Colchester United

Sixteen officially becomes eight on Tuesday, as the final two World Cup quarter-finalists are confirmed in Brazil. It’s been a roller coaster ride in the round of 16 so far, and with two more mouth-watering ties for us to sink our teeth into, the drama looks set to continue.

Heavily backed to lift the trophy come the middle of July, Argentina haven’t really got going in Brazil as of yet. However, when you have a certain Lionel Messi to call upon, anything’s possible.

Messi orchestrated three wins out of three in the group stage, with four goals and a string of sublime performances, and SkyBet have priced the Barcelona man up at 9/4 to continue his strong run with the game’s opening goal.

Argentina have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage in three of the last four World Cups, but even getting there this time around could prove a tough task against the talented Swiss outfit. Alejandro Sabella’s side are favourites on Tuesday at 1/2 with SkyBet, with 2-1 the most popular scoreline at 8/1, but Switzerland will have plenty to say about that.

Bar their humiliating 5-2 defeat to France in Group E, Switzerland have been one of the best organised outfits in the tournament and are good value at 6/1 with SkyBet to find a way past Argentina.

Star man Xherdan Shaqiri was in scintillating form in Switzerland’s final group match against Honduras, netting hat-trick, and the Bayern Munich star is an enhanced 12/1 to find the net first at the Arena de Sao Paulo.

Both sides proved during the group stage that they have goals in them, and while the round of 16 matches haven’t been high-scoring affairs so far, over 4.5 goals at 9/2 with SkyBet looks good with such attacking talent in action on Tuesday. 

Bringing the curtain down on the round of 16 are Belgium and USA, who meet in Salvador for a chance to face the winners of the day’s earlier game in the quarter-finals.

USA surprised everyone by progressing through the tricky-looking Group G, but it was nothing more than their football deserved. Clint Dempsey was the Americans’ star man of the group stage, and he’s 3/1 with SkyBet to continue his form by scoring in 90 minutes against the Belgians.

However, Dempsey will have his work cut out against the stubborn Belgians on Tuesday, having conceded just one goal in the World Cup so far.

Marc Wilmots’ men are 5/4 with SkyBet to keep yet another clean sheet against the Americans, with their third 1-0 victory of the tournament looking good at 5/1.

We’ve enjoyed several doses of extra time in the knockout stage so far, and with another tight encounter expected, Belgium vs. USA could also go the distance. SkyBet are offering odds of 11/2 for there to be a winner in extra time, while the match being decided on penalties currently stands at 5/1.

From a neutral perspective, seeing the match go to penalties would be yet another blessing from Brazil, but it’s safe to say that we’ve already been spoiled.

May the drama continue!

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