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We’ve had Juventus players taking part in games the first two days of the Round of 16. That’s also true today as well — although it’s pretty much just technically speaking.
Douglas Costa and Brazil, one of the last remaining tournament favorites still alive at the World Cup, take the field in their first knockout round game against Mexico. However, the “Douglas Costa” part won’t actually be on the field after he was ruled out over the weekend for Brazil’s game this afternoon.
Not that missing Douglas Costa is a major hit to Brazil’s attack knowing who else they have.
But seeing Costa run full steam ahead at Mexican defenders would have been fun, right?
Of course it would have.
Brazil, however, will be looking to avert what has happened to pretty much every other pre-tournament favorite thus far outside of France. Germany didn’t make it out of the group stage. Spain was ousted by Russia on PKs on Sunday. The two players in the ever-present GOAT battle, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, have also been sent packing over the weekend.
That leaves Neymar, his hair, his flopping around on the ground and his Brazilian teammates as one of the few big countries left in the game.
Think about it: One of Colombia, England, Sweden, Russia, Croatia and Switzerland will be playing for the World Cup title in two weeks. Maybe you’ve been on Colombia’s fancy dancing bandwagon or drawn to Croatia because Mario Mandzukic is up to his Mr. No Good ways in Russia, but it’s not like that six-team grouping above is filled with teams that oddsmakers were all over come the start of the World Cup a few weeks ago.
Oh, and by the way, Belgium and Japan are the late game today. There you go!
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Brazil vs. Mexico: 10 a.m. Eastern Time, 7 a.m. Pacific (NBC link here)
Belgium vs. Japan: 2 p.m. Eastern Time, 11 a.m. Pacific (NBC link here)
HOW TO WATCH
Television: Brazil-Mexico will be shown on Fox Sports 1, Belgium-Japan will be shown on FOX (United States); TSN4, TSN5 (Canada); UTV, STV Scotland, ITV1 UK (United Kingdom)
Online/mobile: Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (links above); Fox Sports Go (United States); TSN GO, RDS GO (Canada); The ITV Hub (United Kingdom)
Note: This post will be updated daily as the main World Cup viewing and off-topic thread here at BWRAO. Stay tuned to BWRAO for posts regarding Juventus’ representation in Russia as well as any transfer-related happenings that take place before, during or after the day’s schedule comes and goes.