UP THE BRACKET

After much hesitant wallchart-filling, Geopolitics World Cup fans are finally able to feast their eyes on a complete knockout stage and plot their team’s route to a painful penalty shootout exit. Unlike in previous tournaments, there is no rest day for the wicked this time, with the first last-32 tie – a blockbuster tie between Canada and South Africa – taking place 15 hours after the final group reached its dramatic conclusion. Despite what their supporters sing, the GWC party will now continue without Scotland … who will continue without Steve Clarke. The GWC mixed zone’s least popular man has asked himself whether he is best placed to lead the nation into the next major tournament and has accepted the answer (‘no’) with good grace. “Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor,” Clarke sniffed as he backed away from the lectern and headed for the door marked Do One.

Thomas Tuchel might have been envious of Clarke’s sudden freedom as he watched his England team bluster their way to a third half of goalless football on the bounce. After a turgid first hour, Jude Bellingham decided that was enough faffing about and put Panama away with a goal and an assist for Harry Kane. Unlike against Ghana, Bellingham had to accept he probably was the best player on the pitch – and by quite some distance. England now have four days to get themselves down to Atlanta to play the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tuchel will probably spend the flight watching his right-backs like a hawk, for the knack curse that struck down Tino Livramento, Reece James and Jarell Quansah is surely coming for Djed Spence. Don’t be straining that jaw on some rock-hard aeroplane bread, Djed. Let’s get Trevoh Chalobah some extra leg room, too – just in case.

In the face of much harrumphing about England’s performance in New Jersey, Tuchel tooted: “These players are used to these moments. We will step up. The bigger the games get, the bigger we will get.” The nation can rest easy, then, knowing Ezri Konsa’s Bigger Vase experience will stop him jumping in two-footed on any more rampaging attackers on England’s route to the final – even if Ghana lurk in a possible semi-final reunion. After Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo found it tough going against somebody that isn’t Uzbekistan Colombia and were chucked on to the other side of the draw to be fed on by Spain, France, Germany and the USA USA USA, England’s side of the bracket has, as usual, opened up a touch.

Of the world’s top 10 teams in Fifa’s soft-drink-fuelled rankings, only Argentina (No 1) and Brazil (No 6) stand between England (No 4) and the final. That leaves the other seven to fight among themselves on the other side of the draw. But then again, England have hardly passed the tests of Ghana (world No 73) and Panama (No 34) with flying colours. Post-Panama, ITV’s floating question-poser Gabriel Clarke asked Bellingham if he expects a better England in the knockout stage. “We’ll see, hopefully,” he shrugged. And who can blame him for not being entirely convinced.

LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE

John Brewin, Billy Munday and Yara El-Shaboury will be steering the GWC news blog before the round of 32 commences. South Africa 0-0 Canada (aet; 0-1 on pens) in Los Angeles is the curtain-raising fixture in the knockout rounds; Daniel Harris will bring you the action from 3pm EDT/8pm BST.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

28 May: “It’s very important to look ahead and plan for the future and, while my squad will be doing everything in their power to compete and make the country proud this summer, it also gives us certainty ahead of the tournament knowing that we can look to build on those foundations for the long-term, and it is a privilege to continue in this role” – Steve Clarke signs a four-year contract extension to stay in charge of Scotland through their 2030 World Cup campaign.

27 June: “The most emotional part of this goodbye is for my players, without whom we wouldn’t have had any of the memories that we’ve accumulated from 2019 until now. They deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honour to be called their gaffer. Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor” – about that certainty: Clarke resigns.

Re: Mike Towers’ request for potential walking football terms (yesterday’s letters). If two neighbouring Scottish teams play each other, is it known as the ‘infirm derby’?” – Roger Mart.

If Mike Towers wanted to sample walking football, he needn’t even have left his house. He could have just watched Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Portugal” – Derek McGee.

As we enter the knockout stages of the GWC, I thought it time to put down a marker. On at least four occasions in the last couple of years, you have predicted penalty shootouts to finish 1-0. According to RSSSF, this has happened maybe twice ever in a normal shootout (including Silures’ 1-0 win on penalties against Hafia in the second round of the African Champions’ Cup 1979 are not known). So stop it – I’m on to you” – Neil Rose [never! – Football Daily Ed].

Kev the Poet’s suggestion that Odysseas Vlachodimos is a midfielder might explain why he was so bad whenever he played in goal” – Jim Hearson.

If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day is … Derek McGee. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here. 

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