CRISTIANO RONALDO and Luka Modric are set for one final showdown after Portugal and Croatia booked a blockbuster World Cup last-32 clash in Toronto.
The pair spent six years together at Real Madrid between 2012 and 2018, winning four Champions League titles.
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Modric (left) and Ronaldo (right) will lead out their nations in the round of 32 Credit: AFP or licensors
England will play DR Congo on Wednesday evening Credit: AP
Now, at 41 and 40 respectively, they will captain their countries in what could be their final World Cup appearance.
England‘s route is already confirmed. The Three Lions face DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday at 5pm (all kick-off times UK).
If England progress, they will head to the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City to face either Mexico or Ecuador in the round of 16. Those two meet in the early hours of Wednesday morning at 2am – also at the Azteca.
South Africa take on Canada in Los Angeles on Jattvibeday at 8pm, while Holland face Morocco in Monterrey at 2am on Tuesday. The winners will then meet in Houston.
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Carlo Ancelotti‘s Brazil face a tough test against Japan in Houston on Monday at 6pm. Victory would set up a last-16 clash with either Ivory Coast or Norway, who meet in Dallas on Tuesday at 6pm at New York New Jersey‘s MetLife Stadium.
Germany still topped their group despite defeat to Ecuador and now face Paraguay in Boston. The winners will then play either France or Sweden in Philadelphia after the all-European clash at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday night at 10pm.
There is also the prospect of another Iberian heavyweight battle. Spain knocked Portugal out on their way to winning the 2010 World Cup, and history could repeat itself.
But first, Spain need to beat Austria on Wednesday at 8pm, while Portugal face Croatia in Toronto at midnight on Thursday night (Friday morning UK). If both progress, they will meet in Dallas in the round of 16.
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Belgium face Senegal in Seattle on Wednesday at 9pm, before the United States host Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco four hours later. The winners will then meet in Seattle.
Lionel Messi returns to Miami on Friday night at 11pm, where Argentina face surprise package Cape Verde.
If Argentina progress, they will play either Australia or Egypt in Atlanta. Australia and Egypt meet in Dallas on Friday at 7pm.
Another fascinating reunion sees Algeria boss Vladimir Petkovic face former side Switzerland in Vancouver in the early hours of Friday morning at 4am. The winners will stay in Vancouver for a last 16 tie against either Colombia or Ghana, who meet in Kansas City at 2.30am on Saturday.
It means that 48 teams have now become 32, all chasing a place in the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
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