Joy and despair: Germany lift their fourth World Cup trophy in Brazil while the host nation processes the shock of a lifetime. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
Brazil had last hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1950, which was won by Uruguay. Having last won the cup in 2002, there was a sense – as hosts – that Brazil were in prime position to claim a sixth world championship.
After a relatively successful group stage, that was the script the Seleção followed, and very few football pundits and fans could predict the carnage that would be witnessed at the Mineirão, which would become the defining moment and memory of this edition of the showpiece event.
Goal-line technology was introduced for the first time at this World Cup, following successful trials a year earlier.
The first goal to be confirmed with this technology occurred in the Group E clash between France and Honduras, after a shot at goal by Les Bleus’ Karim Benzema rebounded off the post and hit goalkeeper Noel Valladares. Before the keeper could scoop up the ball, it was confirmed that the ball had crossed the line for France’s second goal in a 3-1 victory.
Brazil suffered a humiliating 7-1 loss. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
Africa: Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria
Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, South Korea
Europe: Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland
North America: Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, US
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay
The Estádio do Maracanã hosted the final of the event and was the only stadium that had also been used during the 1950 event. Eleven other stadiums were also used, with seven of those purpose-built to host the tournament, including stadiums in Brasília, São Paulo, Salvador, Recife, Cuiabá, Manaus and Natal.
Thirty-two teams participated in the World Cup and were divided into eight groups of four. The top two from each group progressed to the Round of 16.
After winning their first World Cup in South Africa four years earlier, Spain returned to the 2014 event as not only defending champions, but European champions as well. Few than expected for Spain to be dumped out of the tournament at the end of the group stages.
A wretched run of losses to the Netherlands (5-1) and Chile (2-0) all but ended their participation in Brazil, despite bouncing back 3-0 against Australia. They were not the only major nation to be dumped out at the group stages.
England, Italy and Portugal – all top 10 teams in the world rankings at the time – also departed Brazil early after having won only two games out of nine between them.
Round of 16: Brazil 1, Chile 1 (3-2 on penalties); Colombia 2, Uruguay 0; France 2, Nigeria 0; Germany 2, Algeria 1 (aet); Netherlands 2, Mexico 1; Costa Rica 1, Greece 1 (5-3 on penalties); Argentina 1, Switzerland 0 (aet); Belgium 2, US 1
Quarter-finals: Brazil 2, Colombia 1; France 0, Germany 1; Netherlands 0, Costa Rica 0 (4-3 on penalties); Argentina 1, Belgium 0
Semi-finals: Brazil 1, Germany 7; Netherlands 0, Argentina 0 (4-2 on penalties)
The Netherlands won the third-place play-off 3-0.
Brazil reached the last four with fervent hometown support and home-ground advantage to face Germany in a clash that promised the drama of the world’s third-best team against the second-best team. And there was plenty, as Germany crushed the hosts 7-1. The Germans led the tie 5-0 by the 30th minute.
Germany would go on to win the World Cup – their fourth world title and first since unification in 1990. Mario Götze scored the only goal of the final in the 113th minute. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, offered very little in the final. Messi would have his moment in the spotlight, however, in another eight years’ time.
Frustrations and irritations have often manifested themselves in the World Cup, such as the time Zinedine Zidane famously headbutted Marco Materazzi in the chest. There was a similar incident in Brazil when Benoît Assou-Ekotto of Cameroon also used a headbutt to express his frustration.
The incident, however, was not targeted at an opponent but rather teammate Benjamin Moukandjo in their 4-0 loss to Croatia. The former did not play in the Indomitable Lions’ final game of the tournament against Brazil.