Sport

24th Jun 2015

JOE relives the 2014 World Cup from start to finish…

Tom Victor

It seems incredible that a whole year has passed since Brazil and Croatia got the 2014 World Cup under way.

The tournament had dozens of great games and too many memorable moments to keep track of, from glorious goals to painful penalty misses and everything in between.

Here at JOE we’ve been desperate to relive arguably the greatest international tournament this century, so we’ve gone back in time and replayed it from start to finish through the medium of tweets.

All together now… Brazil…Braaaaaazzzzzziiiiiiillllll

Before the tournament began, South American football expert Tim Vickery was on hand to tell us all what to expect.

The opening ceremony was highlighted by a musical number involving Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez, setting the tone for the tournament ahead.

Can't hear a word Pitbull is saying – have no doubt this will be the best result of the tournament.

— Rupert Fryer (@Rupert_Fryer) June 12, 2014

The rapper would later return, or at least it looked that way.

Nice to see Pitbull bouncing back on the Chile bench after a disappointing opening ceremony. pic.twitter.com/zE7LQCW3qe

— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) June 13, 2014

Brazil’s opening game didn’t quite go as planned, with an early own goal from Marcelo shocking the host nation.

Samobójczy gol Marcelo BRA 0:1 CRO #mundial #WorldCup https://t.co/Loxu5OmNFC via @vineapp

— Florian 🇵🇱💯 (@Florian_Vienna) June 12, 2014

However they soon got back on level terms with a contentious penalty, to the dismay of some…

Bad dive, bad decision, bad run-up, bad penalty, bad goalkeeping. My love of the World Cup lasted 71 minutes.

— Huw Davies (@thehuwdavies) June 12, 2014

Day two brought one of the most shocking results of the competition, as holders Spain lost 5-1 to The Netherlands.

The main talking point was a flying header from Robin van Persie in the first half, one of the goals of the tournament.

Robin van Persie: The Flying Dutchman pic.twitter.com/EpuV9F2dY9

— ESPN (@espn) June 13, 2014

England took on Italy in their first game, and it looked as though they had taken an early lead. Raheem Sterling’s shot actually hit the side-netting, but many were fooled.

The BBC, like everyone else, really thought Raheem Sterling had scored. [image: @alexkunawicz] pic.twitter.com/Ep199w104F

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 14, 2014

Opponents Italy took the lead, only for Daniel Sturridge to equalise. The celebrations got the better of England and Arsenal physio Gary Lewin, who dislocated his ankle in the celebrations.

Gary Lewin showing his Arsenal DNA.

— Pz (@PascalZidane) June 14, 2014

Immobile comes on for Italy. Purely to mock Gary Lewin, I presume. The sick bastards.

— There Or Thereabouts (@Back_of_the_Net) June 14, 2014

Over in Group E, France found themselves up against a particularly aggressive Honduras team in their opener, with the Central Americans picking up several yellow cards and a red. We should have been prepared, apparently.

https://twitter.com/jonathanliew/status/478283010895527937

The match also saw the first use of goal-line technology, but no one was ready for the confusion it would cause commentator Jonathan Pearce.

Remember, the whole of Jonathan Pearce's head needs to cross the line for him to have any clue what's going on. 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/ffziaA4xN8

— Dan Westwell 🇬🇧 (@DanWestwell) June 15, 2014

While the battle for most impressive team in the group stages was a close one, the battle for supremacy in the celebration stakes was barely even a contest.

Colombia has the best goal celebrations http://t.co/qze797hqiE

And it's not even that close (Vine: @8bitSports) http://t.co/uqXNJV4FDs

— Tim McGarry (@mcgarrytim) June 20, 2014

As for the game of the round, there was one leading contender.

This is exactly where African football should be. World stages. So far the best game of the tournament #GERvsGHA

— Baiden (@acquahbaiden) June 21, 2014

England exited with a whimper, their game against Uruguay producing a predictable protagonist.

Of course it had to be Suarez

— Steve Busfield 🌍 (@Busfield) June 19, 2014

Of course it had to be Suarez x2

— Steve Busfield 🌍 (@Busfield) June 19, 2014

But elsewhere in the group Costa Rica were emerging as a real surprise force.

Ruiz goal! #CRC 1-0 #ITA. #CONCACAF #VINE #WorldCup https://t.co/HdMBswrRuf

— ONE World Sports (@ONEWorldSports) June 20, 2014

The Messi v Ronaldo debate took a slightly different tack at the World Cup, with both breaking underdogs’ hearts.

Iran don't deserve this, so cruel, Argentina have been poor and so has Messi.

— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) June 21, 2014

Last minute equalising goal from Varela assisted by Ronaldo #portugal #usa #worldcup2014 https://t.co/WXAZ57bKzL

— Manolo (@manuelsimuk) June 22, 2014

But the most talked about moment of the group stages was yet to come.

Less than a week after dumping England out of the tournament, Luis Suarez hit the headlines for different reasons.

Chiellini has a bite mark. Suarez has gone down clutching his teeth. We need a detective down here.

— Anthony Richardson (@AMHRichardson) June 24, 2014

Some weren’t sure, though for others it was never in doubt

Was it a bite…..?
Look at Chiellini's shoulder…..

Second one is myself biting MY hand pic.twitter.com/JUA2HR66IE

— Jan Aage Fjørtoft 🇳🇴 (@JanAageFjortoft) June 24, 2014

Someone has won 5600 Norwegian Kroner for betting that Luis Suarez would bite someone else this year (via @syvers11) pic.twitter.com/vM1tUJGkYW

— Amitai Winehouse (@awinehouse1) June 24, 2014

Elsewhere, Greece were just being Greece.

Greece giving Cameroon a run for their money as the worst team in the tournament

— Shivam Manghnani (@shivamLM) June 19, 2014

Samaras kicks the floor, wins a penalty, scores it, and Greece qualify for the last 16. #WorldCup, you just killed us

— Jonathan Stevenson (@Stevo_football) June 24, 2014

After a group stage for the ages, the knock-out rounds got under way and Brazil were on the ropes when Chile’s Mauricio Pinilla hit the crossbar.

https://twitter.com/ImagenesFut/status/482957253624868864

So close, in fact, that Pinilla got a tattoo of the moment that he was “one centimetre from glory”.

https://instagram.com/p/p5A_pTI3sz/?taken-by=tattoorockers

Later that day James Rodriguez would score the goal of the tournament for Colombia, setting up a quarter-final against the hosts.

Goal of the tournament RT @PostWorldCup: VINE: What a cracking goal from Rodriguez to make it 1-0! http://t.co/YB7UaR2Fn0

— Sam Freedman (@Samfr) June 28, 2014

The last 16 saw plenty of underdogs come close but ultimately fall short, though Mexico could certainly feel aggrieved after a contentious penalty decision brought about their exit.

https://twitter.com/agrabia/status/483315267762536448

France had been one of the stand-out teams in the early stages, and many thought they were dark horses for the tournament.

France genuine contenders at this rate. Pip Germany, then them. Argentina and I suppose Brazil to follow. Netherlands near after.

— Gene Oliver (@genepoli) June 20, 2014

Until they played Nigeria, that is.

https://twitter.com/TheM_L_G/status/483661882407268352

Still, they progressed, setting up a quarter-final with Germany despite some creative goalkeeping from Manuel Neuer against Algeria.

#GER Manuel Neuer has 17 touches outside the box. That's the most by any goalkeeper this #WorldCup #GERvsALG pic.twitter.com/3Qtu2O2l7X

— Sara Amro (@saraamroo) June 30, 2014

The last matchday of the second round saw one of the tournament’s worst games

Was Argentina vs Switzerland boring? That is little bit harsh. I believe it just suffered from maybe a small acute entertainment niggle.

— Wenger Knows Best (@wengerknowsbest) July 1, 2014

But also one of the most entertaining, with Tim Howard making a remarkable 15 saves in the USA’s defeat against Belgium.

Excellent work here. RT @_camwba: Someone changed the US Secretary of Defence on Wikipedia to Tim Howard. pic.twitter.com/cFpLiBfMZN

— Meredith Frost (@MeredithFrost) July 2, 2014

#ThingsTimHowardCouldSave Mufasa pic.twitter.com/zwXYbfqb5j

— Six Pack Sports (@sixpacksportz) July 2, 2014

The quarter-finals had two heroes: David Luiz…

#BRAvsCOL | Vine | #worldcup2014 | David Luiz with an Absolute Thunderbolt! Sensational, #BRA 2-0 #COL https://t.co/AX9RP3ofJ9

— Mark Roberts (@marktheroberts) July 4, 2014

…and Tim Krul

PEN STAT Krul penalty record: 2 saves out of 20 pens in last 5 years. Subbing pen specialist GK on a rare, but brave move

— Ben Lyttleton (@benlyt) July 5, 2014

FT #NED beat #CRC 4-2 in penalties after a masterstroke by van Gaal. Tim Krul comes off the bench and dives the right way for every kick.

— Matchbook Betting Exchange (@TeamMatchbook) July 5, 2014

However, Luiz would quickly come crashing down to earth against Germany in a truly incredible semi-final.

Not many games can take the scoreline as their name but that will presumably be known 100 years from now simply as 'the 7-1'.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) July 8, 2014

The second semi was never going to live up to the same standard, though it had its moments.

FT: #ARG and #NED heading to extra time 0-0, thanks in part to this block by Mascherano #NEDvsARG pic.twitter.com/kJ5DF4bbIA

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 9, 2014

https://twitter.com/carlosmaxwell/status/487005063962189824

So the final saw Germany take on Argentina at the Maracana, and it was a game that everyone will remember. Well, everyone except German midfielder Christoph Kramer.

#GER's Christoph Kramer takes a shoulder to his head and needs a sub 10 mins later in a daze: http://t.co/uK7GZuVLee pic.twitter.com/VJ5xBFMCA4

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 13, 2014

There was only one goal, but it was a fantastic finish from Mario Gotze, worthy of winning any game.