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Today at the World Cup: Tuesday, July 3

James Rodriguez hobbled off with 31 minutes gone of Colombia's win over Senegal
Image: James Rodriguez hobbled off with 31 minutes gone of Colombia's win over Senegal

The knockout stages of the World Cup continue on Tuesday with the final two last-16 encounters in Russia.

Each morning during the tournament we will bring you an overview of what is coming up...

World Cup fixtures
World Cup venues

Who's playing today?

Sweden v Switzerland (Last 16) - St. Petersburg, 3pm

Colombia v England (Last 16) - Moscow, 7pm

What's the deal?

The winner of Tuesday's games will go head to head in Samara on Saturday for a place in the last four of the World Cup. England are the only team of the four to have previously won a World Cup, although Sweden reached the final in 1958.

Sweden have been revitalised since the retirement of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, hinted captain Andreas Granqvist after his country upset the odds to help knock Germany out of the World Cup in the group stages.

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"Others have been allowed to take a step forward after we lost one of the world's greatest football players," Granqvist said.

Andreas Granqvist celebrates following Sweden's victory in the group F match against Korea Republic
Image: Andreas Granqvist scored Sweden's only goal in their 1-0 win over South Korea

"Ever since Janne (Andersson) took over as coach we've built and laid a new foundation. For the past two years throughout the qualifiers we fight for each other, we've shown that very clearly.

"As a team we know that when we do that we can be very strong and get good results."

It is a similar story for Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic, whose Switzerland side were unbeaten in a group including five-time champions Brazil, something he puts down to their impressive team spirit.

"We have managed to bring together different cultures, different talents, different ideologies and they help us to play really good football," Petkovic told a news conference.

"We have a team where the chemistry is right, that really goes together, and this is a guarantee for success."

England manager Gareth Southgate will be trying to lead the Three Lions to their first World Cup knockout win in 12 years with victory over Colombia.

But with expectations on the rise on the back of what is perceived as an easier run to the final, he is using a Euro 2016 shock defeat to Iceland to ensure his players do not get carried away.

"Maybe it's a trap we've fallen into in the past," he said. "A few of these players were in the last (European) championships. There was a fixture they felt was one that should be won.

"And then having gone behind from being ahead and feeling comfortable they realised that maybe some of that approach wasn't correct. I don't expect the same tomorrow."

England's task could be made more difficult with James Rodriguez potentially fit to face the Three Lions, having recovered from an ankle injury sustained in Colombia's 1-0 win over Senegal in the group stages.

Coach Jose Pekerman said: "We had good news after his medical tests. After his MRI (scan) we knew that he doesn't have a serious injury.

James Rodriguez hobbled off with 31 minutes gone of Colombia's win over Senegal
Image: James Rodriguez hobbled off with 31 minutes gone of Colombia's win over Senegal

"We still have one-and-a-half days to see how he feels, and as always we hope that he will be able to play in the following games."

Ones to watch

Harry Kane: The Tottenham striker has played only 153 minutes of World Cup football but, having scored five times, only Gary Lineker (10) has scored more World Cup goals for England.

The captain's importance to Gareth Southgate's side cannot be underestimated - his five goals have come from just five shots on target and he has picked up two man-of-the-match awards already.

If the 24-year-old, who was rested against Belgium, finds the net against the South Americans he'll become the first player to score in six consecutive games for England since Tommy Lawton back in 1939.

Juan Quintero: The 25-year-old has really caught the eye with his performances in Russia. He has been directly involved in three of Colombia's five goals at this World Cup, scoring in his country's opening game against Japan before delivering assists against Poland and Senegal.

And with doubts now surrounding James Rodriguez's fitness, Quintero's importance to Jose Pekerman's side cannot be underestimated.

Xherdan Shaqiri: It's a massive day for Switzerland, who have the chance to reach a first World Cup quarter-final since 1954. Since then, they have always been knocked out whenever they've reached the round of 16 (1994, 2006, 2014), not scoring a single goal in any of those three games.

Since Switzerland reached the quarter-finals at World Cup 1954. Shaqiri is the only Swiss player to have scored in the knockout stages of a major tournament. The 26-year-old scored in the last 16 at Euro 2016 against Poland and he will be looking to follow that up in St. Petersburg, hoping to help Switzerland make history in the process.

Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates after Switzerland beat Serbia 2-1
Image: Xherdan Shaqiri scored a late winner for Switzerland in their 2-1 win over Serbia

Also look out for...

50 up for Sweden

The game against Switzerland will be Sweden's 50th game at the World Cup, becoming the 11th team to reach that tally. Only Mexico have featured in more games without ever winning the tournament.

Janne Anderson's side will be hoping to play in a 51st World Cup game on Saturday!

Lichsteiner suspended

Switzerland defender, and new Arsenal signing, Stephan Lichtsteiner will be a notable absentee for Tuesday's round-of-16 game against Sweden. The 34-year-old is suspended after picking up two yellow cards in the group stages.

His absence will be a rarity for his country, though, after the Swiss captain missed just 25 minutes out of their 1,590 played at major tournaments since Euro 2008.

Will James Rodriguez be fit to face England?

"I'm very concerned, it's very worrying," Jose Pekerman said after James Rodriguez limped off after just 31 minutes of Colombia's 1-0 win over Senegal. "It's a very difficult situation for us. I don't know where he stands right now. I can't say any more because I just don't know."

Rodriguez is a crucial part of Pekerman's side, The 26-year-old has scored six goals and provided four assists in just over seven World Cup games and he's already his country's joint-third all-time top scorer with 21 goals.

But can they get him fit in time? Pekerman now faces a difficult call as to whether or not he risks starting the 2014 Golden Boot winner.

The set-piece battle...

Set-pieces have played a huge part in this World Cup so far and there are going to be some huge tussles in both penalty areas when Colombia face England.

John Stones celebrates his goal
Image: John Stones' double against Panama both came from set-pieces

Three of Colombia's five goals at this year's World Cup have come from set-pieces (two from corners, one from direct free-kick) while England scored more goals from dead-ball situations than any other team in the group stages (6).

Stats of the day

England have not won a knockout match at a major finals since beating Ecuador at the 2006 World Cup.

Since (and including) the 1966 World Cup final, 50 per cent of England's knockout games at the tournament have gone to extra-time (seven out of 14). Three have been decided by a penalty shoot-out, all lost by England (Germany 1990, Argentina 1998, Portugal 2006).

On this day

Fantasy Six-a-Side
Fantasy Six-a-Side

Pick your dream team for England v Colombia to win the guaranteed £1k jackpot.

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