The event was held in 12 stadiums throughout Brazil, with the ultimate on the historic Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
Host: Brazil
Groups: 32
Format: Group stage, knockouts
Matches: 64
Objectives: 171
Winner: Germany
Runners-up: Argentina
Golden Boot: James Rodriguez (Colombia)
Background
It took 64 years for the event to return to essentially the most adorned soccer nation.
When soccer’s largest celebration arrived in Brazil, the nation lived as much as expectations and delivered some of the memorable tournaments.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have been the one debutants whereas not one of the Nordic nations certified.
The event was held in 12 stadiums throughout Brazil, with the ultimate on the historic Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
FIFA deployed new expertise for aiding referees with shut calls on the aim line, in addition to vanishing spray for marking the spot for free-kicks.
On account of scorching and humid circumstances in Brazil, FIFA sanctioned cooling breaks for gamers and officers. The breaks can be given on the referee’s discretion after half-hour.
Holders Spain confronted a shock exit within the group levels after a drubbing by the hands of their nemesis within the final World Cup remaining, the Netherlands. The Dutch gained 5-1. Spain then went on to lose to Chile earlier than a comfort win over Australia.
In group D, termed the “Group of Demise”, Italy and England have been knocked out as Costa Rica and Uruguay superior. Portugal’s early exit from the event was additionally sudden.
Hosts Brazil have been among the many favourites, using on the success of their latest star Neymar. They edged previous Colombia within the quarter-finals however misplaced Neymar for the remainder of the event with a again damage.
Their distress compounded when Germany handed them a 7-1 thrashing within the semis.
Argentina, led by one of many sport’s biggest gamers Lionel Messi, made their option to the ultimate. The ultimate noticed robust defensive techniques from each side and was pushed into additional time after no objectives have been scored in 90 minutes.
Mario Gotze, who got here on in its place within the remaining two minutes of regular time, scored a superb aim within the 113th minute to make Germany the primary European nation to win the World Cup on South American soil.
Highs
Followers and analysts termed this event probably the greatest World Cups stuffed with objectives and a festive environment.
Robin van Persie scored some of the memorable objectives when he headed Netherlands into the lead of their opening sport in opposition to Spain.
Lows
Main as much as the event, protests have been held throughout Brazil in opposition to using public funds ($11bn) for constructing stadiums as a substitute of housing, hospitals and colleges.
Police used power in opposition to protesters, resulting in accidents and world condemnation.
Uruguay’s Luis Suarez bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in a group-stage match. He was proven the crimson card and banned for 9 video games by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee.
Germany’s post-win celebrations again house got here beneath heavy criticism after they mocked Argentina’s gauchos by dancing with a stooped posture.