By ESPN
Portugal and Spain are searching for their first win, but can Cristiano Ronaldo star again vs. Morocco? Uruguay face Saudi Arabia and Spain play Iran.
Join the chat and post comments / questions using the hashtag #AskESPNFC.
SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia -- Carlos Queiroz has guided three national teams to four World Cups but the game against Spain on Wednesday could prove to be his finest hour and a half, not just on the global stage but in a long and distinguished coaching career. If all goes well in Kazan vs. Spain, and then against Portugal in Saransk, the 65-year-old will have secured his reputation as one of the world's top coaches.
He was already up there in the eyes of his Iran players after they threw him into the...
When Cristiano Ronaldo whipped that vicious, nigh-on unstoppable free kick beyond David De Gea on Friday night, Spain howled and neutrals around the world rejoiced.
The game had finished in a draw but football had been the winner: Spain, for their part, had shown glimpses of their fluent, high-octane best and if that was an appetiser for match-ups between this World Cup's big guns then the knockout stages, when they begin in a week and a half, will be something to behold.
Yet it is not that simple...
ESPN FC's Shaka Hislop and Alexis Nunes look ahead to Portugal-Morocco, Uruguay-Saudi Arabia and Iran-Spain and predict who'll come out on top.
Spain came through a tough World Cup opener against Portugal in impressive style as the aftershocks of the sacking of their coach were still reverberating and they will need to keep the pedal firmly to the floor when they meet Iran on Wednesday.
The thrilling 3-3 draw with Portugal in Sochi eased concerns that Julen Lopetegui's sudden departure would derail Spain's campaign and reports coming out of the camp indicate an upbeat mood under his makeshift replacement Fernando Hierro.
On paper, Spain...
Iran
Spain
Morocco
