We are 11 days into the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and the tournament has been nothing short of spectacular. We've already seen such shock story lines as defending champion Spain's two and done elimination, as well as Costa Rica sitting atop Group D ahead of three World Cup winners in Italy, Uruguay, and the already ousted England. Just four years after a complete team meltdown, France are looking like one of the tournament favorites following 3-0 and 5-2 demolitions of Honduras and Switzerland, respectively. Colombia are proving another present surprise in Brazil, as they find themselves top of Group C with two wins from two, despite being without star striker Radamel Falcao.
Hosts Brazil top Group A, although they are level on points with Mexico, and both are breathing hard with Croatia just a point back of them. Lionel Messi has stepped up and come to the rescue of Argentina twice already, most recently with a superb winner in the dying moments of their match against Iran. Will Argentina ride Messi to glory? Will Brazil progress as the people's champion? Or will a European nation finally claim the top prize in sport on South American soil? From Luis Suarez sending England on their merry way to Tim Cahill producing one final moment of magic for Australia, get caught up on all the action in Brazil with The Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week.
Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)
15. Karim Benzema Doubles Les Bleus Advantage
Date: 6/15/2014
Match: France v. Honduras
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Karim Benzema got France's World Cup off on the right foot by converting a penalty in the 45th minute, and deftly finishing at the back stick with this effort in the 72nd against Honduras. It may look like a simple tap in, but with that much pace on the ball taking it away from goal, it takes a calm head and a skilled foot to put this one away. France have won two from two now, and are looking to make some serious noise in the first knockout round.
14. Robin van Persie Brings Holland Level in Porto Alegre
Date: 6/18/2014
Match: Australia v. Netherlands
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil
It was undoubtedly nervier than Holland would've liked in Porto Alegre on Wednesday, but they were able to narrowly edge past Australia with the 3-2 win. The Netherlands found themselves down 2-1 to the Socceroos in the second half, before Robin van Persie beat the offside trap, coolly collected this pass, and fired Oranje level.
13. Moussa Sissoko's Precise First Time Strike
Date: 6/20/2014
Match: Switzerland v. France
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil
The match was already done and dusted by the time Moussa Sissoko struck to make it 5-0 for France over Switzerland, but this great side-footed effort from the Newcastle man in the 73rd minute is certainly worthy of some praise. He has to time this just right in order to get the proper placement, and as everything else seemed to be going for France on Friday, he did just that. Best European team in Brazil right now?
12. Charles Aranguiz Makes Iker Casillas Pay
Date: 6/18/2014
Match: Spain v. Chile
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Estadio Maracana, Rio de Janeiro
It's certainly been a World Cup to forget for the defending world champions, as Spain already find themselves eliminated with a match still to go in Group B. Chile on the other hand have been one of the teams of the tournament, and after dispatching Australia 3-1 in their opening match, they continued their fine run against Spain. Eduardo Vargas struck in the 20th minute to put the South Americans on the board, and Charles Aranguiz converted this perfectly placed rebound in the 43rd to double the Chilean advantage. Adios, Spana!
11. Clint Dempsey Fires the U.S. Ahead in the Opening Minute
Date: 6/16/2014
Match: Ghana v. USA
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Estadio das Dunas, Natal, Brazil
As far as dream starts go at a World Cup, it's hard to beat what Clint Dempsey and the United States pulled off in their Group G opener against Ghana. Watch as the American captain takes three great touches, and scores the fastest American goal in World Cup history just 29 seconds into the match. It's the fifth fastest goal in World Cup history overall, for those wondering.
10. Andre Ayew Equalizes Late for Ghana
Date: 6/16/2014
Match: Ghana v. USA
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Estadio das Dunas, Natal, Brazil
The United States struck in the first minute of their opening Group G clash with Ghana, but it was the African side who looked like scoring for most of the rest of the match. And in the 82nd minute, Andre Ayew collected a brilliant backheel pass, and struck this fine finish with the outside of the boot to put Ghana on track for at least a point in Natal. It was all for naught though, as U.S. defender John Brooks would head home for the win just four minutes later off a corner.
9. Blerim Dzemaili's 35-Yard Piledriver
Date: 6/20/2014
Match: Switzerland v. France
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil
It was all France on Friday, as the Blues hammered their European neighbors by a final of 5-2. This free kick from Switzerland's Blerim Dzemaili, though, was one moment to celebrate for Ottmar Hitzfeld's side. This ball really has no business getting under the wall, but once it does, it's perfectly placed passed a diving Hugo Lloris.
8. Asamoah Gyan's Fine Finish Puts the Black Stars on Top
Date: 6/21/2014
Match: Germany v. Ghana
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, Spain
Germany came into this match the clear favorites, but from the off Ghana showed that they had come to play. Germany took the lead in the second half courtesy of Mario Gotze, but Andre Ayew's header had the Black Stars level just moments later. Then Sulley Muntari made a great interception before slipping Gyan in, and the striker did all the rest on this finish. Germany would equalize late through Miroslav Klose, though, as both sides had to settle for a well-deserved point.
7. Dries Mertens Blasts Belgium Ahead in Belo Horizante
Date: 6/17/2014
Match: Belgium v. Algeria
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizante, Brazil
Despite being an outside favorite to do some damage in Brazil, Belgium must've feared the worst when they went down 1-0 to Algeria in their Group H opener. Enter Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens. The two subs came on to equalize in the 70th minute on a great Fellaini header, and win it just 10 minutes later courtesy of Eden Hazar'd precision pass, and Merten's thumping finish. The 'golden generation' is still perfectly poised to live up to the hype at this tournament.
6. Granit Xhaka Times His Run to Perfection
Date: 6/20/2014
Match: Switzerland v. France
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil
It was France's day on Friday, as they hammered Switzerland 5-2, but it was Switzerland's Granit Xhaka who produced a moment of real quality in the 87th minute. The 21-year-old times his run to perfection, and puts away this neat ball over the top with a sensational volley. Switzerland will face Honduras on Wednesday in their final Group E match, certainly in need of a win to have a shot at advancing.
5. Luis Suarez Strikes to Sink England Late
Date: 6/19/2014
Match: Uruguay v. England
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo
There's little doubt that Uruguay missed the services of Luis Suarez up front in their Group D opening loss to Costa Rica, and Suarez reminded the world of that in their second match against England. Suarez struck once in the first half on a well-timed header, and then knocked England out of the World Cup with this superb solo strike. Luis Suarez single-handedly beats England? It just had to be.
4. Lionel Messi Ices the Match Against Bosnia
Date: 6/15/2014
Match: Argentina v. Bosnia-Herzegovina
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Estadio Maracana, Rio de Janeiro
Lionel Messi would say after the match that it was far from his greatest performance on the pitch, but that doesn't mean the little magician didn't produce another moment of magic to put Argentina's Group F opener to bed. Watch as Messi makes that one perfect cut to give himself the space he needs, before he fires in a blast off the post.
3. Gervinho's Skill is Matched Only by His Finish
Date: 6/19/2014
Match: Colombia v. Cote d'Ivoire
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Estadio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
It was to be Colombia's day once more on Thursday in Brasilia, but Cote d'Ivoire's Gervinho produced this moment of the match with several fine touches and a great finish to boot. He picks this ball up on the touchline, shakes off three challenges, and unleashes a terrific strike past David Ospina in goal for Colombia.
2. Tim Cahill Goes Out on a High Note
Date: 6/18/2014
Match: Australia v. Netherlands
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Due to yellow card accumulation, Australia's all-time leading goal scorer will be unavailable for the Socceroos final Group B clash with Spain. And at 34 years of age, with Cahill unlikely to play in a fourth World Cup, the fiery striker made sure he ended his career with a bang. This sensational volley will go down as one of the goals of the tournament, and despite zero points in the tournament, Australia gave Chile and Holland all they could handle in their first two matches.
1. Lionel Messi Wins it at the Death
Date: 6/21/2014
Match: Argentina v. Iran
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizante, Brazil
Iran looked destined for a shock draw against Argentina in Belo Horizante on Saturday, but Lionel Messi had other plans. The Argentine talisman takes one touch inside, and uncorks this beauty of a winner in the 91st minute to ensure Argentina's progression to the Round of 16. Is this the moment for Messi?
