Netherlands produced an astonishing late comeback to rescue their World Cup dream and deny Mexico a first quarter-final in twenty eight years. Substitute Klass-Jan Hunterlaar scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot in injury time after Arjen Robben was tripped by the Mexican captain Rafael Marquez. They had equalised in the eighty eighth minute through Wesley Sneijder's thumping strike from the edge of the penalty area and with extra time beckoning, Robben won Louis van Gaal's side the spot-kick that took them into the quarter-finals. It was a heartbreaking moment for the Mexicans, who had gone ahead just after half-time through Giovanni Dos Santos, the former Stottingtot Hotshots and Barcelona player, who fired in from twenty five yards with a memorable strike. At the final whistle at Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza, Mexico's players fell to the ground, unable to grasp how the game had slipped away from them. For long periods they had out-thought and out-fought their more celebrated European opponents as the Dutch appeared to wilt in the stifling heat. This is the sixth successive World Cup that Mexico have lost in the second round dating back to 1994. The heat was a significant factor throughout. The spiralling temperatures, which reached 38.8c, meant that FIFA allowed two 'cooling breaks' to take place. In parts of the stadium, fans struggled to take their seats because they were in direct sunlight, preferring to stand at the back and watch from an area of shade. On the field there was no hiding place for either side. 
Mexico played with courage and cohesion, tempo and tenacity. They had the better of the first half, with Hector Herrera and the excellent Miguel Layun a constant thorn in the Netherlands' side. Carlos Salcido tested goalkeeper Jasper Cillissen from distance, while Dos Santos forced another good save from a narrow angle. The Netherlands were struggling in the conditions. Mexico looked more ambitious, more attack-minded. Van Gaal's side sat deep, defended in numbers, sometimes with a back seven and looked happy to rely on the attacking brilliance of Robin van Persie and Robben. It was a plan which, ultimately, paid off though not until very late on. It was not until the second half that the Netherlands side found their rhythm but, by then, they were behind. As in the first, Mexico began the second half with a bang - Dos Santos gathered the ball thirty yards out, held off Daley Blind and thumped a wonderful left-foot shot into the bottom corner on the turn. The celebrations rumbled around Estadio Castelao. Mexico might have had another soon after as Marquez headed over from a corner. Van Gaal moved away from a back five and pushed substitute Memphis Depay into a more attacking midfield role. It almost paid off but the brilliance of Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa kept them at bay. Robben's corner was flicked on by Stefan De Vrij but the Mexico goalkeeper reacted instinctively to push the ball against the post and to safety. The Dutch came forward in wave after wave of attacks and Robben felt he had won a penalty when he went to ground under a challenge by Layun but the referee waved play on. Ron Vlaar headed a Robben corner over the bar as time ticked on. Just as the Dutch looked out on their feet, Sneijder rescued them, pouncing on a loose ball that had run back from a corner and firing an unerring shot low beyond Ochoa to change the game. With thirty minutes of extra time looking likely, Robben raced into the right-hand edge of the penalty area. Marquez stuck out a boot and the Bayern München player went to ground. Hunterlaar kept his cool and converted the spot kick to put the Netherlands through.
Costa Rica are into the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in their history after beating Greece 5-3 in a penalty shootout in Recife. Sokratis Papastathopoulos - the man with the most Greek name in history - had scored an injury-time equaliser for Greece which cancelled out Bryan Ruiz's side-footed opener and sent the game into extra time. Costa Rica, down to ten men for almost an hour after Oscar Duarte's bone-thick dismissal, scored their first four spot-kicks. Theofanis Gekas missed for Greece, and Michael Umana settled the tie. It means the Central American side - surprise qualifiers from a group containing England, Italy and Uruguay - go through to face the Netherlands on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals as their unlikely run at the World Cup continues. Dimitris Salpingidis had the best chance of a turgid first half but his close-range volley from a fine Jose Holebas cross was saved by the legs of Costa Rica's Keylor Navas - the first of several crucial interventions by the Levante keeper. Christian Bolanos had already sent a half-chance over the bar for Costa Rica while Greece's Giorgos Karagounis saw a long-range effort comfortably saved as erratic passing meant chances were a rarity. Greece started the second half well with Giorgos Samaras heading a Holebas cross straight at Navas from six yards. But it was Costa Rica who broke the deadlock with their first shot on target. Poor Bloody Fulham's Ruiz, who spent the latter part of last season on loan at PSV Eindhoven, converted from the edge of the area, placing a precise side-foot shot into the corner of the goal after a Bolanos pass from the left found him in space.
The Central Americans were incensed not to be given the chance to double their lead after Greek defender Vasilis Torosidis appeared to handle in the box and then, to compound matters, lost Duarte when he, stupidly, brought down Holebas to pick up a second yellow card. Although the game opened up as a result of the dismissal, neither side was able to create a clear opening until the final minute of the game when Papastathopoulos found the net with a scuffed shot from inside the box after Navas had parried Gekas's shot into his path. The goal, Papastathopoulos's first in international football, sparked wild celebrations on the Greek bench and they might even have won it in what remained of normal time but Navas superbly tipped Kostas Mitroglou's bullet header over the bar. Greece had further half-chances through Gekas and Kostas Katsouranis before a golden opportunity to win it arrived in the second half of extra time. They broke upfield from a Costa Rica corner and found themselves with a five-two advantage, the ball eventually finding its way to Lazaros Christodoulopoulos - but once again Navas responded agilely to turn the strike away for a corner. And Costa Rica had their keeper to thank yet again as he saved Mitroglou's late half-volley from six yards in the last seconds of extra time. There was to be further drama before the penalties had even begun as Greece manager Fernando Santos was sent off for getting aal stroppy and discombobulated. The first seven spot-kicks were confidently dispatched before Navas made his final and decisive contribution, saving from Gekas and leaving Umana to put Costa Rica through.
An England supporter reportedly had a piece of his ear bitten off by another England fan at the World Cup in Brazil. The alleged assault happened during England's match against Uruguay in Sao Paulo on 19 June, British police deployed to the tournament have said. Local officers started an investigation after the fan made a complaint but the assailant has not been identified. Confirmation of the incident came after radio pundit Stan Collymore tweeted that he had seen footage of 'a fan attacked.' Six British police officers have travelled to Brazil for the tournament. Their role is to offer support and advice to Brazilian police and local authorities as well as overseeing the thousands of England fans who travelled to the country.
The Association of Chief Police Officers issued a statement following Collymore's tweet. Chief Supt Rachel Barber said that her officers were made aware during the match 'that an incident had taken place which resulted in an England fan having a portion of his ear bitten off by another England fan.' She added: 'In the immediate aftermath, we managed to make contact with the victim and offered advice and support. The day after the attack, the victim chose to make a formal complaint to the local police and they opened an investigation. During the course of our pursuit of the assailant, we located and interviewed several witnesses. They were very helpful in giving their version of events, but, unfortunately they were unable to give us a name for the alleged attacker.' She said that officers observed supporters at England's final match against Costa Rica on 24 June in Belo Horizonte 'but it appears he did not travel to that game. Efforts are ongoing to identify the suspect and bring him to justice either in the UK or, if possible, back in Brazil where the offence occurred,' she added. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are aware of an incident in Sao Paulo on 19 June involving a British national and we provided consular assistance.'
Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic refused to divulge which of his Muslim players are observing Ramadan ahead of Monday's World Cup second round meeting with Germany. The thirty-day dawn-to-dusk fast began on Sunday and Halilhodzic bristled at a routine question about the subject in his pre-match news conference. 'This is a private matter and when you ask this you lack respect and ethics,' said the Bosnian. 'The players will do as they wish and I would like to stop this controversy.' Ramadan is mandatory for Muslims and one of the five pillars of Islam, although there are exemptions for the sick, pregnant, infirm or elderly. Individuals who are travelling or going to war are also permitted to avoid it and this is the provision under which most athletes will delay the fast until a more suitable time. It is an issue that Halilhodzic did not take kindly to being quizzed about, adding: 'Ramadan is here and I read in some Algerian newspapers criticisms about me, about my image, about my honour. They are trying to raise hatred against Vahid, against my family, and this is really disgusting. It is not the first time I have Muslim players in my team, I myself am a Muslim, and I've always left them totally free. This is a private issue - it has to do with private freedom of expression. Those who continue criticising our team and my actions, I think it's shameful. But I will continue [as coach], I will continue working with this team. I'm sorry that you continue criticising what I do. Stop asking me about Ramadan, otherwise I will get up and leave.'
France coach Didier Deschamps welcomes back midfielder Yohan Cabaye from suspension for their second round tie with Nigeria. Mathieu Valbuena could also return to the starting line-up but defender Mamadou Sakho is doubtful due to a thigh injury. Nigerian forward Victor Moses missed the Argentina game with a muscular injury and faces a fitness test. Winger Michael Babatunde is out after his wrist was fractured by a shot from team-mate Ogenyi Onazi.
Mexico played with courage and cohesion, tempo and tenacity. They had the better of the first half, with Hector Herrera and the excellent Miguel Layun a constant thorn in the Netherlands' side. Carlos Salcido tested goalkeeper Jasper Cillissen from distance, while Dos Santos forced another good save from a narrow angle. The Netherlands were struggling in the conditions. Mexico looked more ambitious, more attack-minded. Van Gaal's side sat deep, defended in numbers, sometimes with a back seven and looked happy to rely on the attacking brilliance of Robin van Persie and Robben. It was a plan which, ultimately, paid off though not until very late on. It was not until the second half that the Netherlands side found their rhythm but, by then, they were behind. As in the first, Mexico began the second half with a bang - Dos Santos gathered the ball thirty yards out, held off Daley Blind and thumped a wonderful left-foot shot into the bottom corner on the turn. The celebrations rumbled around Estadio Castelao. Mexico might have had another soon after as Marquez headed over from a corner. Van Gaal moved away from a back five and pushed substitute Memphis Depay into a more attacking midfield role. It almost paid off but the brilliance of Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa kept them at bay. Robben's corner was flicked on by Stefan De Vrij but the Mexico goalkeeper reacted instinctively to push the ball against the post and to safety. The Dutch came forward in wave after wave of attacks and Robben felt he had won a penalty when he went to ground under a challenge by Layun but the referee waved play on. Ron Vlaar headed a Robben corner over the bar as time ticked on. Just as the Dutch looked out on their feet, Sneijder rescued them, pouncing on a loose ball that had run back from a corner and firing an unerring shot low beyond Ochoa to change the game. With thirty minutes of extra time looking likely, Robben raced into the right-hand edge of the penalty area. Marquez stuck out a boot and the Bayern München player went to ground. Hunterlaar kept his cool and converted the spot kick to put the Netherlands through.Costa Rica are into the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in their history after beating Greece 5-3 in a penalty shootout in Recife. Sokratis Papastathopoulos - the man with the most Greek name in history - had scored an injury-time equaliser for Greece which cancelled out Bryan Ruiz's side-footed opener and sent the game into extra time. Costa Rica, down to ten men for almost an hour after Oscar Duarte's bone-thick dismissal, scored their first four spot-kicks. Theofanis Gekas missed for Greece, and Michael Umana settled the tie. It means the Central American side - surprise qualifiers from a group containing England, Italy and Uruguay - go through to face the Netherlands on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals as their unlikely run at the World Cup continues. Dimitris Salpingidis had the best chance of a turgid first half but his close-range volley from a fine Jose Holebas cross was saved by the legs of Costa Rica's Keylor Navas - the first of several crucial interventions by the Levante keeper. Christian Bolanos had already sent a half-chance over the bar for Costa Rica while Greece's Giorgos Karagounis saw a long-range effort comfortably saved as erratic passing meant chances were a rarity. Greece started the second half well with Giorgos Samaras heading a Holebas cross straight at Navas from six yards. But it was Costa Rica who broke the deadlock with their first shot on target. Poor Bloody Fulham's Ruiz, who spent the latter part of last season on loan at PSV Eindhoven, converted from the edge of the area, placing a precise side-foot shot into the corner of the goal after a Bolanos pass from the left found him in space.
The Central Americans were incensed not to be given the chance to double their lead after Greek defender Vasilis Torosidis appeared to handle in the box and then, to compound matters, lost Duarte when he, stupidly, brought down Holebas to pick up a second yellow card. Although the game opened up as a result of the dismissal, neither side was able to create a clear opening until the final minute of the game when Papastathopoulos found the net with a scuffed shot from inside the box after Navas had parried Gekas's shot into his path. The goal, Papastathopoulos's first in international football, sparked wild celebrations on the Greek bench and they might even have won it in what remained of normal time but Navas superbly tipped Kostas Mitroglou's bullet header over the bar. Greece had further half-chances through Gekas and Kostas Katsouranis before a golden opportunity to win it arrived in the second half of extra time. They broke upfield from a Costa Rica corner and found themselves with a five-two advantage, the ball eventually finding its way to Lazaros Christodoulopoulos - but once again Navas responded agilely to turn the strike away for a corner. And Costa Rica had their keeper to thank yet again as he saved Mitroglou's late half-volley from six yards in the last seconds of extra time. There was to be further drama before the penalties had even begun as Greece manager Fernando Santos was sent off for getting aal stroppy and discombobulated. The first seven spot-kicks were confidently dispatched before Navas made his final and decisive contribution, saving from Gekas and leaving Umana to put Costa Rica through. An England supporter reportedly had a piece of his ear bitten off by another England fan at the World Cup in Brazil. The alleged assault happened during England's match against Uruguay in Sao Paulo on 19 June, British police deployed to the tournament have said. Local officers started an investigation after the fan made a complaint but the assailant has not been identified. Confirmation of the incident came after radio pundit Stan Collymore tweeted that he had seen footage of 'a fan attacked.' Six British police officers have travelled to Brazil for the tournament. Their role is to offer support and advice to Brazilian police and local authorities as well as overseeing the thousands of England fans who travelled to the country.
The Association of Chief Police Officers issued a statement following Collymore's tweet. Chief Supt Rachel Barber said that her officers were made aware during the match 'that an incident had taken place which resulted in an England fan having a portion of his ear bitten off by another England fan.' She added: 'In the immediate aftermath, we managed to make contact with the victim and offered advice and support. The day after the attack, the victim chose to make a formal complaint to the local police and they opened an investigation. During the course of our pursuit of the assailant, we located and interviewed several witnesses. They were very helpful in giving their version of events, but, unfortunately they were unable to give us a name for the alleged attacker.' She said that officers observed supporters at England's final match against Costa Rica on 24 June in Belo Horizonte 'but it appears he did not travel to that game. Efforts are ongoing to identify the suspect and bring him to justice either in the UK or, if possible, back in Brazil where the offence occurred,' she added. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are aware of an incident in Sao Paulo on 19 June involving a British national and we provided consular assistance.' Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic refused to divulge which of his Muslim players are observing Ramadan ahead of Monday's World Cup second round meeting with Germany. The thirty-day dawn-to-dusk fast began on Sunday and Halilhodzic bristled at a routine question about the subject in his pre-match news conference. 'This is a private matter and when you ask this you lack respect and ethics,' said the Bosnian. 'The players will do as they wish and I would like to stop this controversy.' Ramadan is mandatory for Muslims and one of the five pillars of Islam, although there are exemptions for the sick, pregnant, infirm or elderly. Individuals who are travelling or going to war are also permitted to avoid it and this is the provision under which most athletes will delay the fast until a more suitable time. It is an issue that Halilhodzic did not take kindly to being quizzed about, adding: 'Ramadan is here and I read in some Algerian newspapers criticisms about me, about my image, about my honour. They are trying to raise hatred against Vahid, against my family, and this is really disgusting. It is not the first time I have Muslim players in my team, I myself am a Muslim, and I've always left them totally free. This is a private issue - it has to do with private freedom of expression. Those who continue criticising our team and my actions, I think it's shameful. But I will continue [as coach], I will continue working with this team. I'm sorry that you continue criticising what I do. Stop asking me about Ramadan, otherwise I will get up and leave.'
France coach Didier Deschamps welcomes back midfielder Yohan Cabaye from suspension for their second round tie with Nigeria. Mathieu Valbuena could also return to the starting line-up but defender Mamadou Sakho is doubtful due to a thigh injury. Nigerian forward Victor Moses missed the Argentina game with a muscular injury and faces a fitness test. Winger Michael Babatunde is out after his wrist was fractured by a shot from team-mate Ogenyi Onazi.
