Round of 32 . . .

Brazil come from a goal down to beat Japan 2-1.

Brazil will now face the winner of Norway vs Cote d"Ivoire.

Germany vs Paraguay up next.

Germany 0 Paraguay 1 HT

No fluke either. Paraguay are worth that lead.

Germany are level through Kai Havertz.

So many goals from crosses & heads

1-1 after 90. Extra time.

Germany score in extra time and lead 2-1 with 17 minutes to go.

Hang on . . . the goal is being checked. Is there a foul on the keeper? Doesn't look like it to me . . .

No goal. That's a poor decision if you ask me.

Paraguay hang on to the end and now it's penalties.

I suspect this will be the first of many penalty shootouts in ths WC with the extra knockout round.

I really think Germany were robbed of a valid goal during extra time so I'm hoping they win it . . . but it's a lottery.

Here we go . . .

Kai Havertz is first up for Germany. These are two very tall goalkeepers, Orlando Gill for Paraguay and Manuel Neuer for Germany. Here's Havertz . . . Gill saves!

Advantage Paraguay.

Prado steps up for Paraguay . . . he scores. 1-0 Paraguay.

Kimmich for Germany . . . the captain scores. 1-1.

Gomez is up for Paraguay . . . and scores. Both captains made it look easy.

Musiala up for Germany. He scores. Keeper went the right way but it was right in the corner.

Next up for Paraguay is Galarza . . . he scores. Germany in trouble here.

Woltemade for Germany . . . Gill saves! Germany are dead and buried here. Paraguay just need to score 1 of their last two.

Sanabria to win it . . . Neuer saves! Germany still alive.

Amiri to keep it alive . . . he scores. It will go to the last kick.

The sub Balbuena to win it . . . amazing!!! Neuer saves!

Back to all square. Now it's sudden death. How do the Germans do it?

Tah for Germany . . . he blazes it over! Paraguay have another shot to win it. What a blunder. Neuer must save again to keep Germany alive.

It's over. Canale scores for Paraguay and they go through.

Germany are out. I think that might be the first penalty shootout they've ever lost at the WC? Not sure about that.

Biggest win in Paraguay's football history.

France have just gone from favourites to win the tournamrnt to hot favourites now that they will face Paraguay in the next round instead of Germany.

Netherlands vs Morocco up next. Should be a great game but I'm going to watch it tomorrow.

Tx commentary, I'd the kakkest of streams ... choosing to freeze during shootout.

Germans were hard done by with the disallowed goal ... ffs most corner melees resemble a loose maul. Bad decision.

Brazil were unconvincing, they really never looked next level. France is head and shoulders above every other team, next best is Argentina.....dontcha Messi with dem!

So a funny story. We are at restaurant in Barcelona with a central ‘showcase’ kitchen. My son in law who likes to strike up conversations with strangers asks the waitress if Messi has eaten there. She seems confused and says she will have to ask the chefs.

A few minutes later we became aware of some hostile looks from the kitchen staff. The waitress finally comes back and says she is sorry but nobody in the kitchen knows why we think the kitchen is messy.

After we hastily correct the mistake, she tells the kitchen staff and they all burst out laughing and insist on giving us a free after dinner drink.

………

Three nail biters today, that’s the unpredictable nature of soccer. Even a round of 16 in rugby is going to produce a series of wipe outs.. great entertainment…

….

And Morocco takes out the Dutch in another nerve shattering penalty shoot out.

A funny.....

We're on a cruise liner, rugby nuts only, Australian, Kiwis and Saffa for the RWC in NZ. The Boks were to play the Ozzies the following day...venue Wellington.

So I'm wearing my Bok jumper and I'm having buffet breakfast when a voice in front of me says 'You're going to lose tomorrow'....I look up and here's this big elderly fella staring down on me with a serious look on his face. My reply....'Don't be stupid, your lots going to have their sorry asses kicked like it's never been kicked.' He launches into a bit of banter and goes on his way leaving me to finish my brekkie.

Boks I think lost by a point and suffered a disallowed try if my memory serves me right, the Ref had a lot to do with our loss. I'm totally gutted, my world had imploded.

Anyway, next day I'm back in the buffet lounge, saw him sitting in there and as soon as I did I made a run for the door wishing not to speak to him. Just as I reach the door I hear his voice.....'I told you didn't I'?

I froze, BS I replied we were robbed to which he said something, there, typical South African blah blah blah.

Three months later, retired, I'm sitting and watching the news when low and behold he appears showing President Obama through the Australian War Museum in Canberra. I nearly fell out of my chair.

Look, I'd seen him before on Telly but never paid too much attention....I then hopped into a bit of research and discovered that he happened to be Commander in Chief of the Combined Australian Defence Force and later became the most powerful official in the country as Governor General, the Queen's representative.

I'm not sure whether I'd tell him we'd kick their sorry asses and that he was stupid knowing what I know now LOL

I forget, we had a friendly bet, he insisted on buying me a beer even though it was supposed to be my shout.

Norway vs Cote d'Ivoire coming up next followed by France vs Sweden.

Norway progress 2-1.

Whatever else, Norway have the best fans. Love the rowing thing.

France finally score after having so many chances. Mbappe scores just before half time. France 1-0.

France win 3-0. They are looking unstoppable.

I like Norway, I don't expect they'll win the WC but there's a lot of positives in their pattern of play. They're certainly not boring.

They are looking unstoppable.

klop

Mexico 1-0 Ecuador 29m