Bookies get behind Brazil for SWC glory

Cape Town - And then there were 16!

The 2018 Soccer World Cup in Russia has reached the Round of 16 stage with some mouth-watering clashes scheduled for the next four days.

Defending champions Germany are the obvious major casualties having been eliminated following their dire performances in Group F which saw them finish bottom of the standings.

But 16 worthy nations will now fight for the biggest prize in football - and leading SA bookmakers BET.co.za have unsurprisingly installed five-time champions Brazil as 7/2 favourites, followed by 2010 winners, Spain, at 4/1.

Then come Belgium 13/2, England 15/2 and France 8/1.

Croatia (11/1) and Argentina (12/1) fall into the dark-horse category while it would be considered an upset if any of the remaining sides emerged victorious.

Round of 16 fixtures:

TOP HALF

SATURDAY, JUNE 30

France v Argentina - 16:00

Uruguay v Portugal - 20:00

MONDAY, JULY 2

Brazil v Mexico - 16:00

Belgium v Japan - 20:00

BOTTOM HALF

SUNDAY, JULY 1

Spain v Russia - 16:00

Croatia v Denmark - 20:00

TUESDAY, JULY 3

Sweden v Switzerland - 16:00

Colombia v England- 20:00