Plans are being changed for a potential Quarter-Final on Saturday afternoon, not least in the football world where kick-offs in a number of pre-season friendlies have been brought forward to avoid a clash.
But for all the talk of 'easier' routes through the tournament England must win a World Cup knockout match for the first time since a scrappy 1-0 victory against Ecuador in 2006.
England's display in that game was described as 'ugly' by captain and goalscorer David Beckham but looking back at the reports of it gives cause for optimism as to why things will be different this time around.
Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson chose the last-16 tie to introduce a 4-5-1 formation, with Wayne Rooney as a lone striker, and his side struggled to adapt to it against their South America opponents.
Gareth Southgate and his players will know exactly what system they will be deploying in the Moscow match-up with Colombia and each one of those selected will know their roles within it.
That includes Kieran Trippier whose delivery from set-pieces in the opening two matches has seen him compared to Beckham.
"He was a fantastic deliverer of the ball," said the Tottenham man.
"He scored so many free-kicks and created so much throughout his career. All I can do is keep doing the best I can and every opportunity I get I'll try to put balls in like David Beckham."