World Cup highlights: Two James being fan of each other

Two men called James admire each other

Colombian striker James Rodriguez is rapidly becoming a superstar at the World Cup, and another celebrity in a different sport is beginning to take notice.

While Rodriguez was giving a bravura performance against Uruguay, NBA luminary LeBron James tweeted that he may have found his new favorite football player in Rodriguez, and that his name might have helped:

"Man watching this Colombian game I think I have my fav player in the world cup! Obviously his name help that out #Biased #10 #James#WC2014"

- LeBron James (@KingJames) June 28, 2014

It looks like Rodriguez is a fan of LeBron as well. A while back, the Colombian posted a picture of him in a LeBron jersey on his Instagram account.

Mexico blames ref for extending 'curse'

Mexico's World Cup last-16 curse remains unbroken after the North Americans were stopped by the Netherlands and a debatable penalty on the road to a first quarterfinal since 1986.

With two minutes to play Mexico were leading 1-0 but Wesley Sneijder pulled the Dutch level and moments later Klaas-Jan Huntelaar won it with an injury-time penalty after Arjen Robben was adjudged to have been brought down by Rafael Marquez.

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera, one of the most popular characters at the tournament due to his exaggerated touchline mannerisms, blamed Portuguese referee Pedro Proenca for the defeat and accused Robben of diving under the challenge of Marquez.

"Today it was the man with the whistle who eliminated us from the World Cup," Herrera said. "If a referee invents a penalty, you're out of the World Cup. I hope they have a look at what happened and that this gentleman goes home just like we are."

Mexico has played at all but five of the 20 World Cups, reaching the quarterfinals as host in both 1970 and 1986, but has been unable to better its record since.

Robben courts further controversy

Arjen Robben, who had already had two penalty claims waved away, dribbled the ball into the Mexican penalty area and drew a tackle from Rafael Marquez that was controversially ruled a foul.

Robben handed the ball to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar who fired home the spot kick to leave the balding, 30-year-old dribbling specialist at the center of another fair play debate.

"Three times he dived, and they didn't say anything," fumed Mexico coach Miguel Herrera. "If the referee was fair, their second goal wouldn't exist ... because Robben would have been sent off for a second yellow card."

Mexico captain Marquez said: "I felt I touched the ground but I didn't touch him, maybe he touched me." He added that Robben told him afterwards "that it wasn't a penalty, though one of the previous (tackles) was."

The Netherlands forward later admitted diving early in the game and apologized on Dutch television, but not when he won the decisive kick in injury time, which he deemed a "definite foul."

FIFA said its disciplinary committee "will look into serious infringements," after Robben's acknowledgement of diving, but has so far taken no action.