Colombia vs Ghana Predictions

• Ghana have lost six of their last nine matches
• Colombia claimed seven points in the group stage, winning the xG battle against Portugal
• Ghana’s standout forward Antoine Semenyo has scored only once in his last 27 internationals

Can Colombia match their best World Cup run?

Colombia held off Portugal to top their group, and the bracket has fallen kindly for them. They meet a Ghana side that showed little on their way to finishing third, before a potential clash with Switzerland or Algeria in the next round. They should even be reasonably confident about a potential quarter-final meeting with Argentina, having beaten the world champions in qualifying.

Colombia have only made the last eight once, losing at that stage at the 2014 World Cup when James Rodriguez shot to superstardom. After failing to qualify for the tournament four years ago, Los Cafeteros could bounce back with their best tournament display.

A bridge too far for limited Ghana

Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz didn’t hide his distaste for the expansion to 48 teams, but his side really lived on the edge on their way to qualifying for the last 32.

Their only victory came thanks to a 95th-minute winner against Panama, a match where their first shot attempt came three minutes into the second-half. The Black Stars dug in for a point against England in their second match, losing the shot count 19-2.

Ghana finished the group stage with a 2-1 defeat to Croatia, their sixth defeat across their last nine matches.

Composed Colombia can ease to victory

Colombia’s four-game winning run ended with their draw against Portugal, but there was little doubt that they were the better side. Los Cafeteros had almost twice as many shots as the Portuguese, generating 1.7 xG while holding their opponents to 0.93.

This Ghana side look limited going forward, with Antoine Semenyo struggling to make an impact in international football. The Manchester City forward has scored once and failed to make an assist across his last 27 games for the Black Stars.

Colombia played a similarly conservative DR Congo side in the group stage, restricting them to a single shot on target in a 1-0 victory. They’ve looked defensively solid throughout the tournament, and they can shut down Ghana in a routine win to book a place in the last 16.