Kane to make England history? Four predictions for the World Cup quarter-finals

If the Round of 16 games were anything to by, we’re set for another thrilling round of fixtures in the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup.

Favourites France and Brazil are still standing while England continue to impress, and the likes of Sweden and Russia will be looking to provide further shocks.

Here are four things we think might happen across the four quarter-finals.

1. Kane to break Lineker’s record

Everything Harry Kane touches turns to gold at the moment, and it’s a good job that’s the case.

England have been somewhat reliant on the captain up to now; Kane has scored six of the Three Lions’ nine goals at the World Cup so far, including three penalties.

The striker will strengthen his grip on the Golden Boot with a goal against Sweden, but there is another milestone he might have an eye on.

Kane could become England’s leading goalscorer in a single World Cup campaign – he is currently level with Gary Lineker, who found the net six times in 1986.

England will be hoping they don’t need to rely on the awarding of a penalty for Kane to secure the team’s progress to the semi-finals.

2. Hosts to shock Croatia

Russia’s campaign has been remarkable considering nobody gave them a chance going into the tournament.

Perhaps that initial pessimism was misplaced, though. Thirteen of the 20 nations to have hosted the World Cup in the past have reached the semi-final stage at least, including five of the last eight.

Hosting the tournament certainly seems to have a positive effect, as Russia have already proved with memorable group stage victories over Saudi Arabia and Egypt and a surprise win against Spain.

Croatia, meanwhile, were excellent in their 3-0 thumping of Argentina, but were fortunate in their Round of 16 clash with Denmark, scraping through on penalties.

The stage is set for Russia to produce one more shock.

3. France to end 33-year winless run vs Uruguay

France haven’t won, or even scored in, their last five meetings with Uruguay.

Amazingly, the nations played out four consecutive goalless draws between 2002 and 2012 before Uruguay beat France 1-0 in a friendly in June 2013.

You have to go all the way back to August 1985 for France’s last win over the South Americans, a 2-0 victory in the Inter Continental Championship.

But with Edinson Cavani likely to miss the quarter-final after suffering an injury against Portugal in the Round of 16, Didier Deschamps’ side will be confident of changing history.

A four-goal haul against Argentina has altered the ambiguous mood around France’s chances of winning the trophy, and Kylian Mbappe’s form could swing things in the Europeans’ favour.

4. Brazil to win their first penalty

There have been 28 penalties awarded at the 2018 World Cup so far, but not a single one of them has gone to Brazil.

That’s a surprise given the explosion of spot-kicks following the introduction of VAR combined with Brazil’s ability to get into the penalty area often.

It’s worth remembering Neymar was stripped of a penalty after a VAR referral against Costa Rica in the group stage

There is a chance his theatrics are likely to continue working against him, although it seems unlikely Brazil will to avoid a bit of luck involving the officials for much longer.

Belgium are yet to give away a penalty, so surely something’s got to give in Kazan.

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