Maxi Pads Argentina's World Cup Resumé

I think we've got a new leader in the competition for "best goal of the World Cup." Argentina's Maxi Rodriguez chested down a pass, volleyed it off his foot, and hit a looping, hooking shot from outside the box that left Mexican keeper Oswaldo Sanchez with absolutely no chance. Just pure nastiness. It can't be done much better than that.

And making it even better, it came in the 98th minute of the match, in the first overtime period of this World Cup. In case you missed one of JP Dellacamera's 18 explanations of it, there's no more "Golden Goal" in the World Cup—if it's tied after regulation, there will be 30 extra minutes, regardless of whether or not anyone scores in those 30 minutes.

And a lot of credit goes to the Mexican team for their performance. Divey and floppy as it may have been, they competed hard, and gave a whale of a game to the power Argentinians. I didn't think they'd even be in this game, but they made the Argentinians earn it. And had it not been for the incredible strike from Rodriguez, it would likely have been going to penalty kicks.

Argentina vs. Germany in six days. And tomorrow: England vs. Ecuador, and Portugal vs. Netherlands.

Argentina 2-1 Mexico [BBC Sport]