World Cup Daily Digest: July 2nd

Knockout Stage - July 2nd

Two games remain in the last-16, and they're both too close to call:

Argentina 1 - Switzerland 0 (AET)

A last-gasp goal from Angel Di Maria sends Argentina through to the last eight. After the game, head coach Ottmar Hitzfeld decides to retire from coaching.

Belgium 2 - USA 1 (AET)

Despite Tim Howard's heroic, two goals in the extra time sends USA packing. Howard, who made a World Cup record of 15 saves is bittersweet about his particular achievement.

Messi's fear; Argentina worthy of victory

Lionel Messi spoke of his nervousness during the game against Switzerland:

"I was nervous towards the end because we couldn't score and any mistake could have knocked us out,"

"The minutes were passing and we didn't want the match to go to penalties."

Angel Di Maria, the goalscorer believes that his team's win is well deserved:

"We gave our lives. We left our souls [on the pitch],"

"We kept trying to play, we never lost hope. The victory is even more deserved."

US unlucky; Future is bright - Klinsmann

Jurgen Klinsmann thinks his side didn't have a little bit of luck as they crashed out against Belgium, but believes that the growth of football in the US is going in the right direction.

"Victory bad for my heart" - Wilmots

Belgium's head coach Marc Wilmots, thinks that the game was not good of his personal health, while also praising his team's mental strength.

Blows for De Jong and Mustafi; Miller out v Netherlands

Netherlands will be missing Nigel De Jong for the rest of the tournament, who limped off after nine minutes against Mexico with a groin injury.

The Dutch's opponent, Costa Rica, will be without defender Roy Miller, who sustain a leg injury during training. Oscar Duarte, another defender is suspended for the game.

Shkodran Mustafi, who was stretchered off from the field against Algeria, will also miss the rest of the tournament with a thigh injury.

FIFA mum on match-fixing allegations; Match-fixer denies allegations

FIFA has refused to comment on the possibility of investigating the match-fixing allegations involving the Cameroon team.

Wilson Raj Perumal, a convicted match-fixer, has denied that he had correctly predicted the result of the game between Cameroon and Croatia beforehand.

Trapattoni in the running for Côte d'Ivoire post

Former Ireland head coach, Giovanni Trapattoni, is currently undergoing discussion to become the next coach of Ivory Coast. Sabri Lamouchi, who managed the team in Brazil, was not retained for the position.

TODAY'S SCHEDULE

You can get stuff done and sleep easy, no games until Friday!