BINTI WA MBUNGE WA TEMEKE ATWAA TAJI LA MISS TANZANIA 2014

Siti, binti wa Mbunge wa Temeke Abbas Mtemvu, usiku wa kuamkia leo ameibuka kidedea katika kinyang’anyiro cha kumsaka mrembo wa Tanzania  (Redd’s Miss Tanzania 2014) katika shindano lililofanyika kwenye Ukumbi wa Mlimani City, Dar es Salaam.

Mlimbwende huyo, ambaye kablaya kutwaa taji hilo alitawazwa kuwa Miss Temeke, aliwabwaga warembo wengine 30 waliokuwa wakiwania taji hilo mwaka huu.

Kwa ushindi huo, Siti amejinyakulia kitita cha Shilingi milioni 18, ambapo ukumbini hapo alikabidhiwa hundi ya thamani ya Shilingi milioni 10 kwa maelezo kwamba kiasi kilichobaki cha Shilingi milioni 8 atakabidhiwa baada ya shindano hilo.

Siti ataiwakilisha Tanzania kwenye shindano la Miss World mwakani, ambapo mwaka huu Tanzania itawakilishwa na mshindi wa mwaka jana, Happiness Watimanywa kutoka Dodoma.

HAWA NDIO WATAKAOCHEZESHA MECHI ZA LIGI KUU YA VODACOM

Ikiwa imebaki siku moja kufunguliwa kwa pazia la Ligi Kuu Tanzania Bara msimu wa 2014-15, mambo tayari yamenoga baada ya kukamilika kwa safu ya waamuzi watakaochezesha mechi za ufunguzi wiki hii.

Ofisa Mtendaji Mkuu wa Bodi ya Ligi Tanzania, Silas Mwakibinga aliliambia gazeti hili jana, orodha ya waamuzi iko tayari na kuwataka watakaochezesha katika michezo hiyo kutenda haki.

Katika mchezo wa Yanga dhidi ya Mtibwa Sugar ya Mvomero, Morogoro, mechi itakayopigwa kwenye Uwanja wa Jamhuri itachezeshwa na mwamuzi Dominick Nyamisano kutoka Dodoma.

Wakati huo, mabingwa watetezi, Azam FC itakuwa mwenyeji wa Polisi ya Morogoro kwenye Uwanja wa Azam Complex Chamazi, Dar es Salaam katika mchezo utakaochezeshwa na mwamuzi Abdallah Kambuzi kutoka Shinyanga.

Mwamuzi wa Dar es Salaam, Hashim Abdallah atakuwa kwenye Uwanja wa Kambarage mkoani Shinyanga kuziamua timu mbili ngeni katika ligi msimu huu, wenyeji Stand United na Ndanda FC ya Mtwara.

Mchezo mwingine utakuwa ni kati ya Mgambo JKT ya Tanga dhidi ya Kagera Sugar ya Bukoba utakaochezwa kwenye Uwanja wa Mkwakwani jijini Tanga na kuchezeshwa na mwamuzi Kennedy Mapunda wa Dar es Salaam.

Aidha, Ruvu Shooting ya Pwani itacheza na Tanzania Prisons ya Mbeya kwenye Uwanja wa Mabatini, Mlandizi na kuchezeshwa na mwamuzi David Paulo wa Mtwara.

Washindi wa tatu wa ligi hiyo msimu uliopita, Mbeya City itawakaribisha JKT Ruvu ya Pwani kwenye Uwanja wa Sokoine jijini Mbeya katika mchezo utakaochezeshwa na Mohamed Theophil wa Morogoro.

Baada ya michezo hiyo ya Jumamosi katika mchezo wa Jumapili, Simba watakuwa ni wenyeji wa Coastal Union ya Tanga kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa, Dar es Salaam, na mwamuzi Jacob Adongo wa Mara atachezesha.

Kwa mujibu wa Mwakibinga, waamuzi hao wa kati ni miongoni mwa waamuzi wa kati 21 watakaochezesha ligi hiyo iliyopangwa kufikia tamati Aprili 18, mwakani. Kutakuwa na waamuzi wasaidizi 46.

Mwakibinga alisema anategemea waamuzi hao watachezesha mchezo huo kwa kufuata sheria 17 za soka bila kupendelea na kwa haki.

“Hiyo ndio orodha ya kwanza, kuna nyingine itatoka kwani wapo wengi, na wasaidizi wao tayari, tuna imani watazingatia maadili ya kazi yao,” alisema Mwakibinga.

NGASSA KINARA WA MABAO LIGI YA MABINGWA AFRIKA

Licha ya Yanga kutolewa mapema kwenye michuano ya Ligi ya Mabingwa Afrika, lakini mshambuliaji wake Mrisho Ngassa ndiye anayeongoza kwa upachikaji mabao mpaka sasa.
Michuano ya Ligi ya Mabingwa ipo hatua ya nusu fainali sasa ambapo  TP Mazembe ya Kongo (DRC)  itakutana na ES Setif ya Algeria na AS Vita ya Kongo pia  itakutana na CS Sfaxien ya Tunisia.
Yanga ilicheza raundi mbili za awali, dhidi ya Komorozine ya Comoro na dhidi ya Al- Ahly ya Misri.
Kwa mujibu wa taarifa ya tathmini iliyotolewa jana  kwenye mtandao wa Shirikisho la Soka Afrika (CAF) Ngassa anaongoza kwa mabao sita.
Katika michuano hiyo, Ngassa alicheza mechi nne za raundi za awali ambapo katika mechi dhidi ya Komorozine alifunga mabao matatu katika kila mechi, nyumbani na ugenini na kufanya idadi ya mabao hayo sita.
Katika mechi ya nyumbani dhidi ya Al- Ahly, Yanga ilishinda bao 1-0 lakini ikatolewa kwa mikwaju ya penalti ugenini baada ya Ahly kupata bao moja na kufanya matokeo kuwa sare ya bao 1-1 na hivyo mechi kuamuliwa kwa mikwaju ya penalti.
Wanaomfuatia Ngassa kwa mabao ni Haithem Jouini (Esperance, Tunisia), Edward Takarinda Sadomba (Al Ahli Benghazi, Libya), Iajour Mouhssine (Raja Club Athletic, Morocco) na Knowledge Musona (Kaizer Chiefs, Afrika Kusini) wenye mabao matano kila mmoja ambao timu zao pia zimetolewa kwenye michuano hiyo.
Mubele Ndombe wa AS Vita ndiye pekee mwenye mabao matano na timu yake imekwenda nusu fainali.Wenye mabao manne ni Benyoussef Fakhreddine (Sfaxien, Tunisia), El Hedi Belameiri (E. S. Setif, Algeria,) na Abdelrahman Ramadan Fetori (Benghazi,) Abdoulaye Ssissoko (Stade Malien, Mali), Ahmed Akaichi (Esperance), Akram Djahnit (E. S. Setif), Cesair Gandze (AC Leopards, Kongo), Driss Mhirsi (Esperance), Etekiama Agiti Taddy (AS Vita) Kingston Nkhatha (Kaizer Chiefs,) na Lamine Diawara wa Stade Malien wana mabao matatu kila mmoja.

REMY FAILS MEDICAL, LIVERPOOL MOVE OFF

Loic Remy's move from QPR to Liverpool has fallen through after the Frenchman failed a medical.
The striker's transfer has been cancelled following his examination, which he underwent in Boston on Tuesday.
The results took longer than usual to come through as the medical took place away from Merseyside. Neither club has commented officially, and the specific issue is not known.
A possible heart defect was revealed in 2010, when Remy joined Marseille from Nice, but the transfer went through after further tests saw doctors give Remy the all-clear.
Back then, it was decided that Remy was still suitable for a career in professional football. However, it is unknown whether the latest problem is related to his cardiovascular, or another issue.
Liverpool had agreed an £8.5m deal to sign Remy from QPR after he impressed on loan at Newcastle last season, earning himself a place in France's World Cup squad.
Brendan Rodgers must look elsewhere to replace Luis Suarez, who has joined Barcelona, though Rickie Lambert arrived before the World Cup.
Liverpool are reportedly close to signing Belgian striker Divock Origi for £12.5m - they had originally planned to loan him back to Lille for the 2014/15 season but may now wish to press the 19-year-old into immediate service.

NICE BOSS SAYS WORLD CUP KEEPER OSPINA TO JOIN ARSENAL

Arsenal are on the brink of signing Colombia World Cup star David Ospina after Nice boss Claude Puel confirmed his goalkeeper will join the Gunners.
Ospina, who has 44 caps for Colombia, rose to prominence with some impressive performances at the World Cup, where his team lost to hosts Brazil in the quarter-finals.
And following Nice’s 3-2 friendly defeat to Brentford in London on Saturday, Nice manager Puel told Sky Sports that Ospina, 25, had agreed to join the North London club.
"It is confirmed, yes," Puel told Sky Sports News. "At 25 years old it is important for him to experience another championship, so it is a fantastic move for him.
"I think he can take the number one spot at Arsenal because his qualities are very, very strong.
"He is very good with his feet, with his arms, and he knows football. He is a very, very good player."
There is no word from Arsenal but Ospina, available at a cut-price £3million, had looked to be on the brink of moving to the Emirates Stadium after Arsene Wenger let slip that the player would be number two to Wojciech Szczesny.
"You know at the start Szczesny will be the number one, then again we'll be down to performances and, if Ospina shows that he is better, he will play," the Frenchman had told ESPN on Friday.
Ospina will be the third World Cup star to arrive at Arsenal this summer, joining Chile’s Alexis Sanchez and France’s Mathieu Debuchy, who left Barcelona and Newcastle United respectively.
Wenger's side, who won the FA Cup and qualified for the Champions League last season, have also been linked with Southampton duo Morgan Schneiderlin and Calum Chambers, although a move for Real Madrid's Germany midfielder Sami Khedira appears to have stalled.

DIDIER DROGBA RE-SIGNS FOR CHELSEA

Chelsea have announced the return of Champions League hero Didier Drogba on a one-year deal.
Drogba, now 36, left Stamford Bridge in 2012 after scoring the winning penalty in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich after a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes and extra-time.
Drogba told Chelsea's official website: "It was an easy decision - I couldn't turn down the opportunity to work with Jose again. Everyone knows the special relationship I have with this club and it has always felt like home to me.
"My desire to win is still the same and I look forward to the opportunity to help this team. I am excited for this next chapter of my career."
Chelsea announced the deal and welcomed the player back to the club in a Tweet.
He had a spell with Shanghai Shenhua in China before turning out last term for Turkish side Galatasaray, and faced Jose Mourinho's side in the Champions League last 16 where Gala suffered defeat.
He remains a firm fans favourite among the Chelsea diehards with the Stamford Bridge club expected to announce his return before the weekend.
He will sign as a player with a view to becoming part of the coaching staff at the club where he spent eight seasons between 2004-2012 scoring 157 goals.
Jose Mourinho said: "He’s coming because he’s one of the best strikers in Europe.
"I know his personality very well and I know if he comes back he’s not protected by history or what he’s done for this club previously. He is coming with the mentality to make more history.
"His 34 goals in European competition remains a Chelsea record, as do his nine strikes in nine cup finals."
Drogba joined the Blues from Olympique Marseille for £24 million in 2004, at the start of Mourinho's first spell in charge, and scored 157 goals in 342 appearances, hoovering up silverware along the way.
He won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups as well as the Champions League before leaving in 2012.
While Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich seemed determined to bring more glamorous centre forwards to the club, with Andriy Shevchenko and Fernando Torres all arriving with lofty reputations, the Ivorian proved immovable.
He remains their record scorer in European competition with 34 goals while his nine strikes in nine cup finals is also a record.
When he left Stamford Bridge two years ago to play for Shanghai Shenhua in China, many thought his career was on the wane with his performances in that final season fluctuating between brilliant and largely ineffective.
Mourinho has decided to bring him back, however, after a successful year in Turkey playing for Galatasaray that showed he still had something to offer at the highest level.
The Portuguese predicted in March, when Galatasaray played Chelsea in the Champions League, that Drogba would one day return to the Chelsea family and said on Friday that there was no emotion or sentiment involved in the decision.

SUPER MARIO WINS THE WORLD CUP FOR GERMANY

Mario Goetze struck a wonderful extra-time winner as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 to claim the 2014 World Cup at the Estadio Maracana.
The Bayern Munich came off the bench to coolly chest and volley home a sublime goal after great work by Andre Schuerlle on the left to end a 24-year wait for Die Mannschaft.
It came with just seven minutes of extra-time remaining and saw Germany secure a fourth world title and become the first European team to win it in South America.
The match had begun at a lightning pace but faded badly in the second period and looked all set for a shoot-out until Goetze struck.
Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain blazed a glorious opportunity wide early on before having his moment of redemption stolen away when he was correctly flagged offside while finishing off a sublime move involving Lionel Messi and Ezequiel Lavezzi.
For Germany super sub Andre Schurrle's effort was beaten away by Sergio Romero before Benedikt Hoewedes somehow contrived to crash a free header against the post from inside the six-yard box on the stroke of half time.
Lionel Messi could and should have made it his World Cup moments after the restart but dragged wide and it proved to be the best of the action until extra-time when Schuerrle tested Romero and Rodrigo Palacio lobbed off target when clear.
Goetze finally made the breakthrough with his wonderful finish and Argentina couldn't recover as Joachim Loew's side held firm to move level with Italy on four World titles - just one behind Brazil.

KEY MOMENTS
Pre-match - Germany lose Khedira, Argentina unchanged: Germany initially named the same team that hammered hosts Brazil 7-1 in the last four but were forced to bring in Christoph Kramer to replace Sami Khedira (calf problem) at the last minute. Angel Di Maria does not feature from the start for Argentina despite rumours he would be involved.
21' - ARGENTINA CHANCE. WHAT A MISS! A shocking back-header by Kroos puts Higuain clean through but he snatches at the chance and drags it harmlessly wide from the edge of the area.
30' - GOAL DISALLOWED!!! The cross from Lavezzi on the right is ruthlessly tucked home by Higuain just outside the six-yard box but the flag is up and it won't count. It's the right call too.
31' - BLOW for GERMANY: The pre-match replacement is replaced as Kramer comes off and Schurrle takes his place.
37' - GERMANY CHANCE. GOOD SAVE! Romero dives to his right to push away Schurrle's first-time effort after a quick break by the Germans.
40' - ARGENTINA CHANCE. Messi sprints down the right and into the area. The little magician is tight to the byline but somehow gets the ball past Neuer and Boateng comes to the rescue by hooking away from inside his six-yard box.
 45+2' - OFF THE POST! Höwedes has all day to attack a corner four yards out but somehow plants his header against the post with Mueller offside on the rebound. What a miss that was!
47' - ARGENTINA CHANCE! Messi times his run on the shoulder of the last defender perfectly but fires his low shot wide of the far post. He looked odds-on to score there.
82' - GERMANY CHANCE! Close for Kroos as the midfielder arrives on a cut back from the right but slots his side footer wide of the right-hand post from the edge of the box.
92' - GERMANY CHANCE! Sensational start to ET as Romero beats away an effort from Schurrle inside the opening few seconds.
97' - ARGENTINA CHANCE! Palacio lobs Neuer but sees his shot drop wide of the right-hand post after Hummels had missed Rojo's wonderful ball from the left.
113' - GOAL! ARGENTINA 0-1 GERMANY. Goetze breaks the deadlock!!!! Schurrle races down the left and clips a lovely ball into Goetze who chests down before flashing a volley into the corner on the stretch!
TALKING POINT: Are Germany set to dominate? The Germans have finally emerged from their recent role as perennial bridesmaids and proved to be the most consistent side throughout the World Cup. It was a tournament where they came of age and with such a wealth of young talent in the likes of Goetze, Mueller et al they could be set for a Golden era of success.

MAN OF THE MATCH
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany): The Bayern midfielder gave an imperious display at the heart of his team. Inventive in attack and solid in his defensive work, he covered every blade of grass on a night where he received a bloody face for his troubles. It will all have been worth it when he takes a look at that winners' medal.

PLAYER RATINGS -
GERMANY: Neuer 7, Lahm 7, Hummels 7, Boateng 6, Höwedes 6, Schweinsteiger 8, Kramer 6, Müller 7, Kroos 7, Özil 7, Klose 6. Subs: Schurrle 8, Goetze 8, Mertesacker n/a.
ARGENTINA: Romero 6, Garay 6, Zabaleta 6, Demichelis 6, Rojo 6, Biglia 6, Perez 6, Mascherano 7, Lavezzi 6, Higuain 5, Messi 6. Subs: Aguero 6, Palacio 6, Gago 6.

GERMANY - ARGENTINA MATCHPACK: THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

It might not be the way Brazilians wanted the World Cup to end but Sunday's final between Argentina and Germany will provide a nerve-jangling climax to the best tournament in history - even though the goals that have lit it up may not flow.
Four years ago, Germany took advantage of Diego Maradona's coaching naivety and cavalier approach as they tore the Argentines apart 4-0 again in the last eight.
Germany will be trying to win the World Cup for the fourth time, and also become the first European team to win the title in South America, while Argentina are aiming for a third crown.
The teams have already met in two finals with Argentina winning in 1986 and Germany getting revenge four years later.
Despite being among the most successful sides in their respective continents, neither team has won a trophy recently.
Germany's last success was at Euro 96 in England while Argentina won the 1993 Copa America in Ecuador.
Germany are favourites, having hammered Portugal 4-0 in the group stage and Brazil 7-1 in the last four, while Argentina managed five successive single-goal wins before edging past the Netherlands on penalties in Wednesday's semi-final.

TEAM NEWS
Germany centre-back Mats Hummels was withdrawn against Brazil because of tendonitis, but is expected to be available, meaning that Joachim Loew may name an unchanged side.
Argentina's Angel Di Maria has returned to light training after a thigh injury, but is unlikely to be fit to start, but Sergio Aguero is fully recovered from a similar problem. Marcos Rojo was complaining of a sore ankle during training but is still likely to play.

MANAGER QUOTES
Joachim Loew: "This team is not just Messi and if you think that then you would be making a mistake. They have other attacking powers like Sergio Aguero, Angel di Maria. This team does not live solely on Messi. They have a good compact organisation, better than in 2010."
Alejandro Sabella: "Germany has shown throughout its history great physical and mental power, and players with a hint of South America. Germany knows what team work, organisation and long-term work is."

PLAYER'S VIEW
"Since they knocked us out on the last two occasions, I can't deny that I'm out for payback. The first time was more painful because it was on penalties. In South Africa it was different, because we hardly got into the game. But now it's a final, the most important match we're going to play. Of course I want revenge." - Maxi Rodriguez

KEY STATS
Germany are set to play in their eighth World Cup final; more than any other nation. They have won three titles.
They have won just one of their last four appearances in the World Cup final (1990 v Argentina).
Germany have now reached a World Cup final in each of the last seven decades (1954, 1966, 1974, 1982 and 86, 1990, 2002 and now 2014).
Argentina are set to play in their fifth World Cup final, they have won two and lost two of the previous four.
This will be the third World Cup final between Germany and Argentina. They met in successive finals in 1986 and 1990, with each team lifting the title (3-2 Argentina in 1986, 1-0 Germany in 1990).
No other fixture has been played as often in a World Cup final as Germany v Argentina.
This is the 10th time that teams from Europe and South America face each other in the final. Seven of these finals have been won by the teams from South America.
Both sides will face off for the seventh time at the World Cup, the only fixture that has been played as often is Brazil v Sweden (seven times).
Germany have won three and lost just one of the previous six World Cup encounters with Argentina (D2). Germany also won the penalty shootout in 2006 against Argentina.
Germany had eliminated Argentina from the 2006 World Cup (1-1 AET and 4-2 on penalties in the quarter-final) and from the 2010 World Cup (4-0 in the quarter-final).
The 4-0 defeat in 2010 is Argentina’s heaviest World Cup defeat in the last 40 years (0-4 v Netherlands in 1974).
Argentina have won nine out of 20 games against Germany (D5 L6), though. The last meeting (August 2012, Frankfurt) saw Argentina win 3-1.
No side have kept as many clean sheets as Argentina in the 2014 World Cup (four, Germany have three).
Argentina are yet to concede a goal in the knock-out stages at this tournament (despite playing extra-time in two of their three games).
On the last five occasions that Germany have failed to score in a World Cup match, they have lost.
The last time Germany scored in a World Cup match and lost was the 1994 quarter final defeat to Bulgaria (1-2).
Germany are unbeaten in 17 internationals (W12, D5).
Argentina haven’t been trailing in any of their six games at the 2014 World Cup, Germany just eight minutes (v Ghana).
Argentina have won four out of five penalty shootouts at the World Cup, Germany won four out of four (including the one against Argentina in 2006).
Miroslav Klose has scored more World Cup goals than any other player in history and as many as the entire current Argentinian squad (16).
Only Lothar Matthäus (25) has played more World Cup games than Klose (23, as many as Paolo Maldini).
Klose is the only player in both squads who has already played in a World Cup final (2002, 0-2 v Brazil).
Argentina’s Angel di Maria and Marcos Rojo lead the way in terms of crosses attempted from open play, with Rojo’s haul of 25 so far bettered only by team-mate di Maria (32).
Thomas Müller has played a hand in 16 World Cup goals in 12 appearances at the finals (10 goals and six assists).
Müller (2010 and 2014) and Klose (2002 and 2006) are the only players in history to score 5+ goals at consecutive World Cup tournaments.
Müller is the first-ever Golden Boot winner to reproduce his number of goals at the following World Cup (five goals in 2010, five in 2014).
Müller could also become the first player ever to win the Golden Boot at successive World Cups.
Lionel Messi has been the most creative player at World Cup 2014, setting up a tournament-high 21 goal-scoring chances for team-mates.
Messi has embarked on a tournament-high 65 dribbles so far, completing (another-high) 39 of them.
No German player has created more chances for their teammates in the 2014 World Cup than Mesut Özil (15).
Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has attempted a competition-high 509 passes so far.
Mascherano has also made the most tackles so far – 28.
Andre Schürrle has scored three times in just 156 minutes of action so far at this World Cup.
Only Tim Howard (27) has made more saves in the competition than Manuel Neuer (23).
Lionel Messi has scored five World Cup goals to date, but none of them in the knockout stages.
Angel di Maria or Sami Khedira will become the 10th player to win both the Champions League and the World Cup in the same season. Seven of the previous nine have been German (Bayern Munich 1974) along with Christian Karembeu in 1998 and Roberto Carlos in 2002.

WHERE THE WORLD CUP FINAL WILL BE WON AND LOST

As one of the finest World Cups in football history draws to a close we take a look at four key battles that are sure to shape the showpiece final at the Maracana stadium.

Sami Khedira v Lionel Messi

Stopping Messi will be Germany's priority and they are unlikely to give the job to just one player. The Germans have been studying how the Netherlands managed to keep Messi relatively subdued in the semi-final although they have not given many clues as to how they intend to go about the job themselves.
Defender Benedikt Hoewedes, who helped subdue Cristiano Ronaldo in the 4-0 win over Portugal, said it was important to swarm the Argentine number ten and not get caught in a one-on-one.
However, as Messi has effectively been a playmaker in the World Cup, German defensive midfielder Khedira is likely to have a key role in keeping him under wraps.
Khedira, a box-to-box midfielder, worked tirelessly to help close down the Brazilian midfield in his side's epic 7-1 semi-final win on Tuesday.
 
Mats Hummels v Gonzalo Higuain

Higuain has started all of Argentina's matches, bar the opening game against Bosnia, and has played the often unforgiving role as target man.
Although his goal haul has been disappointing, limited to the early strike in the 1-0 quarter-final win over Belgium, his movement causes defenders endless problems, pulling them out of position to open space for Messi to thread balls through to Ezequiel Lavezzi or run at the defence himself.
Hummels is strong in the air and more versatile than his defensive partner Jerome Boateng.
Higuain had the better when the he clashed with Hummels in the Champions League this season, scoring the first goal in Napoli's 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund.

Thomas Mueller v Marcos Rojo

Mueller has been one of the outstanding players of the tournament with five goals and was the architect of both the 4-0 win over Portugal and the 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the semi-finals.
Apart from his speed and clinical finishing, Mueller's secret is his exceptional and instinctive understanding of space and he is invariably in the right place at the right time.
The Bayern Munich player is usually found of the right side of the attack where left back Marcos Rojo is the first line of defence for the South Americans.
Sporting defender Rojo was far from a unanimous choice at the start but has had an excellent tournament, helping to steady a previously rocky ship.

Toni Kroos v Javier Mascherano

Kroos was one of the outstanding players in Germany's 7-1 demolition of Brazil as he showed with the fourth goal when he dispossessed Fernandinho, played a one-two and scored into an empty net.
He is one of Germany's most creative players as he spreads passes around the midfield, a ruthless finisher and a physically imposing presence.
If he plays on the left of midfield again he may fall into Mascherano's sphere of influence, setting up one of the key battles in the match.
Mascherano has been outstanding for Argentina and played a key role in helping subdue Arjen Robben during the semi-final against Netherlands.

KLOSE SCORES 16TH WORLD CUP GOAL TO BREAK ALL-TIME RECORD

Germany striker Miroslav Klose scored after 23 minutes of the World Cup semi-final against Brazil on Tuesday to become the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 16 goals.
Klose had moved level with former Brazil striker Ronaldo on 15 when he scored in Germany's 2-2 draw against Ghana in the group stage.
His close range strike in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday put Germany 2-0 up in the last four clash and was his first goal in a World Cup semi-final.
Klose, 36, netted his first World Cup goal against Saudi Arabia in 2002. He has played in four World Cups and has now scored 71 goals in 136 appearances for Germany.
A lethal finisher, Klose is the best German striker of his generation.
He began his World Cup career in 2002 with five headed goals as Germany reached the final, where they lost 2-0 to Brazil with Ronaldo scoring twice to register eight for the tournament.
Four years later with Germany as hosts, Klose won the Golden Boot when he scored five goals in leading the team to the semi-finals. In 2010 he scored four goals in South Africa.

GERMANY TEAR BRAZIL TO PIECES WITH GREATEST EVER SEMI-FINAL DISPLAY

Brazil suffered the worst defeat in their footballing history as they were crushed 7-1 by Germany in the World Cup semi-final in Belo Horizonte.
As well as being Brazil's heaviest ever defeat - eclipsing a 6-0 Copa America defeat by Uruguay in 1920 - and their first competitive loss on home soil since 1975, it was also the biggest ever victory in a World Cup semi-final.
The home side actually started brightly, but Joachim Loew's German outfit took the lead after just 11 minutes as Thomas Mueller, left totally unmarked at a corner, sidefooted home.
And barely 10 minutes later Brazil's World Cup dream imploded in horrifying style as the Germans scored three times in 179 seconds, with Miroslav Klose breaking the all-time World Cup scoring record before Toni Kroos added two goals to make it 4-0. Sami Khedira then made it 5-0 just before the half-hour mark, giving Germany five goals in an 18-minute spell.
After the break Brazil came out looking determined and forced two outstanding saves from Manuel Neuer - but Germany soon regained control, and Andre Schuerrle scored twice to make it 7-0.
In the dying moments Mesut Oezil blew a perfect chance to make it 8-0 - and Brazil responded by darting up the other end where Oscar scored the consolation goal.
Germany will be red-hot favourites to win their first World Cup as a unified nation, no matter what happens in the other semi-final between Argentina and Netherlands.
As for Brazil, wholesale changes are expected as the nation suffered its largest and most humiliating defeat ever - a night that finally expunges memories of the Maracanazo in 1950, but in the worst possible way: by worsening the pain rather than exorcising the demons.

KEY MOMENTS
4 – BRAZIL CHANCE: Luiz finds Hulk with a sweeping switch of play and he looks for Bernard central but Neuer is alert to the danger and claims at the feet of the diminutive winger.
11 – GOAL! It is that man Mueller, who is unmarked on the six-yard-box to volley Kroos’ corner past Julio Cesar. Poor, poor defending.
22 – GOAL! Klose. Some neat passing cuts open the Brazil defence and Klose has his first shot blocked but follows up to open a two-goal advantage. He takes the record to boot.
24’ - GOOAL! Three goals to the good! What a strike from Kroos. What a strike on the half-volley with his left foot from outside the box following Lahm’s cross.
26’ – GOAL! Kross capitalises on Fernandinho taking a heavy touch. He finds Khedira inside the box but instead of shooting he slots it back to Kroos who tucks away.
29’ – GOAL! Germany cut through the Brazilian defence. Khedira charges forward and finds Ozil who cuts it back to Khedira, who slots home from the edge of the box.
69’ – GOAL! Lahm crosses for a queue of German players. Schuerrle is at the front of that queue and he tucks home.
79’ – ANOTHER GOAL: Mueller is in down the left and he slots back to Schuerrle on the edge of the six yard box who thrashes into the top corner from a tight angle.
90’ – CONSOLATION? GOAL! Oscar gets a consolation. He gets behind Mertesacker and comes back on himself before lifting the ball over Neuer. 7-1.

KEY STATS
Germany are the first team to score seven goals in a World Cup semi-final.
This is the biggest margin of victory ever recorded in a World Cup semi-final.
Prior to tonight, Brazil had never conceded more than five goals in a World Cup game (won 6-5 v Poland in 1938).
This is Brazil's biggest defeat in World Cup Finals history. Before tonight, it was the 3-0 defeat to Paris in the 1998 World Cup final.
Miroslav Klose is now the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, with 16 strikes, moving one clear of Ronaldo.
Germany have now scored 223 World Cup goals, two more than Brazil who are in second place.
André Schürrle scored with his sixth touch of the game.
There were just 179 seconds between Germany's second and fourth goals.
Thomas Müller is the third player (after Cubillas and Klose) in history to score 5+ goals in two different World Cups.
Müller is the 13th player to reach double figures for World Cup goals and the 5th German to do it.
Thomas Muller has scored 10 goals and provided six assists in just 12 World Cup matches.
Germany netted as many goals in this semi-final as they had in their previous six World Cup semi-finals (1982-2010).
It is the first time since 1938 that Brazil have lost a World Cup semi-final, they had progressed in their previous six.
Brazil failed to have a shot on target in the first half.
Germany were 5-0 up faster than any other team in World Cup history (29 minutes).
This game equalled Brazil’s all-time biggest margin of defeat (lost 6-0 to Uruguay in 1920).
Germany (10) only had two more shots on target than Brazil (8) in this match.
Germany scored two more goals tonight than England have in their past two World Cup campaigns combined.

TALKING POINT
Where exactly were Brazil’s tactics? Brazil have been widely criticised for their disruptive tactics during this World Cup but after giving away the first goal they completely lost the plot. There was none of those tactical fouls or any form of tactics. It looked amateurish and they completely deserved to be on the end of this sort of beating. Ultimately, the buck stops with Luiz Felipe Scolari.

DJOKOVIC WINS EPIC TUSSLE WITH FEDERER

Novak Djokovic claimed a second Wimbledon title after coming out on top in an extraordinary battle of wills against seven-times winner Roger Federer, eventually triumphing 6-7(7) 6-4 7-6(4) 5-7 6-4 in a gripping encounter on Sunday.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic kisses the winner's trophy after beating Switzerland's Roger Federer in the men's singles final match on day thirteen of the 2014 Wimbledon Championships
The Serb, who has now won seven grand slam titles, denied Federer the opportunity to win a record eighth All England Club trophy but was pushed all the way by the Swiss who faced a match point in the fourth set before forcing a decider.
Djokovic eventually wrapped up the contest that will go down as one of the greatest Wimbledon finals in three hours and 56 minutes, falling to the ground in celebration before climbing to the players' box to greet his camp with an emotional embrace.
"I don't know how I managed to do it," said a teary Djokovic, who had lost his last three grand slam finals.
"I want to dedicate this win to a few people, first of all to my future wife and our future baby. I am going to become a father soon and I am still preparing for that.
"To my family and my team for sacrifice a lot of their lives to allow me to live the dream and to my first coach Jelena Gencic, who taught me everything about playing tennis and how to behave. Unfortunately she passed away last year but this is for her."
Federer was magnanimous in defeat and even slightly disbelieving of his own resolve having forced a decider after looking down and out at 5-2 down in the fourth set.
"It was a great final. I can't believe I made it to five, it wasn't looking good for a while," he said.
"Going into a match with Novak, you know it's going to be tough. I can only say congratulations to him. It was an amazing match and an amazing tournament. It's well-deserved."
The Djokovic serve had seemed impregnable in the early games of the match. He held three times for the loss of a single point, while he was also able to apply gentle pressure on his opponent with some stinging returns.
The Stefan Edberg effect on Federer's game seemed to be in evidence as the Swiss made frequent forays to the net, with limited success, but both players held their nerve to take it to the tiebreak.
Federer, chasing a record eighth title, raced into an early 3-0 lead but was then pegged back and saved two set points before coming out on 9-7 when Djokovic netted a backhand after 51 minutes of scintillating play.
If Djokovic was simmering with a sense of injustice at losing a set in which he lost only four points on his first serve, he hid it well and came out energised in the second.
Federer was forced to save two break points in his opening service game and another in his next, but Djokovic made no mistake at the fourth time of asking, claiming the first break of the match for a 2-1 lead with a searing backhand pass.
The Serb called the trainer on court to treat an ankle injury, but stayed largely untroubled until he tried to serve out the second set at 5-4.
At 30-30, the Serb hit a forehand wide to hand Federer his first break point of the match, but swiftly regained his concentration to bring up set point with an ace and saw it out with a forehand smash.
In the third set both players flexed their serving muscles with the ace count mounting and neither facing a break point until the 11th game when Djokovic began to turn the screw once more.
The Serb ground out two break points but Federer again dug in, saving both with some precision serving to hold after a series of deuces.
It proved a brief reprieve however, as Djokovic came out firing in the tiebreak, bringing up a set point at 6-4 with a big forehand winner and getting over the line when Federer hit a backhand slice wide.
Djokovic looked to have a hand on the trophy when he pumped his clenched fist in celebration having broken in the fourth game of the fourth set for a 3-1 lead.
It proved to be the start of an extraordinary series of games, however, where both players took in turns to take apart the other's serve.
Federer broke straight back before again handing the momentum to the Serb, who opened a 5-2 lead and served for the match at 5-3.
The Centre Court crowd were willing Federer to find a route back into the clash and he duly obliged, breaking again to reduce the deficit to 5-4 before again finding himself under pressure to survive.
He netted a backhand to give Djokovic a matchpoint but served his way out of trouble and then set about putting the pressure back on Djokovic, breaking again and holding as Centre Court rose in a chorus of "Roger, Roger".
Weary legs did not diminish the quality of tennis on show in the fifth set as both players tussled for an advantage in the early evening sunshine.
Federer saved three break points in the eighth game as Djokovic and his famed resolve sought to take charge once more. The 32-year-old's seeping reserves could not hold out for long.
Serving to stay in the match at 4-5, Federer fell to 15-30, and then sent a forehand long to bring up another match point.
This time, there was no stopping the Serb as Federer netted a backhand to leave Djokovic to accept the acclaim of an emphatically appreciative crowd.

NEYMAR TOLD MARCELO: "I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS"

Brazil talisman Neymar feared he was paralysed shortly after the knee in the back that ended his World Cup.
Neymar was ruled out of the tournament last Friday when he was hit in the lower back during an aerial challenge with Colombia defender Juan Zuniga.
Scans revealed Neymar had fractured a vertebra following the collision, but the player initially believed the injury was much more serious when he lay prostrate on the pitch, according to Luiz Felipe Scolari.
"Marcelo ran up to Neymar (directly after the challenge) and asked him how he was feeling and he told him: 'I can't feel my legs.'," the Brazil coach was quoted as saying by Marca.
Luckily for Neymar, he will not suffer any such long-term effects.
"He does not have any neurological injury that would compromise his life as an athlete or a human being," Brazil's team doctor Jose Luiz Runco said.
"He will be out for 40-45 days. Then he will be able to pass, to run."
In today's Buzz we've got a coach keeling over, Panini sticker vengeance and of course the children of Brazil shedding a tear for their fallen hero.
Neymar thanked his team-mates for their support in an emotional video recorded at the team's training ground in Teresopolis on Saturday.
He was then flown to his home city of Guaruja, where he began his rehabilitation.
Scolari has asked the 22-year-old to make the short flight to Belo Horizonte to cheer Brazil on during Tuesday's semi-final against Germany though.
"He will be with us if he can, on the bench or in the stands," the former Chelsea manager said.
"We have already asked him to do this. It all will depend on how he is in the upcoming days. If he can do it, I am certain that he will."
The Brazil squad will fly to Belo Horizonte on Monday for the final stage of their semi-final preparation.
Scolari will have to find a replacement for Thiago Silva, who is unlikely to win an appeal against his second booking of the tournament against Colombia.
But the biggest task on his hands is filling the gap left by Neymar, who was Brazil's top scorer at the World Cup with four goals.
"It's equivalent to a catastrophe," the Brazil coach said of losing his star man.
"Neymar is out reference. He is a player that would make the difference in any team.
"We have lost the one player we did not want to lose, and it's for the semi-final and final."
The Brazilian federation (CBF) confirmed on Sunday that team psychologist Regina Brandao would visit Teresopolis.
Scolari found the ordeal of seeing his best player injured hard to take.
"It was a big shock," he said. "The image of Neymar being carried off a stretcher towards the plane, the difficulties, the tears..."
Scolari has several options to replace Neymar.
Paulinho or Fernandinho could be asked to play a more advanced role now that regular midfielder Luis Gustavo is back from suspension.
But the two biggest contenders to fill Neymar's position are Chelsea forward Willian or Shakhtar Donetsk's Bernard.
Neither player has started a match for Brazil during the World Cup, but Willian has come off the bench in all but one of the team's matches.
Bernard, a tricky, diminutive 21-year-old, has made two substitute appearances during the tournament.

GERMANY DENY HEROIC ALGERIA IN EXTRA-TIME

Andre Schuerrle and Mesut Ozil scored in extra-time double to put Germany into the quarter-finals of the World Cup following a real test of their credentials against Algeria.
The African side posed a threat all the way through the game, and had opportunities to put Joachim Loew’s team to the sword, but in the end Schuerrle and Ozil’s goals were enough to ensure Germany didn’t suffer a shock exit, despite Abdel Djabou’s last-gasp consolation goal.
Algeria started the game at a rate of knots, coming close to opening the scoring within 10 minutes, when Manuel Neuer was caught out of position rushing off his line to stop an attack. Islam Slimani looked set to leave the keeper in his wake 40 yards out from goal, but Neuer made a last ditch tackle to spare his blushes.
Halilhodzic’s side continued to press high and attack Germany, with Sofiane Feghouli seeing a wonderful diving header correctly disallowed for offside as Germany struggled to deal with Algeria’s energy.
Germany started to take a grip of the game towards the end of the first half, and continued that control after the restart. But Algeria retained a razor sharp threat on the break and were unfortunate not to find the net when Feghouli fizzed a shot across the face of goal.
However, Thomas Mueller passed up a glorious chance to score the winner 10 minutes from time, when the Bayern Munich man heading straight at Rais M’Bohli from an unmarked position 10 yards out.
Bastian Schweinsteiger was also wasteful from an almost identical position, guiding his weak header into the arms of the Algerian keeper, with just seconds of regulation time remaining.
But with just minutes of extra time played Schuerrle found the net with an improvised finish from a Mueller cross, giving Germany the lead they had worked so hard to find.
And Ozil put the result beyond any doubt late in the second half of extra time, smashing the ball home after Schuerrle’s initial shot was saved on the line.
Algeria did find the goal their performance deserved, with Djabou sliding in at the back post to send the deep cross into the back of Neuer’s net, but it was too little too late as Germany made the last eight.
 
KEY MOMENTS
9’ - COUNTER ATTACK! Slimani comes close to putting Algeria ahead! The ball is played in behind the Germany back four, which is camped on the halfway line, for Slimani to run onto. Neuer comes 40 yards off his line, and for a moment it looks like he's rounded the keeper, but he makes a recovery tackle in the nick of time!
15’ - CHANCE! Another good chance for Algeria! Feghouli does brilliantly to jink past the tackle of Boateng and make the by-line. He has Soudani to square the ball back to, but he decides to shoot himself from a tight angle and blasts over! Oh dear.
17’ - DISALLOWED! Algeria have the ball in the net following a wonderful diving header by Feghouli! But the flag is up for offside, and indeed the player was in an offside position when the cross was played into the box.
40’ - DOUBLE SAVE! M'Bohli makes a superb double save! The Algerian keeper actually made a mess of the initial shot, even though it bounced right at his feet, but he was up in a flash to smother the close range shot from Gotze.
50’ - DEFLECTED WIDE! Just as Loew probably imagined it, Schuerrle gets in behind the back four and gets a shot away at goal. But the Chelsea player's shot is deflected high and inches wide of the target. Very close to an opener.
56’ - FINGER TIPS! Finger tip save from M'Bohli! Lahm winds up an effort from the edge of the box, with the ball set to find the top corner of the Algerian net, but the keeper tips it round the post. Fantastic agility!
74’ - FEGHOULI SHOT! Algeria are having a right go again, and this time Feghouli comes mightily close to catching out Neuer, with a low shot fizzed across the face of goal. There wasn't much in that.
80’ - CLEARCUT! What a chance for Mueller! Khedira finds his team-mate unmarked on the penalty spot with a great cross into the box, but Mueller heads straight at M'Bohli and Halliche is on hand to clear Schuerrle's rebound off the line!
89’ - SHOULD HAVE SCORED! Great chance for Schweinsteiger but he manages to direct his header from 10 yards into the arms of the Algerian keeper. That was a decent chance for the German midfielder. He just couldn't generate the power in his header.
93’ - OPENER! Germany have the breakthrough! Mueller gets in behind the Algerian defence before picking out Schuerrle in the centre, and the striker turns it home with a backheel flick!
119’ - SEALED! And that should be that. Between Schuerrle and Ozil Germany find their second goal and book their place in the last eight of the World Cup.
120’ - CONSOLATION! They've got one back! The ball is slung into the back post from the right side and Djabou turns it home on the slide. They can't, can they?

KEY STATS
For the first time in 24 years, three goals were scored in extra-time of a World Cup match (Cameroon 2-1 Colombia in 1990 was the last time).
Algeria had 33% possession in this game, only against Belgium (2014) have they had less in any of their previous World Cup matches.
Germany's total of 28 shots (inc. blocked) is a record for this edition of the tournament.
Toni Kroos (473) has had more touches than any other player at this World Cup so far, Philipp Lahm (437) is the only other player to have more than 400.
Germany have now scored seven goals in extra-time in the World Cup, surpassing France as the most prolific extra-time scorers in tournament history.
Algeria (7) have scored more goals in this tournament than in their previous three World Cup finals combined (6).
Germany have beaten France just once in six meetings since reunification.
Algeria have kept a clean sheet in just one of their 13 World Cup matches (0-0 v England in 2010).

TALKING POINT
Is Joachim Loew’s stubbornness working against him? With Germany short of options at full-back you wonder why Low continues to play Philipp Lahm in the centre of midfield, especially when Sami Khedira is sitting on the bench. Lahm plays in the middle at Bayern Munich, but he is still one of the finest full-backs in the game. He would surely be of more use to Germany in that position that in midfield.

MAN OF THE MATCH
Andre Schuerrle: Until the Chelsea player’s introduction at half-time, Germany had been lacking impetuous in the final third, looking to play the ball into feet rather than get in behind the Algerian defence. But Schuerrle changed that and gave Germany a real attacking outline all the way across the frontline, scoring the crucial opener and playing a part in the second as well.

PLAYER RATINGS
Germany: Neuer 7, Mustafi 5, Mertesacker 6, Boateng 6, Howedes 4, Kroos 5, Lahm 5, Schweinsteiger 6, Ozil 5, Gotze 5, Mueller 7. Subs: Schuerrle 8, Khedira 6, Kramer 5.
Algeria: M’Bolhi 7, Ghoulam 7, Halliche 7, Berkalem 5, Mandi 5, Lacen 6, Mostefa 6, Soudani 7, Taider 5, Feghouli 7, Slimani 7. Subs: Brahimi 6, Bougherra 5, Djabou 6.

10-MAN COSTA RICA BEAT GREECE ON PENALTIES

Goalkeeper Keylor Navas was Costa Rica's hero as his penalty shoot-out save put ten-man Costa Rica into the World Cup quarter-finals after a 1-1 draw in extra time against Greece.
Los Ticos will face Netherlands in the last eight following a hard-earned shoot-out win at the end of a tense, cagey match between two of the surprise qualifiers for the knockout phase.
Bryan Ruiz scored seven minutes into the second half when he spotted Greek goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis out of position and simply side-footed the ball into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box.
Oscar Duarte was then sent off 14 minutes later for a second yellow card - a decision he accepted without a murmur - but the Central American side appeared to have held on until Greek defender Sokratis chose the perfect moment to score his maiden international goal, an equaliser shinned into the goal from a rebound in injury time.
Only a fine save from Navas prevented Greece from pinching it at the death - and Navas was again the hero with a brilliant save from Theofanis Gekas in an otherwise-perfect shootout, with Michael Umana converting Costa Rica's fifth penalty to put his side into the last eight.
 
KEY MOMENTS
PRE-MATCH: Campbell and Samaras lead the attacks: It's Arsenal's starlet, Joel Campbell versus Celtic's Georgios Samaras in the battle of two sides no-one predicted to face-of in the last 16. Costa Rica pick the same team that beat Italy 1-0 in the Group stage while Greece bow to social media pressure with Kostas Katsouranis left out.
7' - COSTA RICA CHANCE! Ruiz picks up a loose ball 40 yards out and plays in Bolanos who sears a shot past the near upright.
38' - STUNNING SAVE! A wonderful ball from the left is met by Salpingidis at the far post, but Navas somehow keeps it out.
52' - GOAL! COSTA RICA 1-0 GREECE. Ruiz opens the scoring with a shot from the edge of the area after Bolanos picked him out from the left. It lacked pace but completely fooled the keeper who thought it was going to fizz towards his right-hand post. It didn't and Cost Rica lead!
54' - PENALTY SHOUT - It should be a penalty as a cross from the right is touched by the hand of Torosidis. Greece with a great escape!
66' - RED CARD! Duarte sent off! It's a second yellow for a late tackle on Holebas. Costa Rica down to 10-men.
88' - GREECE CHANCE. CLOSE! Christodoulopoulos glides to the right byline and drills a low ball towards Motroglou who can't convert and Navas is able to gather.
90+1' - GOAL! COSTA RICA 1-1 GREECE. They've done it!!!!! Papastathopoulos pounces on the rebound after Gekas' shot on the turn was beaten out by the keeper. Extra time beckons.
90+3' - GREECE CHANCE! Mitroglou glances a header at goal and Navas tips it over the top!
107' - COSTA RICA CHANCE. Brenes gets in behind a complacent Greek defence but hammers his right-foot shot wide of the upright.
108' - GREECE CHANCE. Katsouranis slips a slide-rule pass into the left channel for Gekas but Navas comes off his line to thwart the forward.
113' - GREECE CHANCE. Five Greeks break on two defenders from the corner... it's played to Christodoulopoulos who drills a shot at the keeper. They should have walked that in!
120' - GREECE CHANCE. Mitroglou latches onto a flick on and sees his shot brilliantly saved by the keeper! Astonishing stuff.

TALKING POINT: Can Costa Rica keep surprising us? Ticos topped a group containing the more fancied England, Italy and Uruguay and no-one is expecting them to go much further. But they have a never-say-die spirit that continues to see them prevail and despite playing an hour with 10-men they held on for penalties. Even the blow of conceding a last-gasp equaliser in normal time couldn't knock them out of their stride. Holland will be huge favourites to make the last four, but in this tournament in the spiritual home of football, anything seems possible.

KEY STATS
Oscar Duarte is the first Costa Rica player to be sent-off at the World Cup.
Bryan Ruiz scored with Costa Rica’s only shot on target in the match.
Sokratis’ goal was the first Costa Rica had conceded from open play in the 2014 World Cup.
Sokratis scored the 145th goal of the 2014 World Cup. The 2010 World Cup featured 145 goals in total.
The Greeks have scored five goals in 10 World Cup games.
Greece had 70% of possession in the second half of the match.
Greece enjoyed more possession in the whole game (60%) than in any other World Cup match in their history.
This match featured the joint most cards in a game at this World Cup (7: 6Y 1R), the same as Brazil v Chile.
There were just two shots on target in extra-time (both from Greece).
Costa Rica have remained unbeaten in four World Cup games for the very first time (W2 D2).
Greece have drawn two of their last three World Cup matches (W1); having drawn none of the first seven (W1 L6).
Only Alexis Sanchez (24) has been fouled more than Georgios Samaras (21) and Joel Campbell (19) so far at the World Cup.
The last team from CONCACAF to go further than the last 16 at the World Cup were the USA in 2002.

MAN OF THE MATCH
Keylor Navas (Costa Rica): It could only be one man. A stunning save in the first half was followed by a one man mission to keep his country in it during extra-time as he produced a series a fine stops. Made the key block to keep out Gekas spot kick in the shoot-out, allowing Umana to win it.

PLAYER RATINGS
Greece: Karnezis 6, Maniatis 6, Manolas 6, Samaris 6, Karagounis 7, Salpingidis 6, Torosidis 7, Lazaros 6, Sokratis 7, Cholevas 6, Samaras 7. Subs: Mitroglou 7, Gekas 7, Katsouranis 6.
Costa Rica: Navas 9, Gonzalez 7, Duarte 4, Gamboa 7, Umaña 7, Diaz 7, Borges 7, Bolanos 7, Tejeda 6, Ruiz 7, Campbell 7. Subs: Cubero 7, Acosta 6, Brenes 7.

DUTCH BREAK MEXICAN HEARTS WITH LATE DOUBLE

The Netherlands pulled off a staggering late comeback to beat Mexico 2-1 in Fortaleza and make the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
A stunning goal from Giovani Dos Santos and a string of magical saves from Guillermo Ochoa got Mexico to within two minutes of a spot in the last eight.
But Louis van Gaal's decision to replace Robin van Persie with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar paid off, as the sub was at the heart of the astonishing late comeback as the Netherlands pulled off an unforgettable victory.
Huntelaar nodded down from a corner for Wesley Sneijder with just two minutes left, and the Galatasaray playmaker drilled a stunning low shot into the bottom left corner.
Extra time seemed the Oranje's reward, but the game took another twist as Arjen Robben won a penalty almost three minutes into the six minutes of added time.
Robben was adjudged to have been felled in the area by Rafael Marquez; replays suggested it was a highly theatrical dive from the Dutchman, but he had been wrongly denied a clear penalty earlier so justice was probably done in the end.
And it was Huntelaar who stepped up and sent the ever-impressive Ochoa the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Mexico had controlled most of the match and should probably have pressed their superiority further, but it was a bitter blow for Miguel Herrera's spirited side - and in particular Ochoa, whose brilliance made him one of the heroes of the World Cup.

KEY MOMENTS

PRE-MATCH: RVP returns, ton up Dirk. Robin van Persie returns from suspension to partner Arjen Robben in attack for Holland while Dirk Kuyt joins an elite group of Dutchman to make a century of appearances for his country, playing in a wing-back role as part of what looks like a 5-3-2 formation. Augsburg's Paul Verhaegh also features. For Mexico, Carlos Salcido comes into the midfield for the suspended Jose Juan Vazquez. Giovani Dos Santos and Oribe Peralta forge the attack in a 5-3-2 system.
17' - MEXICO CHANCE! A high ball into the area is chested down by Peralta who manages to work the ball across goal. It finally comes to Herrera who drags his shot from 10 yards agonisingly wide of the post.
20' - MEXICO CHANCE! Herrera bursts past Vlaar in the area and then sees his attempt to nod it into his own path stopped by a dangerously high boot from the Aston Villa man. Mexico want a penalty, but they aren't going to get it. Certainly a decent shout.
32' - COOLING BREAK! The players all race to the touchline to have some much-needed fluid given how hot it is - almost 30 degrees in the tropical northern city of Fortaleza.
42' - MEXICO CHANCE! Dos Santos is sent racing into the left side of the area but sees his low shot from a tight angle beaten away by Cillessen.
45+2' - HOLLAND PENALTY SHOUT! A mistake means the 'Oles' catch in the fans' throats and RVP looks to release Robben. The Bayern man gets in but Marquez appears to recover and sends him tumbling. Was that a penalty? Marquez doesn't win the ball and neither does Moreno who follows through.
48' - GOAL! HOLLAND 0-1 MEXICO. El Tri lead! Dos Santos latches on to a weak headed clearance, chests it into his stride and lashes a low shot from 25 yards into the corner. Cue huge celebrations with his teammates in front of the Mexico fans.
58' - GREAT SAVE OCHOA! Guillermo Ochoa is at it again with another sensational save onto the post from point-blank range to keep out the volley!
75' - MORE OCHOA BRILLIANCE! Another great save from Ochoa as he beats away the low shot from Robben after another surging run from the forward.
88' - GOAL! HOLLAND 1-1 MEXICO. Holland are level! Sneijder breaks Meixcan hearts when a 10th corner of the match is nodded down into his path and he does the rest with low shot into the bottom corner. Saviour!
90+4' - GOAL! HOLLAND 2-1 MEXICO. Holland are going through to the last eight! Huntelaar had to wait a long time but kept his nerve to hammer his penalty low into Ochoa's right-hand corner wrong way. The kick as the keeper dived the wrong way. The kick was given after Marquez appeared to foul Robben by the right byline.

KEY STATS

The Netherlands’ first shot on target in the game came in the 57th minute, Guillermo Ochoa dramatically saving a Stefan de Vrij effort from close range.
Wesley Sneijder has scored five goals in his last five knock-out stage games at World Cup finals.
The Netherlands have converted all nine World Cup penalties they have taken (exc. shoot-outs).
The Netherlands have now turned their last four World Cup games in which they fell behind in regular time (90 mins, not inc. ET) into a victories.
Seven different players have scored for the Netherlands at this World Cup, more than any other side in the tournament.
Four of last five World Cup knock-out stage goals conceded by the Netherlands have come from outside the box. (all except Iniesta’s goal in the final).
Mexico have lost four and drawn one of their last five encounters with the Netherlands, conceding at least two goals on each of these occasions.
Mexico have been knocked out of the World Cup finals at the second round stage in all six editions since 1994; no team has been knocked out at this stage as often as this.
Netherlands have won 10 of their last 11 World Cup matches, with the only blip in this run being their 2010 final defeat against Spain.
Mexico have scored a goal in each of their last 12 World Cup matches against European nations.
11 of the last 13 World Cup goals scored by Mexico have come after half time, while the Netherlands have scored 10 of their last 11 World Cup goals in the second half.
Ron Vlaar completed all 37 passes he attempted in this game, no Dutch player has made as many and completed them all in a World Cup game since 1966.
Four of the last five Dutch goals at this World Cup have been scored by substitutes.

TALKING POINT: Can the Dutch win it with such reliance on Robben and individual brilliance? Mexico will feel really hard done by as they restricted the Netherlands to scraps for long spells. A wonder goal from dos Santos and some goalkeeping heroics from Ochoa looked to have done the job, but a great goal from Sneijder and the run from Robben for the penalty turned the game on its head. The Dutch will need to play much better if they want to end their quest for a first title.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico): The stand-out goalkeeper of the tournament looked to have helped his team into the last eight with a series of sensational saves. He could do little with the two late Dutch goals but will leave Brazil with his reputation soaring through the roof.

PLAYER RATINGS

Netherlands: Cillessen 6, De Vrij 6, Vlaar 5, Verhaegh 5, Blind 7, Kuyt 6, Wijnaldum 6, De Jong 5, Sneijder 7, Robben 8, van Persie 6. Subs: Martins Indi 6, Depay 7, Huntelaar 8.
Mexico: Ochoa 9, Rodriguez 6, Salcido 6, Marquez 6, Moreno 6, Aguilar 6, Herrera 7, Guardado 6, Layun 7, Peralta 6, Dos Santos 7. Subs: Reyes 6, Aquino 6, Hernandez 5.

NIGERIA JOIN ARGENTINA IN LAST 16 DESPITE MESSI MASTERCLASS

Lionel Messi continued his personal quest to be the star of a World Cup as his brace helped Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2 - but both sides still qualified for the last 16.
The Barcelona forward lashed a rebound high into the net on three minutes before notching his fourth goal in three matches with a wonderful free kick as La Albiceleste maintained their 100 per cent record.
Nigeria, who have also qualified for the knockout stage for the first time since 1998 thanks to Iran's defeat, had pulled level within seconds of Messi's opener when Ahmed Musa cut in from the left and curled a delightful effort into the far corner.
And the CSKA Moscow forward was at it again just a few moments after the break when he glided onto a clever through pass and coolly steered into the corner.
But Argentina weren't to be denied and ensured top spot by immediately restoring their lead when Marcos Rojo diverted a left-wing corner in off his knee.

KEY MOMENTS

PRE-MATCH: Familiar faces. Argentina are unchanged from the last-gasp win over Iran with Messi, Aguero and Higuain leading the attack as part of a 4-3-3 formation. Nigeria also stick with the starting XI that edged past Bosnia. Stoke forward Peter Odemwingie, who struck the only goal of that game, will play on the right of a supporting three behind Fenerbahce striker Emmanuel Emenike. Ex-Everton defender Joseph Yobo wins his 100th cap for the Super Eagles.
 
3' - GOAL! Argentina 1-0 Nigeria. Messi!!!! It's 3 in 3. Di Maria races onto Mascherano's ball and hammers a shot at goal that ricochets off the post and keeper before falling to Messi who lashes it into the roof of the net.
4' - GOAL! Argentina 1-1 Nigeria. What a start! Nigeria are level immediately. Ahmed Musa races into the left side of the area, cuts inside and curls a beauty into the corner. 1-1 inside four minutes!
9' - ARGENTINA CHANCE! Argentina come again and Messi slips a sensational pass through to Higuain who rounds the keeper but fires into the side netting from a tight angle.
30' - ARGENTINA CHANCE! Di Maria takes a pass from Messi and moves it out of his stride before unleashing a low drive that Enyeama is forced to get down and tip past his left-hand post.
44' - ARGENTINA CHANCE! Messi steps up and curls in a delicious effort that arrows towards the top corner before Enyeama intervenes to tip it over.
45+1' - GOAL! Argentina 2-1 Nigeria. Messi does it again! A sublime curling free kick whips over the wall and into the left-hand corner of Enyeama's net.
48' - GOAL! Argentina 2-2 Nigeria. Messi 2-2 Musa.... Musa grabs his second of the game and we are all square. The forward latches onto Emenike's pass and coolly tucks it home.
50' - GOAL! Argentina 3-2 Nigeria. Argentina regain the lead. A corner from the left is missed at the near post and Rojo arrives to divert home via his knee.
80' - NIGERIA CHANCE! Musa leads a super break, the forward cuts in from the left and looks set to drill in a hat-trick before Zabaleta recovers with the block-tackle of the match.

KEY STATS

Nigeria have lost all four World Cup meetings with Argentina.
Messi is the second Argentinean to score in all 3 (first phase) group matches after Orestes Omar Corbatta in 1958.
Lionel Messi joins Colombia's James Rodríguez as only players to score in all three group matches at this World Cup
Joseph Yobo earned his 100th international cap and became the first Nigerian to achieve the feat.
The Super Eagles conceded a World Cup goal for the first time since South Korea's Park Chu-Young scored against them in 2010.
Argentina have won 12 of their last 15 World Cup group games.
They have won five of six World Cup games against African opposition. Their only defeat was their first match in that sequence, a 1-0 loss to Cameron in 1990.

TALKING POINT

Is Messi edging close to being crowned the greatest ever! It's been a heated debate over the past few years as to whether Messi's incredible feats with Barcelona are enough to see him eclipse Pele and Diego Maradona as the best footballer of all-time. His critics claim he needs to 'own' a World Cup to truly compare; well he's getting close. Four goals in three matches have seen him make a great start and if he goes on to help Argentina claim another world crown, the arguments against him will be few and far between.

MAN OF THE MATCH
Lionel Messi (Argentina): Lively, inventive and looking close to his best. The diminutive attacker almost had his spotlight stolen by Musa - almost. Two sensational goals and an all-action display suggest the best could still be to come from the Barcelona star.

PLAYER RATINGS
Argentina: Romero 6, Garay 6, Zabaleta 7, Rojo 7, Fernandez 6, Gago 7, Mascherano 6, Di Maria 8, Messi 9, Aguero 6, Higuain 7. Subs: Lavezzi 6, Alvarez 6, Biglia n/a.
Nigeria: Enyeama 7, Yobo 6, Ambrose 6, Mikel 6, Oshaniwa 6, Onazi 6, Babatunde 6, Omeruo 6, Odemwingie 7, Musa 8, Emenike 6. Subs: Uchebo 6, Nwofor 5.