Top 10 World Cup 2014 Highlights - Rodriguez, Messi, Van Persie, Robben, Neymar Light up Brazil

Brazil 2014 is widely considered as one of the best World Cup Finals ever (if not the best) and we are only just at the quarter final stage. In South Africa, 4 years ago it would have been very difficult to pick out 10 highlights at all, let alone by the quarter final stage. So who and what has made this tournament so compelling so far?

1. James Rodriguez has scored 5 goals (plus 2 assists) and has been the undisputed star of the World Cup up to this point. Rodriguez has led the way in Colombia’s very impressive march to the quarter finals but there is one moment that stands head and shoulders above the rest – his stunning goal against Uruguay in the round of 16. His vision, followed by the control and execution of the amazing volley will take some beating if it isn't to be crowned best goal of the World Cup.

2. Lionel Messi and Argentina haven’t played particularly well but they find themselves in the quarter finals and still in with a chance of lifting the trophy at the Maracana. However, truly great players, and Messi is certainly one of those, can lift themselves when the team most needs it. Messi has made key contributions in each of Argentina’s 4 matches to date. The decisive goal in their opener against Bosnia-Hercegovina, a double strike against Nigeria and a last minute winner against Iran took his team through to a meeting with Switzerland in the round of 16. With the game deep into extra time and seemingly heading to penalties, Messi looked totally exhausted. He somehow summoned up the energy to dispossess a defender and run with the ball before laying off a perfect pass for Angel Di Maria to slot home and win the game.

3. Neymar has been described as the poster boy for this World Cup in his own country. Certainly one of the best players in the world, expectation was high and just like Argentina have looked unremarkable, needing Messi to bail them out, so too with Brazil. Two goals in each of his country’s opening and closing group games ensured passage to the round of 16 for the ordinary looking hosts. Neymar played on after an early injury in a gruelling encounter with Chile and scored the decisive penalty in the shootout. Brazil need to at least get to the final for their tournament to hailed a moderate success – such is the expectation, but Neymar has certainly made his mark.

4. Costa Rica have been the surprise package at Brazil 2014. With 2 wins (against Uruguay and Italy) and a draw (against England), the Costa Ricans topped their group with 7 points. They needed a penalty shootout to see off Greece in the last 16 but it was another deserved victory as they battled through 24 minutes of the second half and the whole of extra time with 10 men following the sending off of Duarte. They will need to raise their game again to stand any chance against the Netherlands in the quarter finals but who knows?

5. Goalkeepers always play their part in World Cup tournaments but whereas some previous competitions are remembered for their “dodgy keepers” this one in Brazil has seen some of the “number 1’s” truly excel. Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico), Tim Howard (USA) and Keylor Navas (Costa Rica) certainly deserve a mention for a string of superb performances and can take bow along with some of the world’s great strikers for truly making a difference at this tournament.

6. The Underdogs – We have already mentioned Costa Rica’s heroics but whilst they have perhaps been the most successful of the underdogs, there have been plenty of others who have fought and battled in an attempt to overturn the form guide. Performances from the USA, Algeria, Nigeria, Greece, Ghana, Iran and Australia have ensured there have been no easy rides for the favourites and have probably delighted the bookmakers in the process as punters trying to predict correct score lines have been left baffled!

7. The Goals – No World Cup worth its salt can get away without having some great goals to look back on. Brazil 2014 hasn’t disappointed! We may not have seen much in the way of great free kicks yet but there have been some truly stunning goals to savour. James Rodriguez has not one but two great goals so far, one the sublime volley from distance and the other a jinking run and little chip over the keeper. The Netherlands racked up a host of goals against Spain in their opener and Robin Van Persie’s diving header and Arjen Robben’s twisting, turning run were fantastic. Lionel Messi has contributed too along with Neymar, Gervinho, Tim Cahill, Luiz Suarez, Jermaine Jones and Ahmed Musa to name but a few.

8. The race for the golden boot is a hot one this year with at least 7 contenders still in the tournament at the quarter final stage. James Rodriguez leads the way (5), Thomas Muller, Messi and Neymar are in the chasing pack (4) with Benzema, Robben and Van Persie all still in with a shout with 3 goals each.

9. The Managers and Coaches have been a revelation at this world cup with the majority of them committed to attacking football and winning matches rather than trying to preserve their own reputations by simply setting out to avoid defeat (a virus that has been present in many previous tournaments). Their passion and determination has also been evident with entertaining and animated displays up and down their technical areas. The players may get all the glory but let’s not forget these coaches that have given so much.

10. The Fans also deserve a mention. The build up to the tournament was filled with news headlines about the possibility of mass demonstrations that whilst understandable, certainly had the potential to take the shine off the football. However, what we have seen from the supporters of all nations is a fervency and enthusiasm that has been contagious. This has probably been the most noisy, colourful world cup ever, with perhaps the yellow of Brazil being the most dominant of bright colours. On the whole it seems that fans have been well behaved and have certainly helped to create the fabulous atmosphere at all of the stadiums.

The only thing wrong with this world cup (asides from the odd bit of biting) is that it has to come to an end at all. Only 8 matches remaining (sad face).

Should Luis Suarez be banned for “Biting” at the World Cup in Brazil?

Luis Suarez is a supremely gifted footballer who unfortunately has a habit of losing control on the pitch and after “allegedly” biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in Uruguay’s final World Cup group game, Suarez’ career is once more in the dock.

At the time of writing, FIFA have yet to come forward with a decision on what disciplinary action (if any) it will hand out to Suarez. Some are suggesting a complete ban from the remainder of the world cup, others believe a much harsher sentence is deserved, with this being the third “biting” incident the player has been involved in.

There are certainly those who dislike Luis Suarez and would love to see his career ended and there are those (not just Liverpool fans) who would somehow like to see him rehabilitated so that the sport can retain the services of one of its greatest modern day players.

There are many different arguments of course, one being that if a company employee were to bite a fellow worker, that he (or she) would surely be sacked. Others point to the fact that this is not a one off lapse in concentration or self-restraint and that Suarez might have deeper underlying problems that need dealing with. All valid points.

Some might say that football is out of control altogether. How many players receive multiple red cards in their career and simply get away with a three match ban every time and perhaps an insignificant fine from their clubs? Remember, very often a red card is dished out for violent conduct! There is no excuse for biting – it is violent and vile but perhaps the same can be said of the deliberate use of elbows or those horror tackles where the studs are showing – they are all acts of violence and very often they are repeated by players again and again with intent. Where is their punishment?

Luis Suarez is at a critical point in his career and one would argue, his life in general. A hefty ban, could impact not just his (and his country’s) World Cup but his club career too. Despite a simply stunning season for Liverpool last time out, the Uruguayan is clearly unhappy with the way he is treated by the English media and may possibly be looking for an escape route with the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid showing more than a little interest. However, will anyone want to pay in excess of £70 million for a player who not only has some major issues but might also be banned for a significant amount of time? Will Liverpool, or can Liverpool stand by their man once more in the face of such global condemnation and pressure?

For what it’s worth, I believe that Suarez needs to be punished accordingly and given perhaps a final warning, that when returning from the latest ban, if it were to happen again a life ban would be waiting. At the same time, I am neither a Liverpool fan nor Uruguayan, but I believe that losing Luis Suarez for good from our football pitches would be a genuine loss. Such a wonderful player, such a shame.

Who will win the World Cup in Brazil 2014? Lifting the Trophy at the Maracana

England have fallen by the wayside alongside defending world champions Spain, but there are still plenty of big hitters left in World Cup 2014 as we close in on the last 16 (or round of 16 as it's often called). Brazil, Argentina, The Netherlands (Holland) and Germany are all still present and correct at the time of writing. On South American soil, we also still have Colombia, Uruguay (with or without Luis Suarez) and Chile who must not be underestimated in a climate they are (relatively) used to and with massive backing from their fans.

Mexico and Costa Rica are also still in there and will be hard to beat in the knock-out stages. Of the European contingent, France, Germany, Holland and Belgium look the strongest prospects and are indeed the only four safely through at this time.

It’s difficult to make a concrete case for any of the teams, however, having all showed frailties in their opening matches. Hosts Brazil may have scored 7 goals (Neymar with 4 of them) but they have looked anything but secure at the back. Argentina have underwhelmed and have been bailed out of trouble by two pieces of magic from Lionel Messi. The Dutch have been generally excellent but laboured in their win against the Socceroo’s of Australia and now face an unbeaten and stubborn Mexico for a place in the quarter finals. Chile looked the part until they were undone by Holland and now face Brazil in the last 16. Belgium were much fancied before the tournament began and they may yet be, but two narrow wins at the group stage against unfancied opponents haven’t exactly left us drooling yet!

Germany were excellent against an ordinary Portugal but then struggled to overcome Ghana, who certainly look the most promising of the African teams (despite their progress hanging by a thread). Colombia have looked very comfortable playing some very nice football but again have yet to be tested by strong opposition. Perhaps the team who have surprised the most is France. Very poor in recent tournaments with plenty of unrest in the camp, the French seem to have sorted themselves out. Admittedly, the group with Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras was one of the friendlier groups to have been placed in but impressive demolitions of the Swiss and Honduras surely bodes well for Didier Deschamps’ squad.

So, I wouldn't like to hang my hat on a definite winner at this stage but my personal feeling is that perhaps one of the South American teams will still just have the edge in familiar surroundings. With that said, as a neutral (my own country didn't even qualify for the finals), if the matches continue to be as entertaining as the ones we have witnessed so far, football (or soccer to much of the world) will be the winner when someone lifts the world cup at the Maracana on 13^th July 2014.