Image via Complex Original
For the better part of the last 25 days, the World Cup has taken us on a roller coaster of the highest highs and the lowest lows that football is capable of producing. And now, after five of the eight Round of 16 matches needed extra time, and in some cases penalties, to decide a winner, and all four quarterfinal matches produced scorelines decided by a margin of one goal or less, we are down to our final four teams in Brazil. Hosts Brazil will face Germany in Belo Horizante on Tuesday, while the Netherlands and Argentina will do battle in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, with two spots in Rio on July 13 up for grabs. The quarterfinals produced great drama and quality, with Higuain coming alive to power Argentina past Belgium, and David Luiz scoring a goal of the highest quality to see off James Rodriguez and Colombia. Germany were efficient in their fending off of France after scoring the opener, and Costa Rica and the Netherlands needed penalties to decide the final spot in the semis. There was also a special goal or two from other corners of the world, as we're reminded that there is indeed life outside of Brazil. From Julian Green's volley in Salvador to Wesley Sneijder's late equalizer in Fortaleza, get caught up on all the action with The Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week.
Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)
11. Mats Hummels Heads Germany Past Les Bleus
Date: 7/4/2014
Match: France v. Germany
Competition: World Cup Quarterfinals
Ground: Estadio Maracana, Rio de Janeiro
All it took was a perfectly flicked header from German defender Mats Hummels to sink the French dream. The Borussia Dortmund man does very well to hold off his defender, and place Schweinsteiger's delivery just over the outstretched keeper and in off the underside of the crossbar.
10. Bryan Ruiz Rolls Costa Rica Into the Lead
Date: 6/29/2014
Match: Costa Rica v. Greece
Competition: World Cup Round of 16
Ground: Arena Pernambucco, Recife, Brazil
Possibly the slowest goal of the tournament, Bryan Ruiz's first-time shot left the Greek keeper rooted to his spot, and put Costa Rica 1-0 up on their European opponents.This isn't the prettiest goal of the tournament, but Ruiz shows great skill to catch this one first time, and angle his effort right into the corner.
9. Julian Green Scores With His First Touch
Date: 7/1/2014
Match: USA v. Belgium
Competition: World Cup Round of 16
Ground: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil
With practically his first touch of the tournament, 19-year-old Julian Green became the youngest American to score a goal in World Cup history, and rekindled the U.S. belief at the same time. This wonderful volley past Courtois in the '107 brought the United States right back into the match, and made for a wild final 15 minutes.
8. Romelu Lukaku Sends the United States Home
Date: 7/1/2014
Match: USA v. Belgium
Competition: World Cup Round of 16
Ground: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil
Romelu Lukaku came on for Belgium at the start of extra time, and his impact on the game was immediate. Tim Howard had stonewalled the Belgian attack for 90 minutes, and in a matter of moments Lukaku managed to setup Belgium's opener, and score this great strike to double the Red Devil's advantage. This would be the match winner as Julian Green's strike would pull the U.S. within a goal at the beginning of the second period of extra time.
7. Angel di Maria Strikes Late to Sink the Swiss
Date: 7/1/2014
Match: Argentina v. Switzerland
Competition: World Cup Round of 16
Ground: Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo
Switzerland were about two minutes away from holding on for a draw that would've seen their match with Argentina decided by the lottery of penalties, but football is made by the slightest moments of change. Swiss full back Stephen Lichsteiner gave the ball away to Lionel Messi, who charged down the middle, found a wide-open di Maria to his right, and the Real Madrid man made no mistake with his finish in the '118.
6. Gonzalo Higuain Sends Argentina to the Semis
Date: 7/5/2014
Match: Argentina v. Belgium
Competition: World Cup Quarterfinals
Ground: Estadio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
Gonzalo Higuain had been quiet for most of this World Cup, but he changed all of that with a single swing of his boot yesterday against Belgium. Messi was certainly the man that got Argentina to the quarters, and he was largely influential throughout this match, but it was this great first-time effort from Higuain that booked Argentina's spot in the semis against the Netherlands.
5. Giovani dos Santos Fires Mexico Ahead
Date: 6/29/2014
Match: Netherlands v. Mexico
Competition: World Cup Round of 16
Ground: Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, Brazil
Giovani dos Santos' timing couldn't have been better to score Mexico's first goal of the tournament from outside the box. The Villareal man does so well in the '48 to chest the ball down, hold off the challenge from Daley Blind, and fire it perfectly into the corner of the goal. It wouldn't be enough for Mexico to advance in the end, but it certainly made the second 45 minutes an exciting affair.
4. Wesley Sneijder's Sweet Volley Levels it
Date: 6/29/2014
Match: Netherlands v. Mexico
Competition: World Cup Round of 16
Ground: Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, Brazil
In a game that was decided on a somewhat controversial Arjen Robben penalty decision, Mexico and Holland produced a thrilling encounter in Fortaleza on Sunday. With Mexico clinging to a 1-0 advantage in the '88, Wesley Sneijder pounced on this lose ball inside the area and left Guillermo Ochoa with no chance at even attempting a save. Sneijder catches this one right on the laces, and blasts it into the back of the net.
3. Sebastian Fernandez's Blast From Range Downs Seattle
Date: 7/5/2014
Match: Vancouver Whitecaps v. Seattle Sounders
Competition: MLS
Ground: BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver's Sebastian Fernandez lets fly from nearly 30 yards out, and makes no mistake on the finish. This would prove to be the match winner too, as the Whitecaps shutout the first place Sounders with a 1-0 victory at BC Place Stadium.
2. Ruben Ligeon's Ridiculous Volley
Date: 7/5/2014
Match: Wacker Innsbruck v. Ajax
Competition: Club Friendly
Ground: Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck, Austria
In addition to the World Cup action, there were a few club friendlies played this weekend in preparation for the start of another domestic calendar. Ajax got off to winning ways with a 5-1 demolition of Wacker Innsbruck, with this incredible volley from Ruben Ligeon coming just three minutes into the match. How he do that?
1. David Luiz's Epic Free Kick Ignites 200 Million Brazilians
Date: 7/4/2014
Match: Brazil v. Colombia
Competition: World Cup Quarterfinals
Ground: Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, Brazil
Cometh the moment, cometh the man. David Luiz's free kick in the '68 fluttered and danced with all the flair of a Brazilian samba special. And in one moment he lifted a nation of 200 million into sheer ecstasy, while killing the dream of one of the surprises of the tournament. So goes the World Cup. Colombia will have nothing to hang their heads about after bowing out to Braziil, and there is certainly no shame in losing to a goal of this quality.
