The Chaos of the Cup: Why the Round of 16 is breaking the tournament wide open
Well, here we are. The round of 16 is underway and it’s clear that things are getting serious.
This tournament has already delivered plenty of heartbreak (CC: all of Australia), but in the round of 16 the superstars are stepping up. We’ve already witnessed Kylian Mbappe send Paraguay packing from the penalty spot while Erling Haaland crushed Brazilian spirits with a brilliant two-goal haul to send Norway’s viking team cruising into the quarter finals. Meanwhile, co-host Canada’s dream is over after falling to Morocco and England won the game of the tournament to end Mexico’s hopes.
The Round of 16 has thrown up a mouth-watering mix of absolute heavyweight blockbusters and classic David vs Goliath showdowns. If you’re looking to cash in on the inevitable madness, Neds has the latest odds as the tournament shifts into overdrive.
Here is how the remaining Round of 16 fixtures are shaping up, and where the smart money is sitting.
The David vs Goliath Battles
Argentina vs Egypt
On paper, this looks like a complete mismatch. You’ve got the reigning world champions, packed to the brim with global superstars, taking on an Egypt side that only just squeezed past Australia in a penalty shootout (yes, we’re still not ready to talk about it).
Argentina are heavily backed in the Neds Outright Winner market to defend their crown, and it's easy to see why, but write Egypt off at your own peril. They’ve shown a gritty, defensive resilience that could frustrate the champions and with the King of Egypt (AKA Mo Salah) in fine form he’s always in the mix as an Anytime Goal Scorer.
If you think the African powerhouse can push this past 90 minutes, looking at the Stage of Elimination market for an Argentina exit in the Round of 16 offers massive value. However, stopping the Argentine front line is an entirely different beast. Messi has scored in every single match at this tournament so far and is still in the running to be Top Goal Scorer at the tournament. Picking Argentina to qualify combined with Messi in the Anytime Goal Scorer is a tough punt to pass up.
USA vs Belgium
Talk about two teams heading in completely opposite directions. The USA are riding a massive wave of home support and playing with absolute freedom, and as the last co-hosts standing they will be desperate to make it count. Meanwhile, Belgium’s 'Golden Generation' tag feels like a distant memory as they limp into the knockout rounds completely out of form. With so much on the line for both nations, things are bound to be tense and picking the Match Result could be a smart move; is this the round of 16 game that ends in a Draw at the end of regulation time?
The European Heavyweight Blockbuster: Portugal vs Spain
Forget the underdogs for a second — this Tuesday serves up a genuine clash of the titans. When Portugal and Spain share a pitch, you can throw the form guide straight out the window. This is pure, unadulterated Iberian rivalry with everything on the line.
Both of these footballing superpowers have their eyes firmly fixed on the ultimate prize, but only one can survive the week. With both sides boasting ridiculous attacking wealth, the Anytime Goal Scorer market is bound to be a popular play for punters expecting fireworks. Spain’s tiki-taka machine makes them attractive prospects To Qualify but with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line for Portugal, and desperate to add to his goalscoring tally, anything is possible.
We know knockout football is a different beast with chaos the only certainty, so head over to Neds today and get involved before the whistle blows.
The giant-killers are circling and the heavyweights are ready to swing – get the latest odds at Neds today.
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Topics: FIFA World Cup
The SPORTbible Team