WC quarterfinals begin today

Combo photos of France's Kylian Mbappe (left) and Uruguay's Luis Suarez — AFP

MOSCOW, July 5 (Agencies): The final eight teams to enter the Russia 2018 World Cup quarterfinals are decided. The stage is now set for the four matches that will decide which sides advance into the semi-finals of the tournament. The quarterfinal of the World Cup will begin from Friday.

On the day, France, who defeated Argentina 4-3 in Round of 16, will take on Uruguay, who ended Portugal's run. Brazil, who defeated Mexico, will lock horns with Belgium. On Saturday, England will take on Sweden, while the hosts Russia will face Croatia.

In the first match, fleet-footed France will have to find a way past the tournament's joint-meanest defenders Uruguay in the first of two inter-continental World Cup quarterfinals on Friday.

France banged in four goals in their last 16 game against Argentina, and will be hoping their formidable attacking trio of Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe can turn it on again at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.

Nineteen-year-old Mbappe scored two goals in the Argentina game, becoming the first teenager since Brazilian great Pele in the 1958 final to score two goals in one World Cup match.

But it was his amazing 70-metre sprint earlier in the match, to win France a penalty, that stunned viewers worldwide.

On the surface, though, Uruguay look relaxed and their experienced central defenders Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin are relishing the chance to foil both Mbappe and their friend and Atletico Madrid team mate Griezmann.

With an impressive strike partnership of their own in Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, the Uruguayans believe they can surpass their most recent best of a semi-final in 2010 - though Cavani is sweating on a calf injury that may keep him out.

'Les Bleus' will be inspired by the two-decade anniversary of their only World Cup win in 1998, while double winners Uruguay's modern generation are desperate to recreate the black-and-white-era glories of their 1930 and 1950 trophies.

The winners will play Brazil or Belgium, who meet in their quarterfinal in Kazan on Friday evening, for a place in the July 15 final.

Meanwhile, at a World Cup rocked repeatedly by the fall of giants, Brazil and Belgium have managed to hold firm in the maelstrom and will meet in a blockbuster quarterfinal in Kazan on Friday.

Most pre-tournament modelling has been put through the shredder by the eliminations of traditional heavyweights like Germany and Spain.

However, the clash of the fancied South Americans and Belgium's 'Golden Generation' has given the most casual of analysts reason to feel smug that, at least, they got one thing right in their scenario plotting.

The teams have progressed through different means but each arrive with confidence after rousing wins in their last starts.

Inspired by Neymar brilliance and the wiles of Willian, Brazil sent a tough Mexico side packing with a 2-0 defeat that cemented Tite's side as favourites to claim a record-extending sixth World Cup trophy.

It was hardly such smooth sailing for the Belgians, who suffered a huge scare in their last-gasp 3-2 win over Japan.

But their marauding finish, banging in three consecutive goals late in the tie to erase a 2-0 deficit, was a sobering reminder of the firepower at Roberto Martinez's disposal.

Against Brazil, however, Belgium's formidable attack featuring captain Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku may be hard pressed to break down a stingy defence which has conceded one goal in their four matches at the tournament, and a total of six from their past 25.

Their win over Mexico showed textbook defending from the central pairing of Thiago Silva and Miranda, assisted by full backs Fagner and Filipe Luis.

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku (left) and Brazil's Neymar — AFP

If there is one glimmer of hope for Belgium, it might be the suspension of holding midfielder Casemiro, who picked up his second yellow card during the Mexico game.

The Real Madrid man has been key to Brazil's structure, so his likely replacement, the 33-year-old Fernandinho of Manchester City, will have big shoes to fill.

Although Luis put in a solid display against Mexico, Tite may be tempted to recall his preferred left back Marcelo, who missed the match with a back injury but returned to training.

At the other end, Brazil's attack has clicked after a disappointing start to the tournament, and even Neymar's much-criticised histrionics could not completely overshadow a dominant performance against Mexico.

They will look to exploit a Belgium defence that has let through four goals and has a trio of big centre backs that may be exposed for pace by the nippy Neymar, Willian and Philippe Coutinho.