Encomium
The 2014 World Cup hosted by Brazil climaxed in a fascinating version on Sunday, July 13, 2014, with Germany walking away with the coveted gold trophy. The Germans defeated Argentina by a lone goal scored by Mario Gotze in the second half of the extra time after a goaless draw in regulation time.
And as the fireworks illuminate Rio De Janeiro it was a closed chapter for a tournament adjudged one of the best organised in the history of the game. Germany have now won a fourth World Cup with the victory in Brazil, they had earlier won it in 1954, 1974 and 1990. Here are few statistics from the game.
WORLD 11 IN TOP FORM
1. We have in goal Manuel Neuer, the German who won the best goalkeeper of the tournament. His supreme shot-stopping helped his country en route to glory as he cemented his place as the top player in the world in his position.
2. At right back is the German captain, Philipp Lahm. With Lahm Germany conceded just two goals in the knockout stage.
3. At left-back, Netherlands stalwart Daley Blind, earned a spot following a spectacular show in Brazil.
4. Mats Hummels lines up at centre-back after his exemplary showings for Germany.
5. Alongside Hummels is Costa Rica hero, Giancarlo Gonzalez, who was at the heart of the Central Americans’ sensational run to the quarter-finals.
6. Javier Mascherano lines up in our double pivot in midfield. The 30-year-old was a rock for Argentina in Brazil.
7. On the right of the attack is Arjen Robben. A nominee for the Golden Ball award was electrifying.
8.Toni Kroos, the heartbeat of the Germany machine can partner with Mascerano in the midfield. With two goals and four assists, Kroos was exemplary.
9. In the lone striker role is Thomas Muller, Germany’s most consistent World Cup performer. The Golden Boot winner from 2010, bagged a hat-trick against Portugal and never looked back.
10. In the centre is Lionel Messi, who carried Argentina through to the final.
11. On the left wing is James Rodriguez, who was the inspiration behind Colombia’s vibrant displays in the finals.
RECORDS OF INDISCIPLINE
A total of 187 yellow cards were given out at the tournament, 10 red cards were issued for indiscipline. Among the players who were registered in the bad books of FIFA were Uruguay’s Luis Suárez. He was suspended by FIFA for nine matches for his national team, banned for four months from any football-related activity, and fined CHF100,000 for a biting during Uruguay’s final group stage game against Italy. Others are Antonio Valencia of Ecuador’s, Alex Song of Cameroon.
AWARD WINNERS
Argentina’s Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball as the most valuable player of the tournament, Germany’s Manuel Neuer won the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper, James Rodriguez of Colombia won the Golden Boot, and Paul Pogba is the Best Young Player at World Cup 2014.
PRIZE MONEY FOR TEAMS
- World Cup winners: Germany $35m
- Runner-up: Argentina $25m
- Third-place team: Holland $22m
- Fourth-place team: Brazil $20m
- Teams eliminated in quarterfinals: $14million
- Losers round of 16: $9million
- Teams eliminated in first round: $8million
HIGHEST GOAL SCORERS
- 6 goals: James Rodríguez
- 5 goals: Thomas Müller,
- 4 goals: Lionel Messi, Neymar, Robin van Persie, Enner Valencia
- 3 goals: Karim Benzema, André Schürrle, Arjen Robben, Xherdan Shaqiri
- Own goals: Sead Kolašinac, Marcelo, John Boye, Noel Valladares, Joseph Yobo
MONEY SPENT FOR BRAZIL 2014
Brazil 2014 World Cup gulped a record-breaking $14.1 billion, this cost covered the money spent on 12 new, albeit gorgeous, soccer stadiums, roads, hotels and other facilities. Protesters in Brazil before the kick off of the tournament argued that this money would have been better allocated towards building hospitals, public housing and most urgently, schools and other education infrastructure.
GOALS GALORE
- Most goals scored by a team: 18 Germany
- Most goals conceded by a team: 14 Brazil
- Best goal difference: +14 Germany
- Worst goal difference: -8 Cameroon
- Most goals scored in a match by both teams: 8 Brazil 17 Germany
- Most goals scored in a match by one team: 7 Germany against Brazil
- Most goals scored in a match by the losing team: 2 Australia against Netherlands, Switzerland against France, South Korea against Algeria, Nigeria against Argentina
- Biggest margin of victory: 6 goals Brazil 17 Germany
- Most clean sheets achieved by a team: 4 Argentina, Germany, Netherlands
HIGHEST PAID COACHES
1: Fabio Capello, Russia Salary: $11,235,210
2: Roy Hodgson, England Salary: $5,874,570
3: Cesare Prandelli, Italy Salary: $4,322,010
4: Luiz Felipe Scolari, Brazil Salary: $3,973,730
5: Ottmar Hitzfeld, Switzerland Salary: $3,745,130
6: Joachim Löw, Germany Salary: $3,602,460
7: Vicente del Bosque, Spain Salary: $3,386,270
8: Louis van Gaal, Netherlands Salary: $2,738,060 57
9: Alberto Zaccheroni, Japan Salary: $2,727,480
10 Jurgen Klinsmann, United States Salary: $2,621,740
HOW MUCH SUPER EAGLES SPENT ON THEIR MISADVENTURE
The Super Eagles 2014 World Cup campaign gulped all of N2.591billion. The breakdown are as follows: N150,000,000 was given to the NFF as monthly Federal Government subvention from January 2013 to date N850,000,000 was released by the Federal Government for the preparation and participation for the Super Eagles at the FIFA World Cup, Brazil 2014.
$1,500,000 was FIFA grant the NFF received for the preparation of the Super Eagles for the World Cup.
Another $3,600,000 was provided by President Jonathan in the heat of bonus row which nearly tore the team apart.
There are also donors/sponsors from companies for the prosecution of the 2014 World Cup and management of our league.
-FOLUSO SAMUEL
