• Argentina winger Angel Di Maria is reported to be out of the World Cup

• Brazil media officer banned for three games for hitting a Chile player

• Injured Brazil striker Neymar thanks fans for their support

Brazil's Neymar has released a video statement thanking his supporters and described being ruled out or the rest of the World Cup as a "very tough moment".

With his voice cracking with emotion, the 22-year-old said: "My dream isn't over. It was interrupted by a play but it continues. I'm certain that my team-mates will do everything possible so that my dream, which is to be a champion, comes true."

Image source, Getty Images

It was Netherlands' quarter-final against Costa Rica which won the Twitter war on Sunday. The match attracted 6,971,077 tweets, with a peak of 257,860 tweets during the penalty shootout.

Argentina's last-eight tie with Belgium was the focus of 5,088,702 tweets, with a peak of 149,211 tweets per minute at full-time.

One media outlet in Argentina is reporting that winger Angel Di Maria will miss the rest of the tournament after it was confirmed he has a torn thigh muscle. The 26-year-old Real Madrid player was substituted after 33 minutes in Brasilia after hurting himself while shooting. (Canchallena - in Spanish), external

The Belgium team have written an open letter to their fans on their official website,, external calling them the "best supporters in the world".

"An incredibly big thank you for thousands of tweets, Facebook messages and postcards; for your sleepless nights and near-heart attacks; for your battle cries and tears of happiness," they say.

Joey Barton:, external Dutch scrape through. Deserved it on 120 mins of play. van Gaal masterstroke by bringing @TimKrul on. Psychological warfare.

Image source, EPA

Neymar left the World Cup on a stretcher, James Rodriguez in tears. Luis Suarez was thrown out in disgrace. Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney failed to sparkle and Zlatan stayed at home.

But Lionel Messi, arguably the biggest star of them all, is still standing, still sparkling and within two victories of cementing his status among the very best to have played the game, reports BBC Sport's Ben Smith.

Image source, EPA

Netherlands goalkeeper Tim Krul says he told the Costa Rica players he knew where they would put their penalties in last night's shootout.

"I watched them [Costa Rica] against Greece and studied them and I told the players that I knew where they were going to shoot to make them a bit nervous," the 26-year-old said with a mischievous grin.

"Maybe it worked. It happened before when I played against Frank Lampard; I told him that I knew and I saved it. I just tried that again. I'm so happy it worked today."

Brazil's chief media officer Rodrigo Paiva has been banned for three games and fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£6,500) by Fifa for hitting a Chile player.

Paiva hit Chile's Mauricio Pinilla in a half-time bust-up during Brazil's last-16 tie against Chile.

• Netherlands through to semi-finals of World Cup

• Dutch substitute keeper Tim Krul saves two penalties in shootout

• Argentina defeat Belgium and will play Netherlands in semi

Maybe it wasn't a surprise that Argentina progressed to the semi-finals at Belgium's expense - after all, the Argentines have won four of their five encounters with Belgium, scoring 11 goals and conceding four.

And Belgium have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven games against South American sides at the World Cup.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi gives the World Cup semi-finalists "water in the desert" when they are struggling, says coach Alejandro Sabella.

Messi led his side to a first semi-final since 1990 as Gonzalo Higuain's strike defeated Belgium, but how does the Barcelona forward compare with former Argentina captain Diego Maradona?

Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given:, external U gotta feel for Navas but buzzing for @TimKrul. What a finish. Krul end for #CRC

Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel: , externalWow...Mr Van Gaal...big decision and it was the right one...not sure if I've seen that in a loooooong time!!!

Australia midfielder Tim Cahill: , externalOne tactical move by Van Gaal sealed the game for #NED credit where credit's due. #CRC have been amazing this

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella praised Lionel Messi after the Barcelona forward enjoyed a "wonderful match" against Belgium.

"It's not only scoring goals, it's having possession, taking out three opponents and every move he makes is a sign of hope for us and endangers our opponents," he said after his team's 1-0 win.

"That a player like Messi almost never loses the ball... gives us that water in the desert. Today, when the terrain was dry, he gave us that breath of fresh air every time he had the ball."

Image source, Getty Images

Gonzalo Higuain has not been at his best at this World Cup, but the Napoli striker scored his first international goal for 11 months as Argentina progressed to the last four with a 1-0 win over Belgium.

It was Argentina's fifth successive World Cup win by a one-goal margin and coach Alejandro Sabella believes victory over Belgium was his team's best performance in Brazil.

"It's a great joy for this squad, for the technical staff, for the people, for my family. We all crossed the Rubicon!" he said.

Image source, Sunday Telegraph

"Untouchable" is the back page headline in the Daily Telegraph , externalas the paper focuses on Belgium coach Marc Wilmots' claims that Lionel Messi is favoured by referees.

We asked whether Tim Krul's substitution was the best ever and you've been having your say at #bbcworldcup

John McEnerney: , externalDavid Fairclough was the original 'Super Sub' Best in recent years was Solskjaer, Nigel Spink in 82 and Iker Casillas in 2002 Champions League Final.

John McEnerney:, external Also Henrik "The King of Kings" Larsson in the 2006 CL Final for Barcelona came on and he set up both goals for Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti.

James Osborne: , externalNo, Teddy Sheringham and Solskjaer have that honour.

Ian: , external"The original keeper could/should have made the saves! What it probably did was unnerve Costa Ricans, that's the brilliance of it.

Argentina's quarter-final match with Belgium featured just three shots on target - including only one from Belgium - but Marc Wilmots has said he was not impressed by the Argentines.

"They are just an ordinary team. They can distort the rhythm, they take 30 seconds to take a throw-in and the referee doesn't do anything," said the Belgium coach after his team's 1-0 defeat.

"They had the goal, and Messi was one-on-one with (Thibaut) Courtois at the end but how many shots have they had? If I played that way I would have been destroyed by the Belgium press."

Former England striker Michael Owen:, external "Tim Krul is not a great pen saver, but LVG had Costa Rica believing he would be. Therein lies the masterstroke

Image source, Getty Images

Injured Brazil forward Neymar left his team's training base in Terespolis in a helicopter on Saturday. With his father alongside him, Neymar waved to the many cameras before taking off. Local media reported he was bound for Sao Paulo.