Argentina will be very happy at how this one stands after 45 minutes. They've held the ball, slowed the game down and taken the sting out of Gemany. When Germany gets the ball in midfield or up front Argentina is shutting them down very quickly and forcing the Germans into mistakes.

Schweinsteiger and Schneider are so occupied with Rodrigues (on the German right) and Tevez and Sorin on the other side, that they are having trouble getting involved in the game going forward.

Argentina is going to play the same way in the second half and wait for their one chance while Germany needs to speed the game up and to start controlling the midfield. If Germany can get the first goal then Argentina will have to move to plan b very quickly and that will give Germany chances on the counter attack. If Germany go 1 up then Messi will be on the park soon after.

I can't see any changes at half time unless someon has picked up a knock.

Tony Cascarino tells us what England will have to do to beat Portugal.

Sid Lowe on Spain’s exit.  

Another article from the always enjoyable Sid Lowe. This one is about Maxi’s wooden left leg.

Harry Pearson on why England should revert to a 1-9-1 formation.

A look at Luiz Felipe Scolari by some of the people who know him best.

Gordon Strachan tells us why he thinks Argentina will beat Germany.

The Guardian looks at the legacy of the great Ukrainain coach Valeriy Lobanovskyi has impacted the national team at this World Cup.

Just in case it goes the penalties - Argentina has won all three shoot outs and converted 11 of 14 spot kicks; Mexico has lost both shoot outs and only scored 2 of 7 penalties.

Argentina is just trying to keep control of the ball and Mexico desperately need to get it back.

Borgetti and Fonseca haven't been seen for a while.

The final whistle goes and in all honesty either country could have won this but a moment of brilliance from Maxi Rodriguez was the diference.

Man of the Match - Javier Mascherano, I thought he played a blinder.

Who will be the hero and who will be the goat?

Messi is so quick - he just turned the corner but it needed a great tackle to stop him.

The game has opened up as the two midfields get stretched.

What a magnificent goal from Maxi Rodriguez. That was unstoppable.

To control that ball and to then hit it on the drop - fantastic! A magical World Cup moment.

A real kick in the guts for Mexico.

By the way I enjoy listening to John Harkes.

Fifteen to go. By the way what's your preference - Golden goal, silver goal, or full 30 minutes?

S&M just cannot keep up with Argentina. They are chasing - and from time to time trying to kick - shadows.

Kezman gets sent off for a lunge at Mascherano - that came after he had a wee kick just a minute before at Riquelme after the ball had gone. He got away with the first one - but not the second.

Is Kezman really a superstar?

A flick from Riquelme puts Crespo through - a clear penalty there - but the referee waves it off.

And for S&M it just gets worse with Messi on and Maxi off.

Maxi scores his second one and Argentina is putting on a clinic. S&M can't handle Argentina's movement, passing or anything else.

The Group of Death? Well it looks that way for Serbia and Montenegro.

It looks as if the S&M defenders have been made to play in ski boots compared to Argentina who are floating.

The movement of Saviola and Crespo is so good.

But so is just about everything from Argentina just now.

Half time.

Less than 10 minutes to go and suddenly the Ivory Coast is back in this. Drogba gets the goal after an extended spell when Argentina looked so comfortable and crusing to a win.

Three minutes later and it looks like Maxi has sealed this one for Argentina but the assistant referee gets it right and it is chalked off for offside. The original shot was from that man Riquelme again. 

Into injury time and Ivory Coast need to get the ball. But  they can't and the final whistle is blown.

Ivory Coast gave Argentina some problems but not enough to get a share of the points. If we didn't know it before the World Cup we know it now - how goes Juan Roman Riquelme, goes Argentina.

Man of the Match - Riquelme.