FIFA World Cup knockout stages

[sussexpob]

Should have scored Algeria.... cor blimey

[SaintPowelly]

It would appear few teams want to score goals in this WC, the fear factor or lack of talent?

Blistering heat on the back of a 50+ game season, doesn't help

[braveneutral]

What a game.

Apparently the Algerians were fasting beforehand too. Not sure if that was the case.

[Aidan11]

Germany always progress.

We could learn something from them.

[Aidan11]

Some Cameroon players seem to be the subject of match fixing allegations.

[mikesiva]

I'm really puzzled at some of our analysts...I'm watching a re-run of the Costa Rica-Greece match, for my sins, and while a Greek defender wrapped his arm around Joel Campbell's arm in the area, and dragged him down, with no whistle going from the ref, Lee Dixon is saying, "Not a foul in my books." And yet, when Duarte does less than that outside the area, Dixon agrees that his first yellow card was deserved. I guess it's one law for in the area, and one law for outside....

[KipperJohn]

It would appear few teams want to score goals in this WC, the fear factor or lack of talent?

Bit puzzled by that hope. Apparently there have been more goals scored already, with the first knock out stage yet to be completed, than in the whole of the WC in 2010. Been some great goalkeeping too. From what I've seen , which admittedly is not a lot - there has been a lot of incisive attacking play. I am still at a loss as to how Germany v Algeria remained goalless for 90 minutes.

[mikesiva]

Another goalless 90 minutes....

Brightened up only by Behrami's pathetic dive to try and get Messi sent off.

[hopeforthebest]

I'm not much of football viewer these days but from the little I've seen and the results of games, I pose the question " is this a quality world cup?".

[mikesiva]

I'm not much of football viewer these days but from the little I've seen and the results of games, I pose the question " is this a quality world cup?".

Matches like this have reminded me why I stopped watching a lot of football in the first place....

And this Argentina side is supposed to be packed with stars!

That's why I'll be watching Diamond League athletics instead of the World Cup on Saturday evening. Far more exciting than this rubbish....

But to show how football-obsessed this country is, athletics is relegated to the Red Button interactive service, despite the fact that Brits are competing, while the teams playing in the World Cup do not have Englishmen in it, and yet it's on BBC1.

Finally! A goal! Messi sets up Di Maria for the winner!

[Gingerfinch]

Football is still the greatest sport on earth and the world cup, the greatest competition. It's therefore no great shock that it's on instead of a track and field meet. Not that I don't like the athletics.

[Gingerfinch]

Didn't catch the game, but am happy Argentina went through.

[dan08]

Football is still the greatest sport on earth and the world cup, the greatest competition. It's therefore no great shock that it's on instead of a track and field meet. Not that I don't like the athletics.

Far more popular than athletics too. The Brazil-Chile game got 12m viewers in the UK, athletics wouldn't even get half of that.

[Aidan11]

Ah well. Argies are through as expected.

[dan08]

Belgium through.