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Boot camp selection

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I'm watching on delay tonight, having amazingly avoided any spoilers this afternoon despite being in the company  of a thousand or more people at a festival.

It really gets tense now, and whilst things might not be as end-to-end as they have been in the group stages, I'm still sure there's some great games to look forward to.

Here's how I think the quarter finals will shape up:

(Nb this may already be wrong as 1.5 matches will have been played before I post this!)

France - I've just seen their line-up and think they have got their front three spot on. Mbappe is a real threat and Griessman feeding from Giroud makes sense. I do think they will grow ominously into the tournament.

Uruguay - by virtue of actually being tough (track record of actual cannibalism in the World Cup), will win a deeply hostile match tonight. I predict a lot of foul play, loads of simulation, general bad tempers and some (probably historic) "red card VAR" reviews

Spain - I think Russia, no matter how heavily they have dosed or trained, will surely lose.

Brazil - will win the tie of the round. Neymar will start playing football, rather than whatever floor-based interpretive dance that he's done thus far.

Croatia - will continue to be the hipster choice, with their sumptuous midfield. Add any of them to the England squad and we'd be a far fiercer prospect.

Switzerland - will surely wonder how they have lucked out and met another distinctly average team at this stage. I still hold a highly irrational dislike for their national team, and would really rather that Sweden won, but fear that England's hopes in the quarters could be at 'power-cube' Shaquiri's mercy.

Belgium - will begin to emerge as tournament favourites. Batshyuai (sp?) will score with his eye (as per his practice effort the other night)

England - will win on pens vs Columbia after the most agonising 120 mins ever played. Scores will be level after every player has taken their pens, and it'll go to sudden death 'manager and coaching staff' penalties, with Southgate thunderously roofing the winner before popping both shoulders out in a handstand celebration.

Only a quarter of the total tournament games remain, yet it is all really just beginning.

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