The highs and lows

Here are five highs and lows that helped make the most memorable World Cup in decades:

BRAZIL IMPLODES: Germany skewering Brazil with five goals in 19 minutes in their semifinal was the soccer equivalent of the scene in Bambi when a hunter kills the fawn's mother. Watching such a tragedy befall the five-time champion at its home World Cup became difficult even for some German fans, who later said they just wanted the torture to stop. Second-half substitute Andre Schuerrle had other ideas, scoring two more for a record-breaking 7-1 trauma for the soccer superpower that gave the world Pele.

NEYMAR KNEED: One of the greatest injustices of the tournament was Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo allowing play to continue as Neymar howled in agony face down on the turf, his third vertebra fractured. Brazil's superstar striker later said he could have been paralyzed had the knee to his lower back from Colombian defender Juan Camilo Zuniga hit two centimeters closer to his spine. The injury in the quarterfinals put the 22-year-old out of the only World Cup he will ever play on home soil.

HUNGRY FOR ITALIAN: Luis Suarez likes a varied diet. Having previously been banned for biting a Dutch player (Otman Bakkal) and a Serbian (Branislav Ivanovic), Suarez seemingly hankered for Italian at this World Cup, sinking his teeth into the shoulder of Giorgio Chiellini in a group stage game. The stunt earned Uruguay's mercurial forward a four-month ban from all soccer related activities.

COSTA RICA'S KRUL FATE: With the Netherlands and Costa Rica scoreless after 120 minutes in their quarterfinal, Dutch coach Louis van Gaal made an astounding call in the final seconds, replacing his starting goalkeeper with backup Tim Krul. Taller, with a longer reach and prepped for the eventuality, Krul then saved Costa Rica's second and fifth penalties in the ensuing shootout, and guessed the correct way on all five. The masterstroke made van Gaal look like a genius, whetting the appetite of fans of Manchester United, his next stop as coach.

ROBIN FLIES LIKE BATMAN: In the Netherlands' opening group game against Spain, Robin van Persie's diving header foretold the demise of the reigning world champion. He launched himself horizontally into the air to get his head on a long pass from leftback Daley Blind, sending the ball arching over stranded Spain goalkeeper and captain, Iker Casillas. It was arguably the goal of the tournament. "A great goal, I have to be fair," van Persie said. "It must be the goal of my career." Spain never recovered, booking early passage home by losing that match 5-1, and its next game to Chile.

Associated Press

(China Daily 07/14/2014 page24)