Neymar

Brazil star Neymar said that the 2022 Soccer World Cup will be his last as he “doesn’t have the strength to put up with more football”. Photo by Mehdi Taamallah/NurPhoto/Sipa USA / RealTimeImages

World Cup 2018: Quarter-finals kick off times, predictions and SABC schedule

It’s gonna get real at the World Cup this weekend.

Neymar

Brazil star Neymar said that the 2022 Soccer World Cup will be his last as he “doesn’t have the strength to put up with more football”. Photo by Mehdi Taamallah/NurPhoto/Sipa USA / RealTimeImages

It’s been one heck of a tournament so far and things can only get better from here, right?

We’ve had some barking mad upsets, we’ve had some late goal drama, we’ve had VAR, we’ve had Cristiano Ronaldo getting his shorts all scrunched up and we’ve had Neymar rolling on the floor for 14 minutes.

The matchups offer much intrigue, many subplots and, if the tournament so far is anything to go by, plenty of drama.

Here’s what you need to know about when it all kicks off and how you can watch.

World Cup quarter-final fixtures and kick-off times

6 July

16:00 Uruguay vs France
20:00 Brazil vs Belgium

7 July

16:00 Sweden vs England
20:00 Russia vs Croatia

All matches will be broadcast on SuperSport 3 and SABC 1.

Team news for the World Cup quarter-finals

Uruguay vs France

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez refused to confirm whether injured striker Edinson Cavani will play in Friday’s World Cup quarter-final against France, pleading for patience. So we’re still in the dark.

For France, Blaise Matuidi is out through suspension.

Brazil vs Belgium

For Brazil, Casemiro is suspended but both Marcelo and Douglas Costa are back to full fitness. Belgium’s only injury concern is Adnan Januzaj. Brazil coach Tite, though, looks set to stick by Jesus for Friday’s quarter-final against Belgium as loyalty for his part in transforming his country’s fortunes, despite the player’s misfiring at the 2018 World Cup.

Sweden vs England

For Sweden, lbin Ekdal and Jimmy Durmaz are injury worries while there are some rumours that Harry Kane might have a slight niggle.

Russia vs Croatia

Croatia have no injury concerns at this point, but Russia’s Yuri Zhirkov is a doubt.

World  Cup quarterfinal predictions

For predictions, head over here.