England

We’re still trying to figure out if England is any good or if Sweden is as good as its results suggest. Our World Cup 2018 quarterfinal England vs Sweden prediction for their match on Saturday in Samara takes into account what both teams have and have not accomplished so far, as a team that’s beaten up on some really bad teams will go head-to-head with a team that made it through the Group of Death.

It was the outcome England dreaded most: After going out on penalties in ’90, ’98 and ’06, it was penalties again in '18 — this time in the Round of 16 against Colombia. What’s more, after conceding a 92nd minute equalizer to Yerry Mina, you could imagine that English spirits weren’t exactly flying high.

Colombia looked absolutely buried in the 92nd minute of Tuesday's Round of 16 match against England. The Three Lions were only up one, but Colombia looked unable to do anything apart from bitch at American referee Mark Geiger. I had already written a nice little introduction about the blossoming of the Special Relationship on the biggest stage, but then Mateus Uribe forced a corner.

England are trying to get to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2006. Do they have to horses to beat James Rodriguez and Colombia? Jose Pekerman has yet to say if the Colombian star is fit to play, but Harry Kane and company will try to reverse the notion that the Three Lions choke at the World Cup. Then a battle between Switzerland and Sweden will surely be a defensive chess match. Who will be able to break through?

Today brings to a close one of the greatest World Cup group stages in recent memory. Today, however, wasn’t all that great. Well, it was a little great.

Michy Batshuayi sums up all our feelings on #ENG #BEL pic.twitter.com/DULKERz7h0