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With the Group stage concluded, here are 10 monumental events which one will not forget in Week 2 at the FIFA World Cup!
#10 Antonio Valencias leg crusher
Football is no stranger to dangerous tackles and the careers of many a player have been destroyed by careless or ill-tempered challenges from wilful footballers. Antonio Valencia doesn’t have a reputation of being temperamental but he certainly lost his way in a blatant stamp on French left-back Lucas Digne.
The Ecuadorian captain crashed into Digne with both feet and then appeared to stamp on the PSG player’s leg. Valencia was deservedly given his marching orders and he showed no despair or indignation which also exposed his evil moment of madness.
This horrific challenge evoked harsh criticism on social networks with several eminent personalities calling for disciplinary action on the Manchester United winger. Interestingly, Valencia was also sent off in a pre-World Cup friendly against England after he had grabbed Raheem Sterling by the neck.
#9 Last-minute goals
The first week saw Switzerland’s Haris Seferovic score a last-gasp winner against Ecuador and the outflow of last-minute goals continued into the second week of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Just when Portuguese fans were heading for the exits in the game against USA, Silvestre Varela flew across goal to meet a delicious Ronaldo cross to score the equaliser with the last touch of the game and prolong Portugal’s stay in Brazil.
Further last-minute excitement was on offer in Group C as Greece were awarded a controversial late penalty in their match against Ivory Coast after Giovanni Sio was adjudged to have clipped the heels of Giorgios Samaras. The Celtic man stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty into the net, sending Greece into the Round of 16 for the first time ever.
Lionel Messi saved his best for the last as he curled home an absolute stunner against a resolute Iran in the dying moments of the match.
#8 Mario Balotellis kung-fu kick
Mario Balotelli is no stranger to controversies. He probably has more bookings than goals to his name. His enigmatic personality is uncontrollable and even the likes of Jose Mourinho havent been able to subdue his propensity for indiscipline and volatility.
But fortunately for the Azzurri, Balotelli was yet to unravel his innate inclination for chaos at the international level. That changed in the match against Uruguay as Balotelli came flying in like a martial arts instructorand let fly a ferocious kick at Alvaro Pereira in an attempt to take possession of theball at almost six feet in the air.
The Milan man was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card while Pereira too would have thanked his stars as he escaped without any major head injury after that crushing challenge.
#7 Africa makes history
The African continent has had five representatives at the World Cup finals since the 1998 edition in France. But there hasn’t been more than one flag-bearer who has carried Africa’s hopes past the group stage. Nigeria and Algeria changed that trend and created history when both teams qualified for the knockouts.
With bookmakers having made Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire favourites among the African contingent to progress to the next stage, few would have imagined this reversal in fortunes. This will be the first time that Algeria will not be returning home after the group stage while African champions Nigeria have made the cut for the knockouts for the first time since France ’98.
African teams are yet to make it past the quarter-finals at the World Cup finals and with Algeria and Nigeria slated to face European heavyweights in France and Germany, respectively, that record is expected to last a little bit longer. Any other result would be a cosmic upset.
#6 Giant-killing Costa Rica
In a World Cup that was destined to revolve around the might of hosts Brazil, Germany, Spain, Argentina et al, no one would have envisioned Costa Rica creating even the slightest of ripples, more so when they were drawn into the Group of Death alongside Italy, England and Uruguay.
But the unheralded Costa Ricans have caused the greatest World Cup upset of recent times with historic victories over Italy and Uruguay and a commendable draw against England taking them into the knockout stage. Defying all odds and predictions, they stand atop the Group D table at the end of the group stage.
This team, bereft of any star players, have sent England and Italy packing with a fearless and relentless brand of attacking football. And Brazil, their Round of 16 opponents, are already sweating over the prospect of facing this team which plays as if there is no tomorrow.
#5 Shock exits - Italy, England and Portugal
The 2014 FIFA World Cup will forever be remembered for its highly unpredictable nature and the advent of fledgling footballing nations such as Chile, Belgium and Costa Rica. But surprises and upsets come at a cost.
After defending champions Spain were sent packing in the opening week, the second week saw big names such as Italy, England and Portugal book their flights home as European nations suffered handsomely with as many as seven countries bowing out after the group stage.
Roy Hodgson’s young brigade failed to muster any kind of creativity and went home with a solitary point to their name. All talk of Italy’s classy midfield and sturdy defence vapourised as they tasted defeats at the hands of Chile and Uruguay.
Cristiano Ronaldo was unable to shake off his injury as he cut a frustrated figure in an insipid Portugal team. Portugal went out on goal difference, despite garnering four points from their three games. Their huge defeat to Germany in the opening proved to be the difference in the end.
With Italy and Spain out of the competition, not even a single World Cup winning player is left at Brazil 2014.
#4 Xherdan Shaqiri\'s hat-trick
Once touted as a star of the future, many football experts derided Bayern Munich for wasting the precocious talent of Xherdan Shaqiri by forcing him to warm the benches more often than not. For Shaqiri, this World Cup was a chance at redemption and a golden opportunity to remind the world about his tremendous ability with a football.
Switzerland, a formidable team always capable of springing a few surprises in Brazil, were steamrolled by neighbours France in their second group match. Needing nothing less than a win against Honduras to have a chance of progressing to the knockouts, Switzerland longed for a moment of individual brilliance from one of their stalwarts.
haqiri provided that spark, wreaking havoc in Honduras’ defence and scoring three wonderful goals, the second of which was an absolute Messi-esque stunner which curled its way almost poetically into the back of the net from 25 yards.
#3 Miguel Herreras passionate celebration
Several goal and victory celebrations by managers have become iconic in modern day football. Some managers are reticent in their emotional conduct while some are more exuberant and extravagant on the touchline. Mexico’s coach Miguel Herrera belongs to a third category.
His unabated passion for his country was on display during Mexico’s final group encounter against Croatia. Needing atleast a draw to advance to the knockout stage, Mexico pumped in three goals late in the second half to evoke an unrestrained outburst of emotion and ecstasy from their national coach, a celebration that’ll be remembered as one of the most defining moments of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Herrera cried, jumped, broke into a sprint, dived onto a group of players and hugged his team staff. His euphoria knew no bounds as the entire stadium shared his rapture and football fans rejoiced in this moment of pure joy and elation.
#2 Lionel Messi magic
There is little argument over this man’s greatness. He is already regarded as one of God’s greatest gifts to football. But his below-par output for his country at the World Cup finals has eluded him from eternal distinction and he has, hence, remained in Diego Maradona’s shadow.
This World Cup was Messi’s shot at glory and a possible elevation to the pinnacle of sporting immortality. The Barcelona genius has started charting his path to that summit. Continuing his goal-scoring form from the injury-time winner against Iran in the opening game, he netted a quintessential Messi curler which proved to be the winner against Bosnia.
Messi saved his best for Argentina’s final group game against Nigeria as he saved a faltering Albiceleste defence the blushes with a sublime brace that included a beautiful free-kick. If Messi’s form and drive at Brazil 2014 are any indications of what the future holds, then he could well emulate Maradona’s feat in 1986.
#1 Luis Suarez bites again
“I am truly very sorry about the incident with Branislav Ivanovic. I acknowledge that my actions were not acceptable on the football pitch.” These were the exact words uttered by Luis Suarez post his infamous biting incident in a match against Chelsea. Human beings are adept at learning from their mistakes, may be that is why history forms an integral part of our day-to-day learning.
Suarez believes in a different philosophy, that of “Practice makes a man perfect”, which goes perfectly with his series of biting episodes, the latest of which occurred in Uruguay’s final group game against Italy. Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini was the victim as his shoulders bore the brunt of Suarez’s canines. Astonishingly, the incident evaded the eyes of the on-field referee.
The embarrassing incident was unanimously condemned by the global football community which prompted FIFA to take retrospective disciplinary action against the Liverpool striker. FIFA banned Suarez for four months from all football-related activities, kicking him out of the World Cup and throwing Uruguay’s campaign in jeopardy.
