Topic: The Pushsquare FIFA World Cup Thread

Winning with only 10 players and Keylor Navas stopping a penalty.  Costa Rica deserves this victory. But the hardest things are yet to come.

Today's predictions:

France - 3
Nigeria - 1

Should be easy enough for France judging by how they've played so far, but Nigeria are pretty good, too. I think France will break them down, though.

Germany - 2
Algeria - 0

This should be a routine win for Germany, but Algeria have shown some fight so far. I don't think it'll be a walk in the park, but the Germans should be looking to win it while keeping a clean sheet.

France were awful bar fifteen minutes at the end. I do hope FIFA come down heavily on Blaise Matuidi for that horrendous foul on Ogenyi Onazi. A hundred times worse than what Suarez did. They won't though, just like Robben won't be punished despite admitting he dived. That in a nutshell is why FIFA are a laughing stock. As for the game has there been a worse striker than Olivier Giroud (apart from Danny Welbeck, obviously) at this World Cup? He's so bad. Him, Cavani and Welbeck are easily up front in the Worst World Cup XI.

Germany v Algeria is easily the best game of the tournament. Ten minutes left, Germany are starting to dominate but pace looks like it will really hurt them. Cracking contest. Hope it goes on through extra time as I just don't want it to end. Have a feeling this has 119 minute Klose winner (and record breaking goal) all over it.

I dunno about you lot but what has pleased me most of all this World Cup is not just the relentless attacking and entertaining football that almost every team have played - even Greece! - but that the minnows, the teams the 'experts' said where there to make up the numbers have pushed the bigger teams all the way. Costa Rica, Greece, Algeria, Nigeria, Australia, Mexico and possibly even the United States (depends how you judge them) have turned up, had a right good go and done themselves and their countries proud. It also shows that the rest of the world is catching up with the big boys at an alarming rate, especially when so many of them - England, Spain, Portugal, Italy and even the three remaining bigger teams - look nothing special at all.

I know one thing, France and Germany should be a cracker of a game.

If any group winner is likely to lose it's the two today. Keep Messi quiet and Argentina are no threat whatsoever. Sadly with a centreback pairing of Senderos and Djourou I think me and my little lad could score past them. Belgium are nothing special in the slightest, and the biggest disappointment of the World Cup. Gonna go for a 1-0 Argies win and a 2-1 win for the Yanks.

Bit late, but I better throw down my predictions.

Gonna go with rastamadeus and say...

Argentina - 1
Switzerland - 0

USA - 1
Belgium - 1
USA win on penalties

When the inevitable best and worst World Cup XIs are brought out towards the end of next week I wouldn't be surprised to see Messi on both of them. His goals will get him in the best one but his overall contribution has been worse than even players like Welbeck. He looks completely uninterested.

It's a shame the humble one won't make the XI. Vomit enducing sycophantism from Barca. Poor Messi, unless he wins the world cup he'll never be loved.

Wasn't a pretty win for Argentina but at the end of the day it doesn't matter how you do it. Thing is, I think the USA and Belgium will be rubbing their hands together right now. Either of them could take Argentina if they play well enough.

You guys in USA should be so proud of your team. Incredible spirit and passion. Should have taken it to penalties, really.

Yeah USA were fantastic, you don't see many teams with that much fighting spirit. I think they'll only get better as well - experience is nearly everything.

But damn and blast - they've ruined my perfect run of predicting wins! I've guessed every winner right so far in the last 16, bit of a shame.

Still don't understand why adnan januzaj hasn't been given a chance. Mighty odd.

If USA had played in the main 90 minutes with the same spirit they showed in the last 15 minutes, they could have won the match. Howard is a great goalkeeper.

Argentina's game was boring, and I wished Switzerland would have lasted until the penalty rounds.

I am always pleased with the USA's performances at the World Cup as you say said they always show alot of spirit and passion even the same can be said about the fans as well.  I never expect them to win the tournament.  Soccer still isn't as popular as it is in countries which is one reason the other teams are just better then us.  Maybe a World Cup win some day will change that.

USA could dominate if their was more interest in "soccer". 500 million people, how hard could of be to find talent?

Us population is 300 mil. Increasing Hispanic and Asian population may end up choosing soccer, long process regardless.

Well there appears to be genuine interest in it these days - it's growing, that's for sure. Pretty sure I read somewhere that more people tuned into the Germany v USA game than one of Obama's recent public addresses.

WOW, i thougt much more, i dont understand the love for baseball, i do love american football

Yeah, the only sports I watch are footie and the major golf and tennis tournaments, odd bit of gymnastics and athletics isn't so bad either. Soccer struggles quite a bit due to NHL/NBA/MLB/NFL/WWE/UFC etc etc