%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
World Cup: Thursday 18th
This World Cup is fast becoming one of the greatest ever, after some wonderful goals and high quality encounters in every group. Thursday brings England’s second game and one that neither team can afford to lose. Technically it’s not all over if either team lose, but it would take it out of our hands, as it stands two wins in the next two matches will most likely take England through. Group C also play their second matches today, so what to look out for?
Colombia v Ivory Coast
Both of these teams won their opening match but in very different circumstances. The Ivory Coast went 1-0 down but the introduction of Didier Drogba revitalised the team and less than 5 minutes later they were leading. Colombia dominated their match against Greece and were rarely pushed in either defence or attack, but the African team will be a different match. Ivory Coast offer a lot more going forward and I think they could earn themselves a draw
Colombia 2 – 2 Ivory Coast
Uruguay v England
A crunch game if ever there was one, with two of the World’s top 10 facing off for the right to stay in control of their World Cup fate. Luis Suarez is expected to play but the big debate is whether he is truly fit, having only gone through keyhole surgery less than a month ago. It may be able to run and kick the ball, but 90 minutes in a World Cup match is tough without any match fitness.
England have no new injury concerns and will almost certainly start with the same XI that faced Italy, but possibly with Rooney swapping with Sturridge to allow the Manchester United his preferred central position. That way Baines will almost definitely have more cover, but it won’t matter as much as Uruguay’s wide players are more likely to more central than that of Italy. Oxlade-Chamberlain will hope to make his World Cup début whilst Jack Wilshere will hope to improve on a poor substitute appearance against Italy, and their young legs late in the game could well help England to win it.
England 2-0 Uruguay
Japan v Greece
Another match that I am not expecting much out of, but I expect the Asian side to come out on top. Greece looked poor against Colombia and I don’t think they’ll even get close to Japan over 90 minutes. Japan’s side like to play good football and I think they’ll leave this World Cup with 3 points to their name.
Japan 2 – 1 Greece