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Day 12 in 100 words or less The group stages turned the corner and entered the final stretch on Monday. Suddenly there was a different vibe in the air in Brazil. A wind of caution and a realization that one moment could be the difference in staying or flying home. The games were more timid but there were still plenty of enormous talking points. Mexico 3-1 Croatia Nine months is a long time. Just ask a pregnant lady. Yet, apparently, we were told, it wasnt enough to change the fortunes of Mexican soccer. It was the late summer of 2013 and in a crucial World Cup qualifier, Mexico travelled to Columbus to take on their despised rivals, USA. The Mexicans needed it more but they were pathetic. Two goals in the second half didnt tell the entire story, the visitors were battered. The next act has been a story already told many times. Mexico didnt back into Brazil, they lay down on the ground and USA, Graham Zusi in particularly, dragged them there. They were supposed to still be a shambles, given little chance to progress. Suddenly two games in, they were excellent but the goal had not been accomplished. It was time for Croatia. It was time for the Herrera and Herrera show. Mexico had at least been as good as Brazil over the first two games and on Monday, after all three teams had played each other, it was clear that El Tri were indeed the most in-form team during group play. The standings didnt reflect that, after all Mexico were denied two goals against Cameroon which cost them the goal difference tie-breaker, but this team defended better than Brazil, countered better and, Cameroon aside, finished better than them, too. The latter was cemented with three precise finishes on Monday, killing off Niko Kovacs side with an arrogance that had been lacking for too long in Mexican football. The scenes to follow were in complete contrast to nine months earlier. A disjointed bunch had become a united force. Strike rivals Oribe Peralta and Javier Hernandez embraced, the newly formed brilliant back three high-fived and Paul Aguilar sprinted towards his coach and dived into his arms. Herrera fell immediately on to the floor but he didnt care how it looked. Mexico had turned it around, led by a true midfield maestro in Hector Herrera who did it all. The World Cup has unearthed some truly wonderful young stars and on a day when captain marvellous Rafa Marquez made history, Herreras heroics shouldnt go unnoticed. In a group with Paulinho, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, he was, without question, the best midfielder during group A play in Brazil. Brazil 4-1 Cameroon Some of it was all too easy to predict. Neymar got his goals, Cameroons defence was suspect and the scoreline reflected a rout in Brasilia. And then there was the bit that few saw coming. Three weeks today, this team plans on showing the World Cup to the people of Brazil. In the tournaments first two weeks, they have done nothing to show why they deserve it. The key sixth man in a formation (in front of a back four and holder) has been important in this tournament and in Paulinho, Brazil have an out-of-sorts player. Luiz Felipe Scolari told anyone willing to listen that he cared little for club form but his loyalty will be tested now with the Spurs man. Fernandinho, who replaced him and scored, is likely to come in for the game against Chile. There will be no replacing Marcelo and David Luiz, however. The defensive pair may send Thiago Silva to the hospital soon. The PSG defender is a wonderful player but how much longer can he continue to do three jobs? Fred got his goal, which shouldnt have counted, but remains a problem up front, Oscar and Hulk disappear out of games, too. World Cup winners have started slower before but the hosts have no more time for mistakes. Netherlands 2-0 Chile It is fitting that the finest player, to date, at the counter attacking World Cup, is one of the worlds best in transition. Arjen Robben skippered his side to glory on Monday, in a game that just may have huge consequences later in the tournament. It was a game that requires few words but which leads to many significant storylines heading into the knockout stage. Chile, who look like potential World Champions for parts of two games, never replicated their tempo and pressing that left opponents stunned. It was a pedestrian performance that now hands them Brazil in the last 16. Brazil. The same opponent who got in their way the last two times they have made it past the group stages. It is a matchup that terrifies Chile and it should based on how they played on Monday without Arturo Vidal. Brazil, too, however, will be terrified. They wanted no part of Chile this early. The Dutch, meanwhile, march on. Mexico will be tough but is very winnable as is a likely quarterfinal tie against one of Ivory Coast, Greece or Costa Rica. Dont look now but Louis van Gaals men have suddenly become real contenders. Spain 3-0 Australia It had a feeling like a testimonial match. David Villa scored and later left the game in tears as his international career closed. The strikers position in the squad should have been questioned but no one will question his position amongst the greats on this special team. Without him, they would not have been World Champions. The majestic Andres Iniesta got his 100th cap and gave us another glimpse at greatness with a sublime pass for Fernando Torres to score. There were hugs all around at the final whistle and they will continue into Tuesday when Spain fly home to Madrid. They leave Brazil a broken team, full of superstars of yesterday but the next time they fly to a World Cup you can guarantee they will be one of the favourites once again. Man of the day Nominees Andres Iniesta - what a pass, what a player. Please give us one more World Cup. Arjen Robben - amazing to think the once petulant winger is now a mature, all-around star leading his nation. Rafa Marquez - the captain always finds a way to get in the headlines and his header sent Mexico on their way. Hector Herrera - he can pass, tackle, run, take set pieces and shoot. Future captain and star for Mexico. Neymar - the Golden boot could be on for Mr Box Office after a brilliant brace against Cameroon. The winner Rafa Marquez - has now scored in three World Cups for Mexico and led their defence brilliantly against Croatia. Maza Rodriguez and Hector Moreno are far better having the captain beside them. Whats next? Italy vs Uruguay and Costa Rica vs England (Noon/9am). Japan vs Colombia and Greece vs Ivory Coast (4pm/1pm) Burning question for tomorrow Can Mario Balotelli produce a consistent performance and be as clinical as his Uruguayan strike opponents? Stat of Day 12 Neymar scored the tournaments 100th goal when he opened the scoring against Cameroon. Simone Zaza Jersey . With the Canadiens leading by one to start the third period, Price turned away 16 shots by the Panthers in the final frame to give Montreal a 2-1 victory over Florida on Monday night. The Panthers (16-21-6) outshot Montreal 16-10 in the final frame, but were repeatedly frustrated by Price, who made 26 saves on the night. Riccardo Montolivo Jersey . - Houston defensive end J. http://www.italysoccerauthority.com/ale ... ly-jersey/. He will play 10th-seeded Feliciano Lopez in Sundays final, after the Spanish left-hander defeated Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 7-6 (7), 6-4. Angelo Ogbonna Jersey . Torres scored the first goal by an English team in the knockout phase of the Champions League this season when he met Cezar Azpilicuetas cutback in the ninth minute of their first leg match in the last 16. But Chelsea failed to make the most of its counterattacks and the Turkish champions equalized in the second half after gaining in confidence and cutting out their defensive mistakes. Emanuele Giaccherini Jersey . They started shooting the puck. Joe Pavelski had a hat trick to move into a tie for second in the NHL in goals and the Sharks beat Philadelphia 7-3 Thursday night in the first game for both teams following the Olympic break. GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Kelvin Benjamin shook off one tackler and then three more, bullying his way into the end zone to finish off Florida States most impressive play on a day filled with them. Benjamin was clearly a mismatch -- just like the game. Jameis Winston threw three touchdown passes to Benjamin, and No. 2 Florida State moved a step closer to playing for the national championship with a 37-7 victory against rival Florida on Saturday. "Tremendous," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "KB has real advantages with his size, speed and athleticism. He can be a very, very special player, and hes starting to develop into that guy." The Seminoles improved to 12-0 for the first time since 1999 and likely will earn a spot in the Bowl Championship Series title game by beating Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game next Saturday. Florida, meanwhile, ended its worst season since 1979. The Gators (4-8) lost their final seven games and missed a bowl for the first time since 1990. Floridas bowl streak had been the second-longest in the country, behind Florida State. "We hit rock bottom this year," Florida guard Max Garcia said. "I feel like the only way we can go is up." The Seminoles were four-touchdown favourites in a lopsided matchup that lived up to advance billing. Although the outcome was never in doubt, the Gators made it interesting early with some stout defence. They hit Winston several times, even late once, and stuffed FSUs running game. But with its offence floundering once again -- Florida managed just three first downs in the first half -- the defence eventually wore down. And Winston & Co. took advantage. "His competitiveness is ridiculous," Fisher said of Winston. "Hes a competitor. Nothing fazes that guy. He thrives on that. ... The guys ability to learn and process information is what puts him over the top. He can think. He understands what hes doing at all times. And when he makes a mistake, he can come off and tell you exactly why he did it, what he did or didnt do right." Winston, the Heisman Trophy candidate being investigated for his role in an alleged rape, hooked up with Benjamin for touchdown passes of 45 and 29 yards in the second quarter. Winston found his 6-foot-5 target again in the third, a 56-yard connection that would have gone the distance had Benjamin not fallen down while making the catch. Devonta Freeman scored on the next play, weaving untouched from 11 yards out and putting the Seminoles ahead 27-0. Winston and Benjamin recorded the hat trick with a 4-yard score in the fourth. FSU outgained Florida 456-193, most of it through the air. Winston completed 19 of 31 passes for 3327 yards.dddddddddddd Benjamin caught nine passes for a career-high 212 yards, beating Loucheiz Purifoy early and often. Benjamins previous high was 103 yards receiving at Boston College earlier this year. "Just doing the little things to be a great receiver, basically," Benjamin said. About the only thing that went wrong for FSU was that testy exchange between Winston and coach Jimbo Fisher in the fourth quarter. Fisher was upset that Winston let the play clock wind down, forcing the team to call timeout. Winston screamed back at Fisher, who grabbed Winstons facemask on the sideline. The coach and player downplayed it afterward. Floridas defence held tough early, giving up just 33 yards and a field goal in the first quarter. Purifoy even intercepted Winstons fifth pass of the game, but the Gators failed to capitalize on the turnover. Austin Hardin missed a 49-yard field goal wide right. It was Floridas ninth missed field goal of the season. As the offence kept stalling, the defence started fading. "Everybody started looking at the scoreboard as a collective group and saying, Dang, the offence is just three-and-out, three-and-out, three-and-out," Florida defensive lineman Jon Bullard said. It certainly didnt help that Florida had to throw its offensive game plan out the window after four plays. Trey Burton hurt his left shoulder on his second carry of the game, a fitting finale for the injury-riddled Gators. Coach Will Muschamp said the plan was to line Burton up at quarterback for 35 plays. He ran twice for 47 yards, including a 50-yarder up the middle on his first carry. He injured his shoulder on his second run, Floridas fourth offensive play. He went to the locker room and later returned wearing street clothes. His left arm was in a sling and wrapped with ice. "Obviously you dont want to go out like that," Burton said. "I felt like I let my team down a little bit." Without him, Florida turned to freshman Skyler Mornhinweg. He struggled in his two previous games, throwing for 229 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. Mornhinweg finished 20-of-25 passing for 115 yards. Floridas worst season in 34 years did nothing to affect Muschamps status for 2014. Athletic director Jeremy Foley held an impromptu news conference before the game and reiterated "total confidence" in Muschamp, but said "weve got to fix some things" on the offensive side of the ball. "We havent made an excuse all year and were not going to make them now," Foley said. "We know what this program is all about. I have total confidence in coach Muschamp and have made that clear. 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