World Cup round of 16 power rankings: Can anyone stop Brazil?

3. Croatia

Based on group form alone, Croatia should top the list. However, these rankings are also made based on an expectation of how far each team will go in the knockout phase.

While the Blazers have enviable quality on the ball, the absence of an elite striker may be their undoing as the tournament progresses. Mario Mandzukic is still effective in the air, but the 32-year-old has rarely been prolific.

Ante Rebic and Andrej Kramaric offer more mobile alternatives, but neither can be placed in the marquee bracket. Not having a genuine match-winner up top makes Croatia more reliant on their midfield wizards for goals as well as creativity.

There’s no denying Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mateo Kovacic and Ivan Perisic can carry the burden, but for how long?

The quartet were brilliant during the group stage. Modric in particular showed there’s no end in sight to his cultured control of matches at the highest level.

Real Madrid’s pint-sized playmaker will need to be at his best against a Denmark side sure to try and stifle his influence. The Danes should also be able to test a potentially vulnerable defense still led by Liverpool center-back Dejan Lovren.

Modric and Co. should get past Denmark, but don’t look well-enough equipped at both ends of the team to go much further.