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28 March 2024

Fifa World Cup 2014: Super Mario crowns Germany, drowns Argentina

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By Agencies

Match #64: Final at Maracana, Rio de Janeiro



Argentina 0 Germany 1 (Goetze 113") AET

Germany substitute Mario Goetze volleyed in a brilliant goal seven minutes from the end of extra time to clinch a 1-0 victory over Argentina at the Maracana on Sunday that gave them the World Cup for the fourth time.

The game seemed destined for penalties until fellow substitute Andre Schuerrle escaped down the left and sent in a cross that Goetze controlled on his chest before slamming home.

Germany dominated possession in the match but Argentina had the best of the few chances, including a clear one after 20 minutes when a misdirected Tony Kroos header sent Gonzalo Higuain clear, only for the striker to drag his shot badly wide.

Lionel Messi struggled to impose himself on the game and, though he shot just wide right at the start of the second half, the chances dried up as both teams tired and the game went into extra time.

Argentina substitute Rodrigo Palacio went close early in the extra period but Germany triumphed to become the first European team to win the World Cup in the Americas.

Match #63: 3rd Place Play-off at Brasilia

Brazil 0 Netherlands 3 (Van Persie 3-pen Blind 17 Wijnaldum 90+1)

Another ragged defensive display by Brazil allowed the Netherlands to stroll to a 3-0 victory in the World Cup third-place playoff match on Saturday as the hosts ended the tournament in depressing fashion.

The Dutch had failed to score in the four hours of their previous two knockout games but were gifted two goals in the opening 16 minutes. The first came when Thiago Silva, back from suspension, was lucky to escape a red card as he pulled back Arjen Robben in the area and Robin van Persie converted the penalty after three minutes.

A terrible clearance header by David Luiz then dropped invitingly for Daley Blind to hammer in the second and Brazil, with six changes to the team humiliated 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals, rarely looked like getting back into the game with another disjointed performance.

They did exert some pressure in the second half but still failed to seriously test Dutch keeper Jasper Cillessen and the boos rang out when the unmarked Georginio Wijnaldum turned in the third goal in stoppage time.

Having gone 39 years without a competitive home defeat, Brazil have now suffered two in five days.

Match #62: Semifinal at the Corinthians arena, Sao Paulo

Argentina 0 Netherlands 0
Penalties: Argentina win 4-2

Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-2 on penalties to reach the World Cup final after a dire two hours of defense-dominated football failed to provide a semi-final goal for the first time in the tournament's history on Wednesday.

Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero saved Ron Vlaar's first penalty then made a superb diving save to deny Wesley Sneijder, allowing Maxi Rodriguez to crash home the decisive kick as his side converted all four of their penalties.

The game was a forgettable one as the Dutch struggled to build any meaningful attacks and completed 90 minutes without a shot on target as Arjen Robben's last-minute effort was brilliantly blocked by Javier Mascherano.

Argentina were not much more adventurous and had only a handful of half-chances to their name as, in total contrast to Tuesday's match when Germany waltzed through a wide open Brazil to win 7-1, both defenses were absolutely on top.

In Sunday's final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro Argentina will play Germany in a repeat of the 1986 and 1990 finals - the first time the same two teams will have faced each other three times in the decider.

The Netherlands will play Brazil in the third-place playoff in Brasilia on Saturday.

Match #61: Semi-final at the Mineirao stadium, Belo Horizonte.

Brazil 1 (Oscar 90") Germany 7 (Mueller 11" Klose 22" Kroos 24", 26" Khedira 29" Schuerrle 69" 79")

Germany scored five goals in 18 first-half minutes on the way to a 7-1 destruction of Brazil in the semi-final on Tuesday to leave the host nation in a state of stunned disbelief at the most amazing World Cup result of all time.

Brazil's defending was truly awful and Germany took full advantage with brilliant passing and movement to march into the final and hand the host nation their heaviest ever World Cup defeat.

An unmarked Thomas Mueller got the first from a corner after 11 minutes before Miroslav Klose struck to become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 16 goals.

Brazil's defense, badly missing the suspended Thiago Silva, fell apart as Toni Kroos grabbed two in three minutes before the superb Sami Khedira added a fifth in the 29th minute to leave the crowd, and millions watching on TV, in a state of total shock.

Brazil's few second-half attempts were foiled by in-form goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Germany substitute Andre Schuerrle banged in the sixth in the 69th minute and lashed in a seventh to inflict Brazil's first competitive home defeat in 64 matches and 39 years.

Oscar scored a consolation goal for Brazil in the last minute.

RECORDS TUMBLE

Brazil's 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Germany on Tuesday broke a host of records, both for the World Cup and for the hosts and five-times champions:

* It equalled Brazil's worst-ever defeat, a 6-0 thrashing by Uruguay at the 1920 Copa America.

* It was by far their worst loss at the World Cup, easily surpassing the 3-0 reverse to France in the 1998 final.

* It was Brazil's first home defeat in a competitive match since they lost 3-1 to Peru in the Copa America in 1975, also in Belo Horizonte.

* It was Brazil's first home defeat in any match since they were beaten 1-0 by Paraguay in 2002.

* Brazil joined Zaire and Haiti as the only team to go into the halftime break losing by five or more goals at halftime.

* The only previous time Brazil conceded seven goals or more in a match was an 8-4 friendly loss to Yugoslavia in 1934.

* Miroslav Klose's second goal for Germany made him the World Cup's all-time record scorer with 16 goals, eclipsing former Brazil striker Ronaldo. Ronaldo was in the stadium, commentating for Globo television.

* Brazil's previous heaviest defeat to Germany was 2-0 in a 1986 friendly.

* Germany became the first team to score seven goals in a World Cup semi-final.

* The last team to score six or more goals in a World Cup semi-final were West Germany when they beat Austria 6-1 in 1954. Argentina and Uruguay both won 6-1 in the 1930 semi-finals.

KLOSE'S RECORD-BREAKING GOALS

Following is a list of Germany striker Miroslav Klose's record-breaking 16 goals scored at World Cups:

World Cup 2002 Japan-South Korea

Group stage: Germany 8 Saudi Arabia 0, Klose 20, 25, 69

Group stage: Germany 1 Ireland 1, Klose 19

Group stage: Cameroon 0 Germany 2, Klose 79

The pictures show from bottom (right to left) in ascending order the 5 goals scored from the 2002 World Cup, 5 goals from the 2006 World Cup, 4 goals from the 2010 World Cup and 2 in the 2014 World Cup by Miroslav Klose. (AFP)

World Cup 2006 Germany

Group stage: Germany 4 Costa Rica 2, Klose 17, 61

Group stage: Ecuador 0 Germany 3, Klose 4, 44

Quarter-final: Germany 1 Argentina 1, Klose 80 (Germany won on penalties)

Germany 2010 South Africa

Group stage: Germany 4 Australia 0, Klose 26

Round of 16: Germany 4 England 1, Klose 20

Quarter-final: Argentina 0 Germany 4, Klose 68, 89

World Cup 2014 Brazil

Group stage: Germany 2 Ghana 2, Klose 71

Semi-final: Brazil 1 Germany 7, Klose 23

KNOCK OUT ROUND RESULT/SCHEDULE

ROUND OF 16

Date

UAE Time

Match No

Teams

Result

28 June

8pm

49

Brazil vs Chile

Brazil 1 Chile 1 AET
Penalties: Brazil 3-2

29 June

0000hrs

50

Colombia vs Uruguay

Colombia 2-0

29 June

8pm

51

Netherlands vs Mexico

Netherlands 2-1

30 June

0000hrs

52

Costa Rica vs Greece

Costa Rica 1 Greece 1 AET
Penalties: Costa Rica 5-3

30 June

8pm

53

France vs Nigeria

France 2-0

1 July

0000hrs

54

Germany vs Algeria

Germany 2-1 AET

1 July

8pm

55

Argentina vs Switzerland

Argentina 1-0 AET

2 July

0000hrs

56

Belgium vs United States

Belgium 2-1 AET

QUARTER-FINALS

4 July

8pm

57

France vs Germany

Germany 1-0

5 July

0000hrs

58

Brazil vs Colombia

Brazil 2-1

5 July

8pm

59

Argentina vs Belgium

Argentina 1-0

6 July

0000hrs

60

Netherlands vs Costa Rica

Netherlands 0 Costa Rica 0 AET
Penalties: Netherlands 4-3

SEMI-FINALS

9 July

0000hrs

61

Germany vs Brazil

Germany 7-1

10 July

0000hrs

62

Argentina vs Netherlands

 Argentina 0 Netherlands 0 AET
Penalties:
Argentina win 4-2

PLAY-OFF FOR 3RD PLACE

13 July

0000hrs

63

Brazil vs Netherlands

Netherlands 3-0

FINAL

13 July

11pm

64

Germany vs Argentina

Germany 1-0 AET

Match #60: Quarter-finals at the Fonte Nova arena, Salvador.

Netherlands 0 Costa Rica 0 AET
Penalties: Netherlands 4-3

The Netherlands advanced to a World Cup semi-final with Argentina by beating Costa Rica on penalties after a cagey, tactical last-eight battle finished 0-0 after extra-time on Saturday.

Substitute goalkeeper goalkeeper Tim Krul, introduced just for the shootout, saved from Bryan Ruiz and Michael Umana as the Netherlands triumphed 4-3.

Costa Rica defended deeply from the start and goalkeeper Keylor Navas, whose performances have played a large part in his country's run to the quarter-finals for the first time, was again in sharp form with a series of saves, while Wesley Sneijder hit a post with an 81st-minute free kick and Robin van Persie had a scrambled shot cleared off the line in stoppage time of normal time.

The game blew wide open in extra time as Marcos Urena had a chance to win it for Costa Rica but had a shot well saved by Jasper Cillessen, while Sneijder hit the bar two minutes from the end.

Match #59: Quarter-finals at Estádio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasília

Argentina 1 (Higuain 8) Belgium 0

Argentina reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 24 years on Saturday when an early goal by Gonzalo Higuain and a strong defensive display proved enough to beat a disappointing Belgium side 1-0.

Lionel Messi's close control and a fortunate deflection opened the way for Higuain to shoot home the only goal after eight minutes, and the striker should have added a second early in the second half when he grazed the bar after a driving run.

Kevin Mirallas and Marouane Fellaini went close with headers as Belgium tried to force their way back into the game but with key midfielder Eden Hazard anonymous they never really looked like doing so against a well-drilled and hard-working Argentina. Match #58: Quarter-final at Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza

Brazil 2 (Thiago 7 Luiz 69) Colombia 1 (Rodriguez 80-pen)

A stunning second-half free kick from Brazil's David Luiz sealed a 2-1 win over Colombia in a frantic World Cup quarter-final on Friday, keeping the hosts on track for a sixth world title.

Captain Thiago Silva bundled in Neymar's corner at the back post to put the hosts ahead in the seventh minute before Luiz thundered home a dipping 30-metre free kick midway through the second half at the Castelao arena.

Colombia had a goal disallowed before in-form James Rodriguez dragged his side back into the match from the penalty spot with just over 10 minutes remaining, his sixth goal of the tournament.

Brazil forward Neymar was carried off on a stretcher in the closing stages but the hosts hung on to set up a semi-final against Germany, who beat France 1-0 earlier on Friday in Rio de Janeiro.

Match #57: Quarter-finals at the Maracana, Rio

France 0 Germany 1 (Hummels 13)

Germany reached their fourth consecutive World Cup semi-final after defender Mats Hummels' first-half header gave the three-time winners a 1-0 victory over France at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana on Friday.

Centre back Hummels, who scored in Germany's first group game but missed the last 16 win over Algeria due to illness, beat Raphael Varane to a Toni Kroos free kick and glanced a header past French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the 13th minute.

Manuel Neuer made a terrific save from Mathieu Valbuena 10 minutes before halftime to preserve Germany's lead then blocked Blaise Matuidi's powerful effort midway through the second half as France pressed for the equaliser."

Match #56: Round of 16 at Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador

Belgium 2 (De Bruyne 93 Lukaku 105) USA 1 (Green 107) AET

Belgium finally found a way past inspired goalkeeper Tim Howard as extra-time goals by Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku gave them a 2-1 victory over the United States on Tuesday and set up a World Cup quarter-final against Argentina.

Howard was in terrific form from the first minute when he denied Divock Origi and he made a series of excellent stops.

Origi also hit the crossbar before US substitute Chris Wondolowski missed a glorious chance to win it in stoppage time when he side-footed over the bar from point-blank range.

Belgium introduced substitute striker Lukaku for the extra period and he made an immediate impact, escaping down the right and crossing low for De Bruyne to show good control before slamming in the opening goal within three minutes.

De Bruyne set up Lukaku to drive in the second in the 105th minute and although American teenaged substitute Julian Green pulled one back two minutes later Belgium held out to complete a clean sweep of group winners in the last eight.

Match #55: Round of 16 match at the Corinthians arena, Sao Paulo

Argentina 1 (Di Maria 118") Switzerland 0 AET

Angel Di Maria scored two minutes from the end of extra-time to give Argentina a 1-0 victory over Switzerland and a place in the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.

The Swiss more than held their own in the first half of normal time as Granit Xhaka's shot was saved by Sergio Romero and Josip Drmic fluffed an attempted chip when clean through but Argentina gradually took command only for Switzerland's Diego Benaglio to save well from Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi.

Just as penalties loomed, the Swiss lost possession allowing Messi to run at their defence before slipping the ball into the path of Di Maria who swept home.

There was still time for Switzerland's Blerim Dzemaili to head against a post but Argentina survived.

Match #54: Round of 16 at the Beira Rio stadium, Porto Alegre

Germany 2 (Schuerrle 92, Ozil 120+) Algeria 1 ( Djabou 120+) AET

Germany were pushed all the way by an inspired Algeria on Monday before Andre Schuerrle and Mesut Ozil eventually secured them a 2-1 extra-time victory to send them into a mouthwatering World Cup quarter-final meeting with France.

The Germans took the lead within 90 seconds of the extra period when substitute Schuerrle cleverly dragged in a low Mueller cross.

Ozil banged in the second in the 120th minute and though Abdelmoumene Djabou replied in added time Germany extended their remarkable record of reaching at least the quarter-finals in every World Cup they have entered since 1938.

Match #53: Round of 16 at Brasilia

France 2 (Pogba 79, Yobo 90+2-og) Nigeria 0

France ended Nigeria's hopes of a first World Cup quarter-final appearance when they scored two late goals to beat the Super Eagles 2-0 in a rough second-round match on Monday.

Paul Pogba put France ahead in the 79th minute, heading in at the far post after Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama flapped at Mathieu Valbuena's corner following a sustained spell of French pressure.

The win was sealed when Joseph Yobo turned a low cross into his own goal in stoppage time and France will play Germany or Algeria in the last eight.

 

Match #52: Round of 16 at the Pernambuco arena, Recife

Costa Rica 1 (Ruiz 52) Greece 1 (Papastathopoulos 90+1) after extra-time
Costa Rica win 5-3 on penalties

Costa Rica secured a place in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time on Sunday after beating Greece 5-3 on penalties after the teams finished level at 1-1 after extra time, the Central Americans playing for almost an hour with 10 men.

Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas dived to superbly save Theofanis Gekas's fourth penalty for the Greeks, leaving Michael Umana to stroke home the decisive kick.

After a dire first half the game came to life in the 52nd minute when an unmarked Bryan Ruiz placed a low sidefooted shot beyond Greek keeper Orestis Karnezis and into the corner, but Costa Rica then had defender Oscar Duarte sent off for a second booking in the 66th minute.

Greece, who made it into the last 16 after an injury-time winner against Ivory Coast, again struck in added time when Gekas unleashed a shot that Navas parried straight into the path of Sokratis Papasthathopoulos who gleefully rammed into an empty net.

Match #51: Round of 16 at the Castelao arena, Fortaleza

Netherlands 2 (Sneijder 88"  Huntelaar 90+4"-pen)  Mexico 1 (Dos Santos 48")

A remarkable last-gasp turnaround by the Netherlands earned them a 2-1 comeback victory over Mexico on Sunday and a place in the World Cup quarter-finals as they equalised in the 88th minute and won it with a stoppage-time penalty.

Mexico made the breakthrough three minutes after halftime when Giovani Dos Santos held off two challenges before firing a powerful low shot into the corner.

Keeper Guillermo Ochoa, Mexico's hero in their group stage draw with Brazil, then produced an astounding reaction save to divert Stefan de Vrij's point-blank effort on to a post but he could do nothing to keep out Wesley Sneijder's fierce equaliser.

The Dutch won it when Arjen Robben was brought down by Rafael Marquez in stoppage time, with substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar slamming in the penalty.

Match #50: Round of 16 at Estádio Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro

Colombia 2 (Rodriguez 28, 50) Uruguay 0

James Rodriguez scored a contender for goal of the tournament and put the finishing touch to a sweet, flowing attacking raid as Colombia beat a toothless Uruguay 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time on Saturday.

While banned Uruguay striker Luis Suarez might have been the talk of the match beforehand, 22-year-old Rodriguez was the name on everyone's lips at the Maracana at the end after scoring a truly stunning opening goal after 28 minutes and becoming the tournament's top scorer after 50 minutes with his fifth goal in four games.

While his first was down to individual brilliance, his second rounded off a beautifully-worked team effort.

Match #49: Round of 16 at the Mineirao stadium, Belo Horizonte

Brazil 1 (Luiz 18) Chile 1 (Sanchez 32) AET

Penalties: Brazil win 3-2

Brazil beat Chile 3-2 in a penalty shootout to reach the World Cup quarter-finals after their dramatic last-16 match in Belo Horizonte ended 1-1 after extra time on Saturday.

Chile's Gonzalo Jara missed the vital spot-kick after Neymar had converted for Brazil.

Brazil went ahead after 18 minutes when Thiago Silva nodded on Neymar's corner and David Luiz was on hand at the back post to bundle the ball over the line, though replays suggested Chile defender Gonzalo Jara got the last touch.

Chile got back on level terms in the 32nd minute when sloppy defending let in Alexis Sanchez, who fired past Julio Cesar from close range.

Hulk had a goal disallowed for using an arm to control the ball and although Brazil dominated the second half and extra time, Chile almost stole it in the final moments when Mauricio Pinilla hit the bar.

STANDINGS

Tabulate under matches played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, goal difference, points.

Q - indicates qualfied to last 16 round

GROUP A

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

+/-

PTS

Brazil

3

2

1

0

7

2

+5

7 - Q

Mexico

3

2

1

0

4

1

+1

7 - Q

Croatia

3

1

0

2

6

6

 0

3

Cameroon

3

0

0

3

1

9

-8

0

GROUP B

Netherlands

3

3

0

0

10

3

+7

9 - Q

Chile

3

2

0

1

5

3

+2

6 - Q

Spain

3

1

0

2

4

7

0

3

Australia

3

0

0

3

3

9

-6

0

GROUP C

Colombia

3

3

0

0

9

2

+7

9 - Q

Greece

3

1

1

1

2

4

-2

4 - Q

Ivory Coast

3

1

0

2

4

5

-1

3

Japan

3

0

1

2

2

4

-2

1

GROUP D

Costa Rica

3

2

1

0

4

1

+3

7 - Q

Uruguay

3

2

0

1

4

4

0

6 - Q

Italy

3

1

0

2

2

3

-1

3

England

3

0

1

2

2

4

-2

1

GROUP E

France

3

2

1

0

8

2

+6

7 - Q

Switzerland

3

2

0

1

7

6

+1

6 - Q

Ecuador

3

1

1

1

3

3

0

4

Honduras

3

0

0

3

1

8

-7

0

GROUP F

Argentina

3

3

0

0

6

3

+3

9 - Q

Nigeria

3

1

1

1

3

3

0

4 - Q

Bosnia

3

1

0

2

4

4

0

3

Iran

3

0

1

2

1

4

-3

1

GROUP G

Germany

3

2

1

0

7

2

+5

7 - Q

USA

3

1

1

1

4

4

0

4 - Q

Portugal

3

1

1

1

4

7

-3

4

Ghana

3

0

1

2

4

6

-2

1

GROUP H

Belgium

3

3

0

0

4

1

+3

9 - Q

Algeria

3

1

1

1

6

5

+1

4 - Q

Russia

3

0

2

1

2

3

-1

2

South Korea

3

0

1

2

3

6

-3

1

RESULTS DURING GROUP STAGE

Date

UAE Time

Group

Teams

Result

13 June

0000 hrs

A

Brazil vs Croatia

 Brazil 3-1

13 June

8pm

A

Mexico vs Cameroon

 Mexico 1-0

13 June

11pm

B

Spain vs Netherlands

 Netherlands 5-1

14 June

2am

B

Chile vs Australia

 Chile 3-1

14 June

8pm

C

Colombia vs Greece

 Colombia 3-0

14 June

11pm

D

Uruguay vs Costa Rica

 Costa Rica 3-1

15 June

2am

D

England vs Italy

 Italy 2-1

15 June

5am

C

Ivory Coast vs Japan

 Ivory Coast 2-1

15 June

8pm

E

Switzerland vs Ecuador

 Switzerland 2-1

15 June

11pm

E

France vs Honduras

 France 3-0

16 June

2am

F

Argentina vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

 Argentina 2-1

16 June

8pm

G

Germany vs Portugal

 Germany 4-0

16 June

11pm

F

Iran vs Nigeria

 0-0

17 June

2am

G

Ghana vs USA

 USA 2-1

17 June

8pm

H

Belgium vs Algeria

 Belgium 2-1

17 June

11pm

A

Brazil vs Mexico

 0-0

18 June

2am

H

Russia vs South Korea

 1-1

18 June

8pm

B

Australia vs Netherlands

 Netherlands 3-2

18 June

11pm

B

Spain vs Chile

 Chile 2-0

19 June

2am

A

Cameroon vs Croatia

 Croatia 4-0

19 June

8pm

C

Colombia vs Ivory Coast

 Colombia 2-1

19 June

11pm

D

Uruguay vs England

 Uruguay 2-1

20 June

2am

C

Japan vs Greece

 0-0

20 June

8pm

D

Italy vs Costa Rica

 Costa Rica 1-0

20 June

11pm

E

Switzerland vs France

 France 5-2

21 June

2am

E

Honduras vs Ecuador

 Ecuador 2-1

21 June

8pm

F

Argentina vs Iran

 Argentina 1-0

21 June

11pm

G

Germany vs Ghana

 2-2

22 June

2am

F

Nigeria vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

 Nigeria 1-0

22 June

8pm

H

Belgium vs Russia

 Belgium 1-0

22 June

11pm

H

South Korea vs Algeria

 Algeria 4-2

23 June

2am

G

USA vs Portugal

 2-2

23 June

8pm

B

Netherlands vs Chile

 Netherlands 2-0

23 June

8pm

B

Australia vs Spain

 Spain 3-0

24 June

0000 hrs

A

Cameroon vs Brazil

 Brazil 4-1

24 June

0000 hrs

A

Croatia vs Mexico

 Mexico 3-1

24 June

8pm

D

Italy vs Uruguay

 Uruguay 1-0

24 June

8pm

D

Costa Rica vs England

 0-0

25 June

0000 hrs

C

Japan vs Colombia

 Colombia 4-1

25 June

0000 hrs

C

Greece vs Ivory Coast

 Greece 2-1

25 June

8pm

F

Nigeria vs Argentina

 Argentina 3-2

25 June

8pm

F

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Iran

 Bosnia 3-1

26 June

0000 hrs

E

Honduras vs Switzerland

 Switzerland 3-0

26 June

0000 hrs

E

Ecuador vs France

 0-0

26 June

8pm

G

Portugal vs Ghana

 Portugal 2-1

26 June

8pm

G

USA vs Germany

 Germany 1-0

27 June

0000 hrs

H

South Korea vs Belgium

 Belgium 1-0

27 June

0000 hrs

H

Algeria vs Russia

 1-1


Match #48: Group H at Curitiba

Algeria 1 (Slimani 60) Russia 1 (Kokorin 6)

Algeria reached the World Cup last 16 for the first time after fighting back for a 1-1 draw against Russia to clinch second place in Group H.

Belgium topped the group after a 1-0 victory over South Korea who were eliminated along with Fabio Capello's Russians.

Russia grabbed the lead in the sixth minute when Alexander Kokorin met a perfect Dmitry Kombarov cross with a full-blooded header which flew into the net.

But there will again be questions about Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, who was at fault for Algeria's 60th-minute equaliser, coming off his line but failing to reach a Yacine Brahimi free kick which was headed home by Islam Slimani.

Match #47: Group H at Sao Paulo

Belgium 1 (Vertonghen 78) South Korea 0

Belgium strolled into the World Cup last 16 on Thursday after Jan Vertonghen's late goal gave them a 1-0 win over a South Korean side unable to take advantage of a 45-minute numerical advantage and who exit the tournament.

Belgium were in cruise control until Steven Defour was sent off for a two-footed lunge at Kim Shin-wook just before halftime.

South Korea rarely looked like scoring and were caught out in the 78th-minute when Vertonghen banged in the rebound after Divock Origi's shot was parried by goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu.

Match #46: Group G at Arena Pernambuco, Recife

United States 0 Germany 1 (Mueller 55)

A 55th minute Thomas Mueller goal gave Germany a 1-0 win over the United States on Thursday but the result allowed both teams to progress to the second round of the World Cup.

The Germans dominated the game with Juergen Klinsmann's team, with their backs against the wall, creating very few chances.

The breakthrough came when Tim Howard parried out a Per Mertesacker header but Mueller collected the loose ball on the edge of the area and superbly side-footed into the bottom corner.

Match #45: Group G at Estádio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasília

Portugal 2 (Boye 31-OG Ronaldo 80) Ghana 1 (Gyan 57)

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal of the tournament as Portugal beat Ghana 2-1 on Thursday but both teams were eliminated from the World Cup as the United States held on to second place in Group G despite their defeat by Germany.

Starting the day on a point each, both teams knew they needed a victory to have any chance of progress and Portugal started strongly as Ronaldo hit the bar and sent a close-range header straight at goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda before Ghana's John Boye sliced a cross into his own net after 31 minutes.

Asamoah Gyan headed the equaliser from a lovely Kwadwo Asamoah cross 12 minutes into the second half and Abdul Majeed Waris missed the chance to put Ghana ahead when he headed wide from point-blank range five minutes later.

Ronaldo finally found the net in the 80th minute.

Match #44: Group E at Estádio Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro

Ecuador 0 France 0
France and Ecuador drew 0-0 in their final World Cup Group E game on Wednesday to send the French into the last 16 as group winners and eliminate their opponents due to Switzerland's 3-0 win over Honduras.

Ecuador keeper Alexander Dominguez made two great saves to deny Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann but the South American side's chances were dealt a mortal blow five minutes into the second half when captain Antonio Valencia was sent off after catching Lucas Digne as both men slid into a tackle.

Cristian Noboa missed a great chance for Ecuador soon after but, having started the day level on points with Switzerland, they never looked likely to find the win they needed and they escaped defeat only because of some poor French finishing.

Match #43: Group E at Arena Amazônia, Manaus

Honduras 0 Switzerland 3 (Shaqiri 6, 31, 71)

Xherdan Shaqiri netted a hat-trick as Switzerland beat Honduras 3-0 in Manaus on Wednesday to secure the runners-up spot in World Cup Group E and a last 16 clash against Argentina.

The Swiss went ahead after six minutes when Shaqiri held off left back Juan Carlos Garcia and unleashed a curling strike from outside the box past Honduran goalkeeper Noel Valladares.

He made it 2-0 in the 31st minute after being put clean through on goal by Josip Drmic, and the pair combined again in the 71st minute as Shaqiri completed his hat-trick.

Match #42: Group F at Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador

Bosnia 3 (Dzeko 23 Pjanic 59 Vrsajevic 83) Iran 1 (Ghoochannejhad 82)

Bosnia beat Iran 3-1 in their Group F finale on Wednesday to record their first World Cup win and deny the West Asians any chance of reaching the knockout stage.

Already eliminated after two losses, Bosnia, appearing at a major tournament for the first time as an independent nation, went ahead in the 23rd minute through Edin Dzeko, who drilled a left-foot shot past Iran goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi.

Bosnia doubled their lead just before the hour through Miralem Pjanic's cool finish in the box before Reza Ghoochannejhad pulled a goal back for Iran in the 82nd minute.

Avdija Vrsajevic restored Bosnia's two-goal cushion with a fine strike a minute later.

Match #41: Group F at Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre

Nigeria 2 (Musa 4, 47) Argentina 3 (Messi 3, 45+1 Rojo 50)

Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2 in another wonderful World Cup match on Wednesday but both teams advanced to the second round after Iran lost to Bosnia in the other Group F game.

In an explosive start, Messi lashed in a rebound after three minutes but Nigeria equalized a minute later thanks to a superb finish by Ahmed Musa, only for Messi to curl in a brilliant 20-metre free kick for his fourth of the tournament in first-half stoppage time.

Musa leveled again with a clever finish two minutes after the restart but Argentina, who were assured of qualification before kickoff, got a fortunate third eight minutes later when a corner bounced in off the knee of Marcos Rojo.

Match #40: Group C at Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza

Greece 2 (Samaris 42 Samaras 90+3-pen) Ivory Coast 1 (Bony 74)

A stoppage time penalty from Giorgios Samaras sent Greece into the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast.

The Africans were seconds away from heading into the second round themselves after Wilfried Bony's 74th minute equalizer looked to have given them the point they needed to progress.

But Samaras went down inside the box and rose to convert the penalty and send his team through to play Costa Rica in the second round.

Substitute Andreas Samaris gave Greece the lead in the 42nd minute beating Boubacar Barry following a mix-up in the Ivory Coast defense.

Match #39: Group C at Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá

Japan 1 (Okazaki 45+2) Colombia 4 (Cuadrado 17-pen Martinez 55, 82 Rodriguez 90)

Jackson Martinez scored twice as Colombia beat Japan 4-1 to top World Cup Group C with maximum points on Tuesday, earning a second-round meeting with Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro and ending Japan's interest in the tournament.

Already assured of progress, Colombia went ahead with a 17th-minute Juan Cuadrado penalty, only for Shinji Okazaki to equalize with a diving header before the break as Japan sought the win they needed to have any chance of progressing.

Martinez restored Colombia's lead with a sharp strike after 55 minutes and then produced a cool finish to make it 3-1 eight minutes from time before James Rodriguez added a delightful fourth goal with a clever run and chip over the keeper.

Match #38: Group at Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte

Costa Rica 0 England 0

Costa Rica marched into the second round of the World Cup proudly top of a Group D containing three former winners after a 0-0 draw with already-eliminated England on Tuesday.

Match #37: Group D at Estádio das Dunas, Natal

Italy 0 Uruguay 1 (Godin 81)

Uruguay captain Diego Godin scored with an 81st-minute header to secure a 1-0 win over Italy in World Cup Group D on Tuesday and send the south Americans into the last 16.

The Italian players were still complaining after Uruguay striker Luis Suarez appeared to bite Giorgio Chiellini minutes before Godin rose to head in the winner.

Italy had been reduced to 10 men in the 59th minute when midfielder Claudio Marchisio was harshly sent off for a challenge on Egidio Arevalo Rios.

Match #36: Group A at Arena Pernambuco, Recife

Croatia 1 (Perisic 87) Mexico 3 (Marquez 72 Guardado 75 Hernandez 82)

Mexico marched into the last 16 of the World Cup after second-half goals from Rafael Marquez, Andres Guardado and Javier Hernandez gave them a 3-1 win over Group A rivals Croatia on Monday.

Mexico, who finish second in the group behind hosts Brazil, will face the Netherlands in the second round in Fortaleza on Sunday.

Skipper Marquez broke the deadlock with a thundering header in the 72nd minute before Andres Guardado finished off a swift counter-attack.

Hernandez made it 3-0 with a back post header from a corner and although Croatia pulled a goal back in the 87th minute through Ivan Perisic they had Ante Rebic sent-off for an awful challenge two minutes later.

Match #35: Group A at Brasilia national stadium, Brasilia

Cameroon 1 (Matip 26) Brazil 4 (Neymar 17, 34 Fred 50 Fernandinho 85)

Red-hot striker Neymar helped fire Brazil into a World Cup second-round meeting with Chile when he scored twice in the first half as the hosts survived an early scare against already-eliminated Cameroon to win 4-1 and top Group A on Monday

Brazil's leading striker tucked in the first after 17 minutes from a Luiz Gustavo cross - the 100th goal of the tournament in Brazil's 100th World Cup match - but the delirious home crowd were silenced nine minutes later when Joel Matip equalized moments after he had hit the bar with a header.

Neymar cut inside to fire in his second, and fourth of the this World Cup, in the 35th minute and Brazil cruised home with a Fred header four minutes into the second half and a goal for substitute Fernandinho six minutes from time.

Match #34: Group B at Baixada arena in Curitiba

Australia 0 Spain 3 (Villa 36, Torres 69, Mata 82)

David Villa and Fernando Torres crowned potentially their last ever appearance at a World Cup finals with a goal apiece as deposed champions Spain ended their campaign with a consolation 3-0 win over Australia.

The Spanish - for whom Juan Mata scored the third goal - had been eliminated from the tournament after defeats by the Netherlands and Chile.

Match #33: Group B at the Corinthians Arena, Sao Paulo

Netherlands 2 (Fer 77, Depay 90+2) Chile 0

Goals by substitutes Leroy Fer and Memphis Depay gave the Netherlands a 2-0 victory over Chile on Monday that put them top of World Cup Group B and likely to avoid a second-round meeting with Brazil.

Fer produced a prodigious leap to head home Daryl Janmaat's angled cross two minutes after coming on.

Depay then ran on to a telling Arjen Robben pass to complete the win in stoppage-time.

 

Match #32: Group G at the Amazonia arena, Manaus

USA 2 (Jones 64 Dempsey 81) Portugal 2 (Nani 5 Varela 90+5)

Silvestre Varela equalised in the dying seconds to earn Portugal a 2-2 draw against the United States in World Cup Group G on Sunday and keep alive their hopes of progressing into the next round.

Until Varela's diving header from Cristiano Ronaldo's cross from the right, Portugal looked dead and buried after the US had come from behind to lead 2-1.

The result left Germany and the US level at the top of the group on four points and Portugal and Ghana on one.

The opening Portugal goal came in the fifth minute after a mistake by Geoff Cameron saw the ball fall kindly to Nani who smashed it high into the net past a helpless Tim Howard.

Jermaine Jones equalised in the second half with a blistering right-foot shot from outside the area and Clint Dempsey put the Americans ahead after bundling the ball home from close range in the 81st minute.

Match #31: Group H at the Beira Rio stadium, Porto Alegre

South Korea 2 (Son Heung-min 50, Koo Ja-cheol 72) Algeria 4 (Slimani 26, Halliche 28, Djabou 38, Brahimi 62)

Algeria put themselves in pole position to reach the World Cup knock-out stages for the first time with a 4-2 win over South Korea in Porto Alegre on Sunday.

It was the first time an African team had scored four goals in a World Cup match and ended a 32 year win drought at the finals for the 'Desert Foxes'.

First half goals from Islam Slimani, Rafik Halliche and Abdelmoume Djabou put Algeria in total control.

Yacine Brahimi's second half strike, sandwiched by efforts from Son Heung-Min and Koo Ja-Cheol, ensured Algeria moved up to second in Group H behind Belgium.

Match #30: Group H at Estádio Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro

Belgium 1 (Origi 88) Russia 0

Divock Origi sent Belgium into the last 16 of the World Cup when the teenager struck an 88th minute winner to secure a 1-0 victory against Russia in a largely lifeless Group H match at the Maracana on Sunday.

The striker rifled in following great work from Eden Hazard just minutes after Kevin Mirallas crashed a free kick against the base of the Russian post to give Belgium six points from two games.

Match #29: Group F at Cuiaba

Nigeria 1 (Odemwingie 29) Bosnia 0

Bosnia-Hercegovina's maiden appearance at a World Cup finals ended in disappointment as Peter Odemwingie's goal condemned them to a 1-0 defeat by African champions Nigeria in Cuiaba and ensured they could not qualify for the second round.

Peter Odemwingie's 29th-minute goal, crashed home at the Pantanal arena after a muscular run and cross by Emmanuel Emenike, lifted Nigeria to second place in the group with four points, behind already-qualified Argentina who have six.

Bosnia, beaten 2-1 by the Argentines in their opener, could be forgiven for feeling aggrieved, however, as TV replays showed a disallowed goal by Edin Dzeko after 21 minutes had been incorrectly ruled out for offside and the big striker also hit a post in stoppage time.

Match #28: Group G at Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza

Germany 2 (Gotze 51 Klose 71) Ghana 2 (Ayew 54 Gyan 63)

Miroslav Klose scored a landmark goal as Germany and Ghana drew 2-2 with all the goals coming in a terrific second half of another rip-roaring World Cup clash on Saturday.

Mario Goetze nodded Germany ahead in the 51st minute, but Ghana instantly roared into attack.

Andre Ayew headed an excellent equaliser three minutes later, and the Ghanaians went ahead when a great interception and pass by Sulley Muntari set up Asamoah Gyan to lash home in the 63rd.

Germany levelled in the 71st minute with a sharp finish by Klose as the substitute claimed his 15th World Cup goal to move level with former Brazil striker Ronaldo as the tournament's all-time leading scorer.

Match #27: Group F at Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte

Argentina 1 (Messi 90+1) Iran 0

Lionel Messi curled in a superb injury-time goal to give Argentina a 1-0 World Cup win over battling Iran to send them into the second round on Saturday.

Argentina dominated possession but rarely looked like penetrating the massed ranks of defenders and Iran, growing in confidence after the break, were twice denied as headers by Reza Ghoochannejhad and Ashkan Dejagah were saved by Romero, the second a spectacular tip over the bar.

The game looked to be heading for a draw until Messi scored his second of the tournament to put the Group F favourites on six points following their opening win over Bosnia.

Match #26: Group E at Arena da Baixada, Curitiba

Honduras 1 (Costly 31) Ecuador 2 Valencia 34, 65)

Honduras scored their first World Cup goal for 32 years on Friday, but Enner Valencia replied twice to earn Ecuador a 2-1 Group E victory that gives them a fighting chance of making the knockout phase.

Carlo Costly drove in a crisp shot after 31 minutes to register Honduras's first finals goal since a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland in the 1982 tournament, but their dreams of a first-ever win disappeared within three minutes when a mishit shot from Juan Carlos Paredes was tapped into the net at the far post by Valencia.

Jerry Bengston had the ball in the net for Honduras at the end of the first half but the goal was ruled out for a combination of offside and handball and Ecuador won another exciting game in the 65th minute when Valencia headed home.

Match #25: Group E at Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador

Switzerland 2 (Dzemaili 81 Xkaka 87) France 5 (Giroud 17 Matuidi 18 Valbuena 40 Benzema 67 Sissoko 73)

Free-flowing France blew away in-form Switzerland with a three-goal first-half barrage en route to a thumping 5-2 World Cup Group E win on Friday that virtually assures them of qualification for the second round.

France blasted two goals within 66 seconds as Olivier Giroud headed them into the lead after 17 minutes and Blaise Matuidi added a second almost straight from the restart, while Mathieu Valbuena got a breakaway third late in the half after Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio had earlier saved a Karim Benzema penalty.

Benzema added the fourth and his third of the tournament in the 67th minute and Moussa Sissoko came off the bench to complete the rout six minutes later before Blerim Dzemaili's free kick and a smart volley by Granit Xhaka made things look better for the Swiss.

Match #24: Group D at Arena Pernambuco, Recife

Italy 0 Costa Rica 1 (Ruiz 44)

Costa Rica produced another huge upset to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup for the second time on Friday with a 1-0 Group D win over Italy that also ensured England were eliminated.

Bryan Ruiz headed powerfully home a minute before halftime to leave Costa Rica fans dancing in the sunshine at Recife's Pernambuco arena, while Mario Balotelli missed Italy's best efforts.

Match #23: Group C at Estádio das Dunas, Natal

Japan 0 Greece 0

Ten-man Greece held Japan to a goalless draw in a largely forgettable World Cup Group C clash on Thursday that kept both sides in with a chance of making the knockout phase

The Greeks had midfielder and captain Kostas Katsouranis sent off after 38 minutes for a second yellow, leaving his team mates facing a tough second 45 minutes.

Match #22: Group D at at the Corinthians arena, Sao Paulo.
 
Uruguay 1 (Suarez 39 85) England 1 (Rooney 75)

Luis Suarez emerged from a month of treatment on his injured knee to score both goals as Uruguay beat England 2-1 to keep his team's World Cup hopes alive and leave England's hanging by a thread on Thursday.

Wayne Rooney hit the bar with a header in the first half but England looked badly off the pace, and the same loose marking that cost them dear against Italy in their first match allowed Suarez space to nod home Edinson Cavani's chipped cross after 39 minutes

England equalised in the 75th minute when Rooney touched in a low Glen Johnson cross for his first-ever World Cup goal, but Suarez - the scourge of Premier League defences all season - lashed in the winner in the 85th minute after England failed to deal with a length-of-the field punt by goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

Match #21: Group C at Estádio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasília

Colombia 2 (Rodriguez 64 Quintero 70) Ivory Coast 1 (Gervinho 73)

Colombia beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in yet another action-packed World Cup clash on Thursday to top Group C on six points and move within touching distance of making the knockout phase for the first time since 1990.

After a tight first half the game exploded into life with three goals in nine minutes midway through the second, starting when Colombia's James Rodriguez thumped in a header from a 64th-minute Juan Cuadrado corner.

Juan Quintero ran clear to make it 2-0 after 70 minutes after Rodriguez intercepted an Ivorian clearance but Gervinho cut in through three defenders to score an excellent individual goal three minutes later to halve the deficit.

Match #20: Group A at Arena Amazônia, Manaus

Cameroon 0 Croatia 4 (Olic 11 Perisic 48 Mandzukic 61, 73)

Croatia gave themselves a fighting chance of reaching the World Cup knockout phase when they thrashed toothless Cameroon 4-0 on Wednesday, helped by a needless first-half red card for Alex Song as defeat condemned the African side to an early exit.

Ivica Olic put Croatia ahead after 11 minutes and Ivan Perisic seized on a poor clearance by Cameroon keeper Charles Itandje to race forward and drive in the second after 48. An unmarked Mario Mandzukic headed the third just after an hour and tapped in his second after 73 as Croatia strolled to a comfortable victory.

Cameroon, who have won only one game in five World Cups following their 1990 heroics, were reduced to 10 men five minutes before halftime when Song bizarrely elbowed Mandzukic in the back as the two man chased back in a benign situation on the halfway line and, without injured striker Samuel Eto'o, barely managed an attack all night.

Match #19: Group B at Estádio Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro

Spain 0 Chile 2 (Vargas 20 Aranguiz 43)

Hard-working Chile overwhelmed an out-of-sorts Spain 2-0 to secure their - and the Netherlands' - place in the World Cup second round and eliminate the holders on a memorable night at the Maracana on Wednesday.

Chile had never beaten Spain in their 10 previous meetings but always looked the more enterprising, taking the lead with a brilliantly-worked Eduardo Vargas goal after 20 minutes and doubling their lead just before halftime when Charles Aranguiz banged in the rebound from a meek punch by keeper Iker Casillas.

Spain, beaten 5-1 by the Netherlands in their opening Group B match, looked a shadow of the team that triumphed four years ago and won back-to-back European titles, with Sergio Busquets missing the best of their few chances early in the second half.

Match #18: Group B at Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre

Australia 2 (Cahill 21 Jedinak 54-pen) Netherlands 3 (Robben 20 van Persie 58 Depay 68)

The Netherlands beat Australia 3-2 in a sensational World Cup Group B match featuring stunning goals and non-stop action on Wednesday as the 2010 runners-up made it two wins out of two following their opening demolition of Spain.

Dutch winger Arjen Robben opened the scoring in the 20th minute when he ran from the halfway line before tucking the ball beyond Mat Ryan for this third goal of the tournament.

Tim Cahill replied immediately, however, by crashing a fantastic 20-metre volley into the roof of the net for what will be a strong contender for goal of the tournament.

Australia took a shock 2-1 lead with a 54th-minute Mile Jedinak penalty after Oliver Bozanic hammered the ball straight at Daryl Janmaat's arm but Robin van Persie levelled with his sharply-taken third of the tournament four minutes later.

Substitute Memphis Depay won it for the Dutch after 68 minutes when his low long-range shot somehow escaped the diving Ryan and went just inside a post.

Match #17: Group H at Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá

Russia 1 (Kerzhakov 74) South Korea 1 (Keunho 68)

Russia's Alexander Kerzhakov came to the rescue, scoring three minutes after coming on as a substitute to secure a 1-1 World Cup draw with South Korea after his goalkeeper had gifted the Asians the lead in their Group H match on Tuesday.

Horrified Igor Akinfeev allowed a straightforward Lee Keun-ho shot from 25 metres to slip through his fingers after 68 minutes of the final match of the tournament's opening round of fixtures.

Neither team had looked dangerous until that point, but the goal shook Russia into life and Kerzhakov pounced after more scrappy goalkeeping by Jung Sung-ryong in the 74th minute.

Match #16: Group A at the Castelao arena, Fortaleza

Brazil 0 Mexico 0

Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made two outstanding saves to deny Neymar as battling Mexico held Brazil to a 0-0 draw in their World Cup Group A match on Tuesday, ending the hosts' 10-game winning streak in the process.

Ochoa went full length to brilliantly beat out a header from Neymar in the first half, blocked a fierce shot from the forward in the second and then stopped a thumping Thiago Silva header on the line late on, as they denied the hosts.

Match #15: Group H at Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte

Belgium 2 (Fellaini 70 Mertens 80) Algeria 1 (Feghouli 25-pen)

Two goals in 10 second-half minutes by substitutes Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens gave Belgium a 2-1 comeback victory over Algeria after the north Africans had threatened a shock result in their World Cup Group H match on Tuesday.

Algeria had not scored in more than eight hours of World Cup tournament play dating back to 1986, but ended that streak with a Sofiane Feghouli penalty after 25 minutes, awarded when he was clumsily pulled back by Jan Vertonghen.

Belgium struggled to make an impact until Kevin De Bruyne picked out Fellaini, on as a substitute four minutes earlier, to cleverly head in from 13 metres after 70 minutes.

Yet another World Cup comeback was completed 10 minutes later when fellow sub Mertens lashed in the second from a tight angle.

Match #14: Group D at  Estádio das Dunas, Natal


Ghana 1 (Ayew 82) United States 2 (Dempsey 1 Brooks 86)

United States beat Ghana 2-1 in their World Cup Group G clash on Monday with Clint Dempsey scoring the first goal after just 30 seconds and German-born John Brooks getting a dramatic winner.

Andre Ayew equalised for Ghana eight minutes before the end.

But Brooks' first goal for his adopted country made Jurgen Klinsmann's 50th match in charge of the United States a memorable one.

Match #13:
Group F at Arena da Baixada, Curitiba

Iran 0 Nigeria 0

Iran and Nigeria laboured to the first stalemate of a scintillating World Cup on Monday with a dismal 0-0 draw that left both sides still chasing their first victory at a finals since 1998.

Match #12:
Group G at Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador

Germany 3 (Mueller 12-pen, 45+1, 78" Hummels 32") Portugal 0

Thomas Mueller's hat-trick inspired Germany to a 4-0 mauling of 10-man Portugal in their opening World Cup Group G match on Monday.

Two Mueller goals and a thumping Mats Hummels header blew away a Portugal side whose misery was compounded by a needless 37th-minute red card for Pepe.

Hummels powered home the second from a corner on 32 minutes before Mueller, top scorer at the World Cup four years ago, stole in ahead of a sleepy Bruno Alves to smash in the third in first-half stoppage-time.

Match #11:
Group F at Estádio Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro.

Argentina 2 (Kolasinac 3"-OG Messi 65") Bosnia 1 (Ibisevic 85")

Lionel Messi scored a stunning second-half goal to push staggering Argentina to a 2-1 victory over Bosnia Sunday at the Maracana in the Group F opener for both teams.

Messi lifted Argentina in the 65th minute, moving in from the right and striking a low left-footed shot off the inside of the post behind Bosnian keeper Asmir Begovic.

It was Messi's second World Cup goal, adding to one he scored eight years ago in Germany.

Argentina took a 1-0 lead in the third minute on an own-goal by defender Sead Kolasinac.

For the remainder of the half, Argentina showed little with Messi seldom touching the ball and Bosnia - a World Cup debutant - looking more threatening.

Match #10: Group E at Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre.

France 3 (Benzema 45-pen 72 Valladares 48-OG) Honduras 0

A moment of madness in the first half and a landmark goalline technology ruling in the second helped France to a 3-0 victory over Honduras in their Group E World Cup clash on Sunday.

Wilson Palacios charged into French midfielder Paul Pogba seconds before the break in a reckless challenge that had him sent-off for a second booking, and Karim Benzema smashed home the resulting penalty to give France a lead they deserved having dominated the first 45 minutes.

France doubled their advantage after 48 minutes when Benzema lashed the ball against the inside of a post and saw it rebound against keeper Noel Valladares and though he scooped it clear, the goal was awarded after the intervention of goalline technology that said the whole ball had crossed the line.

Benzema made it three with a piledriver in the 72nd minute to complete the win that put France top of their group on goal difference ahead of top seeds Switzerland, who beat Ecuador 2-1 in the dying seconds of their clash in Brasilia earlier on Sunday.

Match #9: Group E at the Brasilia national stadium, Brasilia

Switzerland 2 (Mehmedi 48 Seferovic (90+3) Ecuador 1 (Valencia 22)

A stoppage-time goal by substitute Haris Seferovic gave Switzerland a 2-1 World Cup Group E win over Ecuador on Sunday.

The teams had looked as if they were about to produce the first draw of the tournament, until Seferovic's dramatic winner.

Enner Valencia headed Ecuador into the lead after 22 minutes as the South Americans showed plenty of attacking invention, but Admir Mehmedi headed an equaliser three minutes after coming on as a halftime substitute.

Switzerland thought they had won it in the 70th minute when Josip Drmic latched onto a through ball to score, only for a linesman to flag it offside.

But Seferovic did get the winner after a length-of the field breakaway following a brilliant advantage play by the referee.

Match #8: Group C at Arena Pernambuco, Recife

Ivory Coast 2 (Bony 64 Gervinho 66) Japan 2 (Honda 16)

Two sharply-headed goals within three second-half minutes gave Ivory Coast a 2-1 Group C victory over Japan as the World Cup's four-game 'Super Saturday' concluded with yet another hugely entertaining match.

Keisuke Honda's fierce left-foot drive after 16 minutes had Japan ahead, but the introduction of substitute Didier Drogba just after the hour seemed to lift the Africans and almost immediately they turned the game on its head.

Wilfried Bony headed the equaliser after 64 minutes and the Ivorians had only just concluded their dancing celebrations when Gervinho glanced in the second, both goals coming from pinpoint crosses by Serge Aurier.

Ivory Coast join Colombia on three points atop the open-looking group after Colombia's 3-0 victory over Greece earlier on Saturday.

Match #7: Group D at Arena Amazônia, Manaus

England 1 (Sturridge 37)  Italy 2 (Marchisio 35 Balotelli 50)

Mario Balotelli headed the decisive goal as Italy emerged 2-1 winners over England in another high quality World Cup match in the Amazon jungle on Saturday, to gain a key early advantage in a Group D containing three former tournament winners.

Claudio Marchisio fired Italy ahead after 35 minutes when England were wrong-footed by an Andrea Pirlo dummy, but Daniel Sturridge levelled within three minutes after Wayne Rooney picked him out with a perfect left-wing cross.

Balotelli, who had a clever lob cleared off the line at the end of the first half, made it 2-1 five minutes into the second when he took advantage of ragged defending to head home.

England played some confident football trying to find the equaliser but Italy's defence buckled down and kept them at bay to take them to three points alongside Costa Rica, who upset 2010 semi-finalists Uruguay 3-1 earlier on Saturday.

Match #6
: Group D at  Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza

Uruguay 1 (Cavani 24-pen) Costa Rica 3 Campbell 54 Duarte 57 Urena 84)

Two goals in four dramatic second-half minutes set lowly Costa Rica on their way to a deserved 3-1 victory over Uruguay in the biggest upset of the World Cup so far. 

The Uruguayans took the lead in the Group D clash thanks to a disputed Edinson Cavani penalty midway through the first half before the Central Americans turned the match on its head after the break. 

Young striker Joel Campbell chested down a cross from the right and slammed a low shot past keeper Fernando Muslera after 54 minutes. 

Then centre back Oscar Duarte gave Costa Rica the lead in the 57th minute with a brave diving header at the back post from a Christian Bolanos free kick. 

Marco Urena completed the remarkable victory with a third in the 84th minute, silencing an army of sky blue-clad Uruguayan fans in Fortaleza's Castelao arena. 

Uruguay's misery was compounded in stoppage time when their defender Maxi Pereira became the first man to be sent off at this World Cup.

Match #5: Group C at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte

Colombia 3 (Armero 5 Gutierrez 58 Rodriguez 90+3) Greece 0

Colombia marked their return to the World Cup after a 16-year absence with an attacking display that earned a 3-0 victory over Greece on Saturday, and the early initiative in what looks to be a really tight Group C.

The South Americans went ahead after five minutes when great work by Juan Cuadrado set up Pablo Armero.

Teofilo Gutierrez poked in the second after 58 minutes and James Rodriguez drove in a left foot effort in stoppage time at the end of another game full of high-paced action.

Greece struggled to get a foothold in the match and their hopes of a comeback fell away after Theofanis Gekas crashed a header against the bar from point-blank range after 63 minutes.

Match #4: Group B at Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá

Chile 3 (Sanchez 12 Valdivia 14 Beausejour 90+2) Australia 1 (Cahill 35)

Chile got the victory they needed if they are to have any chance of progressing from a daunting Group B when they held off a strong Australian fightback to emerge 3-1 winners in another open and entertaining World Cup clash on Friday.

Alexis Sanchez put Chile ahead from close range after 12 minutes and two minutes later Jorge Valdivia made it 2-0 with a well-struck shot as the South Americans looked in control.

Australia fought back strongly, though, and Tim Cahill replied with a header after 35 minutes and thought he had equalized with another early in the second half only to have it ruled offside by an excellent linesman's decision.

Both sides went close in an end-to-end second half before Jean Beausejour grabbed a third for Chile in stoppage time.

Match #3: Group B at the Fonte Nova arena, Salvador

Spain 1 (Xabi Alonso 27-pen) Netherlands 5 (van Persie 44, 72, Robben 53, 80, de Vrij 64)

Two goals each by Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben helped the Netherlands destroy world and European champions Spain 5-1 in a sensational World Cup Group B opener on Friday - a repeat of the 2010 final.

Spain, who lost their opening game of the 2010 tournament to Switzerland, went ahead with a 27th-minute Xabi Alonso penalty but Dutch captain Van Persie equalised with an audacious diving, looping header a minute before the break.

The Netherlands, playing with swagger and working tirelessly to close down the holders, went ahead in the 53rd minute when Robben pulled down a long ball from Daley Blind, delivered his trademark cutback and swept the ball home.

Stefan de Vrij bundled in the third in the 64th minute, Van Persie, who also crashed a shot against the bar, got the fourth following a blunder by Spain keeper Iker Casillas and Robben completed the amazing victory in the 80th minute.

Match #2: Group A at Natal

Mexico 1 (Peralta 61) Cameroon 0

Mexico overcame the setback of having two early goals harshly disallowed to beat Cameroon 1-0 with a second-half strike by Oribe Peralta and join Brazil at the top of World Cup Group A with three points on Friday.

Mexico, on top throughout, were goalless at halftime after Giovani Dos Santos had a neat volley and a header from a corner both ruled out for offside in decisions TV replays showed were wrong.

In relentless rain they continued to dominate, though, and broke through after 61 minutes when a Dos Santos shot was parried by the keeper into the path of Peralta who tucked it in.

Samuel Eto'o clipped a post early on for Cameroon but they did little in attack and have now still won only one game in their last five World Cups, having become the first African team to reach the quarter-finals in 1990.

Match #1: Group A at Sao Paulo

Brazil 3 (Neymar 29, 71-pen, Oscar 90+1) Croatia 1 (Marcelo 11-og)

Neymar hit two goals including a bitterly contested penalty to lead Brazil to a 3-1 victory over Croatia in the opening match of the World Cup on Thursday.

Croatia took a shock lead in the Group A game when Marcelo scored an own goal in the 11th minute.

Neymar pulled Brazil level after 30 minutes and Croatia reacted with fury when Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura pointed to the penalty spot in the second half after Fred backed into Croatian defender Dejan Lovren and fell.

Croatian coach Niko Kovac said that Nishimura was "out of his depth" and called the penalty "ridiculous."

Barcelona golden boy Neymar, who was also booked and lucky not to be sent off, converted the penalty to put Brazil ahead. Chelsea midfielder Oscar scored a brilliant individual goal to seal the crucial victory.

PREVIEWS

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Brazil

Spain

Colombia

Uruguay

Croatia

Netherlands

Greece

Costa Rica

Mexico

Chile

Ivory Coast

England

Cameroon

Australia

Japan

Italy

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H

Switzerland

Argentina

Germany

Belgium

Ecuador

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Portugal

Algeria

France

Iran

Ghana

Russia

Honduras

Nigeria

USA

South Korea

 

Group A: Brazil's only worry ... meeting Spain in second round

Group B: Friday 13th looms for world champions Spain vs Dutch

Group C: Colombia favourites even without injured Falcao

Group D: Suarez takes centre stage in battle of the champions

Group E: French and Swiss ones to beat

Group F: Keeping up with Argentina

Group G: Germany and Portugal set for titanic clash

Group H: Pressure on Russia to shine

WORLD CUP RECORDS

World Cup records according to world governing body FIFA ahead of the 2014 edition which begins in Sao Paulo on Thursday:

Most World Cup wins

5 - Brazil (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)

Player to have appeared at most World Cup finals

5 - Antonio Carbajal (MEX) (1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966) and Lothar Matthaeus (GER) (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998)

Most goals scored in a match

5 - Oleg Salenko for Russia in 1994 in their 6-1 win over Cameroon in the group pahse.

Number of teams that have won World Cup

8: Brazil, Uruguay, Germany, Spain, England, Italy, France, Argentina.

Fastest goal scored

11 seconds by Hakan Sukur in 2002 for Turkey against South Korea in the third placed match which the Turks won 3-1.

Most goals scored at one World Cup finals

13 - Frenchman Just Fontaine in 1958.

Record World Cup finals scorer:

15 - Ronaldo or 'The Phenomenon' as the Brazilian striker was nicknamed accruing the goals over three World Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2006

Youngest player to play at a finals:

Norman Whiteside when he played for Northern Ireland at the 1982 finals when he was 17 years, one month and 10 days old.

Most appearances by a country at the finals:

19 - Brazil is the only country to have appeared at all the World Cup finals since the inaugural one in 1930 - the ones scheduled for 1942 and 1946 did not take place because of World War II and its immediate aftermath.

Oldest player to appear at a finals:

Roger Milla in the 1994 finals in the United States when he was 42 years, one month and eight days old.

Worst disciplinary record

Argentina whom in 70 games have received 103 yellow cards, one double yellow (straight red) and nine red cards.

Squads for the 32 countries taking part in the World Cup finals from June 12, as announced by national federations:

 

TEAM

GOALKEEPERS

DEFENDERS

MIDFIELDERS

FORWARDS

BRAZIL

Julio Cesar, Jefferson, Victor

Dante, David Luiz, Henrique, Thiago Silva, Daniel Alves, Maicon, Marcelo, Maxwell

Fernandinho, Hernanes, Luiz Gustavo, Oscar, Paulinho, Ramires, Willian

Bernard, Fred, Hulk, Jo, Neymar

CROATIA

Stipe Pletikosa, Danijel Subasic, Oliver Zelenika

Darijo Srna, Domagoj Vida, Sime Vrsaljko, Danijel Pranjic, Vedran Corluka, Dejan Lovren, Gordon Schildenfeld

Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, Ognjen Vukojevic, Ivan Mocinic, Sammir

Mario Mandzukic, Nikica Jelavic, Ivica Olic, Eduardo Da Silva, Ivan Perisic, Ante Rebic

MEXICO

Jesus Corona, Alfredo Talavera, Guillermo Ochoa

Paul Aguilar, Miguel Layun, Hector Moreno, Diego Reyes, Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Marquez, Carlos Salcido

Hector Herrera, Jose Juan Vazquez, Juan Carlos Medina, Carlos Pena, Isaac Brizuela, Luis Montes, Marco Fabian, Andres Guardado

Oribe Peralta, Javier Hernandez, Raul Jimenez, Alan Pulido, Giovani dos Santos

CAMEROON

Charles Itandje, Sammy N'Djock, Loïc Feudjou

Allan Nyom, Cedric Djeugou, Dany Nounkeu, Aurelien Chedjou, Nicolas Nkoulou, Henri Bedimo, Benoît Assou-Ekotto

Enoh Eyong, Jean II Makoun, Joel Matip, Stephane Mbia, Landry N'Guemo, Alexandre Song, Edgar Salli

Samuel Eto'o, Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, Benjamin Moukandjo, Vincent Aboubakar, Pierre Achille Webo, Fabrice Olinga

SPAIN

Iker Casillas, Jose Manuel Reina, David De Gea

Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Javi Martinez, Cesar Azpilicueta, Raul Albiol, Juanfran Torres

Xavi Hernandez, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Xabi Alonso, David Silva, Koke Resurreccion, Santiago Cazorla, Juan Mata

Pedro Rodriguez, Diego Costa, David Villa, Fernando Torres

NETHERLANDS

Jasper Cillessen, Tim Krul, Michel Vorm

Daley Blind, Daryl Janmaat, Terence Kongolo, Bruno Martins Indi, Joel Veltman, Paul Verhaegh, Ron Vlaar, Stefan de Vrij

Jordy Clasie, Leroy Fer, Jonathan De Guzman, Nigel de Jong, Wesley Sneijder, Georginio Wijnaldum

Memphis Depay, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Dirk Kuyt, Jeremain Lens, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben

CHILE

Claudio Bravo, Johnny Herrera, Cristopher Toselli

Gary Medel, Jose Rojas, Eugenio Mena, Gonzalo Jara

Arturo Vidal, Mauricio Isla, Marcelo Diaz, Francisco Silva, Felipe Gutierrez, Jose Pedro Fuenzalida, Carlos Carmona, Jean Beausejour, Charles Aranguiz, Miiko Albornoz

Alexis Sanchez, Eduardo Vargas, Jorge Valdivia, Mauricio Pinilla, Esteban Paredes, Fabian Orellana

AUSTRALIA

Mathew Ryan, Mitchell Langerak, Eugene Galekovic

Ivan Franjic, Jason Davidson, Matthew Spiranovic, Bailey Wright, Alex Wilkinson, Ryan McGowan

Mile Jedinak, Mark Milligan, James Holland, Massimo Luongo, Oliver Bozanic, Matt McKay, Mark Bresciano

Tim Cahill, Dario Vidosic, Tommy Oar, James Troisi, Ben Halloran, Adam Taggart, Mathew Leckie

COLOMBIA

David Ospina, Faryd Mondragon, Camilo Vargas

Pablo Armero, Camilo Zuniga, Cristian Zapata, Eder Alvarez Balanta, Mario Alberto Yepes, Carlos Valdes

Abel Aguilar, Fredy Guarin, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, James Rodriguez, Aldo Leao Ramirez, Carlos Sanchez, Santiago Arias, Alexander Mejia, Juan Fernando Quintero

Jackson Martinez, Carlos Bacca, Teofilo Gutierrez, Adrian Ramos, Víctor Ibarbo

GREECE

Orestis Karnezis, Panagiotis Glykos, Stefanos Kapino

Kostas Manolas, Jose Holebas, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Vangelis Moras, Giorgos Tzavellas, Loukas Vyntra, Vasilis Torosidis

Alexandros Tziolis, Andreas Samaris, Giannis Maniatis, Kostas Katsouranis, Giorgos Karagounis, Panagiotis Tachtsidis, Giannis Fetfatzidis, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Panagiotis Kone

Dimitris Salpingidis, Giorgos Samaras, Kostas Mitroglou, Fanis Gekas

IVORY COAST

Boubacar Barry, Sayouba Mande, Sylvain Gbohouo

Kolo Toure, Arthur Boka, Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, Serge Aurier, Ousmane Viera Diarrassouba, Didier Zokora, Constant Djakpa, Bamba Souleymane

Ismael Diomande, Max-Alain Gradel, Yaya Toure, Ismael Cheick Tiote, Geoffroy Serey Die, Didier Ya Konan

Didier Drogba, Gervinho, Salomon Kalou, Wilfried Bony, Giovanni Sio, Mathis Bolly

JAPAN

Eiji Kawashima, Shusaku Nishikawa, Shuichi Gonda

Yasuyuki Konno, Masahiko Inoha, Yuto Nagatomo, Masato Morishige, Atsuto Uchida, Maya Yoshida, Hiroki Sakai, Gotoku Sakai

Yasuhito Endo, Makoto Hasebe, Toshihiro Aoyama, Hotaru Yamaguchi, Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa

Yoshito Okubo, Shinji Okazaki, Hiroshi Kiyotake, Yoichiro Kakitani, Manabu Saito, Yuya Osako

URUGUAY

Fernando Muslera, Martín Silva, Rodrigo Munoz

Diego Lugano, Diego Godín, Jose María Gimenez, Martín Caceres, Maximiliano Pereira, Jorge Fucile, Sebastian Coates

Egidio Arévalo Ríos, Walter Gargano, Diego Perez, Alvaro Gonzalez, Alvaro Pereira, Cristian Rodríguez, Gaston Ramírez, Nicolas Lodeiro

Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlan, Cristian Stuani, Abel Hernandez

COSTA RICA

Keylor Navas, Patrick Pemberton, Daniel Cambronero

Giancarlo Gonzalez, Johnny Acosta, Michael Umana, Roy Miller, Cristian Gamboa, Oscar Duarte, Heiner Mora, Junior Diaz, Waylon Francis

Yeltsin Tejeda, Celso Borges, Jose Miguel Cubero, Michael Barrantes, Esteban Granados, Christian Bolaños, Diego Calvo

Marco Urena, Randall Brenes, Bryan Ruiz, Joel Campbell

ENGLAND

Joe Hart, Ben Foster, Fraser Forster

Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling

Ross Barkley, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Raheem Sterling, Jack Wilshere

Rickie Lambert, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Daniel Welbeck

ITALY

Gianluigi Buffon, Salvatore Sirigu, Mattia Perin

Ignazio Abate, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Matteo Darmian, Mattia De Sciglio, Gabriel Paletta

Alberto Aquilani, Antonio Candreva, Daniele De Rossi, Claudio Marchisio, Thiago Motta, Marco Parolo, Andrea Pirlo, Marco Verratti

Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano, Alessio Cerci, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne

SWITZERLAND

Diego Benaglio, Roman Buerki, Yann Sommer

Johan Djourou, Michael Lang, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Ricardo Rodriguez, Fabian Schaer, Philippe Senderos, Steve von Bergen, Reto Ziegler

Tranquillo Barnetta, Valon Behrami, Blerim Dzemaili, Gelson Fernandes, Goekhan Inler, Xherdan Shaqiri, Valentin Stocker

Josip Drmic, Mario Gavranovic, Admir Mehmedi, Haris Seferovic, Granit Xhaka

ECUADOR

Maximo Banguera, Adrian Bone, Alexander Dominguez

Frickson Erazo, Jorge Guagua, Oscar Bagui, Gabriel Achilier, Juan Carlos Paredes, Walter Ayovi

Segundo Castillo, Carlos Gruezo, Renato Ibarra, Christian Noboa, Luis Saritama, Antonio Valencia, Edison Mendez, Fidel Martinez

Joao Rojas, Felipe Caicedo, Jefferson Montero, Jaime Ayovi, Enner Valencia, Michael Arroyo

FRANCE

Hugo Lloris, Stephane Ruffier, Mickael Landreau

Mathieu Debuchy, Lucas Digne, Patrice Evra, Laurent Koscielny, Eliaquim Mangala, Bacary Sagna, Mamadou Sakho, Raphael Varane

Yohan Cabaye, Clement Grenier, Blaise Matuidi, Rio Mavuba, Paul Pogba, Moussa Sissoko, Mathieu Valbuena

Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Loic Remy, Franck Ribery

HONDURAS

Noel Valladares, Donis Escober, Luis Lopez

Edder Delgado, Maynor Figueroa, Victor Bernardez, Emilio Izaguirre, Osman Chavez, Juan Carlos Garcia, Brayan Beckeles, Juan Pablo Montes

Boniek Garcia, Andy Najar, Roger Espinoza, Wilson Palacios, Marvin Chavez, Jorge Claros, Luis Garrido, Mario Martinez

Jerry Bengtson, Jerry Palacios, Carlo Costly, Rony Martinez

ARGENTINA

Mariano Andújar, Agustín Orión, Sergio Romero

José Basanta, Martin Demichelis, Ezequiel Garay, Marcos Rojo, Pablo Zabaleta, Lisandro Lopez, Hugo Campagnaro

Ricardo Alvarez, Lucas Biglia, Angel Di Maria, Augusto Fernández, Fernando Gago, Javier Mascherano, Enzo Pérez, Maximiliano Rodríguez

Sergio Agüero, Gonzalo Higuaín, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Lionel Messi, Rodrigo Palacio

BOSNIA

Asmir Begovic, Jasmin Fejzic, Asmir Avdukic

Emir Spahic, Toni Sunjic, Sead Kolasinac, Ognjen Vranjes, Ermin Bicakcic, Muhamed Besic

Miralem Pjanic, Izet Hajrovic, Mensur Mujdza, Haris Medunjanin, Senad Lulic, Anel Hadzic, Tino Susic, Sejad Salihovic, Zvjezdan Misimovic, Senijad Ibricic, Avdija Vrsajevic

Vedad Ibisevic, Edin Dzeko, Edin Visca

IRAN

Daniel Davari, Rahman Ahmadi, Alireza Haqiqi

Hossein Mahini, Jalal Hosseini, Amir Hossein Sadeqi, Hashem Beykzadeh, Mehrdad Pouladi, Ahmad Alenemeh, Pejman Montazeri, Steven Beitashour

Reza Haghighi, Andranik Teymourian, Ghasem Hadadifar, Bakhtiar Rahmani, Javad Nekounam, Ehsan Hajsafi

Khosrow Heidari, Karim Ansarifard, Reza Ghoochannejhad, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Masoud Shojaei, Ashkan Dejagah

NIGERIA

Vincent Enyeama, Chigozie Agbim, Austin Ejide

Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Juwon Oshaniwa, Joseph Yobo, Kunle Odunlami

John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Gabriel Reuben, Michael Uchebo, Ramon Azeez

Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Peter Odemwingie, Uche Nwofor, Babatunde Michael

GERMANY

Manuel Neuer, Roman Weidenfeller, Ron-Robert Zieler

Jerome Boateng, Erik Durm, Kevin Grosskreutz, Benedikt Hoewedes, Matthias Ginter, Mats Hummels, Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker

Julian Draxler, Mario Goetze, Sami Khedira, Christoph Kramer, Toni Kroos, Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podolski, Marco Reus, Andre Schuerrle, Bastian Schweinsteiger

Miroslav Klose

PORTUGAL

Rui Patricio, Beto, Eduardo

Andre Almeida, Bruno Alves, Fabio Coentrao, Joao Pereira, Neto, Pepe, Ricardo Costa

Joao Moutinho, Miguel Veloso, Raul Meireles, Ruben Amorim, William Carvalho

Cristiano Ronaldo, Eder, Helder Postiga, Hugo Almeida, Nani, Rafa, Silvestre Varela, Vieirinha

GHANA

Adam Larsen Kwarasey, Fatau Dauda, Stephen Adams

Samuel Inkoom, Daniel Opare, Harrison Afful, John Boye, Jonathan Mensah, Rashid Sumaila

Michael Essien, Sulley Ali Muntari, Rabiu Mohammed, Kwadwo Asamoah, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Afriyie Acquah, André Ayew, Mubarak Wakaso, Christian Atsu Twasam, Albert Adomah

 

Asamoah Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Abdul Majeed Waris, Jordan Ayew

UNITED STATES

Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, Nick Rimando

DaMarcus Beasley, Matt Besler, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Timmy Chandler, Omar Gonzalez, Fabian Johnson, DeAndre Yedlin

Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Brad Davis, Mix Diskerud, Julian Green, Jermaine Jones, Graham Zusi

Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Aron Johannsson, Chris Wondolowski

BELGIUM

Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Sammy Bossut

Toby Alderweireld, Anthony Vanden Borre, Daniel Van Buyten, Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Vermaelen, Nicolas Lombaerts, Laurent Ciman

Axel Witsel, Marouane Fellaini, Steven Defour, Moussa Dembele, Nacer Chadli, Kevin De Bruyne

Romelu Lukaku, Divock Origi, Eden Hazard, Kevin Mirallas, Dries Mertens, Adnan Januzaj

ALGERIA

Rais M'bolhi, Mohamed Zemmamouche, Mohamed Cdric

Essaid Belkalem, Madjid Bougherra, Lyassine Cadamuro, Faouzi Ghoulam, Rafik Halliche, Aissa Mandi, Mehdi Mostefa, Carl Medjani, Djamel Mesbah

Nabil Bentaleb, Yacine Brahimi, Medhi Lacen, Saphir Taider, Hassen Yebda

Abdelmoumen Djabou, Sofiane Feghouli, Ryad Mahrez, Islam Slimani, Hilal Soudani, Nabil Ghilas

RUSSIA

Igor Akinfeev, Yury Lodygin, Sergei Ryzhikov

Vasily Berezutsky, Sergei Ignashevich, Georgy Shchennikov, Vladimir Granat, Alexei Kozlov, Andrei Yeshchenko, Dmitry Kombarov, Andrei Semenov

Igor Denisov, Yury Zhirkov, Alan Dzagoev, Roman Shirokov, Denis Glushakov, Viktor Faizulin, Oleg Shatov

Alexander Kerzhakov, Alexei Ionov, Alexander Kokorin, Maxim Kanunnikov, Alexander Samedov

SOUTH KOREA

Jung Sung-Ryong, Kim Seung-Gyu, Lee Bum-Young

Hong Jeong-Ho, Hwang Seok-Ho, Kim Chang-Soo, Park Joo-Ho, Kim Young-Gwon, Kwak Tae-Hwi, Lee Yong, Yun Suk-Young

Ha Dae-Sung, Han Kook-Young, Ji Dong-Won, Ki Sung-Yueng, Kim Bo-Kyung, Lee Chung-Yong, Park Jong-Woo, Son Heung-Min

Kim Shin-Wook, Koo Ja-Cheol, Lee Keun-Ho, Park Chu-Young