How did you want to do the second round matches just out of interest, a separate thread for each match? Let me know what you think. Again massive thanks to everyone who has contributed during the World Cup.

I think we should use the thread that was started in May and is pinned at the moment to discuss the rest of the tournament. It would be going to waste if it's not used.

That man, Messi to score the 100th goal of this World Cup. What have Nigeria got now?

Can't believe this is the same Argentina side that played Croatia.

Close from Finnbogason for Iceland. Croatia made 9 changes for this match.

It's Messi, he's possessed - there was no way he was not going to score tonight. Still think Nigeria will nick a goal at some point.

 

Also we need seperate threads for all England games and for the final. If there are any big games on paper e.g. Brazil vs Argentina, Germany vs France etc. then we should have seperate threads. Good for guests and traffic as well as being simpler to navigate for general casual sports fans on the site.

Another penalty, and an equaliser for Nigeria.

An equaliser for Iceland from a penalty which means if Argentina score and Iceland will go through if they score again.

No need for Maradona to give the finger there.

Imagine Argentina fluking their way through this group. God dammit. :'(

Argentina through, yuck. Let's hope at least one big team gets kicked out.

Argentina were always going to go through, they always beat Nigeria.

 

Argentina vs France will be very tasty - can't see France not winning as this Argentina team is very poor. Very entertaining game, suspect this Nigeria team will be excellent in a couple of years time...

I can unfortunately (I am supporting Nigeria for this) see Argentina sneaking a win near the end courtesy of a Messi free kick.

 

Well I was mostly right sadly :(

We gave it a good effort but came up short in the end, Etebo and the goalkeeper Ezenwa in particular really played well tonight. We did a good job of keeping Messi quiet in the 2nd half but it's a shame that we couldn't do that in the 1st half as well, Higuaín and Mascherano had a nightmare! There's definitely encouraging signs for the future of the Nigerian team, especially when you realise that they are one of the youngest squads in the tournament.

 

 

 

It will be fun to see France knock Argentina out on Saturday, France have a much better squad all round than Argentina and Messi wont be able to save them all the time.

 

 

 

 

The one positive to take from this is that only one of Portugal, Uruguay, Argentina and France will be in the semi final.

 

RIP Nigeria, I’ll look forward to seeing Argentina get knocked out for you

Backing Croatia to go all the way now (unless England can do it lmao). Japan and/or Senegal are guaranteed to make it to the round of 16 too so I'll still have at least one 'underdog' to root for but these final matchdays so far are just killing all the other exciting fairytale stories. </3

Backing Croatia to go all the way now (unless England can do it lmao). Japan and/or Senegal are guaranteed to make it to the round of 16 too so I'll still have at least one 'underdog' to root for but these final matchdays so far are just killing all the other exciting fairytale stories. </3

 

There is still possibly Serbia who could get through out of the underdogs too, but beating Brazil in order to do this will be a tough ask!

We gave it a good effort but came up short in the end, Etebo and the goalkeeper Ezenwa in particular really played well tonight. We did a good job of keeping Messi quiet in the 2nd half but it's a shame that we couldn't do that in the 1st half as well, Higuaín and Mascherano had a nightmare! There's definitely encouraging signs for the future of the Nigerian team, especially when you realise that they are one of the youngest squads in the tournament.

It will be fun to see France knock Argentina out on Saturday, France have a much better squad all round than Argentina and Messi wont be able to save them all the time.

 

Well said, they should hold their head high. Played really well and grew as the tournament went on. Etebo will be a great signing for Stoke!

 

Neither France or Argentina have been good so far so hopefully something has to give at the weekend.

 

Croatia have to be an underdog too - they haven't won the World Cup!

Croatia have been the best team in the tournament so far, they beat us convincingly in their first match and then dominated Argentina in the 2nd and now have got another win against Iceland and only conceding 1 goal throughout. I don't think they'll have enough to win the World Cup but they could go a long way.

I was routing for Argentine to lose that match, if only they didn't score in the last 5 minutes of the game :banghead: Hoping France will beat them in the next round.