Lionel Scaloni said he was looking forward to taking on Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal in the World Cup quarter-finals after his Argentina side beat Australia 2-1 on Saturday.

France's bid to retain the World Cup continues against Poland on Sunday, while England's pursuit of a first major trophy in 56 years will be tested by African champions Senegal.

Argentina players came off the pitch on Saturday elated and relieved to have made it to the World Cup quarter-finals after Lionel Messi set them on their way to a 2-1 win but Australia stormed back in the final minutes for a thrilling end.

Brazilian soccer great Pele remains in stable condition after being hospitalized this week as he battles colon cancer, a hospital medical report said on Saturday.

Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez struck on either side of interval as Argentina booked quarter-final spot following a 2-1 victory against Australia in their last-16 match on Saturday.

Lionel Messi began the 1,000th game of his remarkable career in fitting fashion on Saturday in Argentina's World Cup last 16 clash with Australia as the superstar playmaker took his side in front in the first half at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan.

World Cup host nation Qatar showed its support for Pele on Saturday, lighting up buildings with a "Get well soon" message for the Brazil football great.

Argentina replaced striker Angel Di Maria with Alejandro Gomez alongside Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez in attack against Australia in Saturday's World Cup last 16 clash.

Lending credence to the idea that fate itself would conspire against the holders in the group stages -- as was the case with Italy in 2010,

Japan have already scripted one of the best stories of the World Cup with comeback victories over former champions Germany and Spain but Takuma Asano says they have not achieved anything yet.

A clinical Netherlands ended the United States’ World Cup dream on Saturday, sweeping into the quarter-finals with a ruthless 3-1 victory.

Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries set up their first two goals and netted a decisive third to ensure a 3-1 victory over the United States on Saturday and a spot in the World Cup quarter-finals, thwarting US efforts at a late comeback.

Brazilian icon Pele has been transferred to palliative care after doctors discovered that he was no longer responding to chemotherapy.

Half-fit players, a leaky defence and a controversial flag that raised diplomatic tensions underlined yet another exit for Serbia in the group stage at the World Cup, proving that their resurgence earlier this year was nothing but a false dawn.

Switzerland made it through to the last 16 of the World Cup for a third time in a row after beating Serbia 3-2 in their final Group G game on Friday but their run in this tournament is far from finished, coach Murat Yakin said.

Son Heung-min wants his South Korea side to pull off “another miracle” and beat Brazil on Monday in the World Cup last 16 after their last-gasp heroics against Portugal.

Four years ago Africa was left without a representative in the World Cup last 16 for the first time since the round was introduced in 1986, but the response has been emphatic in Qatar.

Lionel Messi produced a moment of trademark quality to score the opener in a 2-1 win over Australia and send Argentina into the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Saturday.

The Netherlands became the first country into the World Cup quarter-finals as they beat the United States 3-1 at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday.

Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus and full-back Alex Telles have been ruled out of the World Cup after the duo picked up knocks during the Selecao's 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their last World Cup Group G game on Friday, according to ESPN Brasil sources.