FIFA World Cup 2014: Analysis after the group stage

Time to say goodbye to half of the 2014 FIFA World Cup participants! 16 teams were not good enough to continue the fight for the most valuable trophy in the world of football. The pairs of 1/8 finals are known, the bracket is filled. Now we know that a Brazil-Argentina final is possible, but Germany cannot meet Brazil in the final. Maximum two South American teams can reach semi-finals. Only one of former World champions Brazil, Uruguay, France and Germany can
reach the final.     

The pattern of continental failure for Europe and continental success for Americas continued. Whole seven European teams leave the tournament after the group stage, which is more than half of the initial participants. This shameful list includes former World champions Spain, Italy and England. Another heavyweight leaving Brazil so early is the team of the best player in the world Cristiano Ronaldo. All European teams will meet contenders from other continents. This means that all six can go further to the quarterfinal, as well as that all of them can be eliminated in the worst case. Participants of the 1/8 finals from Europe: France, Germany, Netherlands, Greece, Switzerland and Belgium.

South America can be proud of its performance. Five out of six participants continue the fight for the World Cup. Only Ecuador leaves home. According to the bracket, Brazil will meet Chile, and Colombia will meet Uruguay in the round of 16. The winners of these encounters will meet each other in the quarterfinal. This means that only one of these teams will reach the semi-finals. Argentina is the only South American team situated in the opposite side of the bracket, which means that Messi and Co. will have to become the winner among eight teams, including four from Europe and three from Central and North America.

Mexico, Costa Rica and USA are the three teams left from the Central and North America, losing Honduras on the way. This is a great achievement for the continent. The three teams will meet European opponents in the next round and might not be hot favourites to get to the quarterfinals. However, these teams have got some great support here in Brazil and in the best case they can all be among the last 8.

Africa, despite the countless internal problems within the teams, has secured two places in the round of 16. Losing Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Ghana, the continent will now cheer for Nigeria and Algeria, who will meet France and Germany respectively. Ironically, if these two beat their European opponents, they will face each other in the quarterfinals and guarantee a place for an African semi-finalist for the first time in the World Cup history.  

Asia has had a tournament to forget. Australia, Japan, Iran and South Korea lost nine and tied three matches in aggregate, not winning a single match. Time to make conclusions for Asians! 

Most goals scored: Netherlands (10 goals)

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

Most conceded: Cameroon, Australia (9)

Least conceded: Mexico, Costa Rica, Belgium (1)

Topscorers: Mueller (GER), Neymar (BRA), Messi (ARG) (4)

Most assists: Cuadrado (COL) (3)

Top three most beautiful goals:

3. Arjen Robben (NED) Spain – Netherlands 1:5, 80’

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

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

Best team of the round was Argentina getting a mark of 6,5.

Overall, the best football of the tournament is played by France (18,0), Germany and Netherlands (both – 17,0)

The team getting the lowest mark for the round is Australia (1,5).

The teams with least points after the group stage are Cameroon (5,5), Honduras (6,5) and Australia (7,0).

 

The best player of the round was 22. Alexander Dominguez (ECU) – 2,0.

The following players have earned the highest marks for their performances in the first three matches:

7. Sanchez (CHL) – 5,0

11. Robben (NED) – 4,0

10. Benzema (FRA) – 4,0

The team of the group stage:

Goalkeeper: Enyeama (NGA)

Defenders: Caceres (URU), Godin (URU), Moreno (MEX), Mehrdad Pooladi (IRI)

Midfielders: Andranik Teymourian (IRI), Matuidi (FRA), Iniesta (ESP), Shaqiri (SUI)

Forwards: Alexis Sanchez (CHI), Benzema (FRA)

Substitutes: Howard (USA), Vlaar (NED), Cuadrado (COL), Robben (NED)

Chances to win the World Cup (%):

1. BRA	19,17
2. ARG	17,31
3. GER	13,93
4. NED	12,78
5. COL	8,2
6. FRA	5,7
7. MEX	5,07
8. BEL	4,59
9. CHI	3,3
10. GRE	2,58
11. CRC	2,11
12. URU	1,94
13. SUI	1,46
14. NGA	1,08
15. USA	0,52
16. ALG	0,26