:00:38. > :00:49.are off to Brasilia, for Argentina -- Argentina versus Belgium.
:00:50. > :00:58.Alejandro Sabella makes three changes, two of them at the back
:00:59. > :01:12.stop 31-macro makes his first appearance at this World Cup in
:01:13. > :01:25.place of Fernando 's -- -- Demichelis. Lionel Messi wins his
:01:26. > :01:29.19th cap. -- 90th cap. The two teams uniting in support of the FIFA
:01:30. > :01:39.antiracism campaign. Our uniting in support of the FIFA
:01:40. > :01:42.from Italy. It is his third match uniting in support of the FIFA
:01:43. > :01:44.this World Cup after taking uniting in support of the FIFA
:01:45. > :01:58.of the Netherland 's versus Spain match will stop --.
:01:59. > :02:05.Lionel Messi there who has scored four goals already in this
:02:06. > :02:20.tournament and got the winning goal against Switzerland in extra time.
:02:21. > :02:26.Kevin Mirallas starts on the right for Marc Wilmots. Steven Defour is
:02:27. > :03:01.available after suspension. Alejandro Sabella took over three
:03:02. > :03:06.years ago. Marc Wilmots is a former player who appeared in the World Cup
:03:07. > :03:27.and had a goal disallowed 12 years ago.
:03:28. > :03:37.Two teams with parallel records, are 100% record and both teams have won
:03:38. > :03:53.all of their matches by a one goal margin. -- a 100% record. Argentina
:03:54. > :03:57.with the edge, three of their previous four encounters with Brazil
:03:58. > :04:04.have seen them come out on top, Belgium's loan of victory in the
:04:05. > :04:12.group stages of the 1982 World Cup and we are under in Brasilia. --
:04:13. > :04:32.loan and victory -- underway. Attach for Daniel Van Buyten. Here
:04:33. > :04:42.is Pablo Zabaleta. First touch boards Lucas Biglia. Loses out in
:04:43. > :05:08.the air to Ezequiel Garay. -- Ezequiel Garay. That -- Fellaini.
:05:09. > :05:27.Eden Hazard. Jan Vertonghen on the near touchline.
:05:28. > :05:51.A feisty challenge. That was on Axel Witsel. Jan Vertonghen who scored
:05:52. > :06:02.the winning goal against South Korea. It is away by a Demichelis. A
:06:03. > :06:07.bit of space for Kevin De Bruyne. A real intensity about this one.
:06:08. > :06:12.Argentina know they will need to up real intensity about this one.
:06:13. > :06:18.their game to get past this hurdle. Lionel Messi, what a pass! In Ed
:06:19. > :06:34.Carnes and it is away by the Vincent Kompany. -- in it comes. He was in
:06:35. > :06:44.an acre of space on that far side. Angel di Maria. Pablo Zabaleta for
:06:45. > :07:10.word on the near touchline. -- for word. -- forward.
:07:11. > :07:19.This is Jose Maria Basanta. An opportunity for Axel Witsel to get
:07:20. > :07:30.it clear. Comfortably put back by Ezequiel Garay.
:07:31. > :07:50.A good touch by Gonzalo Higuain. Angel di Maria does not need him. He
:07:51. > :07:57.was a matchwinner at the other day in Sao Paulo, Angel di Maria. He was
:07:58. > :08:01.set up by Lionel Messi for the only goal in that match against
:08:02. > :08:21.Switzerland. This is the first meeting between these teams in 28
:08:22. > :08:26.years. He has been beaten only twice in four matches so far. Belgium have
:08:27. > :08:43.the joint best defensive record. Kevin Mirallas. Another free kick
:08:44. > :08:49.given by the Italian referee for that challenge by Javier Mascherano.
:08:50. > :08:55.Quite rightly so. I am not sure there was any contact between Javier
:08:56. > :09:09.Mascherano and the Belgian player. Belgium taken over by World Cup
:09:10. > :09:13.theme. Television audiences reaching 85% back home. That was the match
:09:14. > :09:46.against the USA. Lucas Biglia. Free kick for
:09:47. > :09:52.Argentina for that challenge. Argentina seeing much of the ball
:09:53. > :09:59.here. Angel di Maria was blocked. Lucas Biglia. He is going to loiter
:10:00. > :10:07.in a defensive mid field position here. He came off the bench in all
:10:08. > :10:46.of the matches before today, but gets a start today. Ezequiel
:10:47. > :10:52.Lavezzi. It will be a goal kick. The temperature is around 26 degrees
:10:53. > :10:59.here. Another glorious day. The humidity is around 33%. Pablo
:11:00. > :11:19.Zabaleta. Gonzalo Higuain, Javier Mascherano.
:11:20. > :11:34.It is put out by Jan Vertonghen, he is then sent company. Not quite from
:11:35. > :11:39.Lionel Messi. -- Vincent Kompany. 70 macro! 1-0 to Argentina. -- Gonzalo
:11:40. > :11:53.Higuain. It is his first goal of this World
:11:54. > :12:04.Cup and what a game in which to score it! Argentina have had most of
:12:05. > :12:12.the early play. Lionel Messi, so difficult to get off the ball. The
:12:13. > :12:22.break was incisive, the finish was clinical. Belgium behind early on.
:12:23. > :12:29.Thibaut Courtois could not get anywhere near that one. It is the
:12:30. > :12:47.perfect start for Argentina. They have got the bit between their
:12:48. > :13:04.teeth. Fellaini. Sergio Romero, still the number one
:13:05. > :13:07.for Argentina, despite the fact he hardly played this past season, he
:13:08. > :13:20.has been on loan. I weighed by Ezequiel Garay. --
:13:21. > :14:02.away. Daniel Van Buyten, Axel Witsel.
:14:03. > :14:10.Kevin Mirallas, the chemical on after 60 minutes to replace Dries
:14:11. > :14:20.Mertens has been replaced by Toby Alderweireld.
:14:21. > :14:34.Great atmosphere inside the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia, in the main,
:14:35. > :14:42.thanks to the very vocal support from Argentina. Still have not seen
:14:43. > :14:58.anything like the best of Eden Hazard so far in this World Cup.
:14:59. > :15:11.Gonzalo Higuain, closed down by Axel Witsel.
:15:12. > :15:18.Only the second time Belgium have been in the quarterfinals of the
:15:19. > :15:28.World Cup. Advantage played by the referee. They beat Spain in
:15:29. > :15:36.penalties after a 1-1 draw in 1986. Jan Vertonghen against Zabaleta.
:15:37. > :15:42.That be a goal kick. -- that will be. Here is the goal, as early as
:15:43. > :15:48.the eighth minute. It was a deflection that took it towards
:15:49. > :16:13.Gonzalo Higuain. It bounced his way, but he pounced. And lashed it home.
:16:14. > :16:20.This will be an Argentina throw-in. This is their 50th World Cup match
:16:21. > :16:37.against European opposition over the years. Unsurprisingly, they have won
:16:38. > :16:56.more than they have lost. Fellaini, looking for Origi. Well marshalled.
:16:57. > :17:05.Demichelis. A bit of room here for Kevin de Bruyne. He will not come
:17:06. > :17:09.close to finding it this time. He opened the scoring against the
:17:10. > :17:21.United States in the second round. He was the top scorer in qualifying
:17:22. > :17:32.for Belgium. He has settled in well at Wolfsburg following his move from
:17:33. > :17:37.Chelsea during the season. They have two balls on the field so Sergio
:17:38. > :18:03.Romero will have to hang on for a second.
:18:04. > :18:18.Eden Hazard. Lavezzi, tracking back, trying to help out. And the
:18:19. > :18:36.first corner kick of the game goes to Belgium. Kevin de Bruyne tainted.
:18:37. > :18:44.-- takes it. Fellaini, heading towards the far post. Vincent
:18:45. > :18:53.Kompany is up for this one. Very heavy footed, there. He will be
:18:54. > :19:00.happy with the start that his team has made. He acknowledged that they
:19:01. > :19:06.had not played as well as he had hoped so far but those narrow
:19:07. > :19:11.victories had led to this point. He feels that it is much more of an
:19:12. > :19:16.even game at the World Cup these days than perhaps in years gone by
:19:17. > :19:42.with a fine line between many of the teams. Could be the defining
:19:43. > :19:48.tournament in a glittering career. Fellaini tempted to lunge in the
:19:49. > :20:00.end. The free kick, quickly taken. The Maria was looking for that
:20:01. > :20:09.little touch into the path of Messi. -- Di Maria.
:20:10. > :20:22.Plenty of room. Argentina, dropping back. Axel Witsel.
:20:23. > :20:29.Jan Vertonghen from Angel Di Maria, and he has.
:20:30. > :20:42.Good ball in. And behind by Ezekiel Garay. Plenty of experience, those
:20:43. > :20:51.two at the back for Argentina, Demichelis and Ezekiel Garay, the
:20:52. > :20:57.Benfica defender. The referee was not quite ready for that. Vincent
:20:58. > :21:11.Kompany getting involved, maybe with his club team-mate, Martin
:21:12. > :21:15.Demichelis. That was flashed in towards the goal, racing in at the
:21:16. > :21:40.near post was Daniel Van Buyten. Argentina in great form in terms of
:21:41. > :21:46.results coming into this game, six wins in a row in all competitions,
:21:47. > :21:51.unbeaten in nine and they have only conceded three goals in that run.
:21:52. > :21:56.Just less than spectacular here in Brazil so far. Most importantly,
:21:57. > :22:08.they are still here in the World Cup. Mascherano put under pressure,
:22:09. > :22:12.having to dig that one out. Still a pivotal figure for Alejandro
:22:13. > :22:56.Sabella's side. Belgium free kick for that challenge
:22:57. > :23:13.on Axel Witsel. Messi, the guilty party.
:23:14. > :23:27.Lavezzi, rather Scuffet map. -- scuffing that.
:23:28. > :23:33.Vincent Kompany kept his eye on that, with Lionel Messi rapidly
:23:34. > :23:39.closing him down. Now Kevin de Bruyne, with Eden Hazard, the
:23:40. > :23:49.referee says he was looking for a free kick.
:23:50. > :23:56.Eden Hazard wanted it short. In the end, it is played way too long. For
:23:57. > :24:39.him and for Kevin Mirallas. The header from Axel Witsel. And now
:24:40. > :24:51.the Tongan. -- Jan Vertonghen. Just over running the ball slightly after
:24:52. > :24:55.being hassled by Mascherano. Di Maria. Lovely piece of skill from
:24:56. > :25:28.the Real Madrid player. Lavezzi. Again, looking for space on the far
:25:29. > :25:34.side of the field, and Zabaleta is heading towards the far post. The
:25:35. > :25:45.flick on from Angel Di Maria. It was not too far from finding Higuain.
:25:46. > :25:55.The touch of a very confident player.
:25:56. > :26:05.Almost at the midway point in the first half, and still, Sergio Romero
:26:06. > :26:10.has not had a save to make. In, towards Fellaini. Origi being well
:26:11. > :26:13.marshalled by the towards Fellaini. Origi being well
:26:14. > :26:40.at the back for Argentina. Lovely skill from a player in fine
:26:41. > :26:49.form. And the flag up quickly on the far side.
:26:50. > :26:58.Axel Witsel, beaten to it by Lionel Messi. That did not come down
:26:59. > :27:08.quickly enough for Origi. Demichelis there, saying, for the first time in
:27:09. > :27:13.this tournament, he started all five matches four years ago. He has been
:27:14. > :27:19.in the international wilderness for quite some time. Played in a warm up
:27:20. > :27:23.match in May against Trinidad and Tobago and it was the first time he
:27:24. > :27:35.had played for the national team in three years. That was short, and
:27:36. > :27:39.given away by Ezekiel Garay. As he has not done very often in this
:27:40. > :27:53.World Cup. Very accurate, passing the ball. Argentina with plenty of
:27:54. > :28:05.time to organise themselves and get back behind the ball. Played it too
:28:06. > :28:08.long, and too ponderous. And here comes Lucas Biglia. Great run by
:28:09. > :28:20.Angel Di Maria I had of him, with Higuain, screaming for it in the
:28:21. > :28:24.centre. -- ahead of him. Argentina were looking set to break before
:28:25. > :29:00.Lucas Biglia took too long in possession.
:29:01. > :29:08.will be backpedalling rapidly. Lionel Messi. It is three on one. It
:29:09. > :29:40.is not a free kick for Argentina. Axel Witsel. It was saved by Sergio
:29:41. > :29:48.Romero, did not quite fall for Divock Origi. Gonzalo Higuain with
:29:49. > :29:54.the past to lean on -- Lionel Messi. The fly goes up against Lionel Messi
:29:55. > :30:08.following the challenge from Vincent Kompany. -- Sligo. Argentina are
:30:09. > :30:16.looking dangerous. -- flag. Here is the first save made by Sergio
:30:17. > :30:17.Romero. Here is Lionel Messi when he went down and did not get the free
:30:18. > :30:37.kick. He is looking for Kevin De Bruyne.
:30:38. > :30:44.Excellent play from the former Chelsea man. Not a great clearance
:30:45. > :30:51.from Jose Maria Basanta. Not a bad delivery. Did not quite fall for
:30:52. > :31:10.Eden Hazard. Marouane Fellaini, it is away by
:31:11. > :31:33.Ezequiel Garay. Space for Axel Witsel. Jan
:31:34. > :31:43.Vertonghen well forward on the near side of the field. Lionel Messi. He
:31:44. > :31:50.will thread that through to Angel di Maria. Angel di Maria! A vital block
:31:51. > :31:56.made by Vincent Kompany. Advantage to Belgium following that challenge
:31:57. > :32:01.on Jan Vertonghen. Angel di Maria is still on the ground. Argentina want
:32:02. > :32:13.the ball put out the play, but Belgium are not interested. It is
:32:14. > :32:21.out anyway. -- out of play. Tremendous play, the pass from
:32:22. > :32:31.Lionel Messi. The shot from Angel di Maria, blocked by the Belgian
:32:32. > :32:45.captain. Another delayed reaction, he clearly felt something poll. --
:32:46. > :32:58.pull. Lionel Messi nearly picking balaka off the Belgian backline. --
:32:59. > :33:16.the lock. Two teams taking advantage of this brief break in play to have
:33:17. > :33:17.a drink. There it is again. No contact between the two macro
:33:18. > :33:48.players. -- two. Both coaches taking the opportunity
:33:49. > :34:02.to speak to their players. It is not an official break. Pablo Zabaleta.
:34:03. > :34:03.Angel di Maria still receiving treatment. He will be back on
:34:04. > :34:17.shortly. As we go into the last 15 minutes of
:34:18. > :34:23.the first half... Here is Gonzalo Higuain, brilliantly taken. Jan
:34:24. > :34:31.Vertonghen, fully attentive, and he will need to be. Pablo Zabaleta.
:34:32. > :34:35.There is a sharpness about Argentina we have not seen before in the
:34:36. > :34:42.tournament. Javier Mascherano, Jose Maria Basanta. They know we are
:34:43. > :34:51.coming towards the business end now. Lionel Messi. Lucas Biglia.
:34:52. > :34:59.Argentina are back up to their full complement of 11, Angel di Maria is
:35:00. > :35:01.back on the field. Hoping it will not trouble him for the rest of the
:35:02. > :35:10.afternoon. Ezequiel Lavezzi, not trouble him for the rest of the
:35:11. > :35:12.down by Marouane Fellaini. Supported by Jose Maria Basanta, nearly found
:35:13. > :35:26.Gonzalo Higuain and it was Vincent Kompany there, followed by a Kevin
:35:27. > :35:34.Mirallas. -- followed by a Kevin Mirallas. Free kick for Belgium. I
:35:35. > :35:39.think Angel di Maria has a real problem. Looking at that incident
:35:40. > :35:48.with Divock Origi again. This is not good news for Argentina. Angel di
:35:49. > :35:51.Maria is playing really well. It looks as if a thigh strain may
:35:52. > :36:16.curtail his involvement in this game. Required here, Enzo Peres is
:36:17. > :36:21.going to come on. He is stripped and ready to go. Angel di Maria may be
:36:22. > :36:47.done. Let us hope he is not done for the tournament. The first change of
:36:48. > :37:05.the match. Enzo Perez comes on. Alejandro Sabella is very familiar
:37:06. > :37:16.with what he can do. How will that affect the balance of the play and
:37:17. > :37:20.the balance of the Argentina side? Jan Vertonghen. 12 minutes to go to
:37:21. > :37:26.the break, plus added time, of which there will be a bit. Marouane
:37:27. > :37:39.Fellaini got himself in that -- on the scoresheet in the first game.
:37:40. > :37:58.Four goals in the group stages for Lionel Messi.
:37:59. > :38:24.He momentarily turned his back, Marouane Fellaini.
:38:25. > :38:36.Jan Vertonghen. I weighed by Lucas Biglia. -- away. Still time to go to
:38:37. > :39:17.half-time. Daniel Van Buyten. Kevin Mirallas down, but he is not
:39:18. > :39:27.going to get the free kick he was hoping that he would.
:39:28. > :39:43.Jose Maria Basanta with the thrall -- with the throw.
:39:44. > :40:17.Pablo Zabaleta. Jan Vertonghen. He is pretty sharp and snappy.
:40:18. > :40:25.Enzo Perez was closed down quickly by Eden Hazard. Nine minutes to go
:40:26. > :40:32.to the break, Gonzalo Higuain is down. The ball has been put out of
:40:33. > :40:41.play. He was caught by Kevin De Bruyne.
:40:42. > :41:08.Martin Demichelis. Belgium are momentarily down to ten
:41:09. > :41:11.players here. Kevin De Bruyne is having treatment. Lionel Messi.
:41:12. > :41:25.Pablo Zabaleta is wide. Pablo Zabaleta, Enzo Perez. Belgium
:41:26. > :41:41.are back up to 11. Argentina still Pablo Zabaleta, Enzo Perez. Belgium
:41:42. > :41:49.have possession here. Ezequiel Lavezzi. A bit of a frustrating
:41:50. > :42:02.season in France for him. Martin Demichelis. Pablo Zabaleta. Belgium
:42:03. > :42:08.with the header, but it was collected by Enzo Perez. It is into
:42:09. > :42:13.Lionel Messi, beautiful control! Almost took him all the way into the
:42:14. > :42:18.penalty area. Belgium do not like it, but the referee has given
:42:19. > :42:27.Argentina a free kick just outside the box. For a few moments there, --
:42:28. > :42:33.it was like the ball was stuck to his third, Lionel Messi. Surrounded
:42:34. > :43:02.by Belgian players. -- stuck to his foot. That has been penalised.
:43:03. > :43:15.Testing times for the Belgian defence.
:43:16. > :43:31.Thibaut Courtois, vocal in saying what he wants.
:43:32. > :43:41.The referee needs at the decidedly long line on the pitch for this
:43:42. > :43:48.reason. -- a decidedly long line. Lionel Messi with the ball at his
:43:49. > :44:15.feet, five minutes until half-time. A big moment.
:44:16. > :44:28.Round the outside of the wall. It was always lifting over the top of
:44:29. > :44:48.the bar. Good play-by-play rares. Very tidy. -- by Peres.
:44:49. > :45:02.The winners of this time Will Claye either the Netherlands or Costa Rica
:45:03. > :45:08.on Wednesday. That is in towards Eden Hazard.
:45:09. > :45:22.Comes off Perez. The delivery from Jan Vertonghen, and the header
:45:23. > :45:28.flashes just wide of the goal. Kevin Mirallas coming in and making
:45:29. > :45:43.contact with that. Unable to direct goalwards. As the ball goes scudding
:45:44. > :45:52.wind of the post. -- wide of the post.
:45:53. > :46:08.Gonzalo Higuain. He has had a good first year in Italy, with Napoli.
:46:09. > :46:14.Exactly three minutes to go of the opening 45. This is the first corner
:46:15. > :46:25.kick for Argentina in this World Cup quarterfinal.
:46:26. > :46:37.Lionel Messi looking to be the creator here.
:46:38. > :47:03.Off the head of Axel Witsel, off his nose, judging by his reaction.
:47:04. > :47:12.Just over 68,500 inside the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia in the
:47:13. > :47:26.capital. Judging by the noise, the vast majority of them supporting
:47:27. > :47:42.Argentina. Mascherano. Winning his 100th cap during this tournament.
:47:43. > :47:56.But Santa plays his football in Mexico these days -- Basanta.
:47:57. > :48:04.Away from Zabaleta. Towards Fellaini. He was looking for Kevin
:48:05. > :48:07.Mirallas, who was in a great position. Belgium looking to finish
:48:08. > :48:49.the first half strongly. Lionel Messi, for Argentina. Lavezzi
:48:50. > :49:02.again, with all of the room in the world. That touch enabled Daniel Van
:49:03. > :49:08.Buyten to get the ball away. He was involved the last time Belgium were
:49:09. > :49:18.at the World Cup rolled years ago. -- 12 years ago. Two minutes of
:49:19. > :49:56.added time. Half is almost upon us. -- half-time.
:49:57. > :50:08.Too long for, the 19-year-old striker from Lille. He has not had
:50:09. > :50:24.much to work with in this opening half. -- to Longford Divock Origi.
:50:25. > :50:39.Last minute of added time before the break. And Origi just manoeuvred
:50:40. > :50:48.away from the ball. By Ezekiel Garay.
:50:49. > :51:12.There goes the half-time whistle blown by Nicola Rizzoli, and
:51:13. > :51:17.Argentina are 45 minutes away from the semifinals. Gonzalo Higuain has
:51:18. > :51:24.scored the only goal of this first half, in the eighth minute. Lashing
:51:25. > :51:29.the ball into the bottom corner. Marc Wilmots and Belgium know that
:51:30. > :51:45.they are still very much in the game at 1-0.
:51:46. > :51:53.This is where Argentina have slipped up in the last couple of World Cup,
:51:54. > :51:56.beaten both times in the last eight by Germany, but they have got the
:51:57. > :52:02.advantage going into the second half, with that early strike by
:52:03. > :52:07.Gonzalo Higuain, but it is a blow for them losing Di Maria during the
:52:08. > :52:14.opening 45 minutes. They have not moved the ball quickly enough into
:52:15. > :52:15.the final third. With just one goal in it, this game is far from
:52:16. > :52:29.decided. The ball had already gone out of
:52:30. > :52:54.play. Basanta getting his 12th cap this
:52:55. > :53:24.afternoon. That was Enzo Peres getting forward.
:53:25. > :53:31.Nearly keeping the ball in play. That was Vincent Kompany. Higuain.
:53:32. > :53:41.He goes down under the challenge from Vincent Kompany.
:53:42. > :53:51.Higuain scored 24 goals in his first season in Italy in all competitions.
:53:52. > :53:54.The former Real Madrid striker. He was strongly linked with Arsenal
:53:55. > :54:04.last summer before heading for Napoli. Messi, with the ball at his
:54:05. > :54:45.feet. Worrying from a Belgian point of view. Too long, this time, for
:54:46. > :54:53.Basanta. Sergio Romero playing in his second World Cup. Solid so far
:54:54. > :55:06.and mostly untroubled in this quarterfinal up to this point. Jan
:55:07. > :55:14.Vertonghen underneath that. quarterfinal up to this point. Jan
:55:15. > :55:21.outpolled Chase. -- Eden Hazard will chase. Argentina with clean sheets
:55:22. > :55:27.in two out of three matches they had laid before today. -- they had
:55:28. > :55:39.played. So far, this game following the
:55:40. > :55:44.pattern of all of their other games at the World Cup with a 1- goal
:55:45. > :56:04.advantage, they had a 1-goal winning margin each time. This is Axel
:56:05. > :56:12.Witsel. Space for Hazzard. Away from Lucas Biglia. Jan Vertonghen. Close
:56:13. > :56:28.down by Pablo Zabaleta. It is going to be throwing. -- a throw in. Jan
:56:29. > :56:32.Vertonghen prefers to play in the middle of the fence but he is often
:56:33. > :56:34.used at left act by his country, as well as by Tottenham. -- in the
:56:35. > :57:07.middle of defence. It will be another throw-in. Kevin
:57:08. > :57:13.De Bruyne, closing down Mascherano. Lavezzi. Into space, with Basanta
:57:14. > :57:38.against surging forward. -- again. That was the challenge from Fellaini
:57:39. > :57:44.which left Lucas Biglia on the deck. And here, Argentina, Higuain, he
:57:45. > :57:49.might fancy it himself. The deflection off Daniel Van Buyten
:57:50. > :57:58.taking it wide of the post for a corner kick. That could so easily
:57:59. > :58:02.have deflected in to the back of the net, with Thibaut Courtois
:58:03. > :58:17.wrong-footed by the sizeable deflection. Argentina looking to
:58:18. > :58:29.make a fast start to this second period, similar to the first, when
:58:30. > :58:38.they scored within eight minutes. Lionel Messi, wonderful control.
:58:39. > :58:46.Lavezzi. Real danger. The ball just whistling between Thibaut Courtois
:58:47. > :59:00.and Vincent Kompany. Lavezzi is posing a real threat down the left
:59:01. > :59:08.for Argentina. It is Ezequiel Lavezzi again.
:59:09. > :59:31.Lucas Biglia, that was nice, Jan Vertonghen brings it to a halt,
:59:32. > :59:35.Lucas Biglia, that was nice, Jan not for long. They're pull is up.
:59:36. > :59:56.The referee will show why yellow card for the first time today -- the
:59:57. > :00:00.word macro. -- flag. He glanced his shin with a very high boot there.
:00:01. > :00:12.The first yellow card for Eden Hazard.
:00:13. > :00:15.Ezequiel Garay is the only Argentinian player with a yellow
:00:16. > :00:26.card on the field. Lionel Messi's delivery, the
:00:27. > :00:56.goalkeeper was stretching there. Belgium are on the back foot. That
:00:57. > :01:01.is comfortable for Thibaut Courtois. Can they break with Axel Witsel?
:01:02. > :01:13.Plenty of red shirts getting forward. Kevin De Bruyne. It was too
:01:14. > :01:19.long. It was too long before the ball came down for Ed and has.
:01:20. > :01:27.Gonzalo Higuain! It is off the top of the bar. -- Eden Hazard.
:01:28. > :01:38.Powerful, surging from the Argentinian striker. Ambitious
:01:39. > :02:03.finish. Belgium are relieved to see the ball skidding off the top of the
:02:04. > :02:07.crossbar. Alejandro Sabella was talking about Gonzalo Higuain and
:02:08. > :02:13.said he had not scored, but if he gets one, he will not stop.
:02:14. > :02:27.Confidence is flowing through his veins after that first half strike.
:02:28. > :02:33.Marouane Fellaini losing out to Martin Demichelis who has been solid
:02:34. > :02:36.for Argentina. Javier Mascherano, wonderful atmosphere in the stadium.
:02:37. > :02:59.The Belgian fans, with little to shout about so far will stop --.
:03:00. > :03:09.Jan Vertonghen. Axel Witsel. He is getting back to the left fullback
:03:10. > :03:32.position. Axel Witsel. Divock Origi, he has
:03:33. > :03:40.not been able to get into this match at all. Gonzalo Higuain, alarm bells
:03:41. > :03:58.are ringing now. The Belgian defence are alarmed. It was ahead of Lionel
:03:59. > :04:10.Messi. Dries Mertens is preparing to come on, along with Romelu Lukaku.
:04:11. > :04:26.Belgium with a little over half an hour to change the course of this
:04:27. > :04:38.game and keep alive their hopes in this World Cup. This is so much
:04:39. > :04:46.harder than their last match. Gonzalo Higuain.
:04:47. > :05:08.Wonderful control. Brilliant play. Javier Mascherano. Lionel Messi.
:05:09. > :05:20.Here is Ezequiel Lavezzi. Tackled by Vincent Kompany, no foul. Ezequiel
:05:21. > :05:30.Lavezzi stays down, Belgium are in possession.
:05:31. > :05:35.The frustration for the Belgian players at having to stop the game,
:05:36. > :05:45.but here is the challenge again from Vincent Kompany stop he gets him or
:05:46. > :06:00.not the right foot. Now the change for Belgium. Divock Origi is being
:06:01. > :06:06.replaced by Romelu Lukaku. Romelu Lukaku came off the bench against
:06:07. > :06:12.the USA. Kevin Mirallas vents his frustration as he is replaced by
:06:13. > :06:21.Dries Mertens. He started the last game. He came off the bench to score
:06:22. > :06:24.the winner and against Algeria earlier in the competition. Still
:06:25. > :06:31.plenty of hope for Belgium in this game. Half an hour to go. Good news
:06:32. > :06:38.for Argentina, it looks as if he is OK. A crunching challenge from
:06:39. > :07:07.Vincent Kompany. Half an hour to go exactly. Axel
:07:08. > :07:14.Witsel. First touch for Dries Mertens. Jan Vertonghen. A header
:07:15. > :07:19.from market Jones! It is over the bar. Suddenly, that was a bit more
:07:20. > :07:37.like it from Belgium -- market Jones. The delivery from Jan
:07:38. > :07:52.Vertonghen from the left -- and -- Fellaini. Enzo Perez. Pablo Zabaleta
:07:53. > :08:05.in possession, given away by Dries Mertens. Falling nicely. Falling for
:08:06. > :08:19.Enzo Perez, but I way come Belgium now with Jan Vertonghen. Will they
:08:20. > :08:33.get a free kick? Away by Lucas Biglia. Clattered the ankles of Jan
:08:34. > :09:31.Vertonghen. They were queueing up for that. It is Belgian's ball.
:09:32. > :09:38.Still his goal that gives Argentina the lead. It has been an excellent
:09:39. > :09:40.performance from Gonzalo Higuain. He very nearly had a second one with
:09:41. > :10:10.this shot. He runs into Gonzalo Higuain, who is
:10:11. > :10:31.challenged. The players are getting frustrated.
:10:32. > :10:38.Martin Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta, this is Enzo Perez. He is caught out
:10:39. > :10:57.by Dries Mertens. Belgium have had six goals here,
:10:58. > :11:06.which were scored by substitutes. Two of them, Romelu Lukaku and Dries
:11:07. > :11:11.Mertens are on the field now. There is going to be an urgency about the
:11:12. > :11:20.play from Belgium now. Not far from the midway point of this second-half
:11:21. > :11:26.now. They have not really tested Sergio Romero in this match. Kevin
:11:27. > :11:36.De Bruyne. Comfortably clear by Martin Demichelis. Gonzalo Higuain
:11:37. > :11:40.on the floor momentarily, but Belgium are keen to get on with the
:11:41. > :11:48.game. Needs a good delivery, was not great, but it almost ended up
:11:49. > :11:58.squirming underneath the goalkeeper. Ezequiel Garay slid in. Whipped in
:11:59. > :12:02.low and off the central defender, but the goalkeeper was right there
:12:03. > :12:08.behind the ball, Romelu Lukaku almost got in. Here come Argentina
:12:09. > :12:20.and it is Lionel Messi, Pablo Zabaleta. Gonzalo Higuain waits in
:12:21. > :12:24.the centre. Look at Smith. -- Lucas Biglia.
:12:25. > :12:43.Javier Mascherano. Vincent Kompany wins it back and Marouane Fellaini
:12:44. > :12:45.is under pressure. A return from Axel Witsel who is cut out by Jose
:12:46. > :13:09.Maria Basanta. Eden Hazard taking the past from
:13:10. > :13:14.Dries Mertens. Toby Alderweireld, working it wide to Jan Vertonghen
:13:15. > :13:21.who is always available. Sergio Romero is under pressure.
:13:22. > :13:37.Belgium went into this quarterfinal on the back of seven wins in a row,
:13:38. > :13:40.equalling their best ever run. They need a goal here to keep their World
:13:41. > :13:46.Cup hopes alive. Jan Vertonghen, need a goal here to keep their World
:13:47. > :14:00.Cup hopes alive. Jan Marouane Fellaini. -- Jan Vertonghen. A
:14:01. > :14:11.stretch there are four Javier Mascherano. -- a stretch there are
:14:12. > :14:30.420 macro. -- a stretch there are four Javier Mascherano.
:14:31. > :14:38.Constant din being made by the Argentina fans.
:14:39. > :14:50.While Messi up against Vincent Kompany, who had to get that right,
:14:51. > :14:57.and he did. -- Lionel Messi. That is a yellow card for Toby Alderweireld.
:14:58. > :15:00.That would rule him out of a semifinal. Lucas Biglia, the player
:15:01. > :15:26.on the floor. This is what the yellow card was
:15:27. > :15:36.for. No semifinal for him, but no semifinal for any of them.
:15:37. > :15:57.It is only the third time that Belgium have faced South American
:15:58. > :16:03.opposition in the knockout stages of the World Cup. They have lost to
:16:04. > :16:13.Argentina in the semifinal in 1986 and to Brazil 12 years ago in the
:16:14. > :16:20.second round. As we head towards the last 20 minutes of the game. Away
:16:21. > :16:37.from Toby Alderweireld. Lavezzi nearby. He will settle for
:16:38. > :16:46.the throw-in. Argentina now making another change. Rodrigo Palacio will
:16:47. > :16:51.come on. For the third time in this World Cup. Ezequiel Lavezzi is the
:16:52. > :17:15.man being replaced. Rodrigo Palacio has had a fine
:17:16. > :17:27.season with in Italy, including a Derby winning goal against Milan. --
:17:28. > :17:46.with Inter in Italy. Both sides now have made two
:17:47. > :17:54.changes. The post holder between Fellaini and Demichelis. -- the
:17:55. > :18:08.tussle between. Demichelis gets the deflection.
:18:09. > :18:38.Towards Higuain. Daniel Van Buyten wins the duel. Lukaku, shut down by
:18:39. > :18:49.Ezequiel Garay. The free kick given against Moran Fellaini. -- against
:18:50. > :19:01.Marouane Fellaini. Still just one goal in it. Still, the Belgian fans
:19:02. > :19:08.will keep the faith. Their last eight World Cup goals have been
:19:09. > :19:22.scored in the 70th minute later. -- in the 70th minute, or later.
:19:23. > :19:42.Daniel Van Buyten looks like he has a problem. Marouane Fellaini.
:19:43. > :19:52.Penalised. That was nowhere near where the infringement occurred.
:19:53. > :20:02.Surprised he can get away with that. 17 minutes remaining.
:20:03. > :20:19.Daniel Van Buyten. Towards Marouane Fellaini. Dries Mertens looking for
:20:20. > :20:31.Vertonghen. Ultimately, nearly finding touch.
:20:32. > :20:44.Here come Belgian again -- Belgium again. Rodrigo Palacio now.
:20:45. > :20:54.Mascherano almost rushed out there to Kevin De Bruyne. Belgium have got
:20:55. > :21:01.to go for it. The chance from the cross. Here it comes. Cut out by
:21:02. > :21:03.Romero. Dries Mertens stretchers and does well to get away from Zabaleta,
:21:04. > :21:22.but it is blocked by Perez. The yellow card for Lucas Biglia for
:21:23. > :21:23.the challenge on Jan Vertonghen. Here is why. He was blocking the
:21:24. > :21:36.path of Vertonghen. The last change being made by Marc
:21:37. > :21:54.Wilmots. Nacer Chadli of Tottenham Hotspur is about to come on. Eden
:21:55. > :22:04.Hazard is the player going off. All three changes made now by the
:22:05. > :22:16.Belgian coach. Dries Mertens will take this. Roope Kakko heading to
:22:17. > :22:32.the far post, and it is hoped into the near post. -- Lukaku. Much to
:22:33. > :22:43.the frustration of Lukaku. Something of a let off for the Argentina
:22:44. > :22:56.defence. Dries Mertens was the first signing by Rafa Benitez when he took
:22:57. > :23:00.over at Napoli last summer. Lukaku. Trying to get clear of Ezequiel
:23:01. > :23:27.Garay, and he has. The flag goes up against Nacer Chadli. He was just
:23:28. > :23:38.offside. Inside the last 15 minutes of this game now. Kevin De Bruyne
:23:39. > :23:40.does well to keep it in. Fellaini, all arms and legs, retrieving
:23:41. > :24:15.possession for Belgium. Basanta. The referee saying that you can take
:24:16. > :24:27.all the time you want with this throw-in, but I am taking a note of
:24:28. > :24:32.it. Another throw-in for Argentina. Alejandro Sabella signalling that he
:24:33. > :24:43.is going to make another substitution shortly. Just hanging
:24:44. > :24:57.on to that too long, Rodrigo Palacio.
:24:58. > :25:08.It looks as if Fernando Gago might be coming on for the final few
:25:09. > :25:22.minutes of this game. Vincent Kompany. Given away.
:25:23. > :25:34.Every time Argentina get a throw-in, they take some more time.
:25:35. > :25:41.Zabaleta, towards Higuain, quick to go to ground, free kick, breaks the
:25:42. > :25:46.play up again. Axel Witsel getting a word from the referee for that. He
:25:47. > :25:54.is one of those already on a yellow card. He is a key player in the
:25:55. > :26:04.spine of the team under Marc Wilmots.
:26:05. > :26:17.Messi, away from Fellaini. But not Vincent Kompany. Zabaleta.
:26:18. > :26:22.Messi, away from Fellaini. But not from Axel Witsel. Daniel Van Buyten.
:26:23. > :26:31.Demichelis with plenty of time to see that one coming.
:26:32. > :26:46.Just over ten minutes to go plus added time.
:26:47. > :27:03.Vincent Kompany being chased down by Lucas Biglia. And the final change
:27:04. > :27:10.of the match made by Alejandro Sabella. Fernando Gago is going to
:27:11. > :27:16.come on to replace Gonzalo Higuain. This is the goal that separates the
:27:17. > :27:25.teams. Lashed into the net in the eighth minute of the game. Standing
:27:26. > :27:34.ovation for Gonzalo Higuain. He has got an exceptional scoring rate for
:27:35. > :27:41.his country, 21 goals in 41 matches. He is off, and Fernando Gago is on,
:27:42. > :28:10.as Argentina try to see this one out.
:28:11. > :28:23.Just nine minutes now for Belgium to do something about this.
:28:24. > :28:31.But they are in a very different game here, to the one that they
:28:32. > :28:36.played against the USA the other night, when they constantly peppered
:28:37. > :28:39.the goal of Tim Howard with shots. And but for some wonderful
:28:40. > :28:45.goalkeeping from Tim Howard, they might have run away with the game
:28:46. > :28:47.inside 90 minutes, never mind being taken into extra time. It is a very
:28:48. > :29:10.different story here. Belgium have had in the last two
:29:11. > :29:16.macro years. 14 wins and three draws in that time. These are the matches
:29:17. > :29:26.that matter -- two. Knockout games on the big stage. Argentina has the
:29:27. > :29:32.slender advantage, which they have held for most of the match. Pablo
:29:33. > :29:39.Zabaleta with the cross. Too high for Rodrigo Palacio.
:29:40. > :30:07.Marouane Fellaini. He is somebody in the Belgian team with a bit of
:30:08. > :30:14.inspiration to change the course of this game. Will big goal be enough
:30:15. > :30:29.with macro the flag has gone up on the far side -- will that goal be
:30:30. > :30:37.enough? The flag up swiftly on the near side. The clock ticks for
:30:38. > :30:54.Belgium and for their hopes of staying in this World Cup. It has
:30:55. > :30:56.been a relatively quiet afternoon for Sergio Romero in the Argentinian
:30:57. > :31:15.goal. Six minutes and counting. Merry
:31:16. > :31:30.Smith in towards Romelu Lukaku. A shot. -- Marouane Fellaini. Corner
:31:31. > :31:46.for Belgium. Anxious times now for Argentina. They will be on red alert
:31:47. > :31:56.here. Perhaps not a surprise that the referee has a bit of sorting out
:31:57. > :32:00.to do, so much at stake. Marouane Fellaini is such a handful. In it
:32:01. > :32:46.comes, off the head of Fernando Gago. The flag goes up against
:32:47. > :32:56.Romelu Lukaku. Belgium are five minutes away from losing this match.
:32:57. > :33:03.Rodrigo Palacio. Apart from Lionel Messi oh -- Lionel Messi. -- a pass
:33:04. > :33:24.from Lionel Messi. Axel Witsel. Naccer Chadli. He is
:33:25. > :33:30.playing a more central role for Belgium than he does for Tottenham.
:33:31. > :33:40.Marouane Fellaini, does not fall for Romelu Lukaku. He has been penalised
:33:41. > :33:49.by the referee. Jose Maria Basanta has gone to the ground.
:33:50. > :33:54.Romelu Lukaku hardly touched him. Jose Maria Basanta is being treated
:33:55. > :34:25.for cramp. Inside the last three minutes of the
:34:26. > :34:29.90 minutes. No wonder it has been launched by Vincent Kompany. All
:34:30. > :34:42.hands on deck for Argentina. I way by Jose Maria Basanta. -- away by
:34:43. > :34:51.Jose Maria Basanta. Marouane Fellaini. Cannot get clear, Jose
:34:52. > :34:56.Maria Basanta making the block. It is a corner for Belgium. Trying to
:34:57. > :35:03.finish the match on a front foot, trying to force extra time. Two
:35:04. > :35:13.minutes to go, plus added time. Dries Mertens with the corner.
:35:14. > :35:22.Whipped back in by Naccer Chadli. Sergio Romero looks to get him away
:35:23. > :35:32.on the counter. I throw for Belgium. -- a throw. In towards Marouane
:35:33. > :35:40.Fellaini and Daniel Van Buyten was there. It struck him on the arm.
:35:41. > :35:52.Free kick for Argentina. The veteran up there in the thick of things, I
:35:53. > :35:57.think it was a handball. Yes. Early indications are that we might be
:35:58. > :36:05.heading for a minimum of four minutes of added time. That is still
:36:06. > :36:08.to be confirmed. Dries Mertens. Naccer Chadli going up with Pablo
:36:09. > :36:16.Zabaleta. Jan Vertonghen. Daniel Van Naccer Chadli going up with Pablo
:36:17. > :36:31.Buyten is staying up front. The referee will stop the game. I think
:36:32. > :36:43.that is Enzo Perez on the ground. A collision with his own team-mate has
:36:44. > :36:48.knocked the wind from his sales. -- sails. It was against Pablo
:36:49. > :36:50.Zabaleta. Any momentum that Belgium has been building has been
:36:51. > :37:13.interrupted by the stoppage in play. The 90 minutes are up and those four
:37:14. > :37:21.minutes have become five minutes. Argentina are so close to the
:37:22. > :37:31.semifinal. Belgium with so little time to find a goal from somewhere.
:37:32. > :37:37.They just have not been able to perform with the flair and verve
:37:38. > :37:47.that they've -- that we saw the other day. Argentina have showed the
:37:48. > :37:53.greater intensity. At the moment, heading for what would be a fifth
:37:54. > :37:58.straight win at this World Cup by a one goal margin. They are not there
:37:59. > :38:02.yet, though. Belgium are not finished. Daniel Van Buyten is on
:38:03. > :38:19.the ground, hoping for a free kick, but the referee says play on. In
:38:20. > :38:30.towards Rodrigo Palacio. Toby Alderweireld beat him to it. He can
:38:31. > :38:35.be quite a handful. Vincent Kompany looking for Axel Witsel. Jan
:38:36. > :38:46.Vertonghen. Naccer Chadli was running into a good position. It is
:38:47. > :38:50.up towards Romelu Lukaku. Could not quite reach Dries Mertens, I way by
:38:51. > :38:55.Pablo Zabaleta. Another throw to Belgium. Just over three minutes
:38:56. > :39:20.remaining -- away. Bounced off the head of Marouane
:39:21. > :39:30.Fellaini as Belgium look for some last-minute inspiration.
:39:31. > :39:41.A challenge, but nothing doing from the referee.
:39:42. > :39:50.Argentina edging towards the finishing line in this game.
:39:51. > :39:59.Thibaut Courtois, nearly eight times now, that Lionel Messi has played
:40:00. > :40:08.against them without scoring past him. Might not matter today, because
:40:09. > :40:17.Gonzalo Higuain did. Not much time left for Belgium now. Here comes
:40:18. > :40:22.Lucas Biglia. Away goes Lionel Messi! He can put the finishing
:40:23. > :40:34.touches on the victory. Good save by Thibaut Courtois. Belgium's hopes
:40:35. > :40:41.are wafer thin, but still alive. A minute and a half remaining will
:40:42. > :40:48.stop Argentina just bumping the ball out of play. --. Naccer Chadli.
:40:49. > :40:57.Kevin De Bruyne. out of play. --. Naccer Chadli.
:40:58. > :41:03.Witsel. Dries Mertens. In towards Romelu Lukaku. Stays up. Could not
:41:04. > :41:15.quite find Daniel Van Buyten. Axel Witsel with the shot! That might
:41:16. > :41:20.just about be the lot for Belgium. That is the closest they have come
:41:21. > :41:31.for a long time in this game. Axel Witsel had to give it a crack. The
:41:32. > :41:36.ball just tumbled away from the gold. At the other end of the field,
:41:37. > :41:42.moments before that, Lionel Messi with a chance to finish it off for
:41:43. > :41:51.Argentina, denying by Thibaut Courtois -- goal. Rodrigo Palacio
:41:52. > :41:57.going for the spectacular. We have almost had our five minutes of added
:41:58. > :42:04.time. A little look at the watch. It is all over!
:42:05. > :42:07.time. A little look at the watch. It to Sao Paulo and the semifinal on
:42:08. > :42:16.Wednesday. Another narrow victory, one goal was enough. Gonzalo Higuain
:42:17. > :42:25.got it early in the match. Belgium's World Cup adventure is
:42:26. > :42:28.over. Argentina, losers in the last eight in the last two macro World
:42:29. > :42:35.Cups, did not slip at the quarterfinal hurdle this time --
:42:36. > :42:47.two. The final score, Argentina one, Belgium zero.
:42:48. > :42:53.So that is all the quarterfinals out of the way. We will see you next
:42:54. > :42:57.Tuesday night for Brazil who take on Germany.