England

In the early ’90s, pre-Wengerian Arsenal earned a reputation for playing a brand of football that was effective but far from entertaining, resulting in chants of “Boring, Boring Arsenal.” It was a refrain that easily could have been repeated throughout the Three Lions’ campaign in Russia, including at the England vs Sweden match on Saturday in Samara, Russia.

The White Walkers from Sweden will meet the Three Lions from England. Can England keep this run going while having only scored one decent goal in the run of play? Or will the Swedes squeeze the life out of them? Then we go to Russia vs Croatia. Talk about impropable runs. Russia will try to bounce the heavily favored Croatians and keep Putin happy. WHAT WILL HAPPEN? WE DON'T KNOW, BUT WE'LL DAMN WELL TRY TO PREDICT IT.

After England broke its penalty curse against Colombia, coach Gareth Southgate and the Three Lions are rejuvenated with a new hope. Though England goes against Sweden on Saturday at the Samara Stadium in Russia, there is a question that begs itself to be echoed in the ears of all who cheer for England: 

Historians call the Swinging Sixties the decade that shook Britain. England and its commonwealth had only just begun a greater recovery period after a post-WWII world, the nation’s youth was a rejuvenated generation of a high-spirited character and British rock was redefining music in a way never before seen in history. 

All the conditions were met for a recently Blitzkrieged nation to thrive once again — and the very same stars were aligned in the world of the beautiful game. 

Jordan Pickford is the man of the hour. An incredible save during normal time (that funnily enough was not replayed on the live broadcast) and stopping Carlos Bacca’s penalty helped seal the Three Lions passage into a quarterfinal matchup against Sweden.