What matters on World Cup Day 24 🏆 | OneFootball

It’s a beautiful day, the air is crisp and more quarter-final action is headed our way. Yes please.

Two matches. Four teams. Semi-final places up for grabs. Here’s what to look out for on World Cup day 24.

Can England handle being ‘the favourites’?

Oh, England. We’ve been here before. Going into a massive international game as favourites only for disaster to strike shortly after.

Romania in 2000, Northern Ireland in 2005, Iceland in 2014 – the precedent has been set for another embarrassment on football’s biggest stage.

But it feels different this time. Buoyed by crumbling the penalty curse against Colombia, confidence amongst the group won’t have been higher with a semi-final in sight. Keep your heads screwed on, lads.

Croatia could make a statement

With Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Spain all out, Croatia have a real chance to make a statement against Russia.

Under Zlatko Dalić there seems to be a togetherness to this team when in the past there has been disruption caused by personal divides. Not only is squad chemistry in a better place, but the depth as well.

Players like Ante Rebić, Andrej Kramarić and Mateo Kovačić ensure there is now depth across the board instead of solely relying on a strong first eleven. Is it their time?

How much longer will Russia ride the momentum?

All the early talk was about how Russia ran more, tackled more and scored more than anybody else.

Their opening two games saw two wins, two clean sheets and eight goals head in their favour and maybe there was substance behind some cautious optimism. The victory over Spain, however, was a result of pure grit, determination and riding momentum on home soil.

It’s unlikely that the Golden Eagles will lift the trophy come July 15th, but with a nation on their side and confidence building, stranger things have happened.

Sweden prepare for their fairytale finish

“England are favourites, yes, of course they are but we don’t mind,” Sebastian Larsson told Sky Sports News. “We still put pressure on ourselves; we don’t feel like our story is finished here.”

Being the underdog can work wonders at a major tournament. Lose and you head home as heroes. Win and you head home as heroes. Sweden will be secretly relishing that tag knowing they have much more to offer.

The Blågult have never reached a World Cup semi-final before, but Costa Rica, Ghana and Iceland have shown that international football can be kind if things fall in your favour. They’ll be hoping to cause an England collapse in Samara.