Along with Suárez's curler for Uruguay the previous day and both of Japan's free-kicks, it's definitely up there in the Top 5 for the tournament so far.
The striker may have got a little lucky with an attempted through ball ricocheting into his path, but there was nothing lucky about his wonderfully struck, 64 mph strike that - excuse the cliché - almost burst the back of the net.
Argentina look on top form here and they're gonna be hard for Germany to knock down. Still, if anyone can, then I guess the Germans can, right? ;)
The top half of the draw was completed yesterday too. Adding to the first QF, the second will be a-must-watch Brazil vs Netherlands. The Brazilians won 3-0 and brushed aside a Chilean side that never really picked up steam and rarely threatened to get off the mark.
First Juan thumped home a header, then Luís Fabiano finished off a swift counter. Finally, in the second half, Robinho tucked away a wonderful strike after Ramires' run had torn the Chilean team apart with purpose and power, right down the centre of the field.
The Dutch, buoyed by the return of Arjen Robben, put in a quiet but efficient performance against Slovakia, beating them 2-1.
Robben himself got Holland going in the 18th minute, running onto a wonderful pass from Wesley Sneijder and then cutting back inside in typical Robben fashion before hitting a crisp, low shot into the bottom corner.
It wasn't all plain sailing though and the Dutch had to wait till the 84th minute before getting that second comfort goal. This time it was Sneijder's turn to finish off a nice move when Dirk Kuyt put the midfielder in for a simple, side foot tap in after taking advantage of a quickly taken free kick.
Now, The Netherlands have gotten this far with very minimal effort. Van Persie still hasn't hit top form and I haven't seen much in the way of real, positive, attacking football from them to suggest that they'll beat the Brazilians in their match but isn't that often the sign of a good team? Get the job done without being at their best?
I went for them at the beginning of the tournament and I'll stick with them. It's gonna be a cracking game on Friday!!
Now, The Netherlands have gotten this far with very minimal effort. Van Persie still hasn't hit top form and I haven't seen much in the way of real, positive, attacking football from them to suggest that they'll beat the Brazilians in their match but isn't that often the sign of a good team? Get the job done without being at their best?
I went for them at the beginning of the tournament and I'll stick with them. It's gonna be a cracking game on Friday!!
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