[luckbox]

Cheering like crazy for Croatia today. Partly because I don't care about Spain, but mostly due to the fact that if Spain somehow got kicked out tonight, that would be huuge for my Germany title-bet. That's a tall order though. I think we'll most likely see a win for Spain with a 1 or 2 goal margin.

[Rauno]

Spain has to take this one, don't care for the others.

[Don$ukh]

The Spain vs Croatia match was played with caution and the pace at times was slow. That usually proves to be a boring football but I enjoyed the match because of the huge importance.
Still cant believe Spain went defensive at the end to play for a draw with a chance of a counter. Imagine if Rakitic took his chance, we perhaps could of seen an upset and Croatia in the last eight.

Great that Italy made it. I have a soft spot for Pirlo and Di Natale and this will be the last tournament we see them.

[luckbox]

Originally Posted by Don$ukh

Great that Italy made it. I have a soft spot for Pirlo and Di Natale and this will be the last tournament we see them.

Yes. Absolutely two of the sexiest football players active today.

[Hammerlock2.0]

If Croatia got that penalty this game would have ended very differently (d'uh). At the very least they deserved a draw although it wouldn't have changed anything in the end. Don't really get their strategy either. Replacing Torres with a midfielder when it was still a draw was a huge mistake to me, even though Navas scored in the end. Then they sub in Negredo, a striker, once they were in front. Can anyone explain this to me?

Anyway, Spain and Italy advance. Hopefully France and England make it through. If they do this quarter final will become very interesting.

[Intermission]

There's only one Ronaldo folks.

[AmdM]

Originally Posted by Intermission

There's only one Ronaldo folks.

Biggest domination ever.
Nothing but Portugal tonight!!!!!

E o Ronaldo deu-lhe comó caralho!!!! :P

[luckbox]

Norwegian media speculated that Ronaldo's shouting towards the camera after the goal was a "message" to Messi. I don't know if I believe that, but I wouldn't mind the two greatest players in the world having a feud that will help them push eachother to new levels on the pitch. Messi is still a small step ahead of Ronaldo right now though, sorry to say Inter, but it's true.

You Portugal guys over me, how far do you reckon your team can go? Czech Republic was a breeze, but Spain are likely waiting in the semis, and if you can get through them, I suspect it will be Germany in the finals. That's the two best national teams in the world today. You think CR7 can pull you all the way through? If he does, that will be the work of a true all time great, he will have a foot up on Messi who is yet to make a mark in the WC, and really put himself in the Pele/Maradona discussion.

[Intermission]

Originally Posted by luckbox

Norwegian media speculated that Ronaldo's shouting towards the camera after the goal was a "message" to Messi. I don't know if I believe that, but I wouldn't mind the two greatest players in the world having a feud that will help them push eachother to new levels on the pitch. Messi is still a small step ahead of Ronaldo right now though, sorry to say Inter, but it's true.

You Portugal guys over me, how far do you reckon your team can go? Czech Republic was a breeze, but Spain are likely waiting in the semis, and if you can get through them, I suspect it will be Germany in the finals. That's the two best national teams in the world today. You think CR7 can pull you all the way through? If he does, that will be the work of a true all time great, he will have a foot up on Messi who is yet to make a mark in the WC, and really put himself in the Pele/Maradona discussion.

Messi - Ronaldo discussion is pure speculation and your opinion. Anyone can argue that Iniesta and Xavi playing with Ronaldo would be the same.

Personally, I think we make it to the finals and lose to Germany. Spain don't seem to be their selves in this tournament and they don't have a healthy on form striker for us to worry about. If anything playing with Fernando Torres would only help US

[luckbox]

Yeah, it must be tough for Ronaldo having bums like Özil and Alonso feeding him. It's not like they are world class passers or anything.

I agree about Spains striker problem, although it should be an easy one to fix if Del Bosque just get his finger out of his ass and play Llorente for the remainder of the tournament. Torres has been rubbish for two whole seasons now, and in no way does he deserve to play ahead of Llorente. Still, Spain with a rubbish striker is still Spain, with like four thousand world class midfielders in their squad. You're confident you can turn them over?