As for the golden ball, before last night I thought if colombia get knocked out then rodriguez is no chance as players don't win it when going out this early.

Now, I'm not so sure, he ran the show in the 2nd half, scored a cool penalty, was sobbing like a baby at the end and even had luiz offering up to the crowd for adulation.

With none of the top boys really taking this world cup by storm you've still got a chance, but you really need the argies to get beat because if they win it it will be solely down to messi and he will have emulated maradona in single handedly dragging his country to world cup glory and the journos will never overlook that feat.

If Brazil win it you've got luiz to worry about because as strange as it seemed him on top of that index thing, he is on top and the goal was incredible, also, as good as it was for rodriguez, luiz offering him up for applause from the crowd was a mark of good sportsmanship although it is easy to do when you've just won.

TBH if Messi dragged this bunch to the final then I would have no argument really, anybody else needs 2 (or 3) mom and if that is done then fair enough as well. If none of the above then i can moan futilely for a few weeks and move on........

If it all comes off I think you can at least look forward to a moment at about 10.29 pm on the next days news at ten where you'll get a "and finally" moment

Alas I didn't have a bean on Rodriguez (a very meaty 670 on here!) and I read the thread before he'd scored a goal (can't remember his price at the kickoff) but I'm rooting for Spyker's bet (last traded at 1.62) which fully deserves to oblige...as others have mentioned, it's a superb piece of tipping even if the bet gets chinned.

I had my fingers crossed earlier when Messi had a one-on-one with the keeper in the last few minutes.

Can anyone throw some clarity on the rules if it's a tie on goals scored because that'd be a hideous way to lose...I'm sure Spyker will gladly take it if Rodriguez wins it on whatever technicality (minutes played/goal assists) there might be.

Best of luck Squire...I'd be shítting my speedos

Even though they are knocked out he's still been the player of the tournament, if the poor Argies win it I think Messi will get it. Still think he has an excellent chance though even though he's out in the quarters. Robbens diving will surely go against him, and Luiz overall has surely not done enough has he?

Gibberish - the golden boot will go down to assists, if the same then it goes to whoever has played the least minutes (on here that is). Top goalscorer is dead heat rules.

The Golden Boot will be awarded to the player who scores the most goals in the final competition. If two or more players score the same number of goals, the number of assists (as determined by the members of the FIFA Technical Study Group) shall be decisive. If two or more players are still equal after taking into account the number of assists, the total minutes played in the tournament will be taken into account, with the player playing fewer minutes ranked first.

Yeah Gib as magic says - and he's ahead on assists and has much less minutes already. The boot looks much the more likely now, though messi wasn't brilliant (and not mom for once!) over to you Robben.......

Rodriguez has seriously taken this tournament by storm, and I wouldn't lay him at 9/2 to win the golden ball even though he's out.

He won win the golden ball now luckily for my balance.

if argentina beat holland messie cant be in third place play off,also muller n persie could be in 3rd place play off.
its complex

I want boring 0-0's from here on in, no spectacular goals, no mazy runs nowt, nothing but boring knock it about until the pens please.........
Big hope for ball is if it's Holland v Ger and neither Robben nor Muller star here in, although if Bra get three now it is a team effort and now the star is out could they give it to another bra? Yep they def could! Boot is in the lap of the gods and all players have 2 games from here - assuming they are picked obv.

Hmm....looks like Neymar is coming back early
http://asia.eurosport.com/football/world-cup/2014/neymar-considering-injection-to-get-through-final_sto4316400/story.shtml

Just when I thought he was out.

Damn this guy and his filming. Should we call him Filmar?

I'd be fuming if he doesn't win player of the tournament because everyone knows he has been the standout performer! All the other contenders messi robben etc have not been as consistent.  It shouldn't matter if columbia get knocked out in the quarters for me Rodriguez has been the guy the world has been talking about so should be given the award unless messi scores 4 against holland which is unlikely!

Cash out not a option?

Bets (main ones anyway) placed with laddys and betfair sportsbook so no but I've laid off and am about £200 up even if he wins nowt. I've got to say i am surprised that he is so much in it still as I thought if Col got beat in 1/4s then that would be it. I guess he has been that good - and i didn't expect him to score as many as that bet was purely speculative - and no one else been outstanding that he does till have a decent shout from here.
I still think it comes down to messi - he goes out then James must be fav and it would need 2 match winning (or damn near) from somebody to win it. I don't buy the 'it'll go to the best player of the team that wins it' theory but in all honesty there really isn't anything else i can do form here other than wish for (as well as Arg getting beat) boring 0-0 skilless (sic) excitementless (sic) dire games from here on in!

Spyker this is "tip" of the year imo never heard of this guy before the WC started so i ignored your thread till he scored "that" goal.

He is some player and deserves recognition for that gl hope he gets it well done you.

Get help johnni. The obsession will take you over. Either that or read what the team doctor says.

Can anyone confirm when they actually vote for it? As there are 2 different times on here, would be excellent news if Clarky is correct but I cannot see them doing it then.

Well played Spyker.

Great shout.

All this "spyker is a genius" and "I'd never even heard of this player" stuff makes me laugh. The guy went for 45 million last summer - he's hardly a nobody!

That being said, it was obviously a great bet and James fully deserves the award as things stand. Good luck.

Zero unfortunately.