The group stage is finished in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.We're heading to the playoffs.

There were, as usual, a couple of surprises (Japan and Sweden being included in the top 16), and once again the reigning champions were left stranded Germany lost to South Korea in its last group-stage game. The rest of the big favorites held their ground and got through some Sheldrick Redwine Jerseys with swagger, and some by the skin of their teeth.

DeCOURCY:

How will the first knockout round, which begins Saturday, June 30, play out? offers its predictions based on its statistical simulations.

France vs. Argentina (June 30, 10 a.m. ET)

France:2 wins in group stage (2-1 vs. Australia, 1-0 vs. Peru), 1 draw (0-0 vs. Denmark)Argentina:1 win in group stage (2-1 vs. Nigeria), 1 draw (1-1 vs. Iceland), 1 lo s (3-0 vs. Croatia)

France did the bare minimum to win its group and didnt need to sweat too much. After beating Australia and Peru, it was able to rest its key players in the group-stage finale. France has played well in defense, only conceding from a penalty, but its offense has struggled. More was expected from two of the most skillful offensive players in Europe, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe, who have only scored one goal each. The defense seems solid enough with Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti leading the line in the middle and Hugo Lloris manning the goal.

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Argentina struggled heavily in the group stage Vinny Curry Jerseys but made it through by Marcos Rojos late winner against Nigeria. It has had ma sive problems keeping its game intact under pre sure, and it came completely undone against Croatia after losing the battle in midfield to Luka Modric and Co. Much more can be expected from household names like Lionel Me si and Sergio Aguero, but the midfield is a question mark as it features players from the Argentinian and Chinese leagues. Coach Jorge Sampaoli's work has been questioned as well; it appears he has lost or has given away the dre sing room and the players are running the show.

In AccuScore simulations, France will beat the unorganized Argentinians with 57 percentprobability.

Uruguay vs. Portugal (June 30, 2 p.m. ET)

Uruguay: 3 wins (1-0 vs. Egypt, 1-0 vs. Saudi Arabia, 3-0 vs. Ru sia)Portugal: 1 win (1-0 vs. Morocco), 2 draws (3-3 vs. Spain, 1-1 Dan Feeney Jerseys vs. Iran)

Uruguay won its group without conceding a goal, although the opponents were not exactly the top of the cla s. The team works well together from thebottom up and po se ses dangerous weapons up front with Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. There are not any remarkable weak links in the team. Mathias Vecino and youngsters like Nahitan Nandez, Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Torreira have taken over the midfield. The team has great balance and is strictly following the tactical setup by coach Oscar Tabarez. That makes it extremely difficult to beat.

Portugal finished second in its group behind Spain, thanks mostly to four goals scored by Cristiano Ronaldo, who will need more supporting fire to break through the tough Uruguayans. Portugal has lacked the killer instinct in front of the goal and has not created much offense aside from CR7. It has huge potential, though, especially up front with the likes of Goncalo Guedes and Andre Silva, but so far it has been Ronaldo's show.

This is likely to be a close, low-scoring affair likely to be decided by one goal to either side.

In AccuScores simulations, Uruguay will prevail with approximately 65 percent probability.

Spain vs. Ru sia (July 1, 10 a.m. ET)

Spain: 1 win (1-0 vs. Iran), 2 draws (3-3 vs. Portugal, 2-2 vs. Morocco)Ru sia: 2 wins (5-0 vs. Saudi Arabia, 3-1 vs. Egypt), 1 lo s (3-0 vs. Uruguay)

Spain was involved in high-scoring games during group play with Diego Costa leading the attack up front. Keeper David de Gea barely got a touch, though, and the defense looked surprisingly suspect at times. An excellent midfield led by Sergio Busquets and Anders Iniesta allows Spain to keep po se sion for the most of the game, butcreating and finishing chances has been difficult at times. Costa is a prolific goal scorer, but he's an on/off player. Ifhe is shut down, who'll score the nece sary goals? Isco has taken on some of the burden, but he has yet to be tested against better defenses. The knockout games are decided with penalties if no winner can be found in New York Jets Home Office 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra time, so Spain might have a chance here even without scoring.

The hosts started the tournament with a blast, beating Saudis 5-0 in the opener, but they weren't that dominant. That was proved by a humbling defeat to Uruguay in the final group-stage game. There were a lot of doubts about the Ru sians' quality as they looked awful in their preparation games. Home-field advantage seems to have worked well, though, and a couple of emerging stars have been born. Roman Zobnin and Aleksandr Golovin have taken over the midfield while Denis Cheryshev has found the net at last. Ru sias defense is still old and slow and the attackers havent been able to score, but the hosts,with the help of the fanatic home crowd, might have what it takes to upset Spain.

AccuScore simulations dont exactly align with that latter view, however; Spain is about 75 percent probable to progre s.

Croatia vs. Denmark (July 1, 2 p. Matt Ammendola Jerseys m. ET)

Croatia: 3wins (2-0 vs. Nigeria, 3-0 vs. Argentina, 2-1 vs. Iceland)Denmark:1 win (1-0 vs. Peru), 2 draws (1-1 vs. Australia, 0-0 vs. France)

Croatia has been the bright spot of the tournament and has looked excellent in all three of its games. Beating Argentina by three goals is an achievement that shouldn't be overlooked.The quality of Croatias midfield was obvious in that game. Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Marcelo Brozovic dominated the pitch from the center and gave Argentina no chance to build anything from the midfield. With relentle s wingers Ivan Perisic and Ante Rebic in support, Croatia is able to control the tempo and keep the pre sure away from its goal. The same can be expected Chuma Edoga Jerseys going forward. It's lacking clinical finishing up top Mario Mandzukic is far from his best form and Andrej Kramaric is not a world-cla s finisher and thedefense might be slow at times, but neither flaw has slowed the Croatians.

Denmark finished second in its group despite winning only once and scoring just twice. It conceded just a penalty against Australia. Kasper Schmeichel has been good in goal and is commanding the defense admirably. The Danes are organized, hard-working and patient, which makes scoring against them difficult. Christian Eriksen is the not-so-secret weapon in set pieces; the midfie