ADVERTISEMENTThe Netherland’s came from behind to beat Mexico 2-1 in stoppage time in Fortaleza and become the first European team to book their ticket into the quarter-finals.
Villarreal’s Giovani dos Santos opened up Mexico’s account with a stunning long-range strike on 48 minutes.
Mexico were two minutes away from their first quarter-final in 28 years only for Wesley Sneijder to thunder home the equalizer.
In a dramatic and nail-biting conclusion to the match Arjen Robben was felled in the box in stoppage time by Rafael Marquez.
Klaas Jan Huntelaar stepped up and buried the resulting penalty past the sensational Giullermo Ochoa on the 94th minute for the win.
Surprise package Costa Rica see off Greece
The Netherlands will next meet Costa Rica after the Central Americans beat Greece 5-3 in a penalty shootout.
Bryan Ruiz got Costa Rico off the mark on 52 minutes.
Although down to ten men after the sending off of Oscar Duarte just after the hour mark Costa Rica were seconds away from celebrating victory.
However Sokratis Papastathopoulos bundled in a loose ball for the equalizer and send the game to extra time, where neither side could break the stalemate.
Costa Rica finally earned their celebrations when in a top quality penalty shootout they won through 5-3 to book their first ever World Cup quarter-final ticket.
France looking for redemption
France take on Nigeria, in Brasilia on Monday eager to put behind them once and for all their disastrous 2010 campaign in South Africa.
Didier Deschamps’ side are hot favourites for the tie at the Estadio Nacional and progress to the quarters.
Defender Mamadou Sakho is a doubt due to the thigh injury leaving Laurent Koscielny and Raphael Varane in a possible central defensive partnership.
Yohan Cabaye meanwhile returns from suspension as France hunt a last eight place for the first time since 2006.
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi will be waiting on a late fitness test for Chelsea’s Victor Moses who missed the Argentina match with a muscle complaint.
Winger Michael Babatunde is definitely out after sustaining a fractured wrist in their final Group E fixture.
ADVERTISEMENTCaptain Joseph Yobo will earn his 101st cap as the Super Eagles go in search of a maiden quarter-final appearance.
Revenge in the air
Germany and Algeria face off at the World Cup for the first time since the controversial episode of the 1982 edition.
What is known as the ‘shame of Gijon’, Germany and Austria made a “Non-aggression pact’‘ to end their final group match in Spain 1-0 for the Germans – a result that eliminated group rivals Algeria from the tournament whilst sending Austria and Germany through.
So revenge will surely be in the air when the two sides meet in Porto Alegre.
ADVERTISEMENTWhile Germany coach Joachim Loew will be missing Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski through injury, Algeria have no such injury concerns as they look to continue their historic run whilst exacting sweet revenge for 32 years ago.
We might be wrong
We might be wrong, but we always give it a go. Here are euronews Sports Team’s predictions.
Don’t forget you can send us your own predictions on the social networks, using #TheCornerScores.
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ADVERTISEMENTWe predict 1998 champions France should earn safe passage into the last eight with a 3-1 win over the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Although Algeria have scored in all their games so far we feel that run will come ton an end against Germany.
We predict a 4-0 Germany victory.