My love of football blossomed watching the 1970 Brazil side win in Mexico. Jairzinho, Pelé, Rivelino and Tostão were magicians to my eager young eyes.

Then there were the three 'R's of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo in 2002. I was in Jeju, Korea to see all three score and sparkle against China, going on to win the trophy thanks to that unstoppable trio.

Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and either Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola have a chance to be just as special. They are still young enough to develop even further for the next World Cup, so maybe they will eventually reach these historic heights even if they don't manage this time.

This group haven't earned mythical status yet and there have been other great Les Blues forward lines who were stunning too. But more important than their personal legacy, is that winning this way can be good for football.

It might set some positive trends going forward – which is why I wish them every success showing this swashbuckling style can be the future direction of football.

I watched USA v Belgium from a bar in New York where the atmosphere was as disappointing as the scoreline for the home side.

The real soccer fans had obviously gathered elsewhere, but the biggest game in the country's recent history failed to ignite the fireworks associated with early July in the States.

The USA didn't play to their potential but the reality is that reaching the last 16 is a perfectly respectable outcome.

Considering the limited number of players they have performing at the very top level and the total absence of what could reasonably be considered a true superstar in their ranks, they can hold their heads high as a team.

The Belgians progressed with ease instead and they were joined by Switzerland who sneaked past Colombia in a penalty shoot-out.

It could have gone either way as they were perfectly matched but the Swiss now face the might of Argentina which is a colossal task for them.

The Argentina win over Egypt provided the big story – or should that be stories – of the past day or two.

We had the late comeback from two goals down by the reigning champions; the entire Messi narrative around missing a penalty; his redemption by scoring then creating the winner – and the tears that flowed afterwards. Then brought the other messy narrative of the Egyptians feeling swindled by the officials and FIFA.

In all probability it wasn't a dark conspiracy by Big State FIFA, but it must have felt like that in Cairo.

In conjunction with the previous messing around with the rules allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to play in the opening games and Folarin Balogun's start for the USA against Belgium, it is no wonder Egypt sensed the aroma of a rancid rodent.

In the midst of it all, it was almost forgotten that we had witnessed another cracker of a game. Egypt were very unlucky but Argentina were ominously brilliant, just when they needed to be.

Luck plays a large part in life and maybe even a larger part in sport.

I will be inside the stadium here in Boston later for the fascinating tie between France and Morocco and I know that makes me very fortunate. I never take this privilege for granted.

I was also lucky yesterday as I parked briefly outside a store, only for the owner to shout to me and my two colleagues minutes later, "Hey Guys, the tow truck is at your car!"

A turn of speed Mbappe would have been proud of saw me at the wheel screeching backwards and my mate John standing between to tow truck and the car as a human shield.

But in the wake of the Balogun furore, there's only one person who I felt was unlucky, despite what looked like a last-minute presidential reprieve – and that is Balogun himself.

He took the original unfair red card straight on the chin with a virtuous stoical attitude. No histrionics, just an acceptance that sport can sometimes be unjust, even in the most important moments of your career.

I am pretty sure he didn't have a direct line to the president of the USA or Fifa but his name is still synonymous with what might in time become Balogun-gate.

Any negativity aimed at him was grotesquely unfair on a player who appeared to behave impeccably throughout.

There were countless fabulous stories from the last 16 fixtures.

The England and Norway games were both brilliant in their own ways, though Spain v Portugal was less impressive.

This one should have been extra special considering the talents on show, but it was a dull strain for anyone not from the Iberian Peninsula.

There was however the angle of it being Cristiano Ronaldo's final tournament appearance but unless you happen to be a CR7 acolyte, that is an old story that many of us tired of a few tournaments ago.

How much it must hurt such an all-time great player that in a World Cup where all the true world-class stars are shining more brightly than we could have hoped for, his involvement arguably dulled his nation's chances.