Group G
What's at Stake
England: Clinched spot; Clinch first with win/tie
Belgium: Clinched spot; Clinch first with win
Tunisia: Eliminated
Panama: Eliminated
Who: England v. Belgium
Where: Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
When: June 28, 2 PM EST
Watch: Fox, Telemundo (TV); Fox Sports Go (Streaming)
Prediction: 3-2 Belgium: After both of these squads easily defeating their two lesser group stage opponents, it's time to see who's more talented between these two clubs. I believe Belgium has a better attacking side than England, and will win based off of their better finishing. This game could end in a shootout, with the leading World Cup 2018 scorer Harry Kane (5 goals) showcasing England and Romelu Lukaku of Belgium with 4 goals of his own.
Who: Tunisia v. Panama
Where: Mordovia Arena, Saransk
When: June 25, 2 PM EST
Watch: NBC Universo, FS1 (TV); Fox Sports Go (Streaming)
Prediction: 2-0 Tunisia: This is another tough match up to predict, since both teams easily lost their previous two games and that both are also eliminated. I predict Tunisia will win, in part that they showed more fight against England and Belgium than Panama did, as Tunisia scored three times compared to Panama's lone goal, and lost by closer margins (1 and 3) than Panama (5 and 3).
Group H
What's at Stake
Japan: Clinch spot with win OR tie/loss AND Senegal loss; Clinch first with win; Eliminated with tie AND Senegal tie OR loss AND Senegal tie
Senegal: Clinch spot with win OR tie; Clinch first with win AND Japan tie/loss OR tie AND Japan loss; Eliminated with loss
Colombia: Clinch spot with win OR tie AND Japan loss; Clinch first with win AND Japan tie/loss; Eliminated with tie AND Japan win/tie OR loss
Poland: Eliminated
Who: Senegal v. Colombia
Where: Samara Arena, Samara
When: June 28, 10 AM EST
Watch: Fox, Telemundo (TV); Fox Sports Go (Streaming)
Prediction: 2-2 Draw: An overall enticing match up between a popular underdog pick and a skillful, effective, counter-attack squad. This game will end in a draw, forcing Colombians to look up at the result of the Japan-Poland, hoping it's enough to get them through.
Who: Japan v. Poland
Where: Volgograd Arena, Volgograd
When: June 28, 10 AM EST
Watch: NBC Universo, FS1 (TV); Fox Sports Go (Streaming)
Prediction: 2-1 Poland: Will Poland find a goal this World Cup, or will they not even try in this match given that they are eliminated? I think they will find a goal, since Japan's defense and goalkeeping is shaky (at best), but Japan will beat another squad initially viewed as a dark horse contender in Poland. Japan and Senegal, the two teams in Group H that were commonly predicted that would finish 3rd and 4th, will both move on.
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