A much changed England side lost their final Group G game against Belgium 1-0 last night, who were also playing with a much changed side. England had their chances to score but Belgium were more composed on the ball and kept possession better and they deserved their goal, which was a right foot cracker from Januzaj from inside the box that left Pickford swotting thin air trying to reach the ball. However, the most important thing is that England along with Belgium are through to the last-16 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and as they finished second in Group G behind Belgium, they now face Columbia in Moscow on Tuesday 3rd July at 7pm GMT next week. Columbia will be their first big pressure test for England and they cannot afford to underestimate a very talented Columbian side.
Friday is a rest day for the FIFA 2018 Word Cup but there’s not long to wait before the action returns as the last-16 knockout stage begins tomorrow. There are two cracking matches to kick-off the last-16 action on Saturday, featuring the winners of Group A Uruguay against the runners up of Group B Portugal in Sochi at 7pm and the winners of Group C France (advised 15/2), face the runners up of Group D Argentina in Kazan at 3pm. Both games are likely to be cagey affairs given what’s at stake and Uruguay and France have the unenviably task of trying to keep Ronaldo and Messi quiet for 90 minutes.
Neither side, apart from maybe Argentina in their last game, has impressed so far in the tournament but its safe to say France looked more assured winning their first two games than Argentina did in their first two matches. However, Argentina may have found the right formation and system in their last match and if they play like that tomorrow with Messi engaged and scoring, they will be very difficult to beat. Also, history is not on France’s side as they’ve never beaten Argentina in four previous attempts between 1930 and 2009, including at the World Cup in 1930 and 1978.
The other game between Uruguay and Portugal is the first ever meeting between the two nations and what a stage to have it on. Uruguay won their group easily and with hindsight its safe to say their opposition, including Russia, were average to poor. Unlike Portugal, who had to battle and scrap to get out of their group as runners up against Spain, Morocco and Iran. Uruguay are on a six match winning run and the manner of their last win against Russia proved they are not just a one trick pony because they can change their tactics to be more offensive and bring Suarez and Cavani more in to the game when needed.
Portugal who are unbeaten in their last six games, winning two and drawing four, will continue to set up like Uruguay usually play, and this means we are likely to get a defensive, attritional battle with some flashes of attacking brilliance and plenty of interruptions, unsportsmanlike conduct and a decent likelihood of VAR being used to review a decision as the referee is bound to find himself under more and more pressure as the game progresses, which usually result in mistakes and errors that VAR now usually picks up on. I think Uruguay are stronger defensively than Portugal and if they can keep Ronaldo quiet for most of the game and take some calculated risks offensively, I see them progressing to the quarter finals, either by a narrow margin win in normal time or by winning in extra-time.
Selections:
World Cup 2018
Saturday 7pm
Uruguay To Qualify vs. Portugal (10/11)
