Some of the usual heavyweights rub shoulders with surprise packages in the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup, which get under when France take on Uruguay in Nizhny Novgorod on Friday.

That mouth-watering clash is followed by another packed with prime talent as Brazil face a Belgium team on the other side of their great escape against Japan.

On Saturday, with their penalty shoot-out hoodoo slain for now, England meet Sweden in Samara before hosts Russia aim to extend their dream run against perennial dark horses Croatia.

Along with the eight teams, five of our reporters remain in Russia. Here s who they think will go all the way.

Harry West – Brazil

We re at the business end of the World Cup now and I haven t seen a stronger side than Brazil. …

South Africa s 2010 readiness got a thumbs up on Monday after a successful Confederations Cup, with organisers confident that hitches will be ironed out ahead of the continent s first World Cup.

Security passed with no major incident, a critical concern with crime levels in South Africa among the world s worst, while the football curtainraiser was also praised for unifying South Africans 15 years after democracy.

The rehearsal, as this tournament has become known, has been very satisfactory. We are happy with the level of commitment shown by the organising committee and the government, FIFA boss Sepp Blatter told journalists.

The world football body gave organisers a 7.5 out of ten for the Confeds Cup, saying it hoped the score will rise to 10 by next year for…

Phil Foden sat out England s training session on the eve of the Euro 2020 final against Italy.

Manchester City midfielder Foden was absent due to a minor knock , with all other members of Gareth Southgate s 26-man squad present.

Southgate will address the media later on Saturday, when he is expected to give an update on Foden s condition.

The 21-year-old was named Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Young Player of the Year in 2020-21 after scoring 16 goals and supplying 10 assists in all competitions as City won the Premier League and retained the EFL Cup.

He began Euro 2020 on the right-hand side of England s attack, hitting the post during the early stages of the opening 1-0 win over Croatia.

But Foden was substituted during the lacklus…

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho thinks Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be available for selection before the end of the year.

Veteran striker Ibrahimovic has been out of action since sustaining a serious knee ligament injury in the Europa League quarter-final clash against Anderlecht at Old Trafford last April.

The 36-year-old was not initially retained at the end of his contract but agreed a return in August, with Mourinho suggesting at the time he would be fit for the new year.

However, the Portuguese is hoping Ibrahimovic, who scored 28 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions for United last season, could be back sooner.

Zlatan is here, he s working here and under our control, said Mourinho at a news conference ahead of Saturday s trip to Huddersf…

I’d just like to wish all our readers a very Happy New Year. A new year always brings a fresh outlook and focus on life.

And I am no different I hope to bring our readers even more interesting articles in 2011.

I’m sure I speak for everybody at Soccernews when I say we appreciate your participate and interest in the site and long may it continue.

Managers

Just like all of us Premier League managers will be hoping for good things in 2011’s and here is what some of those poor lost souls need in 2011.

David Moyes (Everton)

As regular readers of my editorials know I am a big Everton. Unfortunately Everton are currently struggling to win games and the answer is simple, we are missing far too many chances. Strikers Yakubu, Jermaine Beckfo…

Roberto Baggio has labelled Italy not qualifying automatically for the World Cup for their Euro 2020 triumph as madness .

Italy were penalty shoot-out victors against England in the Euro 2020 last July, but followed that up with World Cup play-off qualifying defeat against North Macedonia in March.

That meant the Azzurri have failed to qualify for two straight World Cups, having missed out on both Russia in 2018 and Qatar four years later.

Roberto Mancini s side met the Copa America winners Argentina on Wednesday in a match between the champions of European and South American football, but were thoroughly outclassed in a 3-0 defeat.

Argentina displayed the gulf in class between the two sides, with some suggesting Lionel Scaloni s side could be favourites …

Two AFC North rivals come into Week 3 on the heels of convincing Week 2 losses as the Cincinnati Bengals travel to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers come into their first divisional game of the season decimated with multiple injuries to key players, including QB Ben Roethlisberger and star LB T.J. Watt. Pittsburgh’s banged-up defense could be a blessing for Bengals QB Joe Burrow, who has been sacked nine times through weeks. Neither offense impressed last week and the NFL betting odds reflect that, while the Steelers slim 3-point home favorites.

Here are our best free NFL picks and predictions for Bengals vs. Steelers on Sunday, September 26.

…

As of this writing, the Wild Card Weekend is still sorting itself out. But if books are going to hang NFL Divisional Round odds, we’re going to size them up and see which ones we want to bet now and which ones we’ll wait on – projecting line movement – to bet later.

With just four games on the board, NFL bettors will face the toughest and tightest set of spreads and totals of the entire season. That means that not only do you have to be on the right side, but also get the best of the number. We tell you how, with the Divisional Round edition of Bet Now/Bet Later. Good luck.

…

The Buffalo Bills will open their postseason run by hosting the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in a first-round playoff battle between AFC East rivals. 

The No. 2 seed Bills finished the year with a 13-3 record, far better than No. 7 seed Miami (9-8). However, the two teams split their season series, playing two close games in the regular season. 

Miami could struggle to repeat those performances without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa available for Sunday’s game. We’ll break down what that means for this Super Wild Card Weekend matchup in our NFL picks and predictions for Bills vs. Dolphins on January 15. 

Be sure to also check out Sam Farley’s Dolphins vs Bills Wild Card prop picks!

Dolphins vs Bills best odd…

Back from a whirlwind trip to London, the Buffalo Bills take on their former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and his New York Giants in the latest SNF odds. 

The Bills may be short on preparation, but this matchup is a gift from the schedule-makers, as the latest NFL odds point to one-way traffic in this Week 6 matchup.

With a shaky offensive line, no Daniel Jones, and a questionable Saquon Barkley, the Giants have a mountain to climb against their New York neighbors — and Buffalo is set up as one of the popular NFL picks this weekend.

I’m looking closer at the props market for this Week 6 odds battle, and make sure to also check out our Giants vs. Bills betting preview and our Josh Allen spotlight picks!

…