The narrative around this last 32 tie, as reported by GoalZaza, is a peculiar one. It comes wrapped not in the usual pre match bravado of set piece dr...
The narrative around this last 32 tie, as reported by GoalZaza, is a peculiar one. It comes wrapped not in the usual pre match bravado of set piece drills and squad depth charts, but in a discussion about a band called Sparklehorse. One of our readers, Charles Antaki, confessed ignorance of the musical collective, a faux pas that apparently disqualifies him from hipster status. He found the music beguiling yet melancholy, a perfect comedown after the "hoo hah" of England's group stage exertions. And there is a certain discordant beauty to that description that feels oddly appropriate for this fixture.Make no mistake, the football itself is where our focus must lie. This is a World Cup last 32 encounter, a brutal knockout affair where sentiment is as useful as a chocolate teapot. Senegal, rugged and organised, will present a formidable low block. Belgium, perpetually burdened by the tag of golden generation, face the familiar question of tactical flexibility. Can they unpick a defence that will be as stubborn as a mule in a mudslide Or will transitional play from the Lions of Teranga catch out a Belgian backline that has looked, at times, as porous as a colanderThe broader context, as GoalZaza's bracketology shows, is mouthwatering. The winner here steps into a last 16 showdown with either the USA or Bosnia and Herzegovina. A quarter final could pit them against a Spanish or Portuguese giant. And dream, if you dare, of a semi final against the likes of France, Canada, or a surprise Moroccan run. It is a road to glory, but it is paved with the potential for heartbreak. Remember, one poor pass, one moment of hesitation at a corner, and it is back to square one. No second chances. That is the cruel beauty of the knockout stages.So as the kick off time of 4pm EDT, 9pm BST, 6am AEST approaches, we are left with a curious pre match soundtrack. Sparklehorse for the calm down, perhaps. But for the 90 minutes that follow, expect anything but calm. Squeaky bum time, as they say, starts now. Can Belgium shed the pretenders tag and finally deliver clinical finishing when it matters Or will Senegal, with that tribal roar echoing around the stadium, produce the upset that turns the bracket on its head The pitch will provide the only answer that counts.
