On Tuesday Night at 7pm, England will watch with baited breath as Gareth Southgate’s England team take on 
Colombia in the final Round of 16 clash with the carrot of a place in the World Cup Quarter finals dangling within reach.
England’s last win in the Round of 16 came back in 2006, when a David Beckham free kick handed England a somewhat fortunate 1-0 win over Ecuador and a place in the quarterfinals against Germany. This was the Germany clash where Frank Lampard had a clear goal disallowed as officials did not spot the ball had crossed the goal line and as England battled to get back into the game, Germany put them to the sword to win 4-1 and ended English hopes of further progress.
What makes Tuesday night’s game so definitive for this England squad however is not just a first knockout round win in the World Cup since 2006, but there is no Brazil or Germany lying in wait for them in the quarter finals. Instead, should England win, they face a quarterfinal against either Sweden or Switzerland and if the Three Lions can negotiate that game, either Russia or Croatia will lie in wait in the semifinals.
In short, if England can win their next three games against good, but beatable, opponents, then they could be playing in their first World Cup Final since 1966.
However, the first hurdle (and perhaps the most difficult) lies in wait in Moscow on Tuesday night.
England v Colombia
- Kick Off – 7pm
- Venue – Okrytie Stadium, Moscow
- Live on ITV
Odds – Match Result (90 minutes)
- England – 11/10
- Colombia – 31/10
- Draw at 90 minutes – 9/4
World Cup 2018 Performance So Far
England
- V Tunisia – Won 2-1 (Kane 2)
- V Panama – Won 6-1 (Kane 3, Lingaard, Stones 2)
- V Belgium – Lost 0-1 – England finished second in Group G
Colombia
- V Japan – Lost 1-2 (Quintero)
- V Poland – Won 3-0 (Mina, Falcao, Cuadrado)
- V Senegal – Won 1-0 (Mina) – Colombia finished top of Group H
England v Colombia Head to Head
- May 1970 – Colombia 0-4 England
- May 1988 – England 1-1 Colombia
- Sep 1995 – England 0-0 Colombia
- Jun 1998 – Colombia 0-2 England (FIFA World Cup 1998)
- May 2005 – England 3-2 Colombia
Played 5 – England Wins – 3, Colombia Wins – 0, Draws – 2
- England Goals Scored – 10
- Colombia Goals Scored – 3
Colombia Probable XI (4-2-3-1)– Ospina, Arias, Mojica, Sanchez.D, Mina, Uribe, Sanchez.C, Cuadrado, Quintero, Rodriguez, Falcao
Colombia’s major concern is over James Rodriguez. Their talismanic midfielder picked up a knock against Senegal and is a major doubt for the game with England. Should he not make it then Luis Muriel may start in his place, although I feel Rodriguez will likely start, though he may not be 100% fit.
England Probable XI (3-5-2) – Pickford, Stones, Maguire, Walker, Trippier, A.Young, Henderson, Lingard, Alli, Sterling, Kane
England will restore most of the team rested against Belgium in the final group game, although with Dele Alli now fit again, the Spurs man may come into the team in place of Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Raheem Sterling should keep hold of his place despite his less than stellar performances so far, although Marcus Rashford is pushing him hard for a place up front.
England v Colombia tips
- Match Result – England to win – 11/10 with bet365
There’s no doubt that if England fail to produce the goods, Colombia have the quality in their team to beat England but I feel this England side has shown a bit more character in their first two games in particular. Colombia’s attacking quartet is a real danger and England will have to be wary on the counter, but I can see England creating chances against a Colombia defence that I think is its weakness. It won’t be a rout, but I think England will win this game either 2-1 or 2-0 to make it into the quarter finals.
- Correct Score – England to win 2-0 – 8/1 with bet365
As I said in my preamble above, I fancy England to score two goals in this game, and I can’t see Colombia matching that, so it is a question of whether Colombia will score or not. If Rodriguez was fully fit and in great form then I’d have gone for the 2-1 scoreline, but with his fitness in doubt and him being such a vital cog in that Colombian team, I am backing the 2-0 scoreline instead here.
- First Goalscorer – Harry Kane – 3/1 with bet365
Harry Kane may be the obvious and shortest price pick here for the first goalscorer in this game but I think that there are several reasons beyond the obvious why he is the prime choice here. Yes, he’s grabbed five goals in the tournament so far and he’s scored every time he has played as England captain (all of his last five games) but he is also up against a club colleague in Davidson Sanchez, so Kane will be well aware of the defenders weaknesses, and in addition, he has Arsenal’s back up keeper David Ospina in goal too, what more incentive will the England man need to fire the Three Lions into the lead?
How far can England realistically go in this tournament?
Stage of Elimination Betting Odds with bet365
- Last 16 – 6/4
- Quarterfinals – 4/1
- Semifinals – 9/2
- Runner up – 5/1
- To Win Outright – 11/2
The massive shortening of the prices on England to reach the latter stages of the tournament reflects how the bottom of half of the draw, which England find themselves in, has opened up. One of six teams, England, Colombia, Croatia, Russia, Switzerland or Sweden will be contesting the World Cup Final in a little under two weeks time, probably against any one of France, Brazil, Belgium or Uruguay.
This represents an even better opportunity to progress than England had in 1990, when they last reached the semifinals and finished fourth in the tournament. All the sides in England’s side of the draw are beatable by Gareth Southgate’s men, however the key for now is England to keep performing as they did in the opening two games of the tournament.
If they can do that, then the final is a very real possibility. However it won’t be as easy against Colombia, then Switzerland or Sweden followed by Croatia or Russia as it was Tunisia and Panama. Plus add to that the nerves playing in the latter stages of a World Cup and even the best teams can crumble at times. Look at how Germany, Argentina, Spain and Portugal were eliminated.
In truth, how England will go I think depends on this first game. If England win, and win well, I think their confidence will be sky high going into the next phase. Lose and they’ll regret having the best opportunity in over 50 years to each the World Cup Final.
Personally, if England win tonight, I think they look a solid bet for the final, though in truth, I can’t see them winning it unless Uruguay or Belgium see of the challenge of France or Brazil.
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