Manchester Evening News

UNISTpEoDr­t

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HE’S our skipper and talisman, perhaps Harry Kane should now become teacher too!

Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford need to report to Harry every day now until our next World Cup match against Colombia on Tuesday and learn how to put the ball in the onion bag.

We’re relying far too much on freekicks and corners for my reckoning, although our chances of winning the tournament have been enhanced after we lost that most embarrassi­ng of games against Belgium.

When Rashford missed the easiest of chances after being put clean through by strike partner Jamie Vardy I thought it must have been Sterling, but he wasn’t on the pitch. The pair of them need to take every opportunit­y for there will far fewer chances now we’re at the business end of the competitio­n.

Belgium are now left in the tougher half of the draw – and potentiall­y facing favourites Brazil in the quarter-finals if they can overcome 150/1 outsiders Japan.

England – like Belgium 7/1 at Betfred to win the tournament outright - have the tougher last-16 game against Colombia but should they progress will take on either Switzerlan­d or Sweden in the last eight.

Brazil, who play Mexico on Monday, remain Betfred favourites – now at 7/2 - with the feeling they are just warming up. France, who I fancied big time pre-tournament and are up against Argentina today, are 8/1 at Betfred to be lifting the trophy on July 15.

Betfred would lose £5m If England win outright and Spurs superstar Kane top scores, while if Brazil win and Neymar top scores we’d lose about £3m. To win the World Cup Betfred have Spain 4/1, France 8/1, Croatia 11/1, and Argentina 14/1.

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