World Cup preview: Spain v Russia, Croatia v Denmark
After the round of 16 got off to a thrilling start, Sunday has the potential to bring two compelling knockout matches.
- 1500 BST Spain v Russia (BBC)
- 1900 BST Croatia v Denmark (ITV)
Spain's pass masters face hosts Russia in Sunday’s early game, with the 2010 champions set to make a one or two line-up changes, with Atletico midfielder Koke expected to add some muscle in the middle and perhaps Real Madrid's direct running dynamo Marco Asensio.
Spain defender Dani Carvajal said: "From now on the games are life or death, you can't play for a draw, you either win or you go home. I think these games are going to be different and we will recover our best form."
Hosts Russia have already exceeded pre-tournament expectations by making it to the knockout stages but looked exposed against Uruguay in their final group game. The hosts will need the likes of Artem Dzyuba and Denis Cheryshev to play out of their skins against Spain after stalling against the South Americans.
In the later kick-off Croatia brings one of just three unblemished winning records from the tournament's group stages as they face Denmark,
The Balkan ballers are set to recall several players who were rested against Iceland, with Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitić and Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozović likely to return to midfield to play alongside Luka Modrić, who is an early candidate for player of the tournament. The Croat midfield and defence have been impressive but their attack, led by Juventus striker Mario Mandžukić, will need to step up in the knockout stage.
Denmark’s group performance was not the most convincing, with the team’s reliance on the creativity of Christian Eriksen all too evident.
After helping produce one of the most boring games of the group stages, midfielder Thomas Delaney said: "We know that we don't seem like the most fearsome bunch to go up against. We're not going to lose 5-0 by trying to play tiki-taka football. But people shouldn't get used to seeing us play like we did against France."