r/soccer•12 yr. ago

Five Moments That Stunned Us At The 2014 World Cup [OC]

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With the final around the corner I wanted to do a bit of writing about the tournament so far. These are five moments that, in my opinion, stunned us all at this World Cup. Of course it is debatable. The pictures are linked in the titles so make sure to click them. I hope you enjoy it.

1. ROBIN VAN PERSIE, SPAIN VS NETHERLANDS, Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty

Location: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
Date: 13 JUN 2014
Moment Time: 16:44 PM Local
Attendance: 48,173

"If that doesn't win goal of the tournament I'll eat a banana." ^(/u/NPHisKing)

A moment is all it takes to separate genius from ordinary. Spain arrived at World Cup 2014 as tournament favourites. The heavyweight champions, unifiers of both European and World belts, awoke to dismiss all challengers once more. Spain - Netherlands was a keenly anticipated early clash in Group B. A dominance test, a chance to project an early signal to Spain's rivals, to the world. A Xabi Alonso penalty in the 27th minute had the Spaniards take an early lead. The imperious Spain, however, were about to be humiliated in front of millions.
With the match approaching half-time, what came next was truly astonishing. Daley Blind controlled the ball with a single touch, his boots practically dusting the interconnected white lines of halfway and left side of the pitch. 35 yards away Van Persie was already gesturing, nestled, camouflaged amongst Sergio Ramos and César Azpilicueta. The striker had already recorded this exact scenario in his head, on the training ground, in his dreams.
By the time the searching accuracy of Blind's cross-field pass arrived, RVP had distanced Ramos by five yards. The Oranje sniper was in clear view, the Spanish defence was stranded. Just goalkeeper Iker Casillas to beat. For a moment they hung; both ball and man, suspended in the outrageous conception Van Persie had imagined. Both floating inside a moment of brilliance. Casillas, feet planted, could only admire his misfortune, as the ball was guided by the Dutchman's head and touched down delicately into the net. Spain were humbled, history had turned, from now on a new champion was certain.

2. LUIS SUAREZ, ITALY VS URUGUAY, Photo by Julian Finney/Getty

Location: Estadio das Dunas, Natal
Date: 24 JUN 2014
Moment Time: 14:33 PM Local
Attendance: 39,706

"HE BIT SOMEONE AGAIN WTF" ^(/u/xBarDown)

"Where were you when...?" You won't find this moment in the official match report. It didn't warrant an official caution. It is simply mentioned by the live text match feed on the BBC as '78:31 Foul by Luis Suarez (Uruguay)'. It did, however, send shockwaves around the world from the second it became clear what had really happened. A fairly tense, dismal and overly aggressive Group D match was taking place in Natal. Italian coach Cesare Prandelli considered it his most important 90 minutes ever. Rightly so, he tendered his resignation shortly after the game ended in Italian defeat.
A land-locked stalemate was edging toward Diego Godin's unmemorable back-headed goal in the 81st minute. Italy, a man down after Marchisio had viciously scrape his studs along Arevalo's side, were weakened. Play was pinballing around the Italian goalmouth, all watching eyes went wide with Cavani as he mastered possession of the ball. In front of the goal, away from everyone's gaze, chaos was brewing. The upshot of an innocuous tussle between Luis Suarez and Giorgio Chiellini had stamped a jaw-shaped mark on the World Cup of 2014.
The picture here doesn't show Suarez, his legacy overshadows the drama, he has ascended to archetypal villain. Italians swarm the referee, Chiellini bares his shoulder to show the battle-wound that would reverberate around the world's media in the days to come. An individual so gifted in talent, so vital to his team and his nation, had left an impression of frustration, anger and stupidity on the tournament. For four months Suarez is now punished in solitary from the thing he covets most... the ball. We will talk of this moment for much longer.

3. JAMES RODRIGUEZ, COLOMBIA VS URUGUAY, Photo by REUTERS/Felipe Dana/Pool

Location: Estadio do Maracana, Rio De Janeiro
Date: 28 Jun 2014
Moment Time: 17:28 PM Local
Attendance: 73,804

"He's gonna be rated so high in FIFA" ^(/u/collyyyy)

Cometh the hour, cometh James David Rodríguez Rubio. The picture says it all. The bravado of a 22 year old Colombian who had lit the Brazilian stage up and already scored in three previous games. Why not? Why not try something speculative from the edge of the area and see if it drops? In the Maracanã, cathedral for beautiful football, no less. The whole move was technically sublime. in the middle of receiving a cushioned header mid-flight, Rodriguez snapped his head back briefly to check on the goalkeeper's position. Muslera stood six yards off his goal-line. In those microseconds Rodriguez scanned everything around him.
Realising his generous position, relative to the space of five Uruguyan defenders encircling him, he took the ball on his chest, both bringing it within his control and teeing up the next movement. A pivot to bring him face-on with the baying goal and his control kept him over the ball. Then, mid-swivel, a stroke as fine as a golf drive. Muslera was outstretched, but by then it was futile. The ball crashed in off the underside of the bar.
A young star announced his name in the galaxy of world football. James Rodriguez became the first player to score in the first four games of a World Cup since Brazil's Ronaldo and Rivaldo in 2002. His six-goal haul puts him in line for the Golden Shoe award and impressively includes left foot, right foot, headers, distance, and chipped goals.

4. JASPER CILLESSEN & TIM KRUL, NETHERLANDS VS COSTA RICA, Photo by Lars Baron/Getty

Location: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
Date: 05 Jul 2014
Moment Time: 19:01 PM Local
Attendance: 51,179

"Van Gaal is a wizard" ^(/u/jamo711)

Substitutions are a tricky thing. Wait too long? You've ran out of time. Go too early? It has no impact. Decide to swap goalkeepers one minute ahead of a penalty shoot-out to decide a semi-final place at the World cup? You are possibly borderline insane. 25 year old Ajax keeper Cilessen was having a decent tournament. Four goals conceded in five games and part of a strong squad gunning for the final. Only thing was, he had never saved a penalty in his career. Louis van Gaal knew this, of course, he also knew his beans if the shootout was to unfold.
After two hours of goalless football in Salvador, the official FIFA match report shows 'In Tim KRUL, Out Jasper CILLESSEN, 120'+1' which downplays the huge psychological significance of this switch by LVG. As the change was made, there stood a smiling Jorge Luis Pinto, Costa Rica's manager. It was an apologetic smile, he was wondering if Van Gaal had lost his marbles, or if he even had any to begin with. Afterwards Van Gaal explained “Tim has a longer reach and a better track record with penalties than Cillessen. We had discussed it with Tim. He knew about their penalties because he needed to be prepared. It worked out. If it hadn't, it would have been my mistake."
Penalties are mostly luck. But Van Gaal might say that you make your own luck. He could have a point, losing out to Argentina on penalties in the next game whilst forced to keep Cillessen in goal. One thing is certain, when the moment arrives Van Gaal doesn't shrink and often has a rabbit to pull out of the hat. That rabbit being fully prepared on which way to dive beforehand, of course.

5. NEYMAR, BRAZIL VS COLOMBIA, Photo by AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

Location: Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza
Date: 04 JUL 2014
Moment Time: 18:43 PM Local
Attendance: 60,342

"No T. Silva and no Neymar...it's going to be difficult for Brazil" ^(/u/JuvenL)

In the picture a figure rolls on the turf in agony clutching his back. The player is dressed in yellow, trimmed in green, wears the heroic '10' on his shirt and embodies the hopes of a nation. His boots are as gold as the World Cup Trophy, desperation is etched on his face. It is gone. In that moment, the patient dream for Brazilians of a home victory, led by their iconic '10', have drained. The image could be Thiago Silva's second yellow or any of the subsequent seven German goals that inflicted the most embarrassing of defeats in the semi-final. It matters not. Ultimately held together with hope and belief, the Brazilian dream fell apart on July the 4th in Fortaleza and dropped to the ground, just like Neymar at the knee of Juan Zuniga.
In truth, Brazil failed to convince in most of the World Cup games they played. It was Neymar who dragged them up at their lowest, offered the spirit of historic teams before him. At times the invention of Garrincha, Jairzinho, Ronaldinho all flowed through him. He was the inspiration in a team all out of magic dust. 457 minutes played, 4 goals scored. It probably wouldn't have been enough if Neymar had ridden the challenge. Brazil came up against a better side in Germany and were comprehensively ripped apart. But with Neymar and Silva they still had a chance.
The image will linger of this tackle, the slumped hero and a faded dream. If Brazil are to rebuild they will do so around their talisman Neymar and a more drilled, focussed squad. Who knows if Russia in four years will suit them better? Less pressure, lessons learned. Fans cried as Neymar was stretchered out, not the tears Brazil wanted this summer.

Posted Jul 11, 2014, 4:22 PM UTC

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