer may prove to be the club doctor. Otherwise, the legend of Mbappe will continue to grow.

Belgium v Brazil

Both managers risk sounding like a recorded message on the London Underground. Mind the gap. It’s going to be a mantra. Mind the gap in midfield.

For Brazil, Tite’s problem is a missing midfielder. For Belgium, Roberto Martinez’s concern is too many midfielders. Whoever plugs the gap and finds the right balance in central midfield wins this one.

Casemiro's absence is a killer blow for the Selecao. A calm, obdurate presence in front of the back four, the Real Madrid anchor has allowed Neymar and Philippe Coutinho to satisfy their attacking wanderlust. But he’s suspended. The Brazilians must face the Red Devils without him. Fernandinho would be the obvious replacement. After a magnificent season at Manchester City, he’s hardly a second-stringer. But he’s got to handle a club-mate he greets
every morning in the dressing room.

Kevin De Bruyne still hasn’t fully imposed himself on the World Cup, not in the way he ruled the Etihad last season. Now would be as good a time as any to rediscover his passing radar. But then, he’s not really the centre of attention. No one is in Martinez’s line-up. The Belgium manager’s solution to fitting so many accomplished creators in one side is too simply juggle them at all once in the hope he doesn’t drop any.

De Bruyne, Alex Witsel, Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens and Romelu Lukaku were all squeezed into a narrow, central area in the final third against Japan. It looked good on paper. On the pitch, the Japanese skipped around them, headed for the flanks, scored twice and were moments away from reaching the quarter-finals.

Belgium recovered, but Martinez needs more width against the Brazilians, with Neymar and Continho literally waiting in the wings.

Like Tite, Martinez has the same midfield dilemma. Close the gap or close the door on Russia 2018.

Russia v Croatia

Two of the stand-out players meet in this quarter-final. Russia’s Aleksandr Golovin impressed from the tournament’s curtain-raiser against Saudi Arabia. Ante Rebic grew into the World Cup for Croatia, announcing himself in his nation’s terrific 3-0 victory over Argentina.

In the early stages, Rebic was overshadowed by the familiar, starry faces in Croatia’s midfield. But the lively winger looks a natural fit and continues to increase his potential transfer value. Against a spirited but limited Russia, Rebic will expect to wreak havoc on the right flank.

Occasionally, he might pass Golovin around the halfway line.

The left-sided forward has cut inside to control the hosts’ attacking, chipping in with goals and assists. Russia hope Golovin's workload will be shared with the returning Denis Cheryshev.

The underdogs can certainly take heart from Croatia’s surprisingly flat performance against Denmark, who mostly coped with the twin threat of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic. Russia should opt for a similarly suffocating approach.

Croatia can expect a hostile atmosphere and physical opponents, but Rebic has the speed he needs to supply his illustrious team-mates.

England v Sweden

If this carries on, England might need to change the national anthem. God Save the Queen has given way to Three Lions. It’s coming home. It’s coming home. It’s coming. First, the lines were whispered. Then, the old song started to spread. Now the confidence is contagious. After winning a penalty shootout, anything is possible.

Sweden first, then either Russia or Croatia, England are practically in the final. Easy. Job done. This is the easiest draw that doesn’t involve a stick man.

But there are caveats. With England, there are always caveats. The Three Lions have created little in open play. Harry Kane has lived off scraps. Sweden played superior sides to reach the quarter-final and still managed to create seven more chances from open play than England. But the Swedes don’t have Kane.

Instead, they have Emil Forsberg and a feisty, dogged team spirit to rival Iceland at Euro 2016. Since that tournament, the Swedes have defeated Portugal, France and Italy. They then topped a World Cup group that included Germany.

Individually, the better players belong to England, with Jesse Lingard a surprising standout. But Sweden’s experience and impregnable camaraderie shouldn’t be brushed aside. This contest should be closer than expected.

England fans can at least be comforted by the fact that the Three Lions can now take penalties. And in Jordan Pickford, they also have a keeper who can save them.

All they need to do now is join the dots between midfield and attack. Find Kane and they’ll find a pathway to the semi-final. And that really would be something to sing about.

Neil Humphreys

Singapore’s best selling author and Football columnist