World Cup Quarter Final: England 2-0 Sweden

Never has The Armchair felt so relaxed about a vital England game as this one. Yes, Sweden had a couple of great chances and Pickford pulled off some quality saves, but for a QF team, Sweden had precious little to recommend them. Get Zlat Back! England seemed in control and not overly concerned. Maguire was majestic. But Sterling still stuffed up his chances in front of goal. Kane had a quiet game but who cares, it’s like 1990 all over again. England are in the World Cup semi-finals. Unbelievably, but not undeservedly.

World Cup 2018: England 2-1 Tunisia

The Armchair was kicking his cushions for most of the second half because he hadn’t predicted a 1-1 in this game. It’s the scoreline at which the last four of England’s tournament openers have finished.

And this looked destined to continue that sequence. England fluffed great chances - Lingard and Sterling in particular. Maguire looked dodgy in the first half, misplaced passes aplenty.

But it would churlish not to credit England with a great first half performance, and to bemoan the dodgy penalty Tunisia were given and the ones England weren’t.

Tunisia got their equaliser and would have settled for the draw but for the poaching skills of Kaptain Kane. With more finishers like him in the team, this would have been a thrashing.

The Armchair Predicted:

England 2-0 Tunisia

8 and 6