Welcome

Hello and welcome to my blog about the recent sporting event that has just taken place, the football World Cup. Through this blog I will be looking at the most exiting game from each week of the group stages and showing you all the main highlights of each game, then we will progress to the knockout stages and then onto the big one itself, the final! I hope you enjoy looking back at a great summer of football which has made the whole world truly inspired and come together in this great tournament, even though it wasn't such great times and memory's for all the England fans...

 

Week 1

From all the matches in the first week of the World Cup there was only one game for me which stood out from all the rest coming from Group B. This was of course Spain against The Netherlands. The game was a repeat of the final in South Africa 2010, which Spain won so you knew both teams would be strong and go all out to try and get an early three points on the table.

Here are the two line ups the managers chose for the opening games. The player names in brackets indicate that they are the substitutes who came on for the player whose name they are next to-

Spain-                                                                             

1- Casillas (GK) (C)

3- Pique

6- Iniesta

8- Xavi

14- Alonso (Pedro)
                                     15- Ramos                                   

16- Busquets

18- Alba

19- Costa (Torres)

21- David Silva (Fabregas)

22- Azpilicueta

Netherlands- 

1- Cillessen (GK)

2- Vlaar

3- De Vrij (Veltman)

4- Martins Indi

5- Blind

6- De Jong

7- Janmaat

8- De Guzman (Wijnaldum)

9- Van Persie (Lens)

10- Sneijder

11- Robben  

Spain opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Alonso scored from the penalty spot to give Spain the lead which they thought they would have going into half time but a Daley Blind cross into the edge of the box was superbly headed by Robin Van Persie looped over top of Casillas into the top corner in the closing stages of the half. Half time score of Spain 1-1 Netherlands. The second half then kicked off and Louis Van Gaal's Dutch team started the half the brightest and on the 53 minute mark Arjen Robben put The Netherlands in front for the first time in the game. Spain couldn't get themselves any grip on the game and fell even further behind after a corner was met by defender Stefan De Vrij to make it 1-3. with 20 minutes left all hope was looking gone from Spain and substitute striker Fernando Torres wasn't getting the ball at all and to make matters even worse for them The Netherlands went even further a head, Robin Van Persie grabbing his second of the game. To finish off Spain, The Netherlands went 1-5 a head, this time Robben got his second on the 80 minute mark and this was Spain down and out. They soon found out that their fate would be sealed in the second game and the current World Cup champions were going home after only two games in the competition. 

Robin Van Persie scoring his first goal just before half time. The goal was then voted as the third best goal of the tournament. 

  

FT: SPAIN 1-5 NETHERLANDS 

                                               

                          

Week 2

The second set of matches produced a lot of encounters that looked spicy and you could see they were going to be close but the best game for me which produced the most excitement came from Group E, live in Salvador between Switzerland and France. Both teams were ranked highly at the start of the tournament and after this game you could see why.

Here are the two line ups chosen by each manager-

Switzerland-

1- Benaglio (GK)

2- Lichtsteiner

5- Von Bergen (Senderos)

8- Inler (C)

9- Seferovic (Drmic)

10- Xhaka

11- Behrami (Dzemaili)

13- Rodriguez

18- Mehmedi

20- Djourou

23- Shaqiri

France- 

1- Lloris (GK) (C) 

2- Debuchy 

3- Evra

4- Varane

5- Sakho (Koscielny)

6- Cabaye 

8- Valbuena (Griezmann)

9- Giroud (Pogba)

10- Benzema

14- Matuidi

18- Sissoko

France started the game very strongly and inside 17 minutes Olivier Giroud put France ahead and straight from the kick off France doubled their lead with a goal from Matuidi. The game had started to get slow and not much pace from either team was shown but a moment of magic saw Benzema get through but he was fouled by Djourou and France had a chance to increase their lead to three, But the Swiss goalkeeper guess the right way to make a good save. France however did stretch their lead when Valbuena sunk the Swiss fans hearts with a third goal just before half time. In the second half France once again started strong and it wasn't long before Karim Benzema made up for his penalty miss to take the lead to four on the 67th minute. The game was really rounded off when Sissoko made it five with just over 15 minutes left on the clock. The Swiss players though didn't let France embarrass them any further with two goals in the last 10 minutes with goals from Dzemaili and Xhaka but the damage was already done and France had virtually made their spot in the knockout stages confirmed. 

Olivier Giroud celebrates his opener for France with a strange type of celebrating

FT: SWITZERLAND 2-5 FRANCE

Week 3

The third week of games once more spiced up a few games which could be very close and many goals could be scored. The favorites going into the competition, Spain were already out joined by Teams such as Cameroon and England. This game was between Group C leaders Colombia and Asian superstars Japan.

Here's the two line up's for the game-

Japan-

1- Kawashima (GK)

2- Uchida 

4- Honda

5- Nagatomo

9- Okazaki (Kakitani)

10- Kagawa (Kiyotake)

13- Okubo 

14- Aoyama (Yamaguchi)

15- Konno 

17- Hasebe (C)

22- Yoshida 

Colombia- 

1- Ospina (GK) (C) (Mondragon)

4- Arias 

7- Pablo Armero 

11- Cuadrado (James)

13- Guarin

15- Mejia 

16- Balanta 

19- Ramos

20- Quintero (Carbonero)

21- Martinez 

23- Valdes 

The game started off very slow and neither team could seem to find a way through. Colombia were however awarded a penalty in the 17th minute and Juan Cuadrado converted it to give a nice lead to Colombia. Japan then found themselves level on the stroke of half time as Okazki scored in first half added time. Colombia brought on starlet James Rodriguez at half time to help the struggling team and he made an impact on the team and within 10 minutes of the second half Jackson Martinez had put the Colombians back in front. Japan couldn't hold possession at all through the second half and Martinez finished off in style for his second goal on 82 minutes. James Rodriguez then completed the scoring in the last minute and the game was completed, Colombia were through to the round of 16 in style.  

  

James Rodriguez scoring a cheeky chip over Yoshida to complete the scoring and send Colombia through

FT: JAPAN 1-4 COLOMBIA  

Week 4

This was the round of 16 knock out stage where all the top two teams from each group went on to play each other in hope of reaching the last 8. The stand out match was between Colombia and fellow South American rivals Uruguay.

The two teams lined up as-

Colombia-

1- Ospina (GK)

2- Zapata

3- Yepes (C)

6- Sanchez 

7- Pablo Armero 

8- Aguilar 

9- Teo (Mejia)

10- James (Ramos)

11- Cuadrado (Guarin) 

18- Zuniga 

21- Martinez 

Uruguay- 

1- Muslera (GK) 

3- Godin (C)

6- A. Pereira (Ramirez)

7- Rodriguez 

10- Forlan (Stuani)

13- Gimenez

16- M. Pereira

17- Rios

20- Gonzalez (Hernandez)

21- Cavani 

22- Caceres 

The game started off looking very fiery but with Uruguay missing their biggest asset, Luis Suarez is gave an advantage to Colombia who put out a very strong team as they looked to reach the next round to face Brazil. It took 28 minutes for Colombia to take the lead and it was a magical goal which was voted goal of the tournament at the end as he had his back to goal, controlled the ball with his chest and volleying the ball like a rifle into the top of the net, even two goalkeepers wouldn't have saved his tremendous shot. The second half the kicked off with the crowd still in awe of how good young James is and it only took him five minutes to get his second goal, he was now the top goal scorer in the World Cup. the games then died down after this and the full time whistle went, Colombia were to play Brazil in the round of 8. 

       

James Rodriguez celebrates after scoring his amazing goal, soaking up the atmosphere from the crowd 

FT: COLOMBIA 2-0 URUGUAY 

Week 5

The round of 8 didn't produce many spectacular games but the best out of all of them was one when you see the final score line you wouldn't expect it to have been that exiting, but it was. The game was contested by The Netherlands and the Surprise package of the whole tournament, a team not expected to qualify from their group let alone get this far, Costa Rica.

Here's how they lined up against each other-

Netherlands-

1- Cillessen (GK) (Krul)

2- Vlarr

3- De Vrij 

4- Martins Indi (Huntelaar)

5- Blind

9- Van Persie (C)

10- Sneijder 

11- Robben

15- Kuyt 

20- Wijnaldum

Memphis (Lens)

Costa Rica- 

1- Navas (GK)

2- Acosta

3- Gonzalez 

4- Umana 

5- Borges

7- Bolanos 

9- Campbell (Urena)

10- Ruiz

15- Diaz

16- Gamboa (Myrie)

17- Tejeda (Cubero)

The whole of the first half never really had any significant moments the only player who looked dangerous was Arjen Robben but he couldn't find a way past Navas in the Costa Rica goal. Memphis Depay then had a great chance to score from a Dirk Kuyt cross but he couldn't find the target. The second half went on was exactly the same, Robben was the controller in the middle of the park but nothing could happen in them finding a goal and the game was now going into Extra time. The only real chance in Extra time came near the end when Blind put a beautiful cross to the back post where Robin Van Persie was waiting only for the defender Tejeda to deflect the shot onto the crossbar and see the ball go out of play. The Dutch manager, Louis Van Gaal then made at the time what seem as strange decision when he swapped goalkeepers and brought on Newcastle player, Tim Krul. We were now heading for a penalty shoot out. The first penalty was scored by Costa Rica's Borges. Robin Van Persie then made it 1-1 in the shoot out after he converted his spot kick. Bryan Ruiz stepped up next but missed his kick, Costa Rica remained on 1. Robben then scored his kick and the advantage was now with the Dutch. Gonzalez scored his kick to make it 2-2 and put pressure on Sneijder to score his kick which he had no problem with. Bolanos scored his goal and it was 3-3. Dirk Kuyt then stepped up and the former Liverpool man scored his kick and it only needed a miss from Costa Rica in the next kick to send The Netherlands through. The pressure to score was now on Umana but the change Van Gaal made proved to be a good choice as Krul stretched well to reach the shot and put The Netherlands into the next round, The semi final. 

          

Tim Krul saving the decisive penalty from Umana to send the Dutch to their second World Cup semi final in a row.  

FT: NETHERLANDS 0-0 COSTA RICA 

(4-3 PENALTIES)

Week 6

Week 6, the Semi finals and all four teams were worthy contenders to win the tournament but out of the two games only one could be chosen as the best! The game in Belo Horizonte contested by the hosts of the tournament Brazil and World Cup stormer's Germany.

Here's how they set out, a lot of amazing world class players on show-

Brazil-

12- Cesar (GK)

4- David Luiz (C)

5- Fernandinho (Paulinho)

6- Marcelo 

7- Hulk (Ramires)

9- Fred (Willian)

11- Oscar

13- Dante 

17- Gustavo 

20- Bernard 

23- Maicon  

Germany- 

1- Neuer (GK)

4- Howedes 

5- Hummels (Mertesacker)

6- Khedira (Draxler) 

7- Schweinsteiger

8- Ozil 

11- Klose (Schurrle)

13- Muller

16- Lahm (C)

18- Kroos 

20- Boateng 

From the start you would have felt the game was going to be a very close encounter with both teams looking very even on paper but how wrong could we all be? It only took 11 minuets for Thomas Muller to open the scoring with a good finish passed Cesar. Germany then took full control of the game and and scored four goals in the space of six minutes, first Klose whose goal made him the record holder for goals scored in World Cup finals, then two goals from Toni Kroos and a rare Sami Khedira goal completely sunk the Brazil team and all the fans broke into tears as they realized the dream of winning the World Cup on home soil was over inside half an hour. In the second half it didn't get any easier for the Brazilians as substitute Schurrle scored twice including a great finish from a tight angle. Oscar then scored a very meaningless goal in the dying moments to put Brazil on the score sheet but it was all  to little to late and the Germans had reached the final.  

Klose scoring his goal to make it 0-2 to the Germans and to give him the record of goals in a world cup final, beating Brazil legend, Ronaldo 

FT: BRAZIL 1-7 GERMANY (YES, 7!)