Ben Smith in Brasilia
BBC Sport

"Just the start Argentina dreamed of and the one Belgium must have feared. There was a delightful pirouette by Lionel Messi that started the move, Angel Di Maria's pass got a fortunate deflection but the finish by Higuain was unerring and was beyond Courtois before he could react."

Robbie Savage
BBC Radio 5 live

"A fantastic first-time strike from Gonzalo Higuain. He swivelled and struck it really well. It's come from Belgium centre-back Vincent Kompany going upfield and losing the ball."

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Lovely stuff from Argentina as they take the lead with their first shot on target, but it all stemmed from an error by Vincent Kompany. He gave the ball away midway inside the Belgium half and Lionel Messi pounced, twisting and turning before picking out Angel Di Maria. The forward's ball towards the area deflected into the path of Gonzalo Higuain, who volleyed in on the turn.

Archie, Aberystwyth: Vincent Kompany has got the experience to match the skill of the Argentina front line.

Lionel Messi is quick to have Argentina fans cooing as he plays a fine ball out to Ezequiel Lavezzi but his square pass into the area is hacked away by an alert Vincent Kompany.

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Setting the tone for the game ahead? Javier Mascherano hustles Axel Witsel early doors when trying to get the ball, before the latter threatens to retaliate, sending a startled Mascherano sprawling backwards in a slightly comedic manner.

Robbie Savage
BBC Radio 5 live

"I'm not surprised Fernando Gago has been left out as it was Javier Mascherano who was getting the ball to Lionel Messi. I want Messi to get the ball high up the park so he can get at the back four. Messi against the attacking talent of Belgium - it is going to be a fascinating game."

A quick playful slap on Alejandro Sabella's face by Belgium coach Marc Wilmots before his side get things under way. Both teams boast a 100% record at the tournament so far, but something has to give today.

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Chris Bevan
BBC Sport in Rio de Janeiro

"Their team may be playing more than 450 miles away in Brasilia but it is fair to say the Copacabana belongs to Argentina fans today. The strip is a sea of 'Seleccion' stripes of sky blue and white and they are heading en masse towards the Fan Fest, which was already close to capacity about an hour before kick-off. Luckily there is another massive screen in an overspill area further down the beach. Not sure where the Belgium fans are, though, because there is not a Marouane Fellaini wig in sight."

Impeccable renditions of the rousing Himno Nacional Argentino and the slightly more jovial Brabanconne are played through the speakers as the Argentina and Belgium national anthems are played. Cracking stuff as always.

That's the pre-match formalities done with, kick-off minutes away.

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Toni Water:, external Diego Maradona carried a mid-table Napoli to two Italian leagues and the Uefa Cup. Lionel Messi didn't carry Barcelona to all their trophies! Messi surrounded by quality, Maradona wasn't.

Paddy Emmerson:, external I don't see Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain playing as poorly as they did against Chile. If they turn up alongside Lionel Messi, Belgium won't cope.

A quick hug between Argentina's Pablo Zabaleta and Belgium's Vincent Kompany in the tunnel as the Manchester City team-mates exchange pleasantries before the two teams march out on to the pitch as the familiar Fifa anthem belts out over the loudspeakers.

Ben Smith in Brasilia
BBC Sport

"The noise inside the stadium with 10 minutes or so to kick-off is just tremendous. It is being led by the tens of thousands of Argentina fans and their songs are just reverberating around Estadio Nacional. They may, however, be slightly outnumbered by Brazilians today and it doesn't take a genius to work out that they are more than likely to throw their support behind Belgium."

Argentina: Romero, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Garay, Basanta, Biglia, Mascherano, Lavezzi, Messi, Di Maria, Higuain. Subs: Orion, Campagnaro, Gago, Perez, Maxi Rodriguez, Augusto Fernandez, Federico Fernandez, Palacio, Alvarez, Aguero, Andujar.

Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Van Buyten, Kompany, Vertonghen, Fellaini, Witsel, Mirallas, De Bruyne, Hazard, Origi. Subs: Mignolet, Vermaelen, Lukaku, Mertens, Defour, Lombaerts, Dembele, Januzaj, Chadli, Ciman, Bossut.

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)

Argentina might be the favourites for this match - but not in Mark Lawrenson's eyes. Lawro has been predicting the outcome of every game at the World Cup and he reckons Belgium will overpower Argentina.

Read more of Lawro's predictions here.

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There are people dressed as zebras, banners featuring Mick Jagger's face superimposed on an Argentina shirt and now a wedding proposal for supposed Prince Harry, or is it Kevin De Bruyne? Party time in the stands in Brasilia.

The Argentina players are off the pitch and strolling back to their dressing room after finishing their pre-match warm-up. Not a word said between them as they walk through the corridor. Absolute focus on the task at hand.

Stadium filling up nicely as kick-off approaches, with the Argentina fans in particularly fine voice.

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Estadio Nacional, Brasilia

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Capacity: 68,009.

Opened: 1974 (reopened after renovation in May 2013).

Where is it?: The capital of Brazil sits in the central highlands.

Climate: Dry and fairly warm. June and July are the two driest months of the year in Brasilia. Temperatures tend to peak at 25C most days, while humidity drops.

Fixtures: 5 July, Quarter-final, Argentina v Belgium, 17:00; 12 July, Third-place match, 21:00.

Hugh, Hungerford: Belgium's attacking diversity with the pacey Divock Origi and the creative prowess of Eden Hazard gives Marc Wilmots a less experienced but equally powerful offence as Argentina.

Ollie, Hull: In Thibaut Courtois and Vincent Kompany, Belgium might just have what it takes to stop Argentina's attacking force.

Robbie Savage
BBC Radio 5 live

"The movement of Belgium's Kevin Mirallas, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard as well as the pace of Divock Origi could really upset the Argentine defence. Belgium have really got a chance today."

Image source, EPA