Summary

  • Argentina beat the Netherlands on penalties to face Germany in final

  • Fifa rejects Luis Suarez appeal over four-month ban

  • Round-up of media and online reaction

  • The latest transfer news and breaking stories

  • GET INVOLVED: What's the dullest ever sporting spectacle?

  1. Brazil internet memepublished at 11:34 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Brazil team watching televisionImage source, CRONICA

    The Brazilian press might be cranking up their support of Germany in Sunday's final but it won't stop their counterparts in Argentina from a few wind-ups at the host nation's elimination.

    Argentina's Cronica, external newspaper suggests how the Brazilian players might watch the game by publishing an internet meme of the team stood in front of a television screen.

  2. Question of Sport teaserpublished at 11:32 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Time to test the old grey matter with today's Question of Sport teaser., external

    Since 1990, which eight players have missed a penalty in a shootout in the World Cup semi-finals?

    We will give you the answer later.

  3. 'Nobody in Brazil would forget a Messi triumph'published at 11:25 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport Chief Football Writer in Brazil

    Lionel MessiImage source, AFP

    "Should Lionel Messi lead Argentina to their first World Cup triumph since the 1986 win in Mexico's Aztec Stadium against West Germany it would be a moment heavy with symbolism given the tribal rivalry with Brazil's own favoured son Neymar.

    "Neither set of supporters would ever forget the image of Messi taking possession of the World Cup in an arena rich in the history of Brazil's own number 10s such as Pele, Zico and latterly Neymar.

    "It would be as close to perfection as was winning it in their own River Plate Stadium against the Dutch in 1978."

  4. Get involved: What's the dullest sporting event ever?published at 11:21 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    South Korea v GabonImage source, Getty Images

    Levi Harris:, external South Korea v Gabon at Wembley for the Olympics. Can barely remember a shot on goal.

    Dyfed Edwards:, external Were it not for the scandal and shame surrounding it, the Austria/West Germany game at the 1982 World Cup was pretty awful.

    Sanjeev Shrestha:, external England v Costa Rica last group match is #dullestgameever. Given it was the last game for England and pride's at stake but no real intent.

    #dullestgameever, external on Twitter, 81111 on text and the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

  5. 'Messi is playing too deep'published at 11:15 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Former England winger Chris Waddle
    BBC Sport

    Argentina forward Lionel MessiImage source, Getty Images

    "The way Argentina play, they don't get the best out of Lionel Messi because he's always too deep.

    "They need him to play at number nine like he does at Barcelona. Let him play right up against the centre-halves because he has got that bit of magic.

    "For Argentina, he seems to pick up the ball in areas where there are lots of people around him and he does not seem to be able to get away from people."

  6. Scolari decision after play-off matchpublished at 11:09 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Luiz Felipe ScolariImage source, AFP

    Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says there will be no decision on his future until after the World Cup.

    Scolari faced calls from Brazilian media to resign after their 7-1 semi-final defeat against Germany.

    "The end of the World Cup is Saturday," says the 65-year-old.

    "It is only after this game we will talk with the direction of the CBF [Brazilian FA], that's when we will decide."

  7. Brazilian reaction to Argentina's victorypublished at 11:06 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Front pages from BrazilImage source, Brazilian newspapers

    The Brazilian media concentrate on the fact that their bitter rivals Argentina are in the final, and signal their support for Germany in Sunday's game at Rio's Maracana.

    Correio Braziliense's, external headline states that German will dance the Argentine tango while Correio do Estado, external switches the focus to the third-place play-off against the Netherlands.

    "The nightmare continues," wrote O Dia newspaper in its online edition., external

    "In addition to not being able to dream about a sixth title, Brazilians will have to live with the real possibility of one of its main rivals triumphing in the ultimate football temple," it adds.

    The sports daily Lance, external uses a Twitter-like hashtag for its headline, #SomosTodosAlemanha! - which translates as "We Are All Germany".

  8. Confusion over Suarez banpublished at 11:00 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Luis Suarez, of Uruguay, and Giorgio Chiellini, of ItalyImage source, Reuters

    The scope of Luis Suarez's four-month ban "from all football-related activity" is still unclear, two weeks after the punishment was handed down.

    The 27-year-old Liverpool striker was suspended after biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini but players' union Fifpro argues the details "lack clarity" and a legal expert says the sanctions will be tough to enforce.

    A Fifpro spokesman says: "The concept of being banned from all football-related activities is not defined."

  9. Get involved: What's the dullest sporting event ever?published at 10:59 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Dave Musson:, external Villa 0-0 Fulham November 2008, I won VIP tickets for the really posh seats...still wish I hadn't.

    Jason Free:, external The 2007 FA Cup final, the first at the new Wembley - Chelsea v Manchester Utd, it was truly horrendous

    Garry Lyon:, external Any cricket match my brother 'watched' on Ceefax as the scores changed when he returned from university for the summer!

  10. Robben reveals Dutch painpublished at 10:55 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Netherlands forward Arjen RobbenImage source, Getty Images

    Netherlands forward Arjen Robben admits failing to reach a second successive World Cup final is "painful" but he is proud of what the Dutch have achieved in Brazil.

    "It's very painful at the moment. I am disappointed because we are so close but I'm proud of this team," Robben says.

    "This is a young team, very inexperienced, and no-one expected us to get to the last four."

  11. Arsenal close in on Sanchezpublished at 10:45 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Alexis Sanchez of ChileImage source, Reuters

    Arsenal are close to completing the signing of Chile forward Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona.

    The clubs have reached a deal in principle and the 25-year-old has agreed personal terms.

    Arsenal are set to pay in the region of £30m for the Chile international, who joined Barca from Udinese in 2011 and has scored 43 goals in 119 appearances.

  12. Newspaper reactionpublished at 10:38 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Argentina newspaper Rio NegroImage source, RIO NEGRO

    The newspapers in Argentina are paying tribute to the heroics of goalkeeper Sergio Romero following their penalty shootout win over the Netherlands.

    Headline writers at Buenos Aires daily newspaper Rio Negro, external caught the imagination with a nod to Diego Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God goal' against England at the 1986 World Cup.

    "Las manos de Dios" reads the headline on the front of the paper which translates as "Hands of God".

  13. Get involved: What's the dullest sporting event ever?published at 10:35 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Roberto Baggio of Italy misses a penalty against BrazilImage source, Getty Images

    Daniel Freer:, external The World Cup final in '94 between Brazil and Italy was a snoozefest. Only excitement was when Baggio bagged on penalty kick.

    Stu Kenney:, external Shrewsbury v Accrington 2003. The fans started cheering every time the guy in the boat had to fetch the ball.

    Marcus Reaney:, external Definitely England v Algeria in the 2010 World Cup. I got the best night's sleep that day.

    #dullestgameever, external on Twitter, 81111 on text and the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

  14. Get involved: What's the dullest sporting event ever?published at 10:16 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    A sleeping Bangladesh fanImage source, Getty Images

    Thanks for all your contributions on who you think out of Germany and Argentina will win the World Cup, but we're going to change the debate.

    It has been a World Cup of thrills and excitement overall, but it all seemed to stop last night during the tedious semi-final between Netherlands and Argentina.

    We are after your suggestions on those forgettable sporting occasions that you had the misfortune to run into.

    Have you ever fallen asleep during the snooker? Had 40 winks at the football? Or been bored watching Boycott?

    So we want to know: What is the dullest game you have ever seen? And why?

    #dullestgameever, external on Twitter, 81111 on text and the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

  15. Easy night for Romeropublished at 10:12 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Sergio Romero of ArgentinaImage source, AFP

    According to our friends at Opta, external, Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero made more saves in the penalty shootout against Netherlands than he had done in 120 minutes of football before the match went spot-kicks.

    If you haven't seen Romero's heroics in the shootout then not to worry because we have got them all here.

  16. Kluivert's Dutch pridepublished at 10:03 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Patrick Kluivert with Wesley SneijderImage source, Reuters

    Netherlands assistant coach Patrick Kluivert is proud of the side's achievements despite their World Cup penalty shootout defeat to Argentina.

    He says on Twitter:, external "I want to thank everybody in Holland and abroad for supporting us. I am very proud of the team for the spirit that they showed. #Dutchlions"

  17. 'Immense Mascherano'published at 09:54 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Gary Lineker
    BBC Sport

    Argentina's Javier MascheranoImage source, AFP

    "Must say Javier @Mascherano was immense. What a heart!"

  18. 'Argentina have tough spine'published at 09:51 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport Chief Football Writer in Brazil

    Pablo ZabaletaImage source, Getty Images

    "Germany will be favourites on Sunday - but Argentina have a tough spine to complement the brilliance of Lionel Messi.

    "They have progressed from all four of their World Cup semi-finals and have never trailed at this tournament."

  19. Newspaper reactionpublished at 09:43 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Argentina newspapers El Dia and La CapitalImage source, EL DIA/LA CAPITAL

    Argentina's newspapers are predictably lauding the country reaching their first World Cup final since 1990.

    The headline in national paper El Dia, external says 'Finalists - emotion and national celebration' while Rosario-based La Capital, external simply says 'Argentina finalists'.

  20. Get involved: Who will win the World Cup?published at 09:36 British Summer Time 10 July 2014

    Lionel Messi of ArgentinaImage source, AP

    Max Young:, external Watching Argentina play last night, I can see Germany scoring seven again with ease.

    Lee Tomlinson:, external The Germans look unstoppable. I'd bet my house on them being the first European team to win in South America.

    Bambam:, external For me, a Germany win will be a fair final verdict to an exciting World Cup.

    #bbcworldcup, external on Twitter, 81111 on text and the BBC Sport Facebook page., external