Paullow

It's not important, but do they do the coin toss again in extra time, or do they just do the ABBA system whereby one team will shoot into the same goal from 46-90 mins and 91 to 105? I assumed they'd just go back to swapping halves again. Mustn't have noticed that before.

As a (relative) neutral, I'd much rather watch a finely poised match like this than the match being over after 10 minutes like last night, and well and truly over 15 minutes later. 5 of the last 6 knockout matches until today have largely been one sided outside of a rare burst from the clear lesser side, so it's nice to have another competitive one for a change.

You have to feel sorry for him not starting the other day -almost certain not to start a match now outside of a 3rd / 4th playoff. A couple of cameos at least, but you could tell he was trying too hard the other day and desperate to contribute, and it may have been counterproductive. Twitter can obviously be a cesspit, but he was getting a lot of stick on there after the Cameroon match.

Unless you're actively supporting the dominant side then, while you can obviously appreciate the skill and quality, these type of matches do nowt for me, and would much rather see a close, competitive match. I did want Brazil to win because I would like to a potential Argentina SF, and SK going through would just open up (the other side of) the draw, but I was hoping for a bit more of a contest. That late winner vs Portugal was a dramatic moment for the event, but while the outcome would likely have been the same, I'd imagine Uruguay would have offered far more resistance.

Aluko is as thick as mince. She was on Talksport this morning and named Jimmy Greaves in her 5 top England strikers in tournaments because he got a hattrick in a final, and just before on ITV she was talking about Richarlison and said "he's got 19 goals in 40 games for them, you do the maths and it's a goal a game pretty much"

Bruno on the bench again. Makes it more baffling he didn't start the other night when they made all those changes.

I've read this three times and still no wiser?

Be nice to finally get a L16 match going into extra time. Think Croatia will be more likely to get a winner if anyone.

It probably will end in the QF stage, but there won't be any disgrace or shame in losing to the current world champions (and who knows...), but if does end there, then at least it's another 6 days of excitement and a nation interested (mainly the casuals), rather than ending on middle Sunday a full 2 weeks before the final. Disappointing the QF is on ITV again - they've definitely clicked with the England scheduling.

Not complaining in this particular match, but while there have been some OK moments, like that last second Kuol chance and late mazy run for the Aussies, USA getting back into their game, and Poland having about 3 shots off the line in one go at 0-0, most of the last 16 has been predictable, and will probably follow suit with Spain, Brazil, and maybe to a lesser degree Portugal and Croatia over the next couple of days. It may result in more intriguing looking, heavy hitting QFs and SFs, but a little bit of a damp squib, and certainly a contrast to the dramatic final group stage matches. You do generally want 'bigger' latter stage matches, but as neutrals (although not here), you do also want exiting KO matches, and none of the 'lesser sides' have been in front yet, and they've all been at least 2-0 down at some stage.

I was just about to say probably no Kuol again this evening, but that second goal might change things a bit and come on like he did vs France.

Just realised if the Swiss had scored one more goal they would have topped the group on goals scored and that would have put the cat among the pigeons and shaken things to their core

Aye, but 3 of Italy, Sweden, Norway, Turkey, Czech, then Paraguay, Colombia, Chile, plus the African countries you mention and Ivory Coast would add something. If you get 8 of those 12 in then it doesn't harm the event and we get more KO matches to look forward to. Extra CONCACAF and Asian sides might not help the quality of the tournament at this stage, but their participation may well improve them down the line. I'd probably prefer to stick to 32 as it works very well, no 3 team groups or 3rd place teams going through, but wouldn't be too against a few more nations getting their chance.

Best match of the tournament thus far!

No goals, but a frantic start to the Swiss match. Really entertaining.

You'd hope so, he'll be one of very few not to have started a match at this stage.

If it somehow wasn't spotted in a VAR-less world back then and play was waved on and the offence wasn't punished at all then that would be a lot different, and I'd have a different view and it would have left a bad taste, but he committed an offence, was caught, got subsequent punishment for it, a red card and a penalty, which would still stand today. Perhaps not the most sportsmanlike thing in the world to do, but not cheating IMO.

Ghana vs Uruguay and Serbia vs Switzerland for me tomorrow, well certainly to start with anyway, and of course, neither are on the main TV channel - I feel like a proper hipster (if Bruno starts then I might be tempted to watch Brazil...)

It started off really well until like Thursday, had 3 or 4 poorer days, lots bemoaning the lack of quality, but it's massively picked up again since the final group matches started, and some insane drama, especially tonight. Really enjoyed it overall. So many shocks and dramatic moments. I wouldn't like to see it become a permanent fixture due to the carnage of the domestic league, and of course it won't, but I've actually surprisingly really enjoyed having it in November, and the lead up to Christmas.

Get in! Ideal scenario for me. What a fantastic evening of football!

Absolutely perfect for Spain now. On course to finish 2nd (avoiding Croatia and then Brazil in the QF) - hopefully the management will get the word out and they don't equalise.

Insane drama. The vast majority would have assumed things were done and dusted at half time, but this has definitely been the most dramatic final group night. Hoping Spain go through, so I'm pleased the Germans equalised. I'd be happy if the group order stayed as it is now. I'd love to watch both games, but it's annoying how far behind online is.

This group certainly got more interesting. I thought Spain were comfortable and might have been content with finishing 2nd not 1st, but completely forgot that one more Costa Rica goal would send them out. Crazy.

SSN reporting Martinez has now stepped down. No surprise really.