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France v. Belgium.
These good friends from the Schengen area. Comrades in many historical games together, they will glare at each other on the 620 km of their common border today.
For any of these groups of supporters, as Guus Hiddink said "what are the games, what is it?" And for the neutrals, what a hangover prospect – two sides who attack with brio and enthusiasm (unless they have a gentleman agreement with Denmark, that is to say).
There is absolutely no argument to say that Russia 2018 was a football festival, but the remarkable series of 16 against Argentina and Belgium's defeat in the quarterfinals of Brazil are two of the most exciting matches of international football. We have seen in recent years.
As always, it is difficult to clbadify things as subjectively as football games. That said, Nick Ames set his sights on the quarter-finals four days ago, and here's what he thinks of where our latest 'fabulous four' are.
Preamble
Richard Parkin
And so at this point in the World Cup where every day without a match feels inexorably useless – we wake up with a spring in our step, and hope our heart, because football, dear reader, is back.
Three epic games to play (and a "good that we might as well be there") – until 2018 Russia announces its ultimate winner; Vladimir Putin, apart. Will it be France? Belgium; England or Croatia?
18 of the 20 World Cups of all time went to nations that are not these four – have we ever seen such an open competition? Two of them have never won one; not to mention the final of the World Cup – will Belgium or Croatia make history?
All we can say is that for two of these four sides, the answer will come sooner than today (*): one of these nations comes home [19659004] Timetable of the day:
19h BST / 21h MSK / 4h Monday AEST: France v Belgium Saint Petersburg
So prepare your harnesses and your slippers, do your gymnastics morning (or night) now, and for the sake of heaven, call mom, otherwise you'll know that she will call you during the game.
As always, send your best ideas, discussion points and questions to join the conversation today: by email ([email protected]), twitter ( @rrjparkin ), or simply comment under the line. Especially if you know more about Belgian football than your humble scribe today.
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