Allons les Belges!

I am sure the most open last four for some time. At the end it can come down to silly mistakes or blinding brilliance and each team is capable of both.

Then penalties! The most irrational way to decide a world championship. Should be a declared a tie! If two sprinters tied would they be expected to run a best of three sprint off over 50 metres.

A final penalty shootout just means the best team in the world is the one who can best hold its nerve in front of billions of people and then execute a single kick precisely. Not exactly a demonstration of the hard training, skill and persistence that led the team to this point.

I know that's an ideal not a practicality but just wanted to vent!!!!

I don’t really care, do you?

I believe France will defeat Belgium though I'm rooting for Belgium to win that match. I think England has the better team but Croatia has enough skill to pull a victory or if the hat. I think that will be an exciting game to watch. I'm rooting for England to win.

That puts the final as France vs England and I want England to win.

England has nothing going for it at the moment as a nation. A World Cup win would be a huge morale booster. That might produce the determination to win it for them.

Does that mean it's going to be over soon?

I have no idea nor do I care at all.

As much as I root for Belgium - I suspect it will be a France - England final.

Emotionally, I would like it to be Belgium then England. But suspect it is likely to be France that wins it all.

I was hoping Sweden was going all the way. France is really the last of the usual big teams in finals. I hope it’s Belgium vs. Croatia and Belgium wins it.