They fought long, they fought hard… they lost, but their heads can be held high for they literally “died in their boots”. The last sixteen was exciting for not having any of the shameful roll over and die we saw in the groups stage. I guess knowing that one slip and your off motivated the teams; although I would have thought carrying the hopes of your country will be inspiration enough.

There was determination only the referee’s whistle could call time on, and I wondered about the lack of oomph in the overpaid and obviously overpraised players from a country that sees itself as football’s home; or those from a country that gave sub-Saharan African football its initial respectability. There are football associations that need to have long hard looks in the mirror in addition to apologising to their travelling fans. Anyway, enough about the gutless and more about those with fire in their bellies.

The quarter-finals! The word final now features in the title of the fixtures with the prize looking more achievable and less easy to give up on. There is a ‘usual suspects’ feel to the last eight but only half of the remaining teams have won football’s greatest prize before. The Flying Dutchmen have been knocking on the door… Could this be their year? I still see a very orange World Cup at the end of next week.

The biggest tournament of the game of two halves now enters its second fortnight. As with a biscuit, we know not where it will break; but the fixtures tell me football will remain ‘the beautiful game’.