The Round of 16 continues at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar on Monday, as the penultimate pair of quarter-finalists are chalked up in the Gulf.
Brazil are sweating on the fitness of star man Neymar ahead of their last 16 date with South Korea on Monday night.
They follow the tie between Japan and Russia 2018 finalists Croatia.
World Cup predictions and fixtures for 5 December
*All kick off times are in Central Africa Time.
Round of 16: Japan vs Croatia – 17.00
Monday’s first Round of 16 clash at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar sees Japan go up against Croatia.
It’s a tie between the effervescent Asian nation and their reliable European opponents, who went all the way to the final in Russia four years ago before losing out to France.
The Croats weren’t sure of their knockout progress this time around until the final whistle blew in their Group F finale against Belgium.
A nervy goalless draw ensured Luka Modric and his side squeaked through at the expense of Kevin de Bruyne’s Belgians, who once again failed to live up to their billing on the biggest stage of all.
Victory over pointless Canada and an opening point against shock pool winners Morocco proved enough to keep them in the hunt in the Gulf.
That was nothing on what the Japanese went through in sealing progression in momentous fashion.
They finished top of Group E thanks to an astonishing second half comeback against 2010 champions Spain, scoring twice in three minutes to come from behind to win.
Coupled with their victory over another big beast in Germany, it meant the Germans were dumped out at the first stage along with rock bottom Costa Rica.
Round of 16: Brazil vs South Korea – 21.00
It’s the turn of Brazil and South Korea to kick off their knockout journey in Qatar, as they meet in the Round of 16 at the 2022 Fifa World Cup on Monday night.
The South American giants breezed to qualification from Group G thanks to successes against European duo Serbia and Switzerland.
But there have been hiccups as well.
Neymar remains an injury doubt having gone down in their tournament opener, while Alex Telles and Gabriel Jesus have both been ruled out of the rest of the competition.
And then there’s the Cameroon game, where the five-time global champions slipped to a staggering injury time loss.
The South Koreans were odds against making it out of a devilish pool when they kicked off their last game against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
But a 91st minute winner from Hwang Hee-Chan capped a remarkable turnaround that saw them sneak through alongside the Portuguese.
It also consigned Group H rivals Uruguay and Ghana to the World Cup dustbin, as the pair played out their own tempestuous grudge match to no avail.