Suarez’s bite on Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, Brazil’s humiliation in the hands of Germany, Louis Van Gaal’s master stroke of bringing in a different goal keeper for the penalty shoot-out. Tim Howard’s 15 saves against Belgium and above all how could one forget Javier Mascherano’s last ditch tackle on Robben that denied Dutch a place in the finals? If Argentina was to win the world cup that would have been one of world cup’s finest moments ever.
Suarez was not alone in controversy as was FIFA too. There were rumors that the governing body had changed laws of the country to accommodate their sponsors. The popular beer brand Budweiser who was also in FIFA’s sponsors list forced them to amend Brazil’s rule of banning alcohol inside the stadium.
If there was a surprise package in the world cup it was Costa Rica who topped the group of death. They shocked the Copa America champions Uruguay and the Euro 2012 runners up Italy. Banking on Keylor Navas’s brilliance behind the bar their journey went as far as quarter finals where they lost to Dutch but only in penalties. Colombia also surprised football fans with their brilliant run in the tournament which saw them winning four out of five matches. Belgium also lived up to their expectations by exiting in the last eight.
Brazil world cup witnessed for the first time the use of goal line technology. France’s second goal in the group game against Honduras was the first time the technology was used to confirm the goal. Vanishing foam was used to mark a ten yard line for the opponents while defending a free kick. And there was the introduction of cooling break if temperatures were to rise above 32 degree Celsius.
When the curtain rolls down there is a question every football fan ask themselves whether it was the best world cup they witnessed?. And without a second thought Brazil provided the finest entertainment ever in a world cup football. Now off to Russia 2018.
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