World Cup 2022: Odds, Picks and TV Schedule for Remainder of Tournament
The top stars in men's international soccer thrived at the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup knockout round.
Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar all found the back of the net in the round of 16 in Qatar.
The big names will now have even more importance in the quarterfinal round as the gap in overall quality tightens.
There was one star missing from the goal tally, with Cristiano Ronaldo not getting on the scoresheet for Portugal after coming on as a substitute in the 6-1 demolition of Switzerland.
Portugal's success without its longtime talisman could carry over into the quarterfinal with Morocco, and that may make it the biggest favorite to trust on the odds board.
World Cup TV Schedule
Friday, December 9
Croatia vs. Brazil (10 am ET, Fox)
Netherlands vs. Argentina (2 pm ET, Fox)
Saturday, December 10
Morocco vs. Portugal (10 am ET, Fox)
England vs. France (2 pm ET, Fox)
Tuesday, December 13
Semifinal No. 1 (2 pm ET, Fox)
Wednesday, December 14
Semifinal No. 2 (2 pm ET, Fox)
Saturday, December 17
Third-place match (10 am ET, Fox)
Sunday, December 18
World Cup Final (10 am ET, Fox)
Croatia vs. Brazil
90-Minute Money Line
Brazil (-275; bet $275 to win $100)
Croatia (+800; bet $100 to win $800)
Draw (+400)
To Advance to Next Round
Brazil (-650)
Croatia (+450)
Brazil and Croatia advanced to the final eight in their own unique style.
The South Americans used a four-goal first-half outbreak powered by Richarlison, Vinicius Junior and Neymar to see off South Korea, while the European side beat Japan via a penalty shootout for the fourth time in its last five World Cup elimination games.
Croatia will try to play a methodical game through its midfield trio of Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić and Marcelo Brozović, but that goal may not be achieved if Brazil presses the issue in the final third.
The Seleção have the best expected goals total of any team left in the tournament at 9.4. They have a non-penalty xG of 8.7, which is two points higher than six of the other sides in the last eight.
Neymar and Co. are going to create chances in some capacity, and they will be expected to finish a few of them.
Neymar, Richarlison and Vinicius Junior stole the show against Switzerland, but none of them lead the team in shots on goal.
Raphinha has six shots on target, which is the third-highest total of players left in the tournament. Only Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi have more.
The Barcelona forward was hunting for a goal in the round of 16, but he could not find one. That could lead him to being more aggressive in the final third with less attention on him than others.
Raphinha has the lowest number attached to him for a shots on goal, which may be the prop bet to play if Brazil produces the most opportunities.
Croatia could counter with some quality chances, but it has not scored more than two goals in any of the four World Cup knockout-round games that went to extra time or penalties in 2018 and 2022.
The 2018 World Cup runner-up has not scored more than once in three of its four games in Qatar.
Prediction: Brazil 2, Croatia 0
Best Bet: Raphinha to have one shot on target (-165)
Netherlands vs. Argentina
90-Minute Money Line
Argentina +125
Netherlands +260
Draw +215
To Advance to Next Round
Argentina -160
Netherlands +135
Argentina's attack rightfully gains the headlines because of Lionel Messi's presence, but the real difference-maker in the quarterfinal clash with the Netherlands could be its defense.
The South Americans have the lowest expected goals against in the tournament at 1.3. They held Mexico and Poland scoreless, and their concession against Australia was an own goal.
The Albiceleste have not conceded a goal to an opponent in Qatar since the 53rd minute of their opening loss to Saudi Arabia.
The Netherlands have had a strong tournament, but they have not been tested as much as other sides. The Oranje topped a weak Group A and took advantage of mistakes made by a young United States team in the round of 16.
The Dutch have one knockout-round win at the World Cup and European Championship since taking third place at the 2014 World Cup. That came in the round of 16 in Qatar.
Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay can pose trouble for the Argentine defense, but they may not create as many chances as they have in previous games.
The Albiceleste allowed one knockout-round goal on their way to winning the 2021 Copa America, and their only multi-goal concession in the knockout of the 2019 event came at the hands of Brazil.
Argentina can hold the edge on defense in addition to Messi carving up the final third. The team could still have a tough time against the Dutch, but it can test that defense more.
Prediction: Argentina 2, Netherlands 0
Best Bet: Netherlands under 0.5 goals (+150)
Morocco vs. Portugal
90-Minute Money Line
Morocco (+475)
Portugal (-145)
Draw (+270)
To Advance to Next Round
Morocco (+235)
Portugal (-300)
Portugal strolled to victory without Cristiano Ronaldo in the round of 16, and manager Fernando Santos should take the same approach on Saturday against Morocco.
One could argue the European team could use its talisman to break down an organized defense, but the squad already has a few players capable of doing that.
Bruno Fernandes has two goals and three assists, and João Félix can cut through the Morocco defense with his runs from 30 yards out or deeper.
Gonçalo Ramos will not score a hat trick again, but he can get shots on goal to replace what Ronaldo would have done up top.
The Morocco defense has been remarkable in Qatar. It has not conceded a goal to an opposing player yet, but that could all change on Saturday.
Portugal will not be as passive as Spain was in the final third in the round of 16 or as wasteful as Belgium in the group stage.
Fernandes, Félix and others can break down the intricacies of the Moroccan backline over 90 minutes.
If Portugal is half as clinical as it was against Switzerland, it will get through without the challenge of extra time.
Prediction: Portugal 3, Morocco 0
Best Bet: Portugal 90-minute money line (-145)
England vs. France
The expectations are high for the England-France quarterfinal.
France is the reigning World Cup champion, while England made it to the semifinals at the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020.
Les Bleus have a remarkable quartet of attackers in Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembélé.
Most of the focus will be on the 23-year-old, but the other three could wreak havoc on the English defense.
Giroud and Dembélé have had moments throughout the tournament, and Saturday could be the time when Griezmann steps up. He leads the team with 14 key passes in Qatar.
Griezmann had three goals and two assists in the 2018 knockout round, and he could be vital to unlocking the Three Lions' backline.
England can counter with the same attacking strategy since it proved it can score without Harry Kane in the group stage. It scored nine goals in Group B without the Tottenham Hotspur striker finding the back of the net.
Kane scored four times in the Euro 2020 knockout round. If he is silenced on Saturday, England may have a tougher time scoring than France would if Mbappé was contained.
England and France have comparable xGAs. The Three Lions have a 3.1 xGA, and the French sit at 3.4 xGA.
Chances could be hard to come by, but when they do appear, expect the top players to take them.
On paper, England-France has the most potential of the quarterfinals to go to penalties, where the the skill sets and nerves of both world-class rosters will be tested.
Prediction: England 1, France 1 (France wins on penalties)
Best Bet: Antoine Griezmann to give an assist (+350)
Statistics obtained from FBRef.
Gambling problem? Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369).
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visiting ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visiting OPGR.org (OR), or calling/texting TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).
Odds and lines subject to change. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.