2014 FIFA World Cup

The 2014 FIFA World Cup was the 20th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for men's national football teams organised by FIFA. It took place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014, after the country was awarded the hosting rights in 2007. It was the second time that Brazil staged the competition, the first being in 1950, and the fifth time that it was held in South America. Many fans and pundits alike also consider this edition of the World Cup to be one of the greatest ever held.

B

 * The fireworks began at dawn. All around this city, loud pops and bangs rang out as men and women and children, so many dressed in yellow, set off flares and beeped car horns. It was supposed to be a magical day. The Brazilian national soccer team, playing at home, was one game away from a World Cup final. No one could have guessed the tears would come before halftime. No one could have imagined there would be flags burning in the streets before dinner. Certainly no one could have envisioned that any Brazilian fans, watching their team play a semifinal in a celebrated stadium, would ever consider leaving long before full time. It all happened. The 2014 World Cup, first plagued by questions about funding and protests and infrastructure and construction, then buoyed by scads of goals and dramatic finishes and a contagious spirit of joy from the local residents, will ultimately be remembered for this: the home team, regarded as the sport’s superpower, being throttled like an overmatched junior varsity squad that somehow stumbled into the wrong game.
 * Sam Borden, "Goal: A Dark Day for Brazil" (8 July 2014), The New York Times (2014), New York

D

 * Dempsey, great start here. Can Clint Dempsey score? He has! The U.S. ahead! Incredibly, within seconds! Now that, is dreamland! Clint Dempsey becomes the first American to score at three different World Cups!
 * Ian Darke, Ghana v. United States (16 June 2014)


 * The dynamic of the group changes totally if the U.S. can hold on here. Gyan with a lovely ball, though. André Ayew, equalizes! It's a superb goal, to break American hearts! The resistance is broken!
 * Ian Darke, Ghana v. United States (16 June 2014)


 * Zusi to take it, and there! It's there! What about that? It's John Brooks! It's John Brooks! For the USA! Have they stolen it? Quite incredible, he couldn't even have dreamt that.
 * Ian Darke, Ghana v. United States (16 June 2014)


 * Payback, for the USA!
 * Ian Darke, Ghana v. United States (16 June 2014)


 * I think he was greeted when he arrived at the hotel in Brazil by a topless model and a guy dressed as Donald Duck.
 * Ian Darke, United States v. Portugal (22 June 2014), 2014 FIFA World Cup (2014), Brazil


 * Andre Almeida. Back in, by Veloso. Oh, it's a miscue to Nani! Oh my goodness, me! The USA pressed the 'self-destruct' button there! A catastrophe in the U.S. defense.
 * Ian Darke, United States v. Portugal (22 June 2014)


 * I think he was greeted when he arrived at the hotel in Brazil by a topless model and a guy dressed as Donald Duck.
 * Ian Darke, United States v. Portugal (22 June 2014)


 * He comes late, corner wouldn't drop to a white shirt. Now it has, Jones. Oh, yes! Jermaine Jones, what a cracker from him! USA level! Simply, sensational strike.
 * Ian Darke, United States v. Portugal (22 June 2014)


 * Nicely measured. Jones to Yedlin. Really, it nearly got to him! He has got to Bradley, and then Zusi, and Dempsey! Is he onside? He is! It's two, one! To the U.S.! 'Captain Marvel', again!
 * Ian Darke, United States v. Portugal (22 June 2014)


 * Can they do something here? It's Cristiano Ronaldo. Oh, it's a great cross! And it is an equalizer, from Varela! USA denied, right at the death! And you have to say, this is a terrific goal.
 * Ian Darke, United States v. Portugal (22 June 2014)


 * Goes a long way, and there's Howard with the save to deny Mertesacker, and this time Germany do score, it's Thomas Müller! It is one, nil. To Germany. Him again, and now the tension is racked up.
 * Ian Darke, United States v. Germany (26 June 2014)


 * The U.S. have no choice, other than to gamble. Which could mean they'll be hit by another counter or two. Bradley. Chipped forward, and look at this! It's Julian Green! Would you believe it? The youngster, gives the U.S. hope! Extraordinary! Two, one! The teenager comes up trumps!
 * Ian Darke, Belgium v. United States (1 July 2014)


 * I think he's saying there should be more than a minute.
 * Ian Darke, Belgium v. United States (1 July 2014)


 * USA valiant effort, but no hard luck story. Better team won. Last 16 is about as good as U.S. are, but well respected team now.
 * Ian Darke, Twitter (2 July 2014)


 * If that was Tim Howard's last World Cup game, what a way to go out! He was phenomenal. Most saves by a W.C. keeper in 50 years.
 * Ian Darke, Twitter (2 July 2014)


 * USA thoughts must turn to rebuild. By 2018, Dempsey is 35, Jones, Beasley and Beckerman 36, and Howard 39. All magnificent servants of U.S.
 * Ian Darke, Twitter (2 July 2014)


 * Thank you for many kind comments on the USA games coverage with Taylor Twellman. Very much appreciated. But stay tuned; World Cup goes on.
 * Ian Darke, Twitter (2 July 2014)


 * Here's Toni Kroos. Sami Khedira. Now Müller. Free kick's going to be given Brazil's way; this is turbocharged.
 * Ian Darke, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Klose, with a corner. Goes a long way and a goal! It's him again! Thomas Müller with his tenth World Cup goal in history, to put the Germans ahead! Well Brazil were behind in their opening game of the tournament against Croatia and came back to win. But, it might be a much harder job. Chasing Germany, of all the players.
 * Ian Darke, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Oh, Kroos. Here's more problems here, it's Klose! The history man, he's done it! Two, nil! And that's the goal that puts him in the record books, forever! Brazil being taken to the cleaners, so far. Sixteen goals, an all time World Cup record. And this is his twenty-third World Cup appearance. The tears of Brazil, and that young lady not the only one spilling tears around this nation at the moment. But, wait a minute! Here's Bernard! Can he do something to get Brazil back into this?
 * Ian Darke, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * But, it isn't working. They're two down. Lahm, this time. Müller missed it! And that's three, Toni Kroos! Germany are running riot! They cannot believe it! Splendid hit, from Kroos. You've got something on that, as well. With Julio Cesar, couldn't keep it out. And Toni Kroos marks his fiftieth cap for Germany, with a goal. And once or twice in there, it's just resembling a shooting gallery. Oh, and look at this now. This could get worse; Khedira plays it inside. Oh! It's four, nil! Unbelievable! Kroos again! And Brazil are just being played off the park! This is quite astonishing.
 * Ian Darke, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Two in two minutes for him, and Brazil's World Cup is surely over. This is the first time ever, that Brazil have trailed by four goals in a World Cup match. Four-nil down, twenty-six minutes on the clock. Germany, just too good? This is Brazil, not so much without Neymar. But, without Thiago Silva. Organizing their defense, and this could get a lot worse. Yeah? Unless this team tightens up somehow. Terrible mistake by Fernandinho on that last goal.
 * Ian Darke, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Look at this, again! Khedira plays it wide, Özil! Khedira again! Five, nil! This is utterly, beyond belief! Where is this goal scoring going to end? Well, if this was boxing? The referee would be stopping it, to save Brazil from further punishment. Five goals in the first twenty-nine minutes from a rampant Germany; Brazil have simply unraveled. Fred, here's Luiz Gustavo. Marcelo. Just need something, anything. To lift their confidence, but.
 * Ian Darke, Brazil v. Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Lahm, Khedira. Lahm, again. Trying to make sure, and they do make sure! Six, nil! You wonder where all this is going to end for Germany? Schürrle, getting in on the act. Well, they're really booing now. André Schürrle. Fred was booed off in the middle of all that. And Schürrle gets his second goal of the tournament, he got one against Algeria as well. Six, nil. Germany, really rubbing Brazil's noses in it.
 * Ian Darke, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * I think it's a sort of morbid fascination, for the Brazil fans now. They've paid a lot for their tickets, they're going to see it, whatever the story. I don't think they'll be watching a replay when they get home, somehow. How good are this German team?
 * Ian Darke, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Could be more, here's Schürrle! Once again, that's seven! An utter humiliation for Brazil, just got worse! Germany in seventh heaven! What a hit that is; nothing Julio Cesar could've done really. That was travelling at the speed of sound, a devastated Julio Cesar. A devastated Brazil; a devastated nation. Most goals ever scored in a World Cup semi-final by one team. The records are tumbling by the second, it seems here. Ramires. I think these players frankly would like to get off this pitch and go into a tunnel, that led to Tristan da Cunha or somewhere. Bernard's cross, Marcelo. There's not enough room on the caption. They've got roll it through, to get all the goal scorers on. Two goals for André Schürrle since coming on as a substitute.
 * Ian Darke, Brazil v. Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Brazil, in their famous history have allowed seven goals only one other time. That was in 1934, when they lost eight-four to Yugoslavia. Well, you and I are pinching ourselves. I think everybody here is. Seven, nil? Yeah, me too. You've got to say, as bad have Brazil have been? Germany have just been absolutely brilliant. Schürrle. Olés now, and I think the Brazil fans are starting to join with it. They're starting to applaud the Germans, what else can they do? Really? Well it's an embarrassment for Luiz Felipe Scolari, as the coach. Isn't he, is? Schürrle, to cut that one back. And you wonder what the? The reaction of the fans will be? We? We've heard about protests and demonstrations, people saying this World Cup wasn't worth the money that was spent on it because more should be invested in the infrastructure of the country. Will those protests come back again? Well, there's going to be a big clear-out isn't there? For certain, after this World Cup. Okay, they've got to the semi-final. That's no mean achievement; plenty didn't of course. Here's Lahm, he'll want to get on the act as well. Schürrle wants a hat-trick. Well, you're watching a game here that's going to go down as one of the most astonishing in the entire history of the World Cup. Bernard, Paulinho. Marcelo, they're trying to give the crowd something. Ramires, no. He's not in the mood for getting beaten.
 * Ian Darke, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * As quiet as a library.
 * Ian Darke, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Here's Götze! It's Mario Götze! It's Super Mario! He might have just won the World Cup, for Germany!
 * Ian Darke, Germany v. Argentina (July 2014)

K

 * One minute? Where the fuck does one minute come from?
 * Jürgen Klinsmann, Belgium v. United States (1 July 2014)
 * What Tim played tonight was just phenomenal, outstanding. He kept us in that game for a long time. We are proud to have him with us. It was an absolutely amazing match tonight and you can give him the biggest compliment in the world. It's a bummer for us ending on the losing side after a game of 120 minutes that gave everything to the fans, a real drama, a thriller. We had enough possession to equalize that game at the end, but a big compliment to Belgium and congratulations to them. I'm very proud of our team. Every player on the field made their country proud with this performance in this World Cup. All of the players just went beyond their capabilities and I told them they should take a lot of very positive stuff back home with them.
 * Jürgen Klinsmann, post-game press conference (1 July 2014)

M

 * We're ten minutes into the game, nearly eleventh minute. There's lots of space already on the field. Brazil have to come a little bit tighter, Ian. They can't be so expansive, from back to front. Otherwise? The Germans will cut them to shreds.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * That's a Sunday morning goal; it's certainly Sunday morning defending. Simple as you'd like, thank you very much! What a present!
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Simple as you like. Look at this with the goal. Lovely ball in, Toni Kroos takes his time. Look at this for the pass. Have some of that. Intelligence of Muller. Julio Cesar does well, but Klose is there for the rebound. What a beautiful goal, simple. Running off the ball, incisive passes. Brazil have to watch out; they've already been warned. They're going to go down by a lot more if they continue like this. But, a wonderful achievement by Miroslav Klose.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Yeah. Look at the space, Ian! Look at the space! Oh, great strike. But, look at this Ian. How bad is that? Simple, no? Ugh! Yes, he gets a bit lucky. That's a lovely strike by Toni Kroos. But is anybody going to close down? Is anybody going to be, make it hard to beat? Are they going to be organized, Brazil? Because at the moment it looks as if eleven players are just running around the field with no idea. Yeah.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)
 * Again! Oh, what can you say? Fernandino, or is it Luiz Gustavo? Gets for? I think it's Fernandinho. But, what a lovely goal. Fernandinho. Yes it helps, when you're three-nil up. But, what a pass by Sami Khedira! Talk about mentally strong, cold as ice. Puts it on a proverbial plate for Toni Kroos to get his second of the game.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)
 * Yeah, they're just too good. But also, this is the worst I've seen Brazil play and start a game. Yes they've started slow in other games, Ian. But, I've never seem them so disorganized. At least France in the quarter-final were nice and tight and compact to try to stop the Germans playing football. Brazil are just all over the place, so open.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)
 * But, they need a goal or two double quick.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)
 * We all fancied Germany today, we didn't think it was going to be this easy.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)
 * Whenever they start defending. Mats Hummels brings the ball twenty yards, and then? I think it's David Luiz dives out of the challenge with him. You're four-nil down! Go and be aggressive and kick somebody! Go and do something to influence this game!
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)
 * Well? I hope the people in the United States are sitting, enjoying this game. Because, they will never see a World Cup semi-final like this. For the rest of their lives. I am shell-shocked!
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)
 * Well? You just repeat yourself all the time, don't you? Ian, how bad is it in this goal? Look, space. Who's picking Philipp Lahm up? Nobody, nobody. The crowd venting their anger, yet again.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)
 * He looks happy to come on the field, six-nil down. Come on Willian, get on there! Score seven, make your country proud. Yeah, they will score again. Germany, won't they? They've got twenty minutes left. If they keep up? Yeah. Look, Marcelo looks as if he can? Can't run anymore. But, Germany will score again if they want. Look at that, I mean? It looks as if Brazil have got nine men on the field; it looks as if it's eleven against nine.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)
 * Defensive displays, and this is just blowing it completely out the water. Nil, seven! I know! Thank? Thankfully, a couple of the people have scored a couple of times. So, they just put the number next to them. Otherwise, there's no space.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Yeah. We're in a special place, Ian. We've seen some football matches in our time. But, I've never seen? Seen a game like this, or been in a spectacle like this. I'll remember this for the rest of my life. Yeah, yeah. You'd much rather see seven goals than a one-nil defensive display, wouldn't you? At least they're getting entertained.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * It's hard to decipher this game. It's been a very good German performance, but Ian? You cannot underestimate how bad Brazil have been today, it's like? It's like amateur hour watching them. But, their attitude has just been appalling. I know, I keep saying appalling. Because, I'm running out words. They've just given in. They've just completely given in, actually trying to run around and play football.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * But, their lack of effort today has just astounded me. It really has; you could just get ten people sitting around just to work harder than a lot of these players have worked today. Oh, yeah.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Yeah. This game will be referred to many, many, many, many, years to come. Yes, we're talking about 1950 games now. This game, is going to like that. We will refer to this in fifty years time.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Have just thrown in the towel; this towel was thrown in. Forty, fifty minutes ago. They're not even getting close to the ball.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Please, do not adjust your television set.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Men against boys, Ian. Isn't it?
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * How we started the game and how we're going to finish the game, are just extraordinary. Polar opposites.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Ian, I think? This will definitely be the best World Cup we'll have ever seen. We're lucky, we're privileged.
 * Steve McManaman, Brazil v Germany (8 July 2014)

S

 * You see? Here's the thing. You doubt us? Perfect. Underestimate us? Fine. Challenges are what we wake up for. Working harder is what we do, and this is who we are.
 * Kiefer Sutherland, Ghana v. United States (16 June 2014)

T

 * The magical touch of Jürgen Klinsmann continues! Who's starting this play? DeAndre Yedlin! Getting to the byline, whipping a good ball across!
 * Taylor Twellman, United States v. Portugal (22 June 2014)


 * You have got to be kidding me. How many times is Tim Howard going to save the United States? His positioning tonight have been impeccable. He has never once leaned the wrong way.
 * Taylor Twellman, as quoted in "World Cup 2014: North Brunswick's Tim Howard heroic in loss to Belgium as hometown cheers proudly" (1 July 2014), NJ

W

 * His fifth goal of this World Cup! Who picked him up? No one picked him up!
 * Steve Wilson, Brazil v. Germany (8 July 2014)


 * It's three, Toni Kroos! Brazil have fallen apart inside 25 minutes! Germany, three! Brazil, nil!
 * Steve Wilson, Brazil v. Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Fernandinho caught in possession! Brazil are being humiliated, humbled, and taken apart by Germany!
 * Steve Wilson, Brazil v. Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Five, nil. Five, nil! Absolute humiliation!
 * Steve Wilson, Brazil v. Germany (8 July 2014)


 * Schürrle, oh! André Schürrle, it's seven!
 * Steve Wilson, Brazil v. Germany (8 July 2014)