Group G sure turned it on for lovers of football. From the first ball bending "wasn't that a cross?" goal by Brazil, to Cristiano Ronaldo's "did he mean it?" catch on the back of the neck and shoot, there has been so much to love.
And the news for Group G fans gets better with both Brazil and Portugal looking to have the game to march on all the way to the final...
Overnight, Brazil accounted for continental neighbours, Chile, to continue their seemingly inexorable march to the last day. This Brazilian team has nobody reaching for the superlatives just yet, but I love them. They are as slick a machine as has graced this world cup. The pace, flicks and trick-shots are their, but just a little more subtle - deliberately contained. Their campaign has, so far, been one of just enough being plenty. They are a team in Dunga's mould; determined, effective and just as happy to score from a corner as they are from a well worked build-up. It's not clear that Brazil have even broken into a canter yet, but with an equally effective Holland in their next match, the time for Brazil to stamp their jogo bonito on this tourney is surely now.
Portugal has played this tournament smartly indeed. Faced with a real group of death, they kept it tight and respected the good teams, before doing such a job on North Korea that Cote D'Ivoire went into the final match with no real chance of progression. A bit of luck against Brazil, and they would have topped the group. That said, progression was always the first goal for Carlos Queiroz and the job was done nicely and with enough margin for error. Their match against Brazil, whilst loudly damned as dour, proved that Portugal have the grit and determination to match it with anyone in this tournament. They were the better team against Brazil and knowing that will fuel them to shake the World Cup right up.
And so onto the match of the round between Portugal and Spain. Best of frenemies. FIFA's numbers 2 and 3 in the world.
Spain started this round of a millennia's worth of skirmishing by declaring their joy at avoiding Portugal's former colony, Brazil... after Portugal had just about got the better of Brazil in their physical nil-all draw. Those comments may have since been recanted, but Portugal's players have undoubtedly heard the call and will be steaming up the dressing room long before the match starts.
For Portugal, this match is not only about Iberian rivalry. Times are tough in Portugal and a march deep into the World Cup would do wonders for the national psyche. First, they must dispose of neighbours Spain. A Portuguese win tonight will raise the sort of world-cup joy and celebration that will have the neighbours writing deliberate letters to slip under the mat at the border posts.
Portugal don't need to attack Spain to win this match, and I don't think they will. I'm tipping a replay of the Brazil match - tight and niggly. Queiroz takes Portugal into the knock-out phase wielding an almost impregnable defensive shield in one hand, and a great big counter-attacking sword in the other. Simao, Ronaldo and Deco each have a range of passing and an eye for goal that can tear anyone apart in an instant. Any combination of those three charging into a retreating, slightly nervy Spanish defence will run riot.
One goal ought be plenty to take the honours, and I'm tipping exactly that; a 12th round knock-out punch by Portugal to see off their closest rivals.
