Instant reaction to the England (Non) Performance and preview of first two knock out games

And then there were sixteen, we have now said goodbye to sixteen nations and tomorrow move on to the knock out stages with two games, both involving some of our favourite villains. Les Bleus v the Argies and the flesh eater from Uruguay v Ronaldo and the Bell Ends.

But before that, of course is EnGerLand, where normal service was resumed in a one nothing defeat to the technocrats of Brussels. Herein lies the problem, both sides had already qualified, they both rested their star players, nothing was riding on the game.

As I sat with my mates, there was not the usual tension that comes with watching England, the cursing, the anguish, the utter dejection at the end which is the lot of an EnGerLand fan. We did not care, when the young English striker, Rashford, was clean through on goal and all he had to do to score was beat the goalie, which he managed successfully, but also somehow missed the target, there was no outpouring of abuse at the screen, we all just laughed.

I do not want to hear any of that rubbish about being in an easier half of the draw and therefore playing accordingly.

To win the tournament you are going to have to face and beat a big name side eventually. In 2016 England thought, oh good, cod fish fingers, our favourite thing for tea, and they ended up biting off more than they could chew as they lost to Iceland. None of the big teams have looked that good yet and all are beatable on the day.

The defeat for EnGerLand had an added bonus in that it has brought the Nation back down to earth, a healthy reality check was a good thing at this point. EnGerLand will now face Colombia on Tuesday night, whilst Belgium will face the Ronin from Japan on Monday, the only nation from Asia or Africa to make it through although that is a topic for another day.

In the first game tomorrow, two fancied teams who have both under performed face each other in a clash of the Titans. We have written enough about the Argies, the level of their performance has been worse than poor and I will come out and say that unless they show a massive improvement, Argentina will be joining Ze Shermans on their way home.
Not that Les Bleus have been much better, but put it this way, the Frogs have not been good the Argies have been bad.
In an ideal world they would both lose, but as we know "you can't always get what you want, but you find sometimes you get what you need". If Argentina do somehow win, they will be building a momentum, a self belief which is often more important in tournament football than playing well.

The two players too watch in this game will be Paul Pogba, who will look to boss the midfield for France and Javier Mascherano. His job will be to try to  shield the rather porous Argentinian defense from the marauding Froggy hordes, who will be looking to crack that said defense like a plate of escargot sauted in butter.

To the Bat mobile Antoine

Is that sour Cherry juice

The second game will showcase an intriguing clash of styles with Uruguay who have not conceded a goal yet against Ronaldo and the bell ends of Portugal as they continue their world tour, and this time they will be performing their well known hit "I wonder why they hate me like they do,"

Ronaldo pulled the Portuguese chestnuts out of the fire in the first game against Spain, it is hard to have to rely on that every time and Uruguay have the defense to stifle the rather blunt Portuguese attack, but also posess the means to uncork the Portuguese defense with our two friends the male model Cavanni and Hannibal Suarez Lector.

Main men are both defenders Godin for Uruguay and Pepe for Portugal.

Pepe a walking red card

Godin More solid than the rock of Gibraltar

France and Uruguay to previal