Braeburn's World Cup Blog - Day 6 - Kane is more than able!

It started so well and yet for so long looked like having a very familiar ending. England began the match at 100 miles an hour, four and a half days of sitting and watching had given them a hunger to perform. It was, if you will pardon the pun, just like watching Brazil. Twenty-four hours earlier the World Cup favourites had started quickly and looked likely to blow Switzerland away only to be pegged back and frustrated for long swathes of the match. The difference being that England found a way through a belligerent Tunisia and got their winning goal. Harry Kane diverting the ball into the net as the seconds drifted slowly away. Somehow I had found myself watching the game with friends in a quiet Spanish bar frequented by local teenagers. I wonder if they enjoyed watching a 43-year-old man leaping about, punching the air and repeatedly shouting, 'get the f_ck in, get the f_ck in!!!!'

Captain marvel... Harry Kane celebrates as England get off to a winning start.

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Because you see it meant so much. It meant that this England team, with it's young and fearless air had done something so very rare and won their opening match at the World Cup. It meant also that the press would not start murmuring about Gareth Southgate's unsuitability for the job or the fact that England wasted a handful of chances in that electric first half. And finally, it means that a win against Panama on Sunday will see England through to the last 16 with minimal fuss for the first time in living memory. The manager's substitutions had changed the game, the captain had a confidence-boosting brace and England had match-winning options left on the bench, saved for a rainy day. It was a performance or promise that leaves me more optimistic than ever for the remainder of the tournament.

England boss Gareth Southgate, looking every inch the 'best man' for the job.

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Also yesterday, Panama were swept aside by a Belgium side that must now fancy their chances in Russia more than ever having seen many of the favourites underperform in the opening days. Romelu Lukaku scored twice, while Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard both picked up a delicious assist. How will Roberto Martinez's team fare against the very organised Tunisians? That will be the key question on matchday 2. Elsewhere Sweden defeated South Korea in a match that I appear to have been highly fortunate to miss.

James Rodriguez won the golden boot in Brazil, will he get off to a flyer today?

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Tonight Russia play their second game against Egypt for whom Mo Salah should start. The hosts got off to a flyer against Saudi Arabia but today's opponents are a very different proposition. This looks sure to be a tight affair and one that I expect Egypt to edge by the odd goal. Elsewhere in Group H, Columbia face Japan in a match that could see a few goals and Poland face Senegal in a classic World Cup clash of styles. It should be an intriguing if unspectacular kind of day.

Today's SBC League tips:
Columbia v Japan
James Rodriguez to score at anytime, 2 points at 3.1 with Unibet.
Over 2.5 goals in the match, 2 points at 2.55 with Unibet.
Russia v Egypt
Under 2.5 goals in the match, 3 points at 1.53 with SkyBet.
Double
Columbia v Japan over 2.5 goals, Russia v Egypt under 2.5 goals, 3 points at 3.75 with Betfair.

And why not enter Round 2 of my World Cup Prediction Contest where you can win guaranteed SBD!

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Thanks for reading and enjoy the footah!