RTHerringbone

Need a match thread! I can't be arsed as I'm four beers in and making pizzas

We're at the point now where we need to put in a performance and make a bit of a statement. We should be good enough for Senegal and I'd like us to be as convincing as France were earlier. I'm unusually confident and I don't like it.

I love the variety and combinations in that French front line. Giroud is such a complete player. Mbappé is obviously richly talented. Griezmann has been exceptional kind of playmaker in this tournament and Dembélé gives pace and directness out wide. It's the sort of combinations that I hope we can deliver as England, but with Kane, Rashford, Foden and Saka. I think Kane can measure up to Giroud. Rashford is no Mbappé but can impact from that side. I see no reason why Foden and Saka can't contribute as much as Griezmann and Dembélé.

The French forwards are just exceptional.

This has been closer and more entertaining than expected.

Growing speculation that it's Saka on the right and Foden on the left. I'm kind of OK with that but feel like Rashford has done more than enough to warrant a start. I'd rather Rashford started from the left and Foden starts ahead of Mount.

How many times has Messi touched the ball so far?

Fair play to the Aussies. They've come out in the opposite way to what I expected.

Yeah I was just thinking about how sad it feels to know that we'll only see a couple more Messi appearances at a World Cup but I'm totally ambivalent about the same applying for Ronaldo.

I can't see Australia playing expansively enough to materially add to this stat:

Di Maria dropped for Gomez which feels like the right call as he was anonymous in the last game. EDIT - not dropped - injured apparently but he'd likely have been at risk anyway.

Lionel Messi makes his 1,000th career appearance today as he hopes to inspire Argentina to a Quarter-Final place against the Dutch on Friday; it'll be his 169th international cap. Argentina are 2nd favourites for the World Cup (behind Brazil) but coach Scaloni has been moaning about Australia having an extra 4 hours rest since the last game (!) Still, Scaloni doesn't have to call on players from Stoke City, Colombus Crew and Adelaide United, so I'm sure they'll be fine. Teams should be announced at about 6pm GMT. Match facts pinched from the BBC site: Australia's only win in seven games against Argentina was in their first meeting in 1988. Current Socceroos boss Arnold played in that match. Argentina have reached the World Cup knockout stage for the ninth time in the last 10 World Cups. Messi has had 23 efforts without scoring in the World Cup knockout stages for Argentina. Australia have won consecutive matches and kept consecutive clean sheets for the first time at the World Cup. Their previous clean sheet before their two in this tournament was back in 1974.

Stars and Stripes shirt with a wolf on it. Plus a bandana. Love Americans.

I keep trying to work out whether or not Gakpo is actually good. I'm not convinced he's at the level required for a Top 2 sort of club in the major European leagues.

Alex Telles and Gabriel Jesus have been ruled out of the rest of the tournament after picking up injuries against Cameroon.

I'm saying the Dutch beat the US and lose to Argentina in the QF. England beat Senegal but lose to France. Croatia beat Japan but lose to Brazil. Spain beat Morocco and then lose to Portugal. Brazil beat Argentina, France beat Portugal and then they win the whole thing.

Xhaka is a penis. Knows exactly what he's doing.

Ajax have never finished higher than Saints in the English Premier League

I'm going to guess there was some sort of maternal reference in there. Perhaps implying certain sexual preferences etc.

The Mitro fuse has been lit. He'll be off soon.

He's played at the peak with Southampton. It's only ever downhill from there.