Post tica-taca

The tournament has excitingly evolved over the weekend and there’s three main themes that have emerged enough to get my attention today.

1) First is the emergence of a two-tier competition. There is a real competition and a ‘plate’ going on simultaneously now. The “easy side of the draw” theory has reached a pinnacle of truth now that Spain have exited the competition, and there’s a genuine feeling now that England have a cracking chance of being losing finalists, as do the rest of the teams on their side of the draw. Did Southgate know he was essentially buying a Betamax when selecting his team for the Belgium game? I think we have truly got a great chance now of progressing all the way to the final. I’m not getting all silly about it – I am fully aware that we might be looking at vegetable-based photoshops of Southgate in the papers on Wednesday; but my feeling is that we can and will progress deep into the competition now. This creates its own dilemma for me personally. Do I watch a match in public? Normally this is reserved for the day England get knocked out of the competition, and hence why I might prefer to stay incognito until the open-top bus tour in late July...

2) Second up is the referee-assisted resurgence of pragmatic and physical football. In a mirror image of world politics, football seems to have eschewed all that is graceful and right, in favour of a [South Park inspired] ‘member berries’ approach to the game. Gangling centre-forwards – check. Rugged and cynical professional fouls only seeing a yellow card - check (omg Denmark, how did you end that game with 11 players?), referees telling players with bleeding stud-marks in their stomachs to “get up and get on with the game, man” - check. It’s hilarious and good.

3) Third is that penalties will always favour whomever is more pleased to have arrived at this awful endgame. Spain bossed their match and felt like they had failed at the [120m] whistle. Likewise Denmark, oddly progressive and worthy of a shock win, arrived at that final, final whistle feeling like it was an opportunity lost. It ramps up the pressure too much; and almost inevitably results in defeat on penalties. Gareth, if you are watching, then no need for psychologists or penalty practice – we just need to be outperformed in the game and then the win is a shoe-in.


Other brief round of 16 thoughts

• I am stunned at Spain’s exit, and their insipid approach to the game. I remain concerned at the leniency the referee showed to Russia (VAR - 'Vladimir Assisted Referring' is the coined phrase, ha) and will continue to watch with concern as the tournament progresses.
• I was cheered by the France (eventual winners) arrival in the tournament.
• I was upset (yet simultaneously buoyed for England’s sake) by Croatia’s failure to turn up last night.
• I was impressed very much by the strength of Cavani’s face.

I’m looking forward to the games today; yesterday’s performances and results have completely undermined my confidence in my own predictions… let’s see.