WORLD CUP - 2014-2018 (6)

Today I am here with the last article of our World Cup series. I received very nice comments, thank you all. In this article, we examine the 2014 and 2018 World Cups. Enjoyable reading.

2014 WORLD CUP

The 2014 FIFA World Cup took place in Brazil from June 12 to July 13, 2014. This was the 20th edition of the tournament and the second time it was held in Brazil, the first being in 1950.

The tournament featured 32 teams from around the world, divided into eight groups of four. The competition consisted of two stages: a group stage and a knockout stage. The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage, which was a single-elimination tournament leading to the final match. 2014 World Cup group stage:

Group A:
Brazil: The host nation topped the group with 7 points after winning two matches (against Croatia and Cameroon) and drawing one (against Mexico).
Mexico: Also advanced with 7 points, but with a lower goal difference than Brazil. They won against Cameroon and Croatia and drew against Brazil.
Croatia: Finished third with 3 points, with their only win coming against Cameroon.
Cameroon: Finished last in the group, losing all three matches.

Group B:
Netherlands: Topped the group with 9 points, winning all their matches against Spain, Australia, and Chile.
Chile: Advanced with 6 points, after victories against Australia and Spain.
Spain: The defending champions had a disappointing campaign, finishing third with only 3 points. Their only win came against Australia.
Australia: Finished last, losing all their matches.

Group C:
Colombia: Topped the group with 9 points, winning all their matches against Greece, Ivory Coast, and Japan.
Greece: Advanced with 4 points, after a win against Ivory Coast and a draw against Japan.
Ivory Coast: Finished third with 3 points, with their only win coming against Japan.
Japan: Finished last in the group with just 1 point from a draw against Greece.

Group D:
Costa Rica: Surprisingly topped the group with 7 points, winning against Uruguay and Italy and drawing against England.
Uruguay: Advanced with 6 points, after victories against England and Italy.
Italy: Finished third with 3 points, with their only win coming against England.
England: Finished last, with just 1 point from a draw against Costa Rica.

Group E:
France: Topped the group with 7 points, winning against Honduras and Switzerland and drawing against Ecuador.
Switzerland: Advanced with 6 points, after victories against Ecuador and Honduras.
Ecuador: Finished third with 4 points, after a win against Honduras and a draw against France.
Honduras: Finished last, losing all their matches.

Group F:
Argentina: Topped the group with 9 points, winning all their matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, and Nigeria.
Nigeria: Advanced with 4 points, after a win against Bosnia and Herzegovina and a draw against Iran.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Finished third with 3 points, with their only win coming against Iran.
Iran: Finished last in the group with just 1 point from a draw against Nigeria.

Group G:
Germany: Topped the group with 7 points, winning against Portugal and the United States and drawing against Ghana.
United States: Advanced with 4 points, after a win against Ghana and a draw against Portugal.
Portugal: Finished third with 4 points, but with a lower goal difference than the United States. Their only win came against Ghana.
Ghana: Finished last, with just 1 point from a draw against Germany.

Group H:
Belgium: Topped the group with 9 points, winning all their matches against Algeria, Russia, and South Korea.
Algeria: Advanced with 4 points, after a win against South Korea and a draw against Russia.
Russia: Finished third with 2 points, after draws against Algeria and South Korea.
South Korea: Finished last in the group with just 1 point from a draw against Russia.

After the group stage, the top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage.

The final match took place at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, with Germany and Argentina competing for the title. Germany won 1-0 after extra time, thanks to a goal by Mario Götze. This was Germany's fourth World Cup title.

CHAMPION: GERMANY

The bite incident: During a group stage match between Uruguay and Italy, Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder. Suárez was subsequently banned for nine international matches and four months from all football-related activities.

James Rodríguez's stunning goal: Colombian midfielder James Rodríguez scored a spectacular volley against Uruguay in the Round of 16, which later won the FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal of the year.

Tim Howard's record-breaking performance: In the Round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium, American goalkeeper Tim Howard made 16 saves, the most in a World Cup match since FIFA started recording such statistics in 1966.

Costa Rica's Cinderella story: Costa Rica surprised many by reaching the quarter-finals, defeating former champions Italy and Uruguay in the group stage and overcoming Greece in the Round of 16. Their journey ended in a penalty shootout loss to the Netherlands.

Miroslav Klose's record: German striker Miroslav Klose became the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, surpassing Ronaldo's record of 15 goals. Klose scored his 16th goal in the semi-final match against Brazil.

MIROSLAV KLOSE - GERMANY

The 2014 World Cup was a significant event for Brazil and the world. Despite initial concerns about preparations and infrastructure, the tournament was considered a success. It showcased the country's passion for football and was memorable for Germany's victory, the shocking 7-1 defeat of Brazil by Germany, and the emergence of James Rodríguez as a new star, scoring six goals in the tournament and winning the Golden Boot.

Golden Boot Award:
The Golden Boot (awarded to the top goal scorer of the tournament) was won by James Rodríguez of Colombia, who scored 6 goals.

TOP SCORER: JAMES RODRIGUEZ

Golden Ball Award:
The Golden Ball (awarded to the best player of the tournament) was won by Lionel Messi of Argentina.

GOLDEN BALL: LIONEL MESSI

2014 WORLD CUP FINAL

2018 WORLD CUP

The 2018 FIFA World Cup was the 21st edition of the tournament and took place in Russia from June 14 to July 15, 2018. This was the first time the World Cup was held in Eastern Europe.

The tournament featured 32 teams from around the world, divided into eight groups of four. The competition consisted of two stages: a group stage and a knockout stage. The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage, which was a single-elimination tournament leading to the final match. Here's a more detailed breakdown of the 2018 FIFA World Cup group stage, including the results of each match:

Group A:

1. Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia
2. Egypt 0-1 Uruguay
3. Russia 3-1 Egypt
4. Uruguay 1-0 Saudi Arabia
5. Uruguay 3-0 Russia
6. Saudi Arabia 2-1 Egypt

Advanced to knockout stage: Uruguay (1st, 9 points), Russia (2nd, 6 points)

Group B:

1. Morocco 0-1 Iran
2. Portugal 3-3 Spain
3. Portugal 1-0 Morocco
4. Iran 0-1 Spain
5. Iran 1-1 Portugal
6. Spain 2-2 Morocco

Advanced to knockout stage: Spain (1st, 5 points), Portugal (2nd, 5 points)

Group C:

1. France 2-1 Australia
2. Peru 0-1 Denmark
3. Denmark 1-1 Australia
4. France 1-0 Peru
5. Denmark 0-0 France
6. Australia 0-2 Peru

Advanced to knockout stage: France (1st, 7 points), Denmark (2nd, 5 points)

Group D:

1. Argentina 1-1 Iceland
2. Croatia 2-0 Nigeria
3. Argentina 0-3 Croatia
4. Nigeria 2-0 Iceland
5. Nigeria 1-2 Argentina
6. Iceland 1-2 Croatia

Advanced to knockout stage: Croatia (1st, 9 points), Argentina (2nd, 4 points)

Group E:

1. Costa Rica 0-1 Serbia
2. Brazil 1-1 Switzerland
3. Brazil 2-0 Costa Rica
4. Serbia 1-2 Switzerland
5. Serbia 0-2 Brazil
6. Switzerland 2-2 Costa Rica

Advanced to knockout stage: Brazil (1st, 7 points), Switzerland (2nd, 5 points)

Group F:

1. Germany 0-1 Mexico
2. Sweden 1-0 South Korea
3. South Korea 1-2 Mexico
4. Germany 2-1 Sweden
5. South Korea 2-0 Germany
6. Mexico 0-3 Sweden

Advanced to knockout stage: Sweden (1st, 6 points), Mexico (2nd, 6 points)

Group G:

1. Belgium 3-0 Panama
2. Tunisia 1-2 England
3. Belgium 5-2 Tunisia
4. England 6-1 Panama
5. England 0-1 Belgium
6. Panama 1-2 Tunisia

Advanced to knockout stage: Belgium (1st, 9 points), England (2nd, 6 points)

Group H:

1. Colombia 1-2 Japan
2. Poland 1-2 Senegal
3. Japan 2-2 Senegal
4. Poland 0-3 Colombia
5. Japan 0-1 Poland
6. Senegal 0-1 Colombia

Advanced to knockout stage: Colombia (1st, 6 points), Japan (2nd, 4 points, advanced due to fair play tiebreaker)

The final match took place at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, with France and Croatia competing for the title. France won 4-2, marking their second World Cup victory, 20 years after their first in 1998.

CHAMPION: FRANCE

The tournament was notable for the number of goals from set pieces, the introduction of the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system, and the success of teams like Croatia and Belgium, who reached the final and semi-finals, respectively.

The 2018 World Cup was considered a success both in terms of the quality of football and the organization of the event. It was praised for its atmosphere and the competitive nature of the matches. Despite initial concerns about issues such as racism and hooliganism, these were largely absent from the tournament. The World Cup also had a significant impact on Russia, improving infrastructure and boosting the country's image internationally.

Germany's early exit: Defending champions Germany were eliminated in the group stage, finishing last in their group. This was a significant upset, as they were among the tournament favorites.

Belgium's golden generation: Belgium reached the semi-finals, their best World Cup performance since 1986. Their exciting, attacking style of play won many admirers, and they eventually finished third by defeating England in the third-place match.

2018 WORLD CUP THIRD PLACE - BELGIUM

England's penalty shootout victory: England won a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time in their history, defeating Colombia in the Round of 16. This was a significant moment for the team, as they had previously suffered numerous penalty shootout defeats in major tournaments.

Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick: In a thrilling group stage match between Portugal and Spain, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick, including a stunning free-kick to level the score at 3-3 in the dying minutes.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two of the biggest stars in football, exited the tournament in the round of 16, while Kylian Mbappé and Luka Modrić emerged as standout performers.

Golden Boot Award:
The Golden Boot (awarded to the top goal scorer of the tournament) was won by Harry Kane of England, who scored 6 goals.

TOP SCORER: HARRY KANE

Golden Ball Award:
The Golden Ball (awarded to the best player of the tournament) was won by Luka Modrić of Croatia.

GOLDEN BALL: LUKA MODRIC

2018 WORLD CUP FINAL

Thank you for reading this far, we were here with a beautiful World Cup series, you experienced this excitement with me, I will continue my articles about sports. Stay with sports, stay with me.