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Moscow - Favourites Brazil and Neymar take on a talented Belgium side in the Soccer World Cup quarter-finals on Friday while an exciting young France team led by emerging superstar Kylian Mbappe must pass a tough test against Uruguay.
As the World Cup bursts back into life with the first two quarter-finals, Brazil are aiming to continue on the path towards winning a record-extending sixth World Cup at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on July 15.
But first, Neymar and his star-studded supporting cast have to get past Belgium, who boast an array of their own firepower, to reach the last four.
In a Kazan Arena expected to be awash with yellow-clad Brazil fans, Belgian trio Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne have a chance to prove they can cut it at the highest international level after so many disappointments.
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez acknowledged the gulf in World Cup pedigree between his side and Brazil.
"They know how to win World Cups, they've done it more than any other nation so they have that psychological barrier out of the way," the Spaniard said.
"Of course we want to win and we're going to try to win. The most important aspect tomorrow is our chance to play in the quarter-final.
"We want to enjoy our game."
Brazil coach Tite said he was desperate to win without resorting to the "horror" of penalties after three of the last-16 ties were settled by spot-kicks.
"A football match should never be settled with the horror of penalties. I don't see that as a valid result," Tite told a packed press conference on Thursday. "For me, there has to be another way."
Brazil made a slow start in Russia but hit their stride with an impressive performance to shut down Mexico in the last round, even though Neymar was roundly criticised for once again play-acting at the merest contact from an opponent.
"If I seem more relaxed, it's because the players have put me in this position by playing better," said Tite.
France overran Argentina in a last-16 match that appeared to signal the passing of a torch to a new generation of superstars, as 19-year-old Mbappe scored twice to outshine Lionel Messi and dump the 2014 finalists out of the competition.
No-one in the French camp is under any illusions that Uruguay will give them the acres of space they enjoyed against the disorganised Argentinian defence.
"Uruguay have so many assets, so many qualities," said France coach Didier Deschamps. "They defend as a unit, they play together and they love to do that."
Uruguay will make a last-minute decision on whether prolific striker Edinson Cavani will play after he suffered a calf injury in his impressive two-goal performance that ended the hopes of Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.
Cavani was back in training on Thursday and France are acutely aware of the threat posed by the man who plays for Paris Saint-Germain.
"I am preparing my team for if Cavani plays," Deschamps said, adding he would only know 90 minutes before kick-off.
In England, World Cup fever is building as hopes rise that Gareth Southgate's young team can beat Sweden on Saturday and reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1990.
Coach Gareth Southgate has urged his young squad to seize their chance.
"It's a great opportunity, and although our team will be individually better in two years, we might not have this opportunity again," Southgate told the BBC.
But even if England do reach the final, British political leaders and royals will not attend the match in Russia. The diplomatic boycott imposed over a nerve agent attack in southwest England is back in the spotlight after a new case of exposure to the same poison in the same area.
England or Sweden will play the winner of Saturday's other quarter-final in which host nation Russia hope to keep their rollercoaster ride through the finals going when they play Croatia.
Written off as no-hopers before the tournament, Russia are now within reach of their first World Cup semi-final since 1966.
