The FIFA World Cup comes around every 4 years and leaves lasting memories each time, Diego Maradona’s Hand of God goal in Mexico 86, Zinedine Zidane’s one man show in the 1998 final and England’s Paul Gascoigne’s famous cry after his team’s ouster in Italia 90 those memories are ever strong in the minds of millions around the world, as Brazil 2014 draws to a close let’s revisit the 5 unforgettable incidents at the 2014 Mundial.
Holland upset Spain
Not only was Robin van Persie's header against Spain one of the most impressive goals of the World Cup, it also couldn’t have come at a better time. Spain came into this tournament as the favourites having dominated World football since Euro 2008 when they lifted that trophy. But Many were left shocked when the team ended up losing 5-1 against a revived Dutch side under the guidance of Louis Van Gaal.
Uruguay-Luis Suárez biting Chiellini
Luis Suárez, of Uruguay, was on the verge of a historic World Cup. After sitting out the opening game to recover from knee surgery, he played in Uruguay’s second game, against England, and netted two goals that would devastate England’s hopes of advancing. Suárez, however, is a man that has another side. Before the World Cup began, he had already bitten two other players. So it shouldn’t have been too surprising when, with about ten minutes to play in Uruguay’s match against Italy, Suárez sunk his teeth into opposing defender Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder. Suárez played out the game but was banned from the rest of the tournament.
Netherland: Krul’s bizarre substitution
I keep asking this question was it genius, madness or perhaps evidence of weeks of planning and meticulous attention to detail?
In a World Cup that has been dubbed by many as the best ever, the drama reached new heights in Salvador in the Netherlands' World Cup quarter-final against Costa Rica which was goalless and seconds from a penalty shootout, then came the surprise. Dutch coach Louis van Gaal took the unusual step of substituting his goalkeeper, Ajax's Jasper Cillessen, and sending on Newcastle's Tim Krul and the result wouldn’t have been any better, Krul ended up saving two penalty kicks and sending the Dutch through to the Semi Final.
USA -Tim Howard record savesTim Howard made history for the U.S. in their 2nd round game against Belgium . The Everton goalkeeper made a total of 16 saves, the most by any goal keeper in World Cup history. Though team USA wasn't able to pull out a win in the end, Tim Howard heroics wasn’t unnoticed in fact FIFA had to invite him for a drug test after the match, more importantly he returned home a hero.
Brazil: A nation’s hopes brutally dashed
No one really knows what to say about this slaughter of a game, even though the present crop of Brazil players aren’t quite up to the usual standard and were missing their two most influential players in injured Neymar Jr. and Thiago Silva it still came as a huge shock when the host nation were humiliated 7-1 in front of their own fans. This will continue to be a subject of national discussion in the country for years to come (just like the 1950 final defeat to Uruguay at the famous Maracana stadium)
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