D-Day for Messi, Ronaldo at Cup

Germany are out — well not just out, they were last in their group and that in itself is probably the biggest upset in the most open World Cup in a long, long time. Of course it gave the English media a field day with headings such as “Schadenfreude” and “Don't mention the score” used by many British papers. Even without Germany, the round of 16 has a raft of mouthwatering encounters starting with the past champions France and Argentina squaring off at

2am tomorrow morning (NZ time). This will be the third time France and Argentina meet at the World Cup. The first encounter came in the group stage of the inaugural edition of the tournament at Uruguay 1930. La Albiceleste won 1-0 in Montevideo. Then, 48 years later, the 1978 hosts beat France once more 2-1. France, the

1998 champions, are favourites based on their dominant group form and the fact that Argentina only just snuck through thanks to a late Marcos Rojo strike against Nigeria this week. The two best players of their generation — Argentina’s Messi and Portugal’s Ronaldo — both face round of 16 elimination on the same day with Portugal facing a rampant Uruguay, and their star striker

in the second knockout game at 5am tomorrow. Uruguay and Portugal have only met twice in history, both in friendly matches. The first was in Lisbon in 1966 when Portugal won 3-0. The second encounter was a 1-1 draw in Brazil in 1972.