Day 14: Netherlands vs USA | Argentina vs Australia (Last 16 1&2)

Enzo Fernandez with a great set of falsies there. Even his grimace didn’t look genuine as he flashed a set of chompers brighter than Amad Diallo’s future
 
Alvarez has a lot of Tevez in him. Huge workrate and maybe lacking some of the finesse you would expect at times.
 
Both goals were very preventable.

Really silly mistakes.
 
Game over, Australia doesn't have the quality to trouble Argentina, all they can do is defend

Very predictable outcome.

Netherlands-Argentina should be a better game.
 
Conceding that stupid freekick

It did get cleared initally. Guy got frustrated because Messi had pushed him over the toucline and then just barged into nearest Argentine.

Ultimately Aussies just don't have the tools to hurt Argentina in full third, the Dutch potentially do if they can play through quickly enough.
 
As much as I like Bruno and Dalot, I think Switzerland is the most realistic. They almost beat Spain at the Euros after dealing with France.

Just an all-round solid team who can take advantage of the expected Portugese brainfart.

Second bet is on Morocco because they match up well with sandmen of football
I totally agree with you
 
The Messi affect will have a lot of locals wearing Argentina colours as well. Great support regardless.
Yeah, that’s possibly a factor and for shirt tops I can see that, especially in the longer stands… but that wouldn’t explain the volume and when they just scored the second, that entire end looked like Argentinian fans (not just people with tops)?

Really have got great support… not 78 final support (which was mental) but very very good. The fans have helped make this World Cup… the passion, devotion, colour, tears. It’s been great so far and Im hoping with the quarters onwards that the playing team‘s fans get more and more tickets.
 
Why the feck is Messi going to the MLS, when he can easily play 2 more years at the top level.
 
Netherlands v Argentina is something worth getting excited about!

The way they've been playing it'll come down to who makes a mistake first. Both seem happier to play into space rather than create it, or capitalise on opposition errors. Messi will probably win the game down to one moment of individual brilliance while they try to outs-thouse each other.