2014 FIFA World Cup

[gunnar hendershow]

Yeah, Africa and Asia are done, CONCACAF have a team in the quarters and USA playing tomorrow. Your best shots for a new winner are pretty much Netherlands and Colombia.

I want to believe Colombia can beat Brazil but I see the home team scraping its way to the 3rd place game.

[Lineker]

Cameroon officials are to investigate claims that seven of their players were involved in match-fixing at the World Cup in Brazil.

The ethics committee of the African country's football federation will look at allegations of "fraud" by "seven bad apples" in their three group games.

The allegations have been made in a German news magazine Der Spiegel by a convicted match fixer from Singapore.

Cameroon lost all their Group A games, including a 4-0 defeat by Croatia.

The Indomitable Lions had Alex Song sent off for lashing out at Mario Mandzukic in that game, while team-mates Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Benjamin Moukandjo clashed late on in the game.

A statement from Cameroon's FA read: "Recent allegations of fraud around Cameroon's 2014 Fifa World Cup three preliminary games, especially Cameroon versus Croatia, as well of the 'existence of seven bad apples [in our national team]' do not reflect the values and principles promoted by our administration, in line with Fifa's code of conduct and the ethics of our nation.

"We are strongly committed to employ all means necessary to resolve this disruptive matter in the shortest delays."

Fifa did not comment on whether it was looking into the issue as football's world governing body did not want to "compromise any possible investigations".

It did, however, add: "Speaking generally, the integrity of the game is a top priority for Fifa and as such we take any allegations of match manipulation very seriously."

Cameroon's build up to the tournament in Brazil was marred by the players refusing to board a plane to Brazil until a dispute over bonus payments had been settled.

A financial package was eventually agreed with Cameroon's football federation, Fecafoot, but the squad's journey to the World Cup had been delayed for almost a day.

They started the tournament with a 1-0 defeat by Mexico prior to the loss to Croatia and being beaten 4-1 by hosts Brazil.

"Some players behaved very badly, and that's why we have conceded four goals," Cameroon head coach Volker Finke told French newspaper L'Equipe after the Croatia defeat.

"I know that it is difficult to play with 10 men, but that is not a reason to lose it to this point.

"The game was balanced until the red card. The Croatians were more clinical in front of goal, but Cameroon also had chances to score.

"The behaviour of some of the players is really not satisfactory. Even when we were 11-a-side, it was not acceptable."

[Lineker]

Elsewhere, Keshi has resigned as Nigeria manager; and Klinsmann has criticised Fifa's appointment of an Algerian referee for their match against Belgium.

[Lineker]

Chile striker Mauricio Pinilla has had his agonising miss in the final minute against Brazil inked into his back. The 30-year-old crashed a shot against the crossbar in the 119th minute, moments before his side were beaten on penalties by the hosts, who will now face Colombia in the last eight.

[Thrilla]

Anyone else fancy the Yanks to upset the Belgians today? Not been overly impressed by them so far.

[9 to 5]

Anyone else fancy the Yanks to upset the Belgians today? Not been overly impressed by them so far.

I honestly put them as favourites but I have said this Belgium side is quite over-rated.

[Thrilla]

Yanks and Swiss to win today on a double is 29.4/1, hmmm.

[Kaney]

I'd love for America to win.

[9 to 5]

The Swiss won't win, the Yanks? I would back them, probably.

[Baddar]

Argentina v Switzerland (17:00 BST)

Argentina: Romero, Garay, Zabaleta, Gago, Di Maria, Higuain, Messi, Mascherano, Rojo, Fernandez, Lavezzi.

Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Inler, Xhaka, Behrami, Rodriguez, Mehmedi, Drmic, Djourou, Schar, Shaqiri.

[Benjamin]

Chile striker Mauricio Pinilla has had his agonising miss in the final minute against Brazil inked into his back. The 30-year-old crashed a shot against the crossbar in the 119th minute, moments before his side were beaten on penalties by the hosts, who will now face Colombia in the last eight.

But... why?

[Lineker]

No idea!

Also I can't watch this game without GoGo's daily preview :/

[GoGo Yubari]

Chile striker Mauricio Pinilla has had his agonising miss in the final minute against Brazil inked into his back. The 30-year-old crashed a shot against the crossbar in the 119th minute, moments before his side were beaten on penalties by the hosts, who will now face Colombia in the last eight.

But... why?

THE SCAR WILL REMAIN A SYMBOL

Also special edition of my final two knockouts previews. The first:

GoGo Freelance World Cup Special: ESPN Coverage of Argentina vs. Switzerland Edition

Here's What You Should Know About Argentina: LIONEL MESSI LIONEL MESSI LIONEL MESSI THE HEART OF THE LION THE EYES OF A HAWK THE LEGS OF A CHEETAH THE BRAIN OF EINSTEIN. MESSI MESSI MESSI MESSI MESSI MESSI MESSI MESSI MESSI. MESSI. Other people. MESSI.

Here's What You Should Know About Switzerland: lol who the fuck are these guys

How the Matchup Will Go: Lionel Messi will put the soccer ball in the soccer net. We'll show a video package of it. Messi. He's a star soccer guy.

The Most Important Factor, the National Anthem: Did you know that Lionel Messi wrote his own lyrics to the Argentinean national anthem? They're amazing. They're TOO amazing. They have been forbidden from being used because people would literally kill themselves after hearing something so majestic.

The winner? Lionel Messi. Er. Argentina.

[Lineker]

Much better.

[EddieG]

The Karate KidNigel De Jong has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after getting injured early on in the match against Mexico.

[Jimmy]

What was that?

[Colly]

Belgium are just England with better hair.

[MDK]

Good lord, this match is poor.

I'm assuming it still is. I went for a quick shower and I saw one of the Argies try a Rabona and balls it up

[GoGo Yubari]

Belgium are just England with better hair.

NEW STRATEGY: Clint Dempsey to kick ball very slowly at Thibaut Courtois, see what happens.

[Kaney]

So this match hasn't really sparked to like at all has it.