By Tim Stannard
 
Last call on whether James enters England encounter
 
Jose Pekerman is paid to make the tough calls, the difficult decisions, the hard choices – whether to cut the blue wire or the red, choose latte or flat white…and whether to risk James Rodriguez against Colombia in Tuesday’s Last 16 clash against England that gets underway in Moscow at 2PM ET / 11AM PT.
 
The case for: as much as the Colombia boss try to disguise the fact in Monday’s press conference, Colombia is a far better team with the Bayern Munich midfielder in the line-up. And with just one game on the immediate horizon, it’s worth the risk of starting with James despite a swelling in his leg which had put the Colombian’s future in the tournament in doubt.  
 
Against: If a coach is making a last-minute call on a footballer’s fitness, it never tends to end well. It’s the Gareth Bale syndrome. The participation of James in the match might be over before it starts against an England side that like to attack from the off. All of Colombia’s eggs might be placed into a basket with a creaky bottom.

 
England boss, Gareth Southgate, has more pleasant ponderings when considering his line-up…Dele Alli or Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Jesse Lingard or Raheem Sterling. Nice options. Ultimately, Colombia’s clash against England is too close to call – not enough information from very batty group stages for both teams.
 
For the finest 360 analysis of Tuesday’s matches, head to our beIN SPORTS USA Facebook page at halftime and fulltime for a very special Watch Party.
 

 
Two interchangeable European liberal democracies face-off!
 
To many Americans, Sweden and Switzerland are pretty much interchangeable as countries. Somewhere in Europe, a little bit on the weird side and filled with folk that don’t like being hugged. To an extent, that’s about right.
 
It’s pretty much the same vibe going into this particular Last 16 clash which will decide which team plays the winner of the Colombia v England match-up in what is being seen as a weaker bracket than an Ikea shelving installation performed by a drunkard. Both teams are without too many familiar faces unless viewers are voyeurs of the bottom half of the Premier League…or Arsenal fans.
 

 
The main talk around Sweden has involved a footballer who isn’t there – King Zlatan, busy relegating LeBron James to mere mortal status in LA, below his own godlike halo. The Scandinavians were expected to struggle without the footballer who retired from the international game in 2016 and wasn’t invited back. However, firm opposition to Germany and the thrashing of Mexico suggests that Sweden is made of sterner stuff than thought.
 
Another storyline to throw into the mix – the day could be a fine one for Sweden captain Andreas Granqvist, whose wife is due to give birth today - “I'm fully focused on the game and my wife is very strong." See. Don’t like to be hugged.
 
The XTRA is the place to be for all the best analysis and World Cup predictions. Every day at 7PM ET / 4PM PT.
 
 

Ultimate act of compartmentalization for Mikel John Obi
 
Extraordinary and also terrifying news from Nigeria where Mikel John Obi has revealed that he was told just hours before the clash against Argentina that his father had been kidnapped and a ransom was being demanded or he would be killed.
 
The Nigeria captain was told not to tell anyone and had to then make the decision on whether to play or not. “I knew that I could not let 180 million Nigerians down,” said Mikel, whose father was later released but needed hospital treatment.

 
Elsewhere, Germany has announced that Joachim Low will remain as head coach despite a disastrous World Cup that saw an exit at the group stages. "I feel, in spite of the legitimate criticism of our departure, generally much support and encouragement," said Low whose record before Russia 2018 has been pretty spectacular. No such luck for Adam Nawalka who steps down as Poland boss.
 
And it’s good news, bad news for Argentina. A legend of the world’s game with coaching experience has offered to take over the Aliceleste for free. Bad news? It’s Diego Maradona. “I wouldn't ask for anything in return,” declared Maradona to Telesur.
 
 

TRANSFER TRACKER!
 
Real Madrid has put its institutional fist to the media table and declared that it has no interest in seeing Neymar flopping about the pitches of La Liga in a Madrid shirt anytime soon. A TV report in Spain had suggested otherwise. “Absolutely untrue,” fumed a statement on Monday.

 
Here’s a good one from Gazzetta dello Sport – a swap deal for Juventus and Chelsea with no cash involved between Alvaro Morata and Gonzalo Higuain. Sounds a bit nuts at first, but then it makes sense.
 
Clement Lenglet could be a Barcelona player in the next few days. The Frenchman is reportedly in the process of buying himself out of his contract with Sevilla to join the Camp Nou crusaders.
 
 

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