Football Extra newsletter: World Cup gets a match for the ages, but Balogun reversal leaves sour taste

[Getty Images] This World Cup has had many high points already but amongst the most noticeable highlights has been the constant lack of respect from the so called lesser sides against the old powerhouses. Mexico were utterly fearless against England in the Aztec Stadium in one of the most intense games of football you will ever witness. Mexico were the better team with far more chances and plenty of possession, especially in the second half, but it simply doesn't matter now, England found a way somehow. This one had absolutely everything you would want from constant action, five goals, a sending off and all played at full speed from start to finish in front of a wild rampant crowd. There were breathtaking saves from Jordan Pickford and as brave a defensive display from England as you will see from any side. It is hard to take if you are Mexican, but this is what you want from a World Cup game. The referee got all the big decisions right and had to be brave, but he was. This game deserves books to be written about it and this night did something else, it changed England as a team. The passion that has been missing was there in bucketfuls and finally you can now see a group of players that has the desire and spirit to win this tournament again after all these years. Thomas Tuchel has clearly delivered that mystical thing that others couldn't provide. Jude Bellingham was immense, Harry Kane of course got what was in the end the winning goal but the defence in particular were all stars. Before the tournament I had England and France as my two favourites, I might have wavered on England a little, but I am not wavering now and neither should any England fan. Norway downing Brazil – A shock, or was it? [Getty Images] Norway beating Brazil over here in New York was a surprise but it is certainly not a shock anymore. This Selecao is a shadow of the great golden sides of yore even if Vinicius Jnr has the skills of a true artist. They looked too old to do what they are famous for, other than in short bursts. Make no mistake, all of us in the stands knew way before the end, even before Erling Haaland's second thunderbolt of a goal, the Norwegians were the better team on the day. It is still the biggest story of the tournament so far, outshining the Paraguay win against Germany and Cape Verde's draw against Spain. The big teams will not want me at anymore of their matches as I was covering each of those for the BBC! Norway had to make a change at half time, I couldn't believe they kept Alexander Sorloth out on the wing, Count Dracula would be more comfortable making a decent cross. Solbakken made the change, two wingers who knew their jobs came on and one decent cross later it was 1-0. The big take from this game is simple, at this world cup, you will only win if you have a World Class striker who is on goalscoring form. Norway did, Brazil didn't and that is the difference. France will learn from struggling past Paraguay Back down in Philly the day before, Paraguay had turned from hardworking loveable rogues to something far less romantic against France. The dark arts came to the fore as they tried everything to survive. This far more physical and psychological approach against their football superiors didn't receive a single yellow card for 90 minutes, which was astonishing. It showed an almost endearing knowledge of the limits of those dark arts. In hindsight I can't say I blame their approach, it may have offended European sensibilities, but had they opened up and played they would have been crushed out of sight, instead of losing narrowly to that Kylian Mbappe penalty. I was happy to see them survive against Germany but I wasn't disappointed to see them go after their antics against the French. As for France, they got down and dirty when they had to and didn't exactly cover themselves in glory with much diving and rolling around. The heat and the oppositions style made for a harder watch than usual, but most surprising was how long it took the French to figure out the tactic needed. I was saying it in commentary long before they scored. Against packed defences inside their own penalty box, if you have skilful fleet footed dribblers, then run at the defenders at pace. It just needs one clumsy, lazy leg and you have a penalty. I 'won' four penalties for my national side against this type of packed defence during my career, as such it seemed blindingly obvious to me. Fortunately it eventually dawned on Desire Doue too. The Morocco v France quarter final is now going to happen and it promises to be a cracker. With two attacking skilful sides, I can't wait to be in Boston to see it. Folarin Balogun: When is a red not a red? The US appear to have Folarin Balogun available for the next game against Belgium. After being sent off and his red card not rescinded this is a little confusing. I understand why people are mystified and even angry, especially if you are Belgian. It is beyond extraordinary as this 'suspension' of the card is an extremely rarely used excuse to get a player back on the team. I mean who do they think Balogun is, Cristiano Ronaldo? Yes CR7 was given the same surreal let off from a red card in order to start the tournament. It is stretching the credibility and the authority of the game beyond acceptable limits. Here is the weird thing. Had they just rescinded the card, I would have no problem with that. I didn't think it should have been a yellow card never mind red. It was totally accidental and these things just happen sometimes in a contact sport, but to suspend the card is beyond ridiculous. When in Philly... [Getty Images] While in Philly for the French match I popped down to the Art Museum, well I dripped down that road as the temperature was over 100 degrees and that mile and a half walk from the hotel was an education. Specifically, it is close to madness playing football in that wall of heat, just walking was torture. Anyone who has been to the city will know that the steps up to the art gallery are more famous than the building itself. Sylvester Stallone ran up those steps as Rocky to the strains of 'Gonna Fly Now'. To add insult to dehydration, the steps were closed and my colleagues couldn't get the selfies they wanted. Personally I was relieved, the idea of running up even just a few of them after that hike was unthinkable. The 4th of July parade was cancelled due to the extreme heat so we found ourselves in a sports bar cum restaurant to watch the games. How many games do you watch and you just know you will remember the circumstances for the rest of your life. When Cape Verde equalised again, with that stunner from Sidny Lopes Cabral, the bar erupted in a way I didn't think an American bar could at a soccer game. This was a moment beyond football and the World Cup, it was sport at its pinnacle. People who didn't watch much football, or don't even know where Cape Verde is, or let's be honest, who might never have even heard of it, were totally involved, immersed and inspired in that joyous moment. Sport is about moments, and even in a losing match those glorious few seconds will stick in the memory forever. It is just a shame that many will have missed it live as Cabral curled that one past Martinez in the wee small hours of the European morning. The Americans have been claiming it is the best World Cup since just about day one, maybe they knew something the rest of us didn't all along.