Either of these teams can give Brazil trouble. Ivory Coast has threats and pace in wide areas. Norway we never beaten historically and seems to be the typical euro golden generation that has eliminated us in recent years.
Ivory Coast providing us an example of what NOT to do vs Norway -- leaving Haaland unmarked in the PK box. He even got away with scoring a goal with a bad finish.
I noticed how he almost passed it to the keeper and even he noticed from his reaction, but it went in anyway.
This is quite the performance by France. Mbappe is now on 18 WC goals. 10 of which were in the KO round. Only 2 of those 10 were from the PK spot. Brutal numbers.
Congo for 75 minutes gave me the clearest path to the semis in a while. And that is no disrespect to Norway, Mexico or Congo, who can all gave us problems if we aren't playing at a high enough level. It's just not a Netherlands, that went to the final in 2010, or a Croatia, who went to the final in 2022, or a golden generation Belgium.
Hell of a finish by Kane on that second. Hopefully that serves as an example should we cross paths to not give space to him.
We shouldn't be giving space to any of these remaining teams, they all have that ace striker. Will be fascinating to see how England play at the Azteca. I don't think any of their players have ever played in that high of an altitude before.
And it'll be only the second meeting between England and Mexico at the World Cup. The first match took place in ... England. The hosts and eventual 1966 World Cup champions defeated Mexico 2-0 at the original Wembley Stadium.
England played the role of fun police today. What a story that would have been. DR Congo keeper was great but couldn't hold them back forever. England playing Mexico at altitude will be a challenge.
Close call for England. But after drawing the game level, you just knew they'd win. Now they go to the Azteca to face Mexico. Mexico along with Spain are the only teams that have not conceded yet in the tournament.
I haven't been impressed press with Belgium all tournament even though I know they had a lopsided win against a newbie. I predicted Senegal to win this one from the beginning. This seems like the appropriate exit for Belgium. Still one Half to go.
Mexico vs England Crazy as it sounds, given that England has most of their players in the EPL I expected them to play at a lot faster pace and with more aggressiveness. If you were to compare both teams and their tournaments so far, I think Mexico have played with a lot more speed and aggressiveness. I do think they they need another player to get going. They can't keep expecting Harry Kane to bail them out. Referring to Rashford, Bellingham, Rice even to get going. Anthony Gordon gave me Andrea Pirlo vibes. The perfect substitute.
TBF, of all teams France have played, Senegal gave them likely their most difficult test. USA (assuming they eliminate BIH) will be a good match (I hope I have my bracket correct). Go USA.
England is going to experience something South American teams are all too familiar with, altitude and sleepliess night at the hotel.. Hell, if Boliva ever host a WC, I give them a good chance of making a deep run
Just rent a 2nd bus to a different hotel. I'd imagine these players could hire lookalikes to fool everyone.
An English podcast I heard said they were planning to fly in the day of, but I thought you had to be there the day before. Maybe they're staying in Mexico but not at altitude? But if that's the case they'll still be subject to the "serenade" experience.