Argentina vs. France & Uruguay vs. Portugal

The 1^st round of the World Cup is done. It was a super fascinating experience. As you grow older, read and get to know the context of thing, the world seems a fascinating place. And the World Cup, helps in bringing those fascinating stories together. The Swiss team beating the Serbs with the help of Xherdan Shaqiri, and Granit Xhaka, and the controversy surrounding it. It was a good thing that FIFA didn’t ban the two for displaying the Eagle Sign. If your family has been torn apart, jailed and had to fled home because of the tantrums of few elite men from a country, the least you should be able to do is celebrate the way you want after rubbing in it in their faces. Eventually, whatever the financial stakes, football is played by human beings.

So to add to the journey, today marks the start of the round of 16. Two matches will be played today.

Argentina vs. France

France has football talent in abundance. How to make use of it? Didier Deschamps will have to find some answers. So, far their campaign has been under whelming. However, I won’t be surprised if the French simply over power Messi’s team. It took Marcus Rojo’s excellent finish for Argentina to go through to the round of 16. The team isn’t clicking and team selection simply leave too many holes. My heart wants Messi go all the way, head says it is unlikely.

Uruguay vs. Portugal

We have already seen Pepe vs Costa. Now its times to Pepe vs Suarez. Both teams don’t like bite, of Uruguay don’t at least. Ronaldo, is in goal scoring form and so is Suarez. But the questions in the minds of the fans is, how tenacious will game be? Uruguay come in with 3 wins while Portugal had a tough time getting out in what initially seemed a relatively straight forward path to the round of 16. For some reason, I think with a million fouls in the game, it may be decided by a player being sent off or/and penalty. Both teams have players who can perform moments of magic. The defence that blips will cost their team a place in the quarter final.