Anyone for tennis?

Ivory Coast - Norway 1-2

This is a match I really wanted to see. Ivory Coast it can be opportunistic, solid and mature in a game, taking advantage of the snatched last-minute win against Ecuador to qualify without emotions despite losing to Germany. And that loss was not a match written off, they had the lead over Germany for quite a bit, and were only defeated by an injury time goal.

Norway, on the other side, are as scary as a Viking raid, and definitely one of the sensations of this World Cup. It must've been a great clash but, with tickets to Wimbledon in the inbox, watching the football was always gonna be a tall order. Wavrinka - Berettini was also a great game, but in regards to Ivory Coast - Norway, I'll have to settle for watching an empty scoreline and regret not having seen what was presumably a great goal from Amad.

France - Sweden 3-0

Ramenez

One of the more unbalanced games of the round of 32, though the impression is, pretty much all the games France will play in will be unbalanced. I did watch the second half on my phone in a taxi, but with 2-0 at half time, it promised little excitement. Saw a great goal by Mbappe (another one), and the Frenchman together with Messi have now left Mirko Klose's record of most goals scored at World Cups in the dust. Klose took 4 tournaments to get to 16, Messi is now on 19, with Mbappe closely trailing at 18, and having time on his side.

France is playing really well, Deschams has done a great job getting them to play like a team, with a chemistry that is almost club-level and certainly unmatched at this World Cup so far. They look more and more like favourites to win it, and yet Paraguay will still put them through the grinder. Try and hold Mbappe, though Mbappe is unholdable.

Mexico - Ecuador 2-0

It annoyed me that the game was postponed by an hour, I was getting ready to see it. But an extra hour after a long day - couldn't make it.

Mexico were slight favourites, lest we forget Ecuador beat Germany, but the victory was fairly categorical. And the Mexicans are creating the aura of invincibility at the Azteca which will serve them well. They have england next, so definetly a chance to move one more round.

Right-o, off to watch another host - USA. Which I think will go past Bosnia, only just.