2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ Official Book
6. Belgium – Russia 1-0: Last time they didn’t play for 70 minutes, and now they were passive for 80 minutes. The 19-year-old substitute Origi’s goal short before the full-time whistle won the match for Belgians. It worked for Belgians to enter the Play-offs without showing anything extraordinary. Belgians had three points, and there was no need to make an extra effort. Marc Wilmots’s side had the heroes of the last match Fellaini and Mertens from the beginning. The Napoli-man was the liveliest player in the first half. Russians were defending well. And in general, it seemed like the match was developing according to Fabio Capello’s scenario. Russians were focused in the back and were quick in counterattacks. If they had decent attackers, they could have been in front before the break. But Capello doesn’t have any strikers as good as he would need with such tactics. As expected, Russia’s coach agreed to a 0-0 by the end of the match. Not throwing Dzagoev and Kerzhakov in earlier in the match is the proof. But Wilmots was apparently waiting for Capello to calm down. Belgians could have scored more, but even a minimal 1-0 was enough for them to extend their residence in Brazil by at least another match.
Defence: 1 – 1
Midfield: 1 – 1
Attack: 1 – 1
Interplay: 1 – 1
TOTAL: 4 – 4
10. Hazard (BEL) – 0,5
14. Mertens (BEL) – 0,5
14. Berezutskiy (RUS) – 0,5
5. South Korea - Algeria 2-4: Making five changes in the starting line-up, Algeria’s coach Halilhodzic wanted to show the match scenario had to be written by him. After an unsuccessful defence of their first goal against Belgium, Algeria was determined not to stop attacking in this match. The scoreboard showed 3-0 after the first half. The so-much needed break helped the Koreans to calm down, believe in themselves and fight back. It was a good decision for the coach Hong Meung-Bo not to make any substitutions in a situation, where everybody played much worse than expected. The players realized that they were the ones to turn the match upside down. And they almost did it. As the Asians were getting closer to score their second, Algerians organized a good counterattack, which was one of their main jobs in the second half, and scored the fourth. The hard-working Koreans, lead by Bayer’s Son Heung-Min scored, never stopped believing, but didn’t score any more after their second. A great match in the Group H, where three teams have chances to earn the second ticket to the Play-offs!
Defence: 0 – 0,5
Midfield: 0,5 - 1
Attack: 1 – 1,5
Interplay: 1 - 1
TOTAL: 2,5 – 4
13. Slimani (ALG) – 1
18. Djabou (ALG) - 1
9. Son (KOR) – 1
23. Rais (ALG) – 1
10. Feghouli (ALG) – 0,5
11. Brahimi (ALG) – 0,5
4. USA – Portugal 2-2: Only a magic cross from the best player in the world Cristiano Ronaldo 10 seconds before the final whistle extended the hopes of the Portuguese fans to see their team in the Round of 16. The Portuguese missed two injured players and the red-carded Pepe. These absences had clearly had their impact on Paulo Bento’s team performance. They couldn’t build on or even defend the quick goal they scored. The new goalkeeper Beto had problems with organizing his defenders. The final goal they scored brought them the first point in the World Cup, but they were not even close to their potential, as in the first match against Germany. Jurgen Klinsmann has to be satisfied with the draw, on the other hand. The team conceded in the beginning and in the end of the match, didn’t show some great tactical play, but fought really well. Goalkeeper Tim Howard seems to be in a good form, and the team is especially dangerous when counterattacking. USA is in a good position before the final round of the group stage. They may advance even losing to Germany, if the parallel match ends as they need.
Defence: 1 – 1
Midfield: 1 – 1
Attack: 1 – 1
Interplay: 1 – 1
TOTAL: 4 – 4
1. Howard (USA) – 1
13. Jones (USA) – 1
23. Johnson (USA) – 1
8. Moutinho (POR) – 0,5
17. Nani (POR) – 0,5
7. Ronaldo (POR) – 0,5
3. The second round brought more surprises than the first one. Underdogs managed to take points from top favourites. Giants of global football were eliminated from the tournament in a record short period of time. Cameroon, Spain, Australia, England and Bosnia-Herzegovina are free to give some experience to their reserve teams. These five are already out of the tournament no matter how they play in the last group match. Especially unexpected is the destiny of the two previous world champions.
The Netherlands, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Argentina are already in the next round. The 20th World Cup is on its way to turn into a disastrous tournament for European teams. 3 out of 13 teams from the “Old World” are already eliminated and only two have earned a place in the round of 16. Only 4 of them won their matches, 3 of them shared points and 6 teams lost, including Switzerland and Russia losing to other European teams.
South America has got 6 representatives, 3 of which are already in the Play-off. The other three have got all the chances to join their neighbours. Overall, five of the South-American teams won their matches, and only hosts Brazil were held by Mexicans.
The other successful continent is the Central and North America. Costa Ricans defeated Italy in this round and are ready for the next round, while Mexico and USA surprisingly didn’t lose to Neymar’s Brazil and Ronaldo’s Portugal respectively. Honuduras lost its second match, but is not out of the tournament yet. Mexico is one of the two teams that haven’t conceded a single goal so far.
The Asian quartet composed of Australia, Japan, Iran and South Korea is in a crisis. They only managed to earn a point, which was their third total point since the start. Three of them have still got chances to go further, anyway.
Finally, the African delegates improved in the second round, where two of them won their matches, one had a tie, and two of them lost. Cameroon is already eliminated.
Most goals scored: Netherlands, France (8 goals)
Least goals: Iran, Greece, Cameroon (0)
Most conceded: Australia (7)
Least conceded: Mexico, Nigeria (0)
Topscorers: Benzema (FRA), Mueller (GER), Robben, van Persie (both - NED), E. Valencia (ECU) (all - 3 goals).
Most assists: Cuadrado (COL) (3)
Best teams of the round were France, Chile and Uruguay, getting a mark of 7 for their performance. Overall, the best football of the tournament is played by France (13,5), Germany (12,5), Netherlands and, surprisingly, England are in the third place (both – 11,5).
The teams getting the lowest mark for the round are Cameroon (1,0) and Switzerland (1,5). The teams with least points after two rounds are Cameroon (2,0), Honduras, Greece and Japan (all – 4,0).
The best player of the round was 13. Ochoa (MEX) - 2.
The following players have earned the highest marks for their performances in the first two matches:
10. Benzema (FRA) - 3,5
7. Sanchez (CHL) - 3,5
11. Robben (NED) - 3
9. Van Persie (NED) - 3 2. Group A
- Brazil 4
- Mexico 4
- Croatia 3
- Cameroon 0
Brazil will advance if they win. If Mexico wins with a better margin than them, the hosts might take the second place in the final standings. A draw will take them to the second round, too, but they will be the second, if the parallel match doesn’t end in a draw, i. e. the winner of the other match will win the group. If Brazil loses to Cameroon, there are three possible scenarios, in which they advance anyway: a) Croatia has to win at least by the same margin, as Brazil loses, b) the match Croatia-Mexico has to have a winner, c) Mexico has to win.
Mexico will advance, if they win against Croatia. There will be a tie for the first place, if Brazil defeats Cameroon. If they draw against Croatia, they will advance, but then only Cameroon’s win will make the Mexicans winners of their group. If they lose to Croatia, the only hope will be to trust on Cameroon to beat Brazil by three or more goals.
Croatia will advance if they beat Mexico. If Brazil fails to win over Cameroon, the Europeans will take the first place in the group. Otherwise they will be the second. If they play a draw, they can only advance in case Cameroon beats Brazil.
Cameroon is already out of the tournament.
1. Group B
- Netherlands 6
- Croatia 6
- Australia 0
- Spain 0
The only intrigue in this group is the question of the winner/runner-up. The Netherlands - Chile clash is the only match that matters. Netherlands will win the group if they don’t lose to Chile. This is the most preferable option for Louis van Gaal’s team, as if they win the group, and if Italy doesn’t win its group, the way to semi-finals can be really easy.
The same goes for Chile if they win the group. Only a win over the Netherlands will bring them the first place in the group. In any other scenario, they will most probably meet Brazil already in the first round of Play-off. It doesn’t mean that Chile is afraid of Brazil, but it is always preferable to avoid the hosts, especially when they are five-time world champions.
Spain and Australia will meet each other and say goodbye to Brazil right after the match.
The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ Fact File
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