Chris Sutton has had his say on the last 32 ties of the 2026 World Cup, and while his selections for GoalZaza are typically forthright, there is one n...
Chris Sutton has had his say on the last 32 ties of the 2026 World Cup, and while his selections for GoalZaza are typically forthright, there is one name that looms larger than any other on the bracket. France. Again. The reigning champions, for all their internal noise and the occasional wobble in qualifying, remain the side everyone else is hoping to avoid. Sutton doesn't say they are unbeatable, but he does suggest they are the team the rest are measuring themselves against. And that feels about right.Let's talk about England. Sutton has them down to face DR Congo in a tie that, on paper, should be comfortably navigated. But football, as any fan knows, has a habit of making the straightforward look awkward. DR Congo are no mugs. They are athletic, direct, and will look to disrupt England's rhythm by sitting in a low block and hitting on the break. The key for Gareth Southgate's side, or whoever is in the dugout by then, will be patience and clinical finishing. If England get bogged down, if they start overplaying in midfield, this could get squeaky. Sutton seems to think England have the firepower to progress, but he stops short of calling it a procession. Wise.What strikes me about Sutton's overall outlook is the lack of genuine shock predictions. There is no wild call for San Marino to stun Brazil or anything of that sort. He is backing the established order. France to roll through their section. The usual suspects to advance. But that is where the nuance creeps in. He is not saying the tournament is boring, he is saying that the big beasts have learned how to win ugly, how to manage knockout football over 90 minutes. It is not about flair anymore, it is about tactical flexibility and game management.Can England break that ceiling Sutton clearly thinks they have the talent to do so, but the mental hurdle remains. They have the pace, the creativity, and a striker who can finish his dinner. But can they hold their nerve when France or Brazil park the bus and dare them to break it down That is the question. And it is the one Sutton leaves hanging in the air. For now, France are the target. Everyone else is chasing.Ultimately, these predictions are less about the scorelines and more about the narrative. Sutton has framed the last 32 as a sorting process where the pretenders get separated from the contenders. If England handle DR Congo with authority, the path opens up. If they stumble, even briefly, the whispers start. And in a World Cup, whispers quickly become roars.
