COSTA RICA VS GREECE
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BRAZIL 2014 Goals record as group stage ends, Algeria create history
THE DAY REPLAYED – As the group stage reached its climax at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, Portugal, Ghana, Korea Republic and Russia were all left facing early flights home along with the 12 sides eliminated before them. The tournament has come to a close too for Luis Suarez, with the Uruguay striker suspended for nine matches and four months following an incident during La Celeste's meeting with Italy on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, Algeria are revelling in a breakthrough moment after decades of frustration. Les Fennecs (Desert Foxes) recorded a 1-1 draw with Russia to seal their progress to the Round of 16 for the first time in the history, ensuring a place in the hearts of a nation for Vahid Halilhodzic and his men.
Results
Portugal 2-1 Ghana (Budweiser Man of the Match: Cristiano Ronaldo, POR)
USA 0-1 Germany (Budweiser Man of the Match: Thomas Muller, GER)
Korea Republic 0-1 Belgium (Budweiser Man of the Match: Jan Vertonghen, BEL)
Algeria 1-1 Russia (Budweiser Man of the Match: Islam Slimani, ALG)
Memorable momentsEnd of days in Recife
The heavens opened above Recife as USA and Germany locked horns amid a torrential downpour at the Arena Pernambuco. The grim conditions gave the game an apocalyptic feel, but it was in Brasilia where tournament last rites were being read. 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a goal against Ghana and was named Budweiser Man of the Match, yet even he could not save Portugal from elimination – goalkeeper Beto's tears at the final whistle summing up the Iberian side's heartbreak.
Breaking new ground
The goals scored in today's games blasted Brazil 2014 into the record books as a new benchmark was set for group stage strikes. A total of 136 goals were registered in the opening phase, six more than at Korea/Japan 2002. Fittingly, current adidas Golden Boot leader Thomas Muller notched the record-breaking effort, hitting the target against USA with a thunderous side-footed shot.
Continental shifts Beaten 1-0 by Belgium, Korea Republic were unable to salvage a little late pride for the Asian contenders at Brazil 2014. For the first time since 1990, no AFC hopeful was able to record a victory at the global showcase. In contrast, Africa will have an unprecedented two representatives in the knockout phase, Algeria and Nigeria combining to blaze a trail for the continent. The tournament has smiled on CONCACAF too, with three of its teams surviving the group stage for the first time.
Long wait over
The scenes of joy that greeted Algeria's vital draw with Russia spoke volumes about the scale of the north Africans' achievement. Having held Fabio Capello's charges 1-1, Les Fennecs clinched a maiden berth in the Round of 16, leaving them to look forward to the uncharted territory of the knockout phase. Budweiser Man of the Match Islam Slimani delivered the telling blow, heading in from a precision-guided Yacine Brahimi free-kick.
The stat 50 – Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Brazil with one minor consolation. Unable to find the net in his first two outings at Brazil 2014, the Real Madrid forward finally opened his account in Portugal's farewell match, racking up his 50th international goal in 114 appearances. Only four other players involved in the tournament have also passed the half-century mark, and 70-goal Miroslav Klose will be the sole member of the club in the Round of 16, with Didier Drogba (63), David Villa (59) and Samuel Eto'o (55) all eliminated. Ronaldo has now struck in three separate World Cups, becoming the first Portuguese player to do so after adding to efforts in 2006 and 2010.
Luis Suarez 'bite' pictures: See teeth marks Italian Giorgio Chiellini claims star left in shoulder
Luis Suarez is embroiled in another biting controversy.
The 27-year-old clashed late-on with Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's must-win clash with Italy in Natal another controversial incident.
Footage was inconclusive at first but the Italian defender was adamant showing the referee what appear to be bite marks on his shoulder.
Suarez of course has previous for such matters having tangled with Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in an incident that saw him banned for eight matches.
Uruguay went on to win the match 1-0, sending them through to the last 16 of the World Cup.
Chiellini told Rai TV: "It was ridiculous not to send Suarez off.
"It is clear, clear-cut and then there was the obvious dive afterwards because he knew very well that he did something that he shouldn’t have done."
BRAZIL 2014 Villa and Spain bow out on a high
David Villa brought the curtain down on a glorious international career by scoring a wonder goal that helped Spain end a forgettable FIFA World Cup™ campaign with a 3-0 win over Australia in Curitiba. The 32-year-old had announced before the tournament that he will quit international football following Brazil 2014. Fernando Torres and Juan Mata were also on target to ensure Vicente Del Bosque’s men finished third in Group B, leaving Ange Postecoglou’s Socceroos bottom.
A match in which both sides had nothing but pride to play for began at a leisurely pace, and it took until the 23rd minute for the first chance to arrive. Jordi Alba was the man afforded it, in space inside the Australian area following a neat flick from Villa, but Maty Ryan dived to his left to repel the little wingback’s strike.
The contest really came to life after the half-hour. Villa collected possession down the left, puzzled Mile Jedinak with step-overs, and squared the ball across goal, only for it to run between Santi Cazorla and Fernando Torres and away from danger.
Villa’s end product didn’t, however, let him down moments later. Andres Iniesta slid a sumptuous pass behind the Socceroos defence for Juanfran to run on to. Rather than rush his cross, the Atletico Madrid right-back looked up, spotted Villa unmarked, and cleverly cut the ball towards him. Spain’s record marksman let it run through his legs before extravagantly flicking it past Ryan and into the back of the net with his right heel.
The contest really came to life after the half-hour. Villa collected possession down the left, puzzled Mile Jedinak with step-overs, and squared the ball across goal, only for it to run between Santi Cazorla and Fernando Torres and away from danger.
Villa’s end product didn’t, however, let him down moments later. Andres Iniesta slid a sumptuous pass behind the Socceroos defence for Juanfran to run on to. Rather than rush his cross, the Atletico Madrid right-back looked up, spotted Villa unmarked, and cleverly cut the ball towards him. Spain’s record marksman let it run through his legs before extravagantly flicking it past Ryan and into the back of the net with his right heel.
The second half started at a quicker pace than the first had, but the sides struggled to carve out a meaningful opportunity until the 69th minute. That was when Iniesta uncorked the Aussie backline with one of his patented through-balls, and Torres took it in his stride and slotted past Ryan for his first World Cup goal since Germany 2006.
Mark Bresciano, the 34-year-old Socceroos icon who was deemed unfit to start, got a great reception when he came on for what will surely be his last World Cup game, but it was theRoja fans who were cheering on 82 minutes. Cesc Fabregas chipped the ball into Mata, who, from an acute angle, nutmegged Ryan to make it 3-0.
Spain had done what Del Bosque had demanded: responded in style following two shocking upsets. Their all-time record marksman, the man whose magic inspired them to glory at South Africa 2010, had made a memorable farewell: with his 59th and arguably classiest international goal.
GERMANY Low: I enjoy the pressure
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The German national team may have won countless admirers across the globe thanks to their stylish play, but coach Joachim Low remains far from satisfied. At the eagerly anticipated 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, nothing but lifting a first major international title as coach - and the country's fourth World Cup overall - will do.
Low took time out from his preparations to speak to FIFA.com about his coaching philosophy, his emotions and expectations ahead of the impending tournament and his thoughts ahead of a special reunion with Jurgen Klinsmann.
Low took time out from his preparations to speak to FIFA.com about his coaching philosophy, his emotions and expectations ahead of the impending tournament and his thoughts ahead of a special reunion with Jurgen Klinsmann.
FIFA.com: You are renowned worldwide for your meticulous preparation. To what extent do you believe it is possible to plan for success?
Joachim Low: There are several things you can plan in advance, such as fitness levels, movement and tactics, but you can only plan for success up to a certain point. We can lay the foundations and that increases the probability of achieving something. That's what we were working on so intensely at our training camp in South Tyrol. I'm delighted with the way the players trained, the way they got involved and how they gave their all. In sporting terms it was very good but even the best training camp cannot guarantee success, let alone guarantee that you'll win the World Cup.
You are heading into your fourth major international tournament as head coach. Does that kind of experience give you a greater sense of calm, or does the fact that it is a World Cup still cause a few nerves?The closer we get to a tournament the calmer I become because I know that we've thought of everything, and I have faith in that. I'm now able to deal with high-pressure situations very well and I even enjoy them actually. I'm looking forward to our warm-up games, to every training session and to everything Brazil has in store for us. Experiencing a World Cup in the world's most football-crazy country is as good as it gets, for the players, coaches and fans.
At South Africa 2010 Germany won admirers the world over thanks to their attractive style of play. How proud are you of having helped create that? Pride is the wrong word. I'd say it was more a sense of satisfaction and joy. We've driven that development together as a team, even if you're always dependent on the type of players at your disposal as a coach. We're fortunate in that the development has been very good in Germany for several years now and that’s down to the clubs and the work they're doing in their youth academies. The amount of cooperation within German football is exemplary and I'm not so presumptuous as to say that the kind of football the national team plays is solely down to the national team.
How difficult is it to instil a creative, attacking philosophy in your team without neglecting the 'traditional' virtues of fighting spirit and hard running?It's not difficult at all. The traditional virtues are as relevant now as they’ve always been. We haven't neglected those characteristics but instead we've managed to integrate creativity, fluidity and a joy at playing among the virtues of the national team. If we want to be successful in Brazil we need to combine all of those qualities into our game. The players know that as the majority of them already have experience of big games and tournaments and know what they need to do and how they need to act if they want to rise to such a huge challenge.
Germany have looked defensively vulnerable in recent matches. What needs to be worked on in training prior to the tournament kick-off? How would you assess the current state of your side?We've analysed all of our games from the last two years very closely. We've lost a bit of speed in our transitional play so obviously we'll be paying special attention to correcting that, but we don't need to change our playing style because we've got a philosophy we're all 100 per cent behind. Part of our preparations involve helping the new players take that philosophy on board. We will of course also take a close look at how we defend, but that's something the whole team must be involved in, not just the back line.
In 2006 you were Jurgen Klinsmann’s assistant at the World Cup on home soil. What special memories do you have of that tournament? And now that Brazil are in the same situation as hosts, will the increased levels of expectations on them be a disadvantage or will the sheer amount of enthusiasm in the country by advantageous to them?I don't have any specific memories because the overall impression the tournament made on me was so huge and diverse. The tournament was a special experience for everyone; it was an intense, incredible and successful time, right from the Opening Game in Munich through to the emotional highlight of the Match for Third Place and the atmosphere in Stuttgart, as well as the reception we had in Berlin. We were carried through the whole tournament on a wave of enthusiasm. The situation's different for Brazil though, because they are everyone's favourites to win the title. Back then we gave everyone a pleasant surprise and exceeded all expectations. The best Brazil can do is live up to what's expected of them.
You and Jurgen Klinsmann have mutually helped shape each other's careers and you will be reunited on 26 June in Recife when Germany play USA. How does it feel to suddenly be on opposite sides?It's not the first time it's happened as we faced the same situation on our USA tour last summer, but of course this time there's a lot more at stake. I'm always happy to see Jurgen and we've stayed in close contact. I value his opinion and it's always interesting to hear what he thinks about certain situations and ideas, away from football too. Jurgen is a very good coach with some outstanding qualities. He's such a positive character and is always open, but is meticulous and wants to win above all else. We worked well together as a team and it was an unbelievably eventful and influential period of time. I know that I owe Jurgen a great deal.
Some pundits have predicted the end of tiki-taka, while others are championing the return of a three-man defence. What new tactical trends are you expecting to see in Brazil?We have our own system and we have faith in it. An essential part of our philosophy is flexibility and that's the trend I'm expecting to see in Brazil. Teams have to be able to vary their tactics now more than at any time in the past. Playing with just a single system isn't enough nowadays.
Joachim Low: There are several things you can plan in advance, such as fitness levels, movement and tactics, but you can only plan for success up to a certain point. We can lay the foundations and that increases the probability of achieving something. That's what we were working on so intensely at our training camp in South Tyrol. I'm delighted with the way the players trained, the way they got involved and how they gave their all. In sporting terms it was very good but even the best training camp cannot guarantee success, let alone guarantee that you'll win the World Cup.
You are heading into your fourth major international tournament as head coach. Does that kind of experience give you a greater sense of calm, or does the fact that it is a World Cup still cause a few nerves?The closer we get to a tournament the calmer I become because I know that we've thought of everything, and I have faith in that. I'm now able to deal with high-pressure situations very well and I even enjoy them actually. I'm looking forward to our warm-up games, to every training session and to everything Brazil has in store for us. Experiencing a World Cup in the world's most football-crazy country is as good as it gets, for the players, coaches and fans.
At South Africa 2010 Germany won admirers the world over thanks to their attractive style of play. How proud are you of having helped create that? Pride is the wrong word. I'd say it was more a sense of satisfaction and joy. We've driven that development together as a team, even if you're always dependent on the type of players at your disposal as a coach. We're fortunate in that the development has been very good in Germany for several years now and that’s down to the clubs and the work they're doing in their youth academies. The amount of cooperation within German football is exemplary and I'm not so presumptuous as to say that the kind of football the national team plays is solely down to the national team.
How difficult is it to instil a creative, attacking philosophy in your team without neglecting the 'traditional' virtues of fighting spirit and hard running?It's not difficult at all. The traditional virtues are as relevant now as they’ve always been. We haven't neglected those characteristics but instead we've managed to integrate creativity, fluidity and a joy at playing among the virtues of the national team. If we want to be successful in Brazil we need to combine all of those qualities into our game. The players know that as the majority of them already have experience of big games and tournaments and know what they need to do and how they need to act if they want to rise to such a huge challenge.
Germany have looked defensively vulnerable in recent matches. What needs to be worked on in training prior to the tournament kick-off? How would you assess the current state of your side?We've analysed all of our games from the last two years very closely. We've lost a bit of speed in our transitional play so obviously we'll be paying special attention to correcting that, but we don't need to change our playing style because we've got a philosophy we're all 100 per cent behind. Part of our preparations involve helping the new players take that philosophy on board. We will of course also take a close look at how we defend, but that's something the whole team must be involved in, not just the back line.
In 2006 you were Jurgen Klinsmann’s assistant at the World Cup on home soil. What special memories do you have of that tournament? And now that Brazil are in the same situation as hosts, will the increased levels of expectations on them be a disadvantage or will the sheer amount of enthusiasm in the country by advantageous to them?I don't have any specific memories because the overall impression the tournament made on me was so huge and diverse. The tournament was a special experience for everyone; it was an intense, incredible and successful time, right from the Opening Game in Munich through to the emotional highlight of the Match for Third Place and the atmosphere in Stuttgart, as well as the reception we had in Berlin. We were carried through the whole tournament on a wave of enthusiasm. The situation's different for Brazil though, because they are everyone's favourites to win the title. Back then we gave everyone a pleasant surprise and exceeded all expectations. The best Brazil can do is live up to what's expected of them.
You and Jurgen Klinsmann have mutually helped shape each other's careers and you will be reunited on 26 June in Recife when Germany play USA. How does it feel to suddenly be on opposite sides?It's not the first time it's happened as we faced the same situation on our USA tour last summer, but of course this time there's a lot more at stake. I'm always happy to see Jurgen and we've stayed in close contact. I value his opinion and it's always interesting to hear what he thinks about certain situations and ideas, away from football too. Jurgen is a very good coach with some outstanding qualities. He's such a positive character and is always open, but is meticulous and wants to win above all else. We worked well together as a team and it was an unbelievably eventful and influential period of time. I know that I owe Jurgen a great deal.
Some pundits have predicted the end of tiki-taka, while others are championing the return of a three-man defence. What new tactical trends are you expecting to see in Brazil?We have our own system and we have faith in it. An essential part of our philosophy is flexibility and that's the trend I'm expecting to see in Brazil. Teams have to be able to vary their tactics now more than at any time in the past. Playing with just a single system isn't enough nowadays.
In a recent interview with DFB.de you stated that Germany "want to win the World Cup". What makes you believe that Germany can lift the title for the first time since 1990, after finishing third at the two most recent editions? My players give me that belief. I have absolute faith in the abilities of every one of them. I know what we're capable of and I know we've got a chance, but I'm not a prophet and it's not my job to be. Even if I were to promise that we'd win the title that's still no guarantee that we would do so. The only thing I can say is that we want to win the World Cup. We'll give everything and we want to play with heart and passion to give our fans something to cheer about. I can't say we will win the World Cup though.
What kind of atmosphere are you expecting at the tournament?We're going to a World Cup in a country that defines itself through football more than any other nation. Accordingly, the levels of enthusiasm are huge - I experienced that last year at the Confederations Cup. Football has a kind of primeval power in Brazil. That was overwhelming at the competition last year and will be even stronger at the World Cup. I'm really looking forward to seeing the best players in the world compete at such close quarters and I'm expecting to see football taken to a new level in Brazil. The game constantly evolves, as do players and teams. A World Cup brings the best together and testing yourself against the best is hugely satisfying. Brazil and its wonderful, warm-hearted people will be fantastic hosts.
What kind of atmosphere are you expecting at the tournament?We're going to a World Cup in a country that defines itself through football more than any other nation. Accordingly, the levels of enthusiasm are huge - I experienced that last year at the Confederations Cup. Football has a kind of primeval power in Brazil. That was overwhelming at the competition last year and will be even stronger at the World Cup. I'm really looking forward to seeing the best players in the world compete at such close quarters and I'm expecting to see football taken to a new level in Brazil. The game constantly evolves, as do players and teams. A World Cup brings the best together and testing yourself against the best is hugely satisfying. Brazil and its wonderful, warm-hearted people will be fantastic hosts.
GERMANY Gotze: It’s important we play our way
With his total alertness, readiness to receive the ball and capacity for daring strokes of genius at any moment, it is immediately clear that Mario Gotze is in his element at the 2014 FIFA World Cup™. The German technician, already revered as a once-in-a-lifetime talent back in his homeland, now looks likely to make his breakthrough on football’s biggest international stage.
Over the course of the three-time world champions’ 4-0 opening match victory against Portugal, the 22-year-old proved himself to be a lethal attacking force capable of consistently wrongfooting his opponents. Nevertheless, Gotze is as cool and considered off the pitch as he is creative on it, making him the perfect embodiment of the new spirit in Joachim Low’s squad.
“It was important for us to take those three points [against Portugal], but that was all,” Gotze said to FIFA.com. “Our performance shouldn’t be overstated, as there were some things that simply went well for us. In some situations we were just lucky. It won’t be easy given that Ghana now need three points no matter what. It’ll be a very tough game, but we can be confident about it.”
For Joachim Low, Gotze is also an compelling option for the starting line-up against the physically imposing west Africans. “When things get tight, [Mario] is a player who can perform well against big defenders,” Low said following his side's opening game.
As the son of an information technology professor, Gotze’s watchword is rationality, but he also thrives on spontaneity when it comes to posing a threat in front of an goal. Nevertheless, there are many occasions when this pacy player, often praised for his instinct, favours a considered step-by-step approach.
“We don’t have many matches at this tournament, so we’re trying to go into each one of them with a high level of concentration,” he said. "In these conditions it’s important to play rationally, stay focused and play football our way.”
His approach appears to have been validated after Germany sealed another 4-0 FIFA World Cup opening match win, much like they did four years ago against Australia in South Africa. Besides, there is nothing boring about Die Mannschaft’s new attacking style.
“It’s really important that we cover every area of the pitch and always pick the right moment to move forward. Each of us knows what we have to do out there,” Gotze said.
The conviction in his face as he talks is as clear to see as the tentative grin that then appears. It is clear that he has no problems playing football under the gaze of the entire world in Brazil, and right now he is enjoying every minute of it.
URUGUAI Suarez the name on everyone's lips
Over the past week, speculation surrounding the fitness of Uruguay striker Luis Suarez had been rife, with the man who topped the English Premier League scorers’ charts with Liverpool having undergone a knee operation less than a month ago. After sitting out La Celeste’s opening game of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, a 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica, many wondered just what kind of shape he would be in against an England team featuring a host of his Anfield club-mates?
‘Lethal’ was the answer given by the prolific front-runner on Thursday at the Arena de Sao Paulo, where Suarez scored both goals as Uruguay sank the Three Lions 2-1 to revive their Group D campaign. “We’d love to have ten players of his ability,” said Los Charrúas’ captain Diego Lugano. “But we’ve got a few guys who can make a difference, like he does with his brillance, and the rest of us are all grafters.”
Indeed, Suarez’s immense talent, eye for goal and the unique way in which, for good or for bad, he manages to stir the emotions of everyone watching the game – mean he is without a doubt a player that leaves no football fan unmoved. In Sao Paulo, when first going up to whip in one of his vicious corner kicks, he was the target of resounding boos from a large group of England followers in that area of the stadium. In contrast, at a corner at the opposite end of the stadium the second half he was given a standing ovation by the nearby largely Brazilian fans - even before he had scored his second goal.
Need we ask about the Uruguayan faithful? Well, shortly before leaving the field after the game, Suarez did not forget to pay a humble tribute to the Celeste fans, waving and applauding them for their support while, in turn, his Uruguay teammates – including Lugano, who missed the game through injury – raised their match-winner aloft in the centre of the pitch. “This is what we’ve seen from him for a while, right?” Lugano said.
“He’s phenomenal,” chipped in midfielder Egidio Arevalo. “To be honest, we should have expected this from him. We knew that he would be fit in time for this game, but we didn’t know exactly how sharp he would be, so he surprised us out on the pitch tonight.”
“Our team really revolves around him,” Lugano said, referencing how Suarez’s mere presence lifts the reigning South American champions, with Edinson Cavani – to name just one – enjoying more license to roam upon his strike partner’s return to the starting XI. “He did what he had to do,” Cavani said on his strike partner's performance. “But we know that it can’t have been easy for him, coming back from injury, with all the pressure that surrounds a World Cup and with everything that was being said and speculated about his fitness.”
Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera echoed Cavani’s thoughts. “There was a lot of criticism coming his way, saying that we’d be left with a player only 50 per cent fit,” he said. “But when I heard that I thought, ‘I’d rather have a player like him in the team anyway’. Even at three per cent fit he can still win you a game.”
What Suarez’s precise level of fitness on Thursday was exactly, we do not know. But, as Muslera stated, whatever the percentage, he can – and does – win games.
CROATIA Olic: Twelve years and still going strong
Ivica Olic was still a relative newcomer to international football when he was called up to the Croatian national team squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™. The goal that he would subsequently score against Italy on that occasion would not only draw the attention of big European clubs, but it would also prove to be the first chapter of a story that is still being written twelve years down the line.
By Brazil 2014 much had changed for that young prospect who had just become a father for the first time in 2002. In his place now stands an experienced 34-year-old footballer, a father of three with a long, successful career behind him at clubs like Hamburg, Bayern Munich and, currently, Wolfsburg. And considering all that he has been through, the goal that he would score in Croatia’s 4-0 win over Cameroon in Manaus would not just represent his second strike at a FIFA World Cup. The feat would etch Olic’s name into the record books, as only the second player to have taken 12 years to double his FIFA World Cup account.
Overview Between AUSTRALIA vs NETHERLANDS
HEAD-TO-HEAD
TOTAL MATCHES PLAYED: 3
AUS
WINS1
DRAWS2
WINS0
NED
TOTAL GOALS SCORED: 5
AUS
NED
WHO WILL WIN ( 65% chances for MEXICO)
Estadio CastelaoFortaleza (BRA)
17 Jun 2014 - 16:00 Local time
Group stage - Group A
BRAZIL
MEXICO
Mehdi Mostefa of Algeria and Moussa Dembele of Belgium battle for the ball
Mehdi Mostefa of Algeria and Moussa Dembele of Belgium battle for the ball during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group H match between Belgium and Algeria at Estadio Mineirao on June 17, 2014 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
BRAZIL 2014 Germany splendor, USA willpower
THE DAY REPLAYED There can be no doubt that Matchday 5 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ was one of premieres and series. Not only did Thomas Muller score the first hat-trick of the tournament in Germany’s 4-0 thumping of Portugal, but Nigeria and Iran recorded the first goalless draw - doing so in game 13.
On top of that, in netting the fastest goal at Brazil 2014 so far against Ghana, USA’s Clint Dempsey wrote his name in his country’s record books. And after succumbing to 2-1 defeats to the Black Stars at the past two finals, the Stars and Stripes finally got their own back, and with a measure of poetic justice at that, winning 2-1.
Meanwhile, FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo will be happy to have the game against title favourites Germany behind him. The victors of that encounter became the first side to reach a century of World Cup matches, chalking up their 61st win to go alongside 19 draws and 20 defeats.
Results
Germany 4-0 Portugal - Budweiser Man of the Match: Thomas Muller (GER)
Iran 0-0 Nigeria - Budweiser Man of the Match: John Obi Mikel (NGA)
Ghana 1-2 USA - Budweiser Man of the Match: Clint Dempsey (USA)
BRAZIL 2014 Feints and fightbacks continue the thrills
THE DAY REPLAYED – Another day, another step towards edition 20 being the most exhilarating FIFA World Cup™ in history. It included another consequential upset, one of football’s funkiest all-time celebrations, some memorable flicks and feints from Juan Cuadrado, James Rodriguez, Andrea Pirlo and Raheem Sterling, and plenty more goals – a fan-thrilling 13 of them.
Colombia hit the first three in an unanswered defeat of Greece. Uruguay scored the next one, only for Costa Rica, inspired by rapid 21-year-old Joel Campbell, to explode into life and emerge 3-1 winners. Italy then edged England in an engrossing, end-to-end encounter. Finally, Côte d'Ivoire recorded the fourth come-from-behind victory in Brazil 2014's eight contest.
Colombia hit the first three in an unanswered defeat of Greece. Uruguay scored the next one, only for Costa Rica, inspired by rapid 21-year-old Joel Campbell, to explode into life and emerge 3-1 winners. Italy then edged England in an engrossing, end-to-end encounter. Finally, Côte d'Ivoire recorded the fourth come-from-behind victory in Brazil 2014's eight contest.
Results
Colombia 3-0 Greece [Budweiser Man of the Match: James Rodriguez]
Uruguay 1-3 Costa Rica [Budweiser Man of the Match: Joel Campbell]
England 1-2 Italy [Budweiser Man of the Match: Mario Balotelli]
Côte d'Ivoire 2-1 Japan [Budweiser Man of the Match: Yaya Toure]
Memorable moments
Finidi George’s urinating dog, Roger Milla hip-gyrating around the corner flag, Bebeto and buddies baby-cradling, and a Julius Aghahowa somersault parade labelled “perfect” by no less than Olympic gymnastics goddess Nadia Comaneci will infinitely remain iconic images of the World Cup. A crop of Colombians added their own rendition to the celebration sanctuary in Belo Horizonte. After Pablo Armero fired Los Cafeteros ahead against Greece, he ran, followed by his team-mates, to the touchline. There, simultaneously, they bounced and flung their arms about in an enrapturing dance routine – much to the delight of the Mineirao crowd. Take a bow, boys!
Colombia 3-0 Greece [Budweiser Man of the Match: James Rodriguez]
Uruguay 1-3 Costa Rica [Budweiser Man of the Match: Joel Campbell]
England 1-2 Italy [Budweiser Man of the Match: Mario Balotelli]
Côte d'Ivoire 2-1 Japan [Budweiser Man of the Match: Yaya Toure]
Memorable moments
Finidi George’s urinating dog, Roger Milla hip-gyrating around the corner flag, Bebeto and buddies baby-cradling, and a Julius Aghahowa somersault parade labelled “perfect” by no less than Olympic gymnastics goddess Nadia Comaneci will infinitely remain iconic images of the World Cup. A crop of Colombians added their own rendition to the celebration sanctuary in Belo Horizonte. After Pablo Armero fired Los Cafeteros ahead against Greece, he ran, followed by his team-mates, to the touchline. There, simultaneously, they bounced and flung their arms about in an enrapturing dance routine – much to the delight of the Mineirao crowd. Take a bow, boys!
Goalkeepers spend 90 minutes imprisoned in or around their box. And though Keylor Navas was near a box in the 84th minute in, it wasn’t his own. One could forgive the 27-year-old though. Marcos Urena had just put Costa Rica 3-1 up against Uruguay, all but securing a sizeable shock. Navas, overcome with emotion, instinctively and speedily sprinted over 100 metres to join his euphoric team-mates in celebration at the other end of the Castelao pitch – a celebration so grand it took play three minutes to resume! The fastest man in history was born just across the Caribbean Sea from Navas. Football-mad Usain Bolt will have no doubt been impressed with Costa Rica – and the pace of their No1.
Claudio Marchisio's deadlock-snapper for Italy – a low bullet through a seemingly sheltered by an invisible tunnel into the bottom corner – was superb. The magic that preceded and enabled it was even better. Andrea Pirlo is renowned for his immaculate touch. After 35 minutes by the jungle he didn’t even need one. Following a short corner, the ball was played towards deep-lying playmaker, on the edge of the box. The 35-year-old faked a touch and let the ball run through his legs, sending Daniel Sturridge on a wild-goose chase and giving Marchisio the time and space to pick his spot. Genius.
Trailing to Keisuke Honda’s early goal, the Ivorian fans’ incessant pleas for 36-year-old Didier Drogba’s introduction were granted on 62 minutes. Within four minutes, Côte d'Ivoire had incredibly turned a deficit into a lead. It was not, nevertheless, the oldest man on the pitch to whom that revival was chiefly indebted, but the youngest. Right-back Serge Aurier, 21, produced two sublime crosses which Wilfried Bony and Gervinho headed home to emerge as the unlikely hero.
Trailing to Keisuke Honda’s early goal, the Ivorian fans’ incessant pleas for 36-year-old Didier Drogba’s introduction were granted on 62 minutes. Within four minutes, Côte d'Ivoire had incredibly turned a deficit into a lead. It was not, nevertheless, the oldest man on the pitch to whom that revival was chiefly indebted, but the youngest. Right-back Serge Aurier, 21, produced two sublime crosses which Wilfried Bony and Gervinho headed home to emerge as the unlikely hero.
The stat
93.2 per cent was Italy’s passing accuracy against England – the highest in a FIFA World Cup game since 1966. Daniele De Rossi completed 104 of 110 attempted passes (94.6 per cent), with Pirlo just behind him on 103 from 112 (92.0 per cent). The victory ensured La Nazionaleavoided equalling their longest-ever winless streak of eight matches, set in the late-1950s.
Next up
Switzerland-Ecuador, 13:00, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia
France-Honduras, 16:00, Estaio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre
Argentina-Bosnia and Herzegovina, 19:00, Maracana, Rio de Janeiro
Have your say
Neymar, Giovanni dos Santos, Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, Alexis Sanchez, Tim Cahill, James Rodriguez, Joel Campbell, Mario Balotelli, Andrea Pirlo, Keisuke Honda, Serge Aurier and Gervinho all starred in their respective openers. Which player do you think has turned in the best individual performance so far at Brazil 2014?
93.2 per cent was Italy’s passing accuracy against England – the highest in a FIFA World Cup game since 1966. Daniele De Rossi completed 104 of 110 attempted passes (94.6 per cent), with Pirlo just behind him on 103 from 112 (92.0 per cent). The victory ensured La Nazionaleavoided equalling their longest-ever winless streak of eight matches, set in the late-1950s.
Next up
Switzerland-Ecuador, 13:00, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia
France-Honduras, 16:00, Estaio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre
Argentina-Bosnia and Herzegovina, 19:00, Maracana, Rio de Janeiro
Have your say
Neymar, Giovanni dos Santos, Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, Alexis Sanchez, Tim Cahill, James Rodriguez, Joel Campbell, Mario Balotelli, Andrea Pirlo, Keisuke Honda, Serge Aurier and Gervinho all starred in their respective openers. Which player do you think has turned in the best individual performance so far at Brazil 2014?
CÔTE D'IVOIRE Elephant charge flattens Japan
The Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire charged late in their Group C opener in Recife, scoring twice in two second-half minutes to overturn an early deficit against Japan. A pair of pin-point crosses from Serge Aurier created goals for Wilfried Bony and Gervinho, silencing the pro-Japan crowd at Arena Pernambuco.
Japan’s crisp, incisive passing caused Côte d'Ivoire problems early in the match. And the European-based triangle of Shinji Kagawa, Kesiuke Honda and Shinji Okazaki carved out an opener after only 16 minutes. Okazaki forced a corner with his goal-bound header on the quarter-hour, and Honda was left unmarked at the edge of the penalty area. The kick was taken short and Kagawa laid the ball on for the AC Milan ace who took two touches, one to burst into the box and the other to fire home with his left foot.
AUSTRALIA Jedinak: We were so dominant
While their 3-1 defeat arrived for Australia on the back of a rousing revival against Chile, captain Mile Jedinak was frank at the final whistle, telling FIFA.com: “It doesn't make it any easier.”
After falling two goals behind early on to the South Americans, many Socceroos fans in the Arena Pantanal stands were fearing the worst as Jorge Sampaoli's side looked dominant. But after those early jitters, the Australians re-discovered themselves, hitting back before half-time and they were the better side for long stretches of the second-half – only conceding the third in the dying minutes.
“It's disappointing to be honest. We had a right go and those first 20 minutes ended up costing us,” the towering captain said. “We were on top of them, we were so dominant. We had a couple of good chances, and their keeper pulled off some great saves. It wasn't meant to be, that was the difference.”
Those early lapses, where Alexis Sanchez and Jorge Valdivia struck within two minutes of each other, ended up being just too much to overcome. On reflection Jason Davidson – Australia's hard-working 22-year-old left-back – felt maybe the occasion got to some of them in the opening stages.
We were on top of them, we were so dominant. We had a couple of good chances, and their keeper pulled off some great saves.
ENGLAND Robson: England must beat Italy
There are a number of high-profile contests in the first few days of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, and England vs Italy takes a backseat to none of them. The game, to be played in the Amazon venue of Manaus, is a genuine clash of titans.
As far as former England captain Bryan Robson is concerned, victory against the Azzurriwould represent a massive step toward the Round of 16 for his former side. In an exclusive interview with FIFA.com, the legendary midfielder shared his thoughts on the current England team, his own experiences playing on football’s biggest stage, and some likely stars here at Brazil 2014.
The former Manchester United talisman was positive when asked about the quality in Roy Hodgson’s England team. “The squad contains the best players currently available to England, and there is a nice blend of old heads and young talent,” said the veteran of Spain 1982, Mexico 1986 and Italy 1990. “I think that’s fundamental to the success of the team.”
The former Manchester United talisman was positive when asked about the quality in Roy Hodgson’s England team. “The squad contains the best players currently available to England, and there is a nice blend of old heads and young talent,” said the veteran of Spain 1982, Mexico 1986 and Italy 1990. “I think that’s fundamental to the success of the team.”
“We’ve got Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard, whose international experience and quality go without saying,” Robson added. “And then there’s also Daniel Sturridge, Jack Wilshere, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson, who lack experience, but will make up for that with their determination to prove themselves against the best players on the planet.”
Only win will do against Italy
For Robson, the opening match against Italy is crucial. “The first game is always hugely important in terms of qualification, and even more so when you’re in a group like this one. England need a victory that will convince them that they can reach the knockout stage. A defeat, on the other hand, would be very hard to recover from.”
Despite facing a trio of tricky opponents, the ex-West Brom manager is confident about his country’s chances: “I think that this group of players can show us something a bit different.”
For Robson, the opening match against Italy is crucial. “The first game is always hugely important in terms of qualification, and even more so when you’re in a group like this one. England need a victory that will convince them that they can reach the knockout stage. A defeat, on the other hand, would be very hard to recover from.”
Despite facing a trio of tricky opponents, the ex-West Brom manager is confident about his country’s chances: “I think that this group of players can show us something a bit different.”
Could the English go as far as they did in Italy 1990, when Robson and co lost in a tight semi-final to West Germany? “We were better than the Germans on the day, and deserved to reach the Final, where anything could have happened," he said. "I hope that this team will follow in our footsteps.”
As to which performers will stand out at this upcoming World Cup, there are two names on the Englishman’s lips. “I think the spotlight will shine on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,” he said “Those two have been the biggest stars of our game in recent years and I suspect their rivalry will continue in Brazil. Their failure to do well at the last World Cup will certainly be a huge source of motivation, and I see them really stamping their names on the tournament.”
As to which performers will stand out at this upcoming World Cup, there are two names on the Englishman’s lips. “I think the spotlight will shine on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,” he said “Those two have been the biggest stars of our game in recent years and I suspect their rivalry will continue in Brazil. Their failure to do well at the last World Cup will certainly be a huge source of motivation, and I see them really stamping their names on the tournament.”
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