FIFA World Cup 2014: Analysis after the semi-finals

Netherlands – Argentina 0-0 (2-4 pen): Netherlands lost the after-match penalty shoot-out with goalkeeper Cillessen instead of Krul.

Defence: 1,5 – 1,5

Midfield: 1 – 1

Attack: 0,5 – 0,5

Interplay: 1 – 1

TOTAL: 4 – 4

2. Vlaar (NED) – 2

14. Mascherano (ARG) - 2

3. De Vrij (NED) – 1

15. Kuijt (NED) – 1

7. Janmaat (NED) – 1

15. Demichelis (ARG) - 1

11. Robben (NED) – 0,5

10. Sneijder (NED) – 0,5

9. Higuain (ARG) – 0,5

22. Lavezzi (ARG) – 0,5

There are two matches left to be played in the 20^th FIFA World Cup. For the third time in the history the

final match will witness Germany and Argentina. Germany will challenge its 4^th World Cup title, while Argentina will equal to Germans, if they end their World Cup campaign with a win. Brazil, the 5-time World Champions and hosts of the tournament was smashed and thrown away by Germany. Netherlands, the current vice-champion of the world, attempted to enter its fourth World Cup final, but was stopped by Argentina after a penalty shoot-out drama.

We had historical
semi-finals, where the first one broke dozens of the records, and the second one was the first ever match of this stage, which didn’t register a single goal.

Most goals scored: Germany (17 goals)

Least goals scored: Cameroon, Honduras, Iran (1)

Most conceded: Brazil (11)

Least conceded: Costa Rica (2)

Topscorer(s): James Rodriguez (COL) (6)

Most assists: Cuadrado (COL) (4)

Top three most beautiful goals:

3. Tim Cahill (AUS) Australia – Netherlands 2:3, 21’

2. Robin van Persie (NED) Spain – Netherlands 1:5, 44’

1. James Rodriguez (COL) Colombia – Uruguay 2:0, 28’

The best players of the round were 2. Vlaar (NED), despite missing the first after-match penalty for Netherlands, and 14. Mascherano (ARG) – both getting the highest mark of 2,0.

The following players have earned the highest marks for their performances so far:

11. Robben (NED) – 7,5

7. Alexis Sanchez (CHI) – 6,5

10. James Rodriguez (COL) – 6,5
13. Mueller (GER) – 5,0

10. Messi (ARG) – 5,0

10. Neymar (BRA) – 5,0

The best team of the round was Germany, getting a mark of 8,0 out of 8,0. Germany, Netherlands and France had deserved 7,0 earlier in the tournament, but no team had been better than that until the semi-finals.

Brazil get 0,5. Cameroon twice and Honduras once received 1,0, but no team had been worse until Brazil’s terrible show against Germany.

Overall, the best football of the tournament is played by Germany (35,0).

The full table of marks after the semi-finals (the quality of play comprised of defence, midfield, attack and interplay in all matches taken into account):

1. Germany	35
2. Netherlands	32
3. Argentina	29
4. France	26,5
5. Colombia	25,5
6. Brazil	24,5
7. Belgium	23,5
8. Mexico	20,5
9. Chile	20
10. Costa Rica	19,5
11. Uruguay	17,5
12. England	15,5
13. Algeria	15
14. USA	14,5
15.Nigeria	13,5
16. Switzerland	13
17. Bosnia-Herz.	12,5
18. Greece	12,5
19. Italy	12
Spain	12
21. Croatia	11,5
22. Ghana	11
Iran	11
24. Russia	10,5
25. South Korea	9,5
Ecuador	9,5
27. Portugal	9
28. Japan	8,5
29. Ivory Coast	8
30. Australia	7
31. Honduras	6
32. Cameroon	5,5

The full table of the official ranking of the teams, based on points.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5. Colombia	12
6. France	10
7. Belgium	10
8. Costa Rice	9
9. Chile	7
10. Mexico	7
11. Switzerland	7
12. Uruguay	6
13. Algeria	5
14. USA	5
15. Greece	5
16. Ecuador	4
17. Nigeria	4
18. Portugal	4
19. Croatia	3
20. Bosnia-H.	3
21. Ivory Coast	3
22. Italy	3
23. Spain	3
24. Russia	2
25. Ghana	1
26. England	1
27. South Korea	1
28. Iran	1
29. Japan	1
30. Australia	0
31. Honduras	0
32. Cameroon	0

Chances to win the World Cup

Argentina	50,00%	(+22,47%)
Germany	50,00%	(+23,78%)