The quarter final picture is sharpening into focus, and the fallout from a truly thunderous Argentina victory has left the Egyptian camp howling at th...
The quarter final picture is sharpening into focus, and the fallout from a truly thunderous Argentina victory has left the Egyptian camp howling at the moon. Make no mistake, this was a boiling cauldron of a match, a proper heavyweight bout that swung on a knife edge. Egypt, for their part, will feel a deep, abiding sense of injustice. They matched Messi's men stride for stride, flooded the midfield, and generally made life a misery for the South American giants. But when the final whistle sang, it was Argentina who snatched the spoils in a thriller that had everything except a moment of sanity from the officials. The Egyptian bench was apoplectic; their manager was held back by his own staff. You suspect this grievance will not fade quickly.Yet while Cairo simmers, the England camp is dealing with its own brand of drama. Jordan Henderson, that great bellwether of professionalism, has apparently told the medical staff where they can stick their advice. Reports filtering through from the camp suggest a significant injury, something that would sideline most mortals for a month. Henderson, however, has decided he is staying. He will not be sent home. He will not board that plane. He is attached to this World Cup campaign like a barnacle to a hull. It reeks of leadership, of course, but also a touch of stubbornness that could either inspire or backfire spectacularly. For Gareth Southgate, it presents a curious problem: an injured talisman in the squad, but a monumental presence in the dressing room.Meanwhile, the rest of the footballing world watches with bated breath. Messi's Argentina are purring but not yet perfect. Their transitional play still leaves gaps you could drive a bus through, and their low block was nearly undone by Egypt's direct running. Is this a team destined for glory, or one that will be picked apart by a more disciplined side in the last eight And what of the big questions Who steps up when the penalties come, assuming you believe the data on Nikhita Chulani's dissection of the perfect spot kick The answer might be lurking in that very analysis, a cold, hard statistical truth that could decide a nation's fate. As always in this tournament, the margins are terrifyingly slim. Squeaky bum time is not just upon us; it is sitting in the stands, wearing a sombrero and screaming.
