2014 World Cup: Round of 16

3rd & 7 37yd

I have a feeling Shaqiri will come good for Swiss.

by texas via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:53:11 PM
Both sides are in the tunnel and about to be led out - Messi looks focused.

by Tom Doyle via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:53:35 PM
Btw, is the jinx( maradona) granted access to the stadium today:]

by Ty ang via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:55:23 PM
It was love at first bite for Zubizaretta

by Michael James via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:55:23 PM
Would love a first half goal for a change

by Rohan via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:55:23 PM
Messi is in good mood, a sign of goal flourish?

by YH via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:55:33 PM
The sides are out in the sunshine and Argentina's national anthem is up first.

by Tom Doyle via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:55:51 PM
Huge numbers of blue shirts around the stadium erupt at the culmination of that anthem - pressure, what pressure?

by Tom Doyle via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:56:31 PM
Where is this being played?

by sidvaz via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:56:35 PM
sidvaz, it's in Sao Paulo.

by Tom Doyle via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:56:43 PM
WOOOOOWWW!! What an Atmosphere!!!

by Faisal via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:56:47 PM
@ Rugger I'm in San Juan Capistrano

by Brown Dog via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:56:56 PM
@Statsie- I hope you realize your 'prediction' for this afternoon's match better be for a USA win...

by Rugger via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:57:04 PM
Good morning/evening/afternoon (I see that caught on) my fellow boot roomers! How are we today? and Tom how are you mate?

by blytzus via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:57:07 PM
blytzus, all good! You?

by Tom Doyle via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:57:15 PM
77% for Argentina, I feel is high %. but if Messi is Messi today you can make it 100%

by gq007ia via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:57:32 PM
gq007ia, I wish. From what I heard from the organizers is that they're treating it as a normal Bears game....so if concessions are open, I'd expect no less than $7 for a beer

by YP via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:57:36 PM
has to be said, if the Suarez deal goes through does it mark a change in the philosophy at Barca? fewer and fewer academy kids getting in, and now two blockbuster summer signings (Neymar last summer)

by Mac via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:57:40 PM
Messi will shine, of course but it's time for Lavezzi, Higuain and Di Maria to step up and help Messi.. Messi's been doing all the hard work!

by Faisal via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:57:48 PM
does the bootroom jinx works the other way? If I praise Messi, will he be scrappy? If that's the case, I'm so gonna praise him

by texas via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:57:52 PM
I think Di Maria is going to be the one to drive ARG, since i am assuming Messi will be man-marked...

by Aaron via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:57:56 PM
Think Argentina is going to win, but would like to see a Swiss victory.

by Rugger via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:57:56 PM
As a fan of the Swiss, how well do the Argentine players NOT named Lionel Messi stack up against the Swiss team, skill-wise? Bit better, equivalent, not quite as good? (nobody's truly "worse" at this level)

by Jeremy S via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:58:04 PM
cant wait till the game starts

by el_diablo via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:58:12 PM
so could we call this a home game for the argentines?

by Fitz via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:58:12 PM
Fitz, it's as good, as, really.

by Tom Doyle via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:58:20 PM
Tom: How many obscure American cultural references presented in the BR have you learned?

by The Specious One via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:58:28 PM
Specious, a fair few, but party fouling tops them all.

by Tom Doyle via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:58:40 PM
Hoping for penalties in this game. Would kill a ton of time leading up to the USA match.

by Jeff via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:58:48 PM
Any news on whether Kompany will play?

by Michael James via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:58:48 PM
Morning Tom and the Boot Room! Or as Xherdan Shaqiri would say:

by Mike via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:58:52 PM
Mike, welcome!

by Tom Doyle via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:58:56 PM
I think Altidore will mostly be a decoy and will not see the pitch at all except maybe as a late sub if the circumstances are right.

by Morty via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:59:00 PM
i dont think it works in reverse.. everyone praises Hames, dont call me james, rodriguez

by Bob The Builder via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:59:00 PM
Argentina seeks its third straight quarterfinal appearance. Switzerland hasn't made the quarters since 1954 and hasn't won a World Cup knockout game since 1938.

by ESPN Stats & Info via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:59:04 PM
Tom, which do you like more....the vuvuzuela from South Africa, or the high pitched whistles of Brazil?

by Wally via ESPN 7/1/2014 3:59:08 PM
to think real took gago and gonzo at the same time assuming they were both the next thing! one clearly panned out, while the other...

by union via ESPN 7/1/2014 4:11:39 PM
Lets be honest here, even if by some miracle the US wins the World Cup, they will not be considered the best team in the world.

by Daniel via ESPN 7/1/2014 4:11:39 PM
you say doing a Neuer is a sweeper keeper, which he obviously did....but hugo has been doing it the whole past season for that horrible spur team!! hes the original!!

by union via ESPN 7/1/2014 4:11:47 PM
I'm a Chelsea fan and I don't feel particularly happy about this one.. Hope my fears are proven wrong.

by Anish via ESPN 7/1/2014 4:11:47 PM
So, Atleti rebuilds again. I'm sure they will raid Porto and Benfica in t-minus 3,2,1....

by Schmeeboo via ESPN 7/1/2014 4:11:51 PM
@Baker, we arent talking about pirlos beard, we are singing ballads to it

by Wally via ESPN 7/1/2014 4:11:55 PM
costa a replacement for torres... usually supposed to be a good thing.. but if this world cup is any indicator.. he is torres part 2...

by Bristolian via ESPN 7/1/2014 4:11:55 PM
Rohan I somewhat agree, Atletico had a great season, but Costa fears big matches

by gq007ia via ESPN 7/1/2014 4:11:59 PM
As usual, arsenal is still very quiet in the transfer market

by Ty ang via ESPN 7/1/2014 4:11:59 PM