*Official* Knockout Stages

[R_D]

So Penalty shoot out it is....... will be more interesting than the whole match for sure.

 

[The Sean]

Reckon they'll get about five or so chances in the coming minutes...

Fair play.

Though given the quality of this match so far, I'm a little concerned about either of these teams putting their penalties away.

 

[pasag]

Japanese coach has the best facial expression ever.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Pah penalties?! Another opportunity missed for a sumo deathmatch.

 

[Marcuss]

Crossbar!

 

[The Sean]

Excellent set of penalties TBF - and Paraguay continue the South American pre-eminence at the tournament.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Neither goalkeeper was particularly good though. Both indicated way too early which way they were going. Made the penalty-takers look much better than they are.

I say this given my wealth of experience as a goalkeeper in a Round of 16 World Cup match.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Spain/Portugal be quietly confident I reckon. Only saw the last 15 mins of ET and was quite enough.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Devo for Japan, would have loved them to go through.

Dire game though.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Ronaldo apart Spain the greater of the two evils coming up in half an hour.

 

[silentstriker]

Per BB's informative post, Spain would be India...which would make the smaller country to the west Pakistan....

Gotta go with Spain tbh.

Two questions: who is Ajit Agarkar and who is Kamran Akmal?

 

[duffer]

Huge punch from Cassilas there. I thought he was a goner there.

 

[The Sean]

And that should unquestionably be 1-0 Portugal.

 

[The Sean]

Portugal so close again. Pique's lack of pace apparent there - it's always been his biggest weakness.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Spain in crossing the ball and someone inside the box shocker.

 

[R_D]

David Villa scores..... nice goal.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Been coming.

Hopefully open things up now.

 

[The Sean]

I'd ordinarily say that spending £35m on a bloke only a few months short of his 29th birthday would be madness, but I reckon Villa is worth every penny of what Barca just spent on him.

As Brumbers said, hopefully that goal will mean Portugal open up and chase the game a bit harder now.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Really like Contreau, reckon he's been one of the better players this WC.

Anyone else think Danny looks like an extra out of Pirates of the Caribbean?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I'd ordinarily say that spending £35m on a bloke only a few months short of his 29th birthday would be madness, but I reckon Villa is worth every penny of what Barca just spent on him.

It's a scary thought that they could conceivably add Ozil to that attacking line yet.