The weekend summer vibes are officially kicking off back home in Ireland, but across the Atlantic, the tournament pressure has reached code red. The knockout gauntlet is mercilessly weeding out the pretenders, and Friday night delivers an incredible double-header featuring a local narrative that feels straight out of a movie script.

It’s a Friday night special at 7pm (Irish time) with the massive tactical collision of Australia versus Egypt. The Socceroos ground their way through a bruising group stage, while so far, Egypt have looked like a beautifully drilled unit and tactical titbits indicate they plan to drop into a rigid mid-block before unleashing a breathless counter-attacking ambush. If the Australians give away cheap possession in midfield, the Pharaohs will have this game punished before the Socceroos even find their rhythm. Mo Salah is fit to play, but the million-dollar question is whether he actually starts or plays the role of the ultimate super-sub.

Then, at 11pm, comes the box-office fairy tale that has the entire League of Ireland community utterly transfixed: world champions Argentina versus Cabo Verde. Forget the global superstars; for football fans in Ireland, this is entirely about Crumlin’s own Roberto “Pico” Lopes closing down the little mesmeric genius in the twilight of his career. The Shamrock Rovers captain is swapping a standard domestic Friday night at Tallaght Stadium for the glittering lights of Miami, tasked with the ultimate, mind-bending footballing assignment: marking Lionel Messi. 

Having become the smallest nation to ever reach the knockouts, all bets are off and Cabo Verde are in dreamland. Argentina enter as heavy favourites, but if Pico and the Blue Sharks can channel some of that legendary Tallaght grit under the Floridian sky, we are in for an absolute masterpiece of sporting drama.The margins have shrunk to absolute millimetres, the safety nets are a distant memory, and a single mistake means a devastating flight home.

Whatever happens on that pitch, The Heat Map won’t let you down.