'World Cup bracket's right side has become the hardest' - Megan Campbell

Republic of Ireland international Megan Campbell believes England and France's side of the draw has arguably become the most difficult at the FIFA Women's World Cup.

When the tournament kicked off originally, the opposite side of the draw which featured the USA, Sweden, Netherlands, Japan and Spain's groups were deemed to be the most difficult from which to make a concerted run towards the latter stages.

But in a competition replete with shock exits, the balance has shifted ahead of Friday and Saturday's quarter-final stage.

On the 'left' side of the bracket, an impressive Japan take on USA's last-16 conquerors Sweden, while Spain and Netherlands will vie to meet one of those sides in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, the 'right' side has co-hosts Australia building momentum as they go up against a talented but unpredictable France, and European champions England will be wary of the threat posed by a Colombia side that helped eliminate powerhouses Germany on route to a first ever last-eight berth.

And it's that side of the draw that has become hardest to call according to Campbell who was speaking ahead of the impending quarter-finals which will be live across RTÉ television and the RTÉ Player.

"I actually think that the harder games are from the right hand side of the bracket compared to the left now as I look at it," she told the RTÉ Women's World Cup Podcast.

"It's going to be tough but brilliant for the neutral overall."

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While Campbell tipped Japan and Spain to make it