Michael*

Yeah, all the teams on the left won their respective groups and thus, received favourable draws. My own two 'hardest to predict' games would have to be Greece and Costa Rica, who on paper look pretty evenly matched (although Costa Rica have been much better so far at this tournament) and Brazil and Chile. I think the Rebel Alliance are capable of beating the Empire.

New 'TV Spot' has been released, it's a minute long and features snippets unseen in the previous five trailers.

Well done Belgium. Nine points out of nine in their group, can't say fairer than that. They're not firing on all cylinders as yet, but it's going to take a good team to beat them. They've a spider-like goalie in Courtois and a very solid defence, who restricted the Koreans to relatively few openings. Young Origi looks a real prospect too. Inspirational stuff from Algeria's 'Desert Foxes', an outstanding achievement to reach the second round for the first time in their history. I think they'll be a sterner test for Germany than Russia would have been. The Russians at least had a go tonight, but Capello being Capello, left it too late. It was a group they should have been able to get out of. Won't know what to do with myself tomorrow. Hopefully Wimbledon will help keep the shivers, shakes and sweats of World Cup withdrawal at bay. Round of 16 Brazil vs Chile Colombia vs Uruguay Holland vs Mexico Costa Rica vs Greece France vs Nigeria Germany vs Algeria Argentina vs Switzerland Belgium vs USA

Never fear, Cristiano is here! Good to see the USA make it through. They had a tricky spell just before Ronaldo scored Portugal's second against Ghana, but were good value for their passage from a group nobody gave them a prayer in. Germany certainly did more than enough to finish top, although they could easily have let things slip right at the end. Today will have alerted potential tournament opponents that their back four isn't the most mobile. I love that Klinsmann has started dressing like Larry David now.

Apparently, Luis Suarez has been banned by FIFA for nine international matches and from 'any football-related activity' for the next four months. The Uruguayan FA are planning to appeal, although they'll probably need to do a bit better than claiming Chiellini’s bitemarks were Photoshopped, as they did yesterday.

It was genuinely published on social media on behalf of Klinsmann and the national team, whether or not you could actually use it successfully, I guess that remains to be seen.

It'll definitely be interesting to see how Switzerland play it against them. They may have to face the same kind of problems Barca have been tackling for the last few years - deep defence, packed midfield and triple marking of Messi. Ordinarily, that would of course free up the likes of Aguero and Higuain to make use of the extra space, but both are hiding behind Messi so much that they seem to have disappeared almost completely. I don't know whether the heat is responsible for their lethargy or whether they're just knackered after successful domestic seasons, but clearly, they’re not playing at anything like their full potential.

Yeah, that would be enough to take Germany and USA through. It's possible that there could be an 'understanding' to play out a draw, particularly towards the latter stages of the game, but since the group runners-up will almost certainly have to face Belgium in the next round, there should be incentive enough for both teams to try and win, and meet one of the other, more beatable teams from Group H instead. Incidentally, this really made me laugh. The USA national team website is offering help to American fans hoping to watch today's match by issuing personalised 'get out of work' letters, signed by Klinsmann himself.

Argentina and Nigeria was another very good game. The more I see of Argentina, the less I'm convinced by them, but the brilliance of Messi could be enough to drag them through, perhaps even to the final. I can't see them winning it though, I don't think their midfield is strong enough, they've got a keeper who's barely played all season, and there are much tighter defences in the competition. Odd performance from Ecuador tonight, I thought. They played like they were happy with a draw, even though it meant they'd exit the tournament. Knowing they needed two goals, the manager didn't bring on a forward until the 90th minute, while they didn't throw the kitchen sink at a vulnerable French backline until injury time. As for France, well I guess having already achieved qualification and topping the group, they could be forgiven for going through the motions a bit, but they'll have to be back on their mettle when they face Nigeria, who looked really lively.

New one from Coves, whose debut album is one of my favourites of the year so far.

Hopefully HQs turn up at some point, but until then... Glass Magazine #17 Summer 2014 Photography: James Houston

I miss you already, Andrea. Seriously, I look away for five minutes and both of my ‘anyone but them’ teams somehow manage to sneak into the round of 16. Just like at Euro 2012, the Greeks were dreadful in their first two group games, then scraped a jammy win at the death. Who could have foreseen a Costa Rica-Greece showdown for a spot in the quarters? Luis Suarez, not such a changed man after all, I see. Here's a guy who has already missed nineteen matches for biting in his career - even if he didn't learn not to do it at the age of three like most of us, there's something just not quite right when, after all the punishments, suspensions and fines, he still can't control himself. Hopefully, Colombia run rings round Uruguay in the next game and Suarez is suspended, thereby denying him to chance to chew Bacca. Lovely moment during Colombia and Japan, with the manager bringing on Faryd Mondragon, who at 43 is now the oldest player in World Cup history. In a perfect world, the Colombians would win this tournament. Lots of teams are playing good football, but I think they're the best to watch. Pace, movement, skill, hard working players and fantastic support. And most importantly of all, cool goal celebrations.

Here's the long-awaited comeback single from Alt-J, Miley Cyrus sample and all.

Maxim USA May 2014

Alan Walter Photoshoot June 2014

Rooting for Mexico now, just so we get more of this from Miguel Herrera...

I don't know much about him, but he's described online as a Franco-Algerian journalist, so he definitely has a vested interest. I suppose you'd have to have one to even consider doing a dance like that on national TV.

Conclusive proof that Neymar is in fact good at football, the guy is almost singlehandedly carrying his team and the hopes of a nation on his back. While there were glimpses of the old Brazil, they were few and far between and the flattering nature of the scoreline was largely down to Cameroon’s complete incompetence at the back. Still have no idea what the point of Hulk is, and Paulinho looks so un-Brazilian in his play, he should be stripped of the ‘inho’ suffix to just Paul. It's already happened to Fred, Bernard and Jo. Glad to see Mexico get through to the next round, they were so impressive in all three of their group games, particularly after enduring such a torrid qualifying campaign. Their midfield was superb in their pressing, which kept Modric and Rakitic out of the game. Cracking consolation goal from Croatia though, this World Cup continues to impress, even teams facing certain elimination seem to be bringing quality. Always a bit of a pity when the group stages draw to a close and half the teams start heading home. Goodbye Modric, Rakitic and Mandzukic, adios Spain, farewell Cameroon.

French TV presenter Smail Bouabdellah celebrates Algeria's victory. This is how you do football coverage!

Partially face-saving result for Spain. Seeing the old Torres-Villa partnership one last time was terribly evocative, particularly with both getting on the scoresheet. A bit of a sad way for the Aussies to sign off, they played too well for too long to deserve elimination without a single point. Chile and Holland didn't live up to expectations at all, pretty intriguing tactical exchange though. On paper, this is one of the weaker Dutch sides I've seen at a World Cup. In reality, they're a well-drilled and super efficient outfit who look capable of going far in the tournament, although Sneijder appears a shadow of the player he was four years ago. Chile will be disappointed not to have avoided Brazil, but I have a hunch they'll beat them.

Really good ending I thought, just a shame that we'll have to wait so damn long for the final episodes. I shed a tear for old Bert, he was a marvellous character and he went out in style. The breakdown of Don and Megan's marriage, done over the phone and mostly in silent pauses, was a magnificent piece of writing.

Thanks again Raf. Hadn’t heard anything about Iron Patriot's role in the movie since Cheadle said he was going to be in it way back in 2013. Truth be told, I'd forgotten all about it, but I'm hoping it's true.

Nadejda Lana Megan Britt