Elephants will come painfully short

All they need is a draw against a team branded the most boring after the opening rounds of the group game. But Cote d’Ivoire have flattered to deceive. Against Japan in their opener, they were outrun, outplayed for the better part of the game. They only woke up when reality rubbed them hard. They stole it from the Blue Samurai Warriors. Colombia, who play Japan, are already through. Japan look all but out unless they can beat Colombia and then pray that Greece beat Drogba’s buddies and pack luggage with them. However, chances of Japan upsetting Colombia are brighter in a dream. When you wake up, though, you will see a 2-0 Colombia score on the official sheets. Such a result leaves Greece vs Cote d’Ivoire in a win-takes-all game. Going by the form books, I see a LDW stat for Greece, with Cote d’Ivoire getting the mirror image: WDL. L is for Loss, D for Draw, W for Win. Do the stats. Greece 3-1. But before we reach that level of agony and ecstasy, the Fifa fixture says we have to endure the dead rubber game of England vs Costa Rica and the exciting Italy vs Uruguay. Costa Rica are the only team that have progressed in the ‘Group of Death.’ They killed England without playing them. They just had to beat the Azzurri, who now face an uphill task containing a fit-again Luis Suarez. Italy can do it, provided the wrinkled pass master in Andrea Pirlo can weather the searing afternoon hit. Should Pirlo wear out with the game, Italy are packing. My money is on Uruguay progressing. I give them handicap over the Azzurri. As for the dead rubber game, the English will reshuffle their side, giving Roy Hodgson regrets at realizing that he was to blame for starting Danny Welbeck ahead of Adam Lallana and Ross Barkley. The England reserves will win.

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Elephants will come painfully short