The World Cup is down to 14 teams and we’ll lose two more today, but that man Mikey Stafford is absolutely beside himself with anticipation for Costa Rica v Greece tonight and we’ve still got top quality electronic device to give away.
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And a very good Sunday afternoon to you all, World Cup fans.
Last night’s action left us in no doubt, that things had just gotten very, very serious and we’re expecting more tense knock-out games to come.
There will be defining moments to come, of course, but there is a fear among some of us that the best moments of the World Cup are already behind us.
We hope not, but we want to hear from you. What has been your favourite moment of this World Cup so far?
As promised, we not only have Mikey Stafford live from Brazil, but we also have a tablet to give away to one lucky reader with thanks to our friends at Budweiser.
To win, all you have to do is guess the minute of the first goal in tonight’s second game; Costa Rica v Greece.
It may not come until after the 90, so let’s say; pick a number between 1 and 120. Easy, eh?
As the Netherlands suffer an early setback with the loss of Nigel de Jong through injury, Mikey has connected his ethernet cable in Recife and now he is here as if by magic with news from across the foam.
Mikey Stafford: You would think the manner of Brazil’s win yesterday would temper optimism among the hosts but they seemingly do not differentiate between victories. A win is a win and on they go with joy in their hearts and Brazil flags draped over the bonnets of their cars. They’re right of course. This is knockout football and winning is all that counts. Still, there must be some concern at the contrast between the penalty shootout win over Chile and Colombia’s schooling of Uruguay, which effectively saw them stop playing with 20 minutes to go, conserving energy for Friday’s quarter-final.
“Many people challenged my having been picked after what happened in 2010. After a World Cup to be labelled as the villain is very bad. I needed to regain my psychological balance. I had the support from my family and everyone. This match proved if you have a dream that you want, then go after it and never give up.”I know we haven’t achieved anything yet but this provides me with the strength to go to the next match and help my team-mates. I’m sorry I have talked so much I just wanted to summarise four years of work.”
MS: Mr Cesar has a claim on moment of the tournament with his penalty save but I’m going to have to elect two. The first, Robin Van Persie’s majestic diving header in the Netherlands’ 5-2 win over Spain, was the greatest thing I saw in the flesh.
The second was the piece of play that brought me to my feet while watching on television thousands of miles away and that was Luis Suarez’s second goal against England. The timing, the back story, the massive implications and the skill involved made it the most moment thus far. I fully expect it to be surpassed, possibly even here in Recife this evening…
SF: The Van Persie and Suarez moments were absolutely class alright and they’re definitely going to have plenty of real estate when the highlight reel is release.
For me, everything Colombia have done has been absolutely exhilarating, but last night’s wondergoal from James is probably going to be a stand-out memory from my life never mind Brazil 2014.
That said, Suarez’ other big moment in this tournament (you know what I’m talking about) has the feeling of a football version of a JFK moment. In a decade everyone will remember where they were when they seen it happen and came to the conclusion that he had, in fact, done it again.
A correction, and a lament…
MS: No ethernet for me, pure Wifi for this iPad jockey. Vive la tablets, of course! By the power of the internet I am multi-multi-multi-tasking — hanging out with you guys, prepping for Costa Rica-Greece, watching Netherlands-Mexico and listening to Wexford’s gallant battle with reality in Croke Park. One of my endeavours is giving me much less pleasure than the other three. Feckin’ Dubs.”
It’s a little over 30 degrees in Fortaleza. So if you see all the players look like they’re walking off, they’re not.
MS: Imagine. The. Children.
The guesses are flying in for that tablet. Both in the comment section below and on Twitter under the hashtag #ScoreWChangout .
MS: I’ve written already about my gra for the Mexicans but if the start to this game hasn’t won you over then consider their coach Miguel Herrera. He is the lowest paid manager in Brazil, but also easily the most likeable.
If not for crotch-burying moments like this, then those good people at BuzzFeed have a score more reasons to love the guy.
Another Irishman in Brazil is Newstalk’s Joe Molloy. He’s sweating out this Holland-Mexico clash and points out that there are plenty of fans about, but few able to stand the heat.
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Just when Steven Walsh thought he had seen it all…
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It’s half-time between Netherlands and Mexico and we’re still goalless, despite this close-run-thing /penalty claim from Arjen Robben.
MS: For those of you competing to join me in tabletland by predicting the score from tonight’s game in Recife I would say the last goal is going to come in the first 30 minutes or the last 15 minutes. The heat is nowhere near the same level as the Fortaleza furnace but it is touching on 80% humidity and Costa Rica are expecting Greece to try very hard to score very early and then sit back and defend a lead like only Greece can.
The Central Americans were taunting a tiring Italy during the second half of their 1-0 win as the heat started to get to the Europeans and the Greeks may similarly struggle this evening if forced to chase the game in the second half. The Greeks, contrary to popular opinion, can play a bit if needs be but they would much prefer to nick a lead and sit back and absorb the pressure.
At first I was a little peeved that the cards fell this way for my second round match in Recife but the more I think about it the more I like the way it is set up. We can convince ourselves of anything though, can’t we?
Pass the Cornettos…
Wow! Giovanni Dos Santos has just thundered Mexico into the lead with a left foot shot in the 48th minute against Holland.
Now what, LVG?
MS: To think that man used to play for Ipswich Town. What a stonking goal from Giovani Dos Santos. Daley Blind was trying to push him off the ball but the little No10 stayed strong and whelped that with his left foot.
I thought my sneaking suspicion they could do win today was down to my soft spot for Mexico but, now, in this heat, I cannot see Netherlands chasing this game down. A Colombia-Mexico final would be pretty sweet.
Awwww… can we keep him?
The man with 10 fingers, Guillermo Ochoa has produced the latest in his string of stunning saves at this World Cup to deny a point blank effort from De Vries.
Amazing what a goal can do for a game. Ochoa will surely be in everybody’s team of the tournament if Mexico can see this one out.
Or would he?
He’s not the first to raise the spectre of a Qatar World Cup while watching players suffer today.
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MS: The more you think about this the bigger this result is from a global standpoint.
Not to be too dramatic about it. If Mexico and Costa Rica both win that will mean we will be guaranteed two semi-finalists from the Americas as the first two quarter-finals are non-European affairs. Presuming Argentina advance beyond Switzerland we could have only three Europeans in the last eight — France and Germany (who will meet in Rio) and Belgium, if they beat the United States, will face Messi and Co in the quarters. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that the winners of Germany and France will be the only European semi-finalists.
Olympic champ Chad Le Clos hasn’t forgotten his roots in Europe.
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18 minutes to go, do you think there’s any way back for Holland or can Mexico see this one out?
For humanitarian reasons, Mexico should just be awarded the game now, but the Dutch still look capable of some seriously quality deliveries and I think they’ll force extra-time, exhaustion and dehydration.
Or they might get a dodgy penalty…
MS: Arjen “The Boy Who Cried Gravity” Robben at it again there. Quite possibly fouled in the first instance but then hopped up off the ground because he saw something else better to fall over. If he just left it to the referee he might get more sympathy. A wonderful player but some of his antics are just self-defeating.
This is, frankly, a hell of a stat. Mexico like to create their chances closer to the goals.
GET TO THE CHOPPER…
MS: I’m already ensconced in my air-conditioned bunker at the Arena Pernambuco but my spies in the city centre believe the teams will soon be on the move as helicopters have been spotted in the skies. At least one is headed for the Golden Tulip, which is at the beach-end of our road. It is a popular choice for teams. Costa Rica were there for the second time last night, the United States stayed there before Germany game and I believe both Croatia and the mighty, mighty Mexicans stayed there before their final Group A clash. I like to imagine there were lots of awkward encounters at the ice machine.
It’s a slippery slope, we’ll have time-outs in no time…
on Twitter, Soccer Donkey agrees with Mikey that RVP’s majestic header has been the moment of the tournament so far, but the Oranje skipper has had little or no impact on this game and he has left the field to be replaced by Klaas Jan Huntelaar.
WESLEY SNEIJDER HAS PRODUCED A ROCKET OF AN EQUALISER.
That. Stayed. Hit.
Boom!
MS: That was deserved. Even I can take off my sombrero and admit that. Ochoa had put out too many fires. Wesley Sneidjer does not score ordinary goals, does he? Now the only fear is someone melts during extra-time.
Absolute heartbreak for Mexico. Holland have turned it around thanks to a penalty earned by Robben and converted by Huntelaar.
Stunning.
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MS: “Why does my heart feel so bad? That is desperately harsh on my amigos. Arjen Robben jumped over Marquez’s foot. Marquez’s foot was there but he did not fall over it. He saw the foot placed in his path and jumped. There’s no honour in that goal, but I think most Dutch people will tell me where to stick my honour. Does Huntelaar get the start next day ahead of RVP? Ha ha ha! LVG hearts RVP.”
The Dutch players celebrating wildly at the final whistle partly because they are through to a quarter-final against either Greece or Costa Rica, but mostly because they don’t have to play any more in that energy sapping heat.
So thanks to Budweiser for the prize and thanks for coming and joining our hangout today. Feel free to enter our competition before tonight’s kick-off – judge’s decision will be final. Hopefully there will be goals now, if there’s not, the prize will roll over again to tomorrow.
MS: “Right I’m off to floor some tequila before getting myself in order for tonight’s titanic clash between Costa Rica and the latest Europeans to fight against the turning of the tide… Greece. If it follows the plot of that right there we are in for a stonker. If it follows the plot of that right there my match report is in for a hasty rewrite.
One day Mexico will reach the quarter-finals outside of their own country. They must, but until then they’ll keep on keeping on.
Enjoy it sports fans!
