Argentina v Germany

As official football correspondant from within Argentina, I have to report that the feeling is that this might be a step too far for Diego's happy mental army. Brazil going out today led to both wild celebrations and increased nerves concerning tomorrow's game.

Whilst much of the fear of Germany is based on an outdated impression of the German team as workmanlike emotionless robots, rather than the multicultural flair and flaw filled fellas they truly are, there remains a feeling of quietly resiegned, almost English, they-did-us-in-2006-and-they-are-going-to-do-us-again... ness. Germany are just a bit too quick, a bit too sharp, and a bit too... well, German... for this brilliant and barmy Diego army.

That said, in a country of contradiction, there is simultaneously not a single person who doesn't believe that Argentina is going to win.  

All the talk at the moment is of the psychic pulpo, and that hot Paraguayan fan. (scroll down a bi from every Latin American teenage boys' favourite website at the moment. Stop when you get to 'the boobs'...)

They think they believe Messi is going to score, that Mascherano will neutralise Özil, and that the (slow, creaky) Argentina's back four will defend as deep as a Lampard goalline. If Diego keeps his head and doesn't pick Jonás Gutierez, largely agreed to be rubbish even for Newcastle, and if... and if.. and if... then the entire place is going to go up tomorrow.

Never mind that it kicks off 11am local time. They're more than capable of dancing from a 1pm finish till late the early morning.  So, in the words of any impartial Argentine commentator before a live game on TYC Sports or Canal 15: ¡Vamos Diego! ¡Vamos Argentina! ¡Vamos Muchachos! ¡Vamos ¡Vamos! ¡Vamo!! ¡Vamo!!