Belgium vs Senegal

Belgium top Group G; Senegal snuck through as the eighth-best third-placed side after a rocky start. One team is in cruise control, the other is fighting for survival — this knockout has all the ingredients for a classic. The Red Devils were held by Egypt and Iran before dismantling New Zealand 5-1, with Leandro Trossard bagging a brace. Romelu Lukaku, Belgium's all-time World Cup top scorer, and Kevin De Bruyne arrive in form for the knockouts; only Zeno Debast is absent. Senegal recovered brilliantly from losses to France and Norway with a clinical 5-0 rout of Iraq. Ismaïla Sarr has three tournament goals and is the Lions' key threat, though first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy misses out with a knee injury. Senegal have lost four consecutive World Cup games against European opposition, and Belgium's depth and quality should ultimately tell. Our prediction: 2-1