Andrew Cole
Former Manchester United striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Can England win the World Cup?

I’m going to be total honest - No England can’t win it. Quarter finals – if they get there it's job’s a good 'un.

Tony Hannington: We enjoy an emotive game, VAR will wreck the game, clearly it's for the TV viewer, whose probably never watched a game live on a cold wet Tuesday night in the back of beyond. We may not always like it but fans accept mistakes occur, its the ebb & flow of an emotional driven game.

Paul Barker: If players were honest and didn't try cheating then there would be no need for it. The system is fine it's them using it that need guidance from the top of how and when to use it.

Mark Braithwaite: Get rid for me.We are not talking about the game just VAR. Its not operated the same way in all games & everything still comes down to refs interpretation -fine the refs been in charge for over 100 years make decision & let’s play football. GLT fine,VAR ruining game.

Lee Jones: It takes away the excitement and the celebrations of every goal scored. It's like you cheer the goal but then think to yourself, ' hold on, VAR will probably look at that' The next generation of footballers will constantly look like they're playing Give Us a Clue!

Image source, Rex Features

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 live former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher had an interesting take on VAR at the World Cup so far.

"I thought the players would accept it when you look at VAR but Pepe was in the referee’s face trying to discourage him from looking at the VAR after the penalty last night," he said over the flashpoint in Portugal's draw with Iran last night.

"Players will always do whatever they can to influence the referee and I’m used to that. I thought VAR would take that way but it hasn’t.

"It’s almost brought a bit more aggression to the players because they have at times got a little bit nasty to the referee."

Juliette Ferrington
BBC Radio 5 live

Stoke City are closing in on the signing of West Brom midfielder James McClean.

The Republic of Ireland international has been a long term target of Gary Rowett and was strongly linked with a move to Derby County in January.

Instead he remained at The Hawthorns and started all six games of Darren Moore’s spell as caretaker manager at the end of last season.

Image source, Rex Features

Rio Ferdinand
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Rex Features

You want Messi in the later stages. He hasn’t turned up yet and I want to see some Messi magic in this tournament.

But I love Nigeria because a lot of the people where I'm from are Nigerian and it’s a country I have many friends from.

Steve: VAR will not work if players constantly pressurise the Ref to use it. Only the Captain should be allowed to approach ref. It should be a bookable offense to make the VAR sign at the Ref.

Simon Temple: In my opinion the ref shouldn't view it at all. It should work the same way the goal line technology does. An incident happens, another official views it and tells the ref the decision. It would stop the delays and pressuring of refs to go to VAR.

Scott Evans: VAR can’t be blamed for anything, it doesn’t make a recommendation, the ref makes the decision based on the evidence it provides. I’m fed up of all the ex pros bitching about it, it’s obviously coming it isn’t going away. The players also need to take some blame for yesterday.

Jimmy: I just sense at some point in this world cup a bad VAR call is gunna cost England I can see it coming a mile off.

Patrick Jennings
BBC Sport in Samara

"Everyone will want to get Russia in the quarter-finals..."

You've got to keep your spirits up somehow right? It is Spain next for the hosts after yesterday's VAR drama followed their comprehensive defeat by Uruguay.

Last night on the way back from the Samara Arena there was a mixture of moods. Most of course realise Russia's chances of progress beyond the last 16 are slim - many others are just keen to keep up the good feeling that has swept the whole country along on an unexpected ride.

Maybe yesterday was just a bump in the road? Much of the TV analysis here made the point - look at what Morocco almost did.

Image source, AFP

Jeremiah: VAR caused some horrible decisions yesterday

Leo Harbour: Its not the VAR it's the complete lack of understanding of how to use it

Michael Newsman: VAR is fine, it does its job and works perfectly. Unfortunately it's the incompetent referees using it (or not using it) that is the problem, which was the problem in the first place. 'You can lead a horse to water' and all that.

Chris Kearney: Incompetent, or inexperienced? VAR has been thrust into the biggest tournament with hardly any rigorous testing to help the refs utilise it efficiently. Should've had 3-4 years testing in domestic league before this point.

Rio Ferdinand
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Let’s get a bit of perspective. Panama are a pub team. Yes we're happy and we enjoyed it but from here on in now we’ll begin to see what this England team are made of.

Will they go for it against Belgium? You've got to beat what’s in front of you.

As a professional you can't play to finish second or play a negative game and say you don't want to score.

I’ve never gone out to do that and these guys won’t be any different.

Image source, Reuters

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, Rex Features

What most baffles Portuguese social media users, however, is a seemingly clairvoyant episode of the Simpsons from 1997 which has recently been unearthed as it appears to predict that Portugal and Mexico will make it to the final.

“Although there is no clear indication of what year the match takes places in, one detail has led viewers to believe that it’s the 2018 World Cup final: there seems to be a reference to the scandal that recently plagued the Mexican team who allegedly partied with several women before the beginning of the tournament”

The majority of Twitter users wanted to believe, with one promising that if the prediction came true he'd get the Simpsons shaved into his hair and another saying: "I get it now.

Ronaldo missed the penalty so we could end in second place and fulfil the Simpsons' prediction".

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Diario de Noticias says that Portugal was, once more, the “champion of suffering”, commenting that a straightforward victory against Iran was a “complete illusion”, and that, following Ronaldo’s missed penalty, Portugal was hounded by “the ghosts and insecurities that plagued the previous two matches” and which left both the team and the supporters “scared to death”.

Sabado reflects the relief with the headline “Portugal-Iran: bring the defibrillator!” - though no obvious relation with 69-year-old Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo da Sousa who was reported by Jornal de Noticias as saying: “I feel prepared for the emotions ahead - luckily my heart is currently doing well, although today is a tough one for those of us with a heart condition”

Image source, AFP

Portuguese paper A Bola reports that, when asked about the attitude of Iran players towards the Portugal team, midfielder Ricardo Quaresma only had complaints about Carlos Queiroz, Iran’s Portuguese manager:

“He’s the one who irritated me most," he said. "As a Portuguese man he should’ve respected the Portuguese more, but that’s a conversation for another day…”

Image source, Reuters

A quick aside with another reason why this World Cup has been so good so far.

We haven't had a single 0-0.

Viva the goals.

Here's what Alan Shearer made of what went on last night.

Speaking after the BBC coverage of Portugal's draw with Iran he said: "If he thinks that's a deliberate handball then he's crazy.

"In his rule-book, every time it hits a hand it's a penalty. It's ridiculous.

How can he do anything about that? He's half a yard away and the defender's eyes are closed. There's no way on earth that's a deliberate handball.

"That was my fear coming into this tournament, that you're going to get decisions like this. It turns the game into an absolute farce..

"It's nonsense, it's utter nonsense. He had a clear view from 12 yards away and didn't think it was a penalty. I'm trying to keep calm without swearing.

"I'm getting angry here because that's just a ludicrous decision."

Image source, Reuters