France World Cup news conference: England will be 'tough' to beat

1. Giroud "off the planet player" says coach; Giroud says England will be 'tough' to beat
2. Last 16 concludes on Tuesday with Morocco v Spain (15:00) and Portugal v Switzerland (19:00) - listen to both games on BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Sounds
3. Build-up to England v France on Saturday (19:00 GMT) in quarter-finals
4. Disrespectful or dynamic? Brazil's goal dance celebrations discussed
5. Get involved: Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp [phone]

'To be honest, he got so close!'

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The England social media team have been running a sort of Big Brother-style Diary Room feature for the players out in Qatar and the latest man to sit in the chair is Jude Bellingham.

There was only one thing to ask the 19-year-old about - that goal celebration with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.

"That was completely off the cuff," said Bellingham. "We never even spoke about it, if I was to get an assist for him.

"Obviously, we're spending a lot of time with each other at the minute but no, that was completely off the cuff. But I think it's turned into something a little bit iconic."

One thing we all probably want to know is: did it hurt?!

"To be honest, he got so close, I was thinking, 'if this is what we're going to do, then we have to commit,' added Bellingham.

"So I went and he came really hard you know! Like, right there and that's why my back is arched because I'm thinking, 'he's proper hard, proper close,' so I kind of just had to turn the corner a bit, lean forward and get into a bit more of a comfortable position.

"But it was a good moment. Something that lives forever."

'Ronaldo to miss the decisive spot-kick'

BBC Sport

Switzerland were really passive against Brazil and didn't manage a shot on target but their other games in Qatar give us a better idea of what to expect from them here.

Portugal have some excellent players but the Swiss will be full of confidence here after the way they overcame Serbia to get to the last 16, and they also beat Portugal when they played them in the Nations League in June.

This will be close and I have a feeling Cristiano Ronaldo will have a big say in the outcome - although not necessarily in a positive way.

It is a risk versus reward scenario for Portugal if they pick Ronaldo, because his influence on the team is massive but they might have a better starter who should be in the side.

If this tie goes the distance, how long should he stay on the pitch?

Sutton's prediction: 1-1 - Switzerland to win on penalties after extra-time - Ronaldo to miss the decisive spot-kick.

Hold on to your hats and get your thumbs ready for Chris Sutton's prediction for what will happen between Portugal v Switzerland...

Match stats - Can Portugal finally make the quarter-finals again?

• This will be the third meeting between Portugal and Switzerland in 2022, having faced each other twice in the Nations League in June. Portugal won 4-0 in a match played in Lisbon, before Switzerland won 1-0 in Geneva a week later.
• Portugal will be looking to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for just a third time, previously doing so in 1966 and in 2006. However, they've failed to win any of their past five knockout games at the tournament, losing each of their past four, including defeats at this stage in 2010 (0-1 vs Spain) and in 2018 (1-2 vs Uruguay).
• Switzerland won two of their matches in the group stage at the 2022 World Cup (L1 v Brazil), and will be looking to win three games in a single World Cup tournament for the first time in their history.

'Ears burning'

A Bola

Ahead of the Portugal versus Switzerland match tonight, Portuguese newspapers have been commenting on rumours of rifts between captain Cristiano Ronaldo and Portuguese coach Fernando dos Santos.

A Bola pictures the pair on the pitch with the headline "ears burning".

The paper goes on to say that Ronaldo will likely remain among the 11 players, but the captain's title has raised doubts for the first time.

Ronaldo the headline at Portugal news conference

Much of the Portugal news conference on Monday was dominated by talk of 37-year-old forward Ronaldo, who left Manchester United by mutual consent in November following a controversial interview.

Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr have already made a huge offer to sign Ronaldo after the tournament in Qatar, while other clubs have expressed an interest in him.

"I have not spoken to him about this," added Santos.

"I don't know about this. It is his decision. I did not even know about this and I heard about this when I arrived here.

"We are focused on the World Cup. I don't know anything about this other issue."

Santos 'really did not like' Ronaldo reaction

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Portugal coach Fernando Santos says he "really didn't like" Cristiano Ronaldo's reaction to being substituted in the World Cup defeat by South Korea.

Ronaldo was taken off 65 minutes into their final group-stage defeat and has denied directing an outburst towards his coach.

Santos refused to comment on reports Ronaldo could be dropped for Tuesday's last-16 match with Switzerland.

"I am not worried if information is right or wrong," said Santos.

"I do not read this type of information. I am focused on my team. We are focusing on training and not paying attention to any polls [in the Portuguese media].

"Yes, I did not like it, not at all [Ronaldo's outburst]. I really did not like it and from that moment on that issue [it] is finished."

The final game of this round of 16 stage features a player who is being courted by some big money offers. However, his manager was not impressed with his attitude against South Korea...

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Ask Balague and McNulty your World Cup questions

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The Qatar 2022 World Cup is about to take its first pause for breath after 17 days of thrilling action, shock upsets and many, many talking points.

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty is following England's progress in Qatar, with BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague also giving his unique insight into the superstars and big storylines of the tournament.

Send us your questions for our experts here

Morocco fans out in force

There's still another two-and-a-bit hours before kick-off against Spain and Morocco fans are out in force in Qatar.

Morocco are featuring in the knockout stages of the World Cup for only the second time, also reaching the last 16 in 1986.

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'Spain are the best footballing team'

BBC Sport

Spain are the best footballing team in this tournament.

I really like their style and their pretty passing patterns but they always try to play through people and if teams are sitting deep they can find it difficult.

I watched them against Japan on Thursday and they had all of the ball but they didn't look like scoring even when they got desperate - maybe Guillem Balague was right about their lack of goals after all.

So, this one is going to be close. Morocco are probably stronger, physically, but I don't think they will chase the ball high up the pitch - instead they will probably sit back and pick their moments, a bit like Japan did against Spain.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

'Spain are not the best team at World Cup'

Jose Enrique

Former Liverpool and Villarreal left-back on BBC Radio 5 Live

Morocco are a team that can really damage you. I’m positive that Spain is the best team and are going to win but at the same time we don’t have a Kylian Mbappe, a Neymar, we don’t have players like this in front for when the games are getting difficult.

When Alvaro Morata isn’t in the team we don’t have any solutions. I like how Spain play because it’s our identity but they are not the best team in the tournament. For me it is Brazil or France.

Match stats - Spain have winning edge

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• Spain have never lost in three previous meetings with Morocco (W2 D1), with their two wins both coming in qualifying play-off legs for the 1962 World Cup in November 1961 (1-0 away, 3-2 home).
• Morocco are featuring in the knockout stages of the World Cup for only the second time, also reaching the round of 16 in 1986, losing 1-0 to Germany that year.
• Morocco are unbeaten in their last four matches at the World Cup (W2 D2). The only African team to go five consecutive World Cup games without defeat are Cameroon (W2 D3 between 1982 and 1990).
• Alvaro Morata has scored in each of his last three World Cup appearances for Spain, despite playing a total of just 126 minutes across those games. The only Spain player to score in four World Cup games in a row is David Villa in 2010.

Inside the world of Enrique - via Twitch

BBC Sport

As Spain prepare for their last-16 match against Morocco, much of the country's focus is falling on boss Luis Enrique and his decision to speak about anything and everything on the streaming site Twitch.

Across the country, hundreds of thousands have been tuning in to his almost daily broadcasts - as the former Spain midfielder sits in a gaming chair with a headset, answering any questions that come his way.

As well as finding out about his footballing philosophy, we have also learned he eats six eggs a day, he hates cheese - despite hailing from Asturias, the dairy capital of Spain - what his favourite restaurants are and that he sleeps naked.

His reasons for his regular streams? He wants to change people's perception of him.

"Speaking to you all has been a great surprise," he said. "Up to now, your opinion of me has been conditioned by when you have seen me with the press. Now there are no filters. It also helps me receive information, affection, criticism, questions, from all you.

"I don't pretend to like everyone... no-one is perfect; we all have our defects. But what has surprised me most is the energy I have received from you. I now have more backers than I have ever had in my whole life."

Read more of Enrique's Q&A answers here

Team news - clean bill of health for both sides

Luis Enrique says he has a full squad of 26 players available to choose from after Cesar Azpilicueta recovered from his knock against Japan.

Morocco also have a clean bill of health and Hakimi is likely to be fit to play after nursing an ankle injury.

Can Morocco pull off a surprise?

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Meanwhile, Morocco wing-back Achraf Hakimi says he thinks his side can "pull off another surprise" against Spain.

The 24-year-old, who was born in the Spanish capital Madrid, could have been lining up for the opposition for his international career.

Hakimi, who had been selected for Spain's junior teams, said: "It is something unique playing for your country and especially now that we are making history.

"It's incredible to see how people are living it with us, and that energy transmits a lot to us and gives us strength to continue and look to do great things."

Hakimi says his side - who were denied a World Cup victory over Spain in the group stages four years ago when Iago Aspas scored an injury-time equaliser - "deserve a little respect".

"Four years of experience since have meant I've come with a more mature mentality," he added.

"Spain are a top-five team and always come to the World Cup to win but our coach has also taught us to have a winning mentality. It doesn't matter who we are up against. We are going to play our way and try to beat them.

"We finished first in the group and I think we deserve a little respect. I think that Spain know that and that they have to be a little afraid of us. Why can't we pull off a surprise again?"

Penalty 'homework' for Spain

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Spain coach Luis Enrique hopes his players' "homework" of practising 1,000 penalties will pay off against Morocco in the World Cup last 16.

Enrique says he set his players the task over the last year in anticipation of facing spot-kicks in the knockout stages of the tournament in Qatar.

Spain were eliminated on penalties by Italy in the semi-finals of last year's Euros.

"I imagine that they have done their homework," said Enrique.

"Over a year ago, in one of the Spain camps, I told them they had to get here with at least 1,000 penalties taken," Enrique said.

"If you wait until getting here to practise penalties... [it won't be enough].

"It's a moment of maximum tension, a time to show your nerve and that you can shoot the penalty in the way you have decided, if you have trained it a thousand times.

"It says a lot about each player. It's trainable, manageable, how you manage the tension. It's increasingly less luck - the goalkeepers have more influence.

"We have a very good goalkeeper, any of the three can do very well in this situation. Every time we finish training, I see a lot of players taking penalties."

A look ahead to today's last-16 action now.

Japan had a shocker with their penalties in the shootout on Monday, so surely other teams have been practising?

Step forward, Spain...

'With the quality we have we can hurt them'

Thoughts go out to my best mate Michael, who has the ice castle at Winter Wonderland, with his partner booked for 7pm Saturday! Poor lad is missing the game but will be wearing his England kit! I'm confident we can do well against France, they let Poland have a lot of the ball and with the quality we have we can hurt them.

Demetris

An England kit, in an ice castle? Sounds a bit chilly that!