And so for perhaps the first time this tournament the two teams you thought might win did so. For Brazil, victory over Mexico was relatively straightforward, they did what they have done throughout the competition. A soporific first half, opponents both tested and testing in largely equal measure. Neymar Jr dived around, acted like a dick and attempted to get the opposition sent off. He is by no means alone in conducting himself with such consummate dickishness but the better a player is, and Neymar is a wonderful player, the more it sticks in the craw. Eventually, the goal came, Mexico began to attack a little more and later a second was added. Brazil are a football team of historic significance, once they played a beautiful game, the Samba Boys were genuinely something different. Now I am sorry to say that they bore me horribly. Football has become homogenised, Brazil play more or less the same game as most of the others, they are no more or less cynical.
It begins today. Can Gareth Southgate lead his team into the quarters?
In the other game, Japan dished out a mighty scare to Belgium. Roberto Martinez's side suddenly found themselves two-nil down, staring defeat and another massive tournament disappointment in the face. We all the know the quality of Belgium's Golden Generation (a term that should be retired given the enormous amount of pressure it heaps onto any side saddled with it), but how would they react to this setback? Forty minutes to play, two goals required to stay in the World Cup. Defeat for them would have been akin to England's defeat by Iceland in the Euro's two years ago. And yet they survived. On the BBC they called it a tactical masterstroke by Martinez, perhaps it was. Or perhaps it was that age-old tactic of chucking another big man up top, this time Marouane Fellaini doing the honours. Fellaini, like his national team manager, is a much-maligned figure but even in the modern football of 80% possession stats, there is still a place for him. Belgium showed the world that they have minerals and the stomach for the fight, the world, and Brazil in particular, would do well to take note.
Marouane Fellaini, much maligned but how often he saves his teams.
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Tonight, for England, the waiting is over after what seems an age since that final group game. Gareth Southgate and his players will have watched on as more favourites have fallen or progressed with a struggle. I hope they will have learnt that nothing here can be taken for granted. This is the beginning of a new competition for them now, each game an event, a test that must be passed whatever the methods. First of all, England must beat Columbia this evening. Fail to do so and suddenly the wisdom of Southgate's team selection against Belgium will be further called into question. Personally, I back his decision that night, the first eleven have a little rest in their legs, back up players have minutes in theirs. No momentum can be lost by losing a game that you do not particularly want to win.
Radamel Falcao will be England's main threat tonight.
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The South Americans will be a tough test whether James Rodriguez is fit or not. Radamel Falcao (Amadeus, Amadeus) is a threat up front, Cuadrado is dangerous on the wing and both have points to prove after relative failures in England. In short they are no mugs. Many observers proclaimed Japan an easier second-round tie if we had topped the group and look what they almost did last night. England will need to be sharp and on their mettle. Forget what has gone before, the six goals against Panama are as irrelevant as the defeat to Belgium. The World Cup starts NOW and England will be judged on their performances over the next twelve days, not the previous twenty.
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I went with England to win and both teams to score @6.00 today.
The Colombians are no match for the English, but the English like to complicate things and I can even see the Colombians scoring the first goal.
I think I might jinx it by putting a bet on England to win ;)
Keep away please @toonpunk we don't need that right now! :-)
Nice write up! I couldn’t believe the Belgium match but to be fair I believed they just needed one lucky one and the rest would come. They got the first and you could tell the two others would come eventually.
Once De Bruyne got the ball running up the pitch you could see the goal coming. Brazil & Belgium will be a hell of a match!
Thanks @kryptocek! Yep... perhaps if Japan could have held on a little longer at 2-0 then things might have been different. Belgium looked pretty awesome after it got to 2-1. As you say, Brazil v Belgium could be epic!
I'm really needing a Belgium and whoever final! Gonna be hard to see them beat Brazil but I can see European teams making the final here in Russia.