GIANNI INFANTINO’S I Have a Fever Dream speech set the terms of engagement for this World Cup: it’s the West against the Rest.Okay, let’s admit that predictions are the ultimate in foolish pursuits, but it looks likely that the final of this fraught World Cup will pit the best of South America against the Best of Europe.
Many European sides have flopped – Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Wales and Serbia to varying degrees- but the way the draw has now fallen, many of Europe’s best remaining sides will cannabilise each other en route to the final. While they are very limited in many ways, Australia deserved to progress ahead of Denmark, having scored a trio of excellent goals in the group while genuinely making a case that Stoke’s Harry Souttar was the best defender across all group games. Obviously it will be neither wet, windy, nor actually in Stoke, but at least Bein Sport’s Andy Gray will be watching to see if Lionel Messi can get the better of Souttar.