The World Cup 2014

FIFA World Cup 2014!

Now the crucial stage has come! The knockout stage. Next emotion? Glory or shame!

Those teams who were kicked out earlier went home in shame. The heads of several managers had rolled. Some more may follow. The teams - including great teams - who did not make it to the knock out stage - were very disappointed indeed. Who won't?

But football like other sports is extremely unpredictable. Even the best team can fall at the first stage. Even footballing teams who managed to win a few World Cups are not assured of winning and progressing until the final game.

So it is with the World Cup 2014. Former champion Spain is out. England and Italy are out. Mexico and Chile are out. Some of the fans of some teams who lost mocked their teams.

Which team is next next to go?

Finding Scapegoats
Teams that fail to progress and are licking their wounds will ask a lot of questions. Some may try to look for scapegoats, whether players, coaches or managers.

The blame game is not healthy. It does not solve anything. Teams may even deteriorate further.

It is better to ask hard questions as to what had been their weaknesses and the mistakes they could have avoided. They could also examine how their opponents managed to score against their team.

Of course, when it becomes very apparent that the manager made a bad decision that cost the team dearly, then it is high time for the manager to tender his resignation.

Eight Teams, Four Teams Each from Two Continents
The number of teams that made it to knockout stage are evenly distributed between the Americas and Europe.

Which teams will not make it to the semi-finals? Things are getting tougher. The pressure will be almost unbearable, lesser on some, more on others.

Losing will be more painful. This is so since they are nearer to the final.

But teams have to concentrate, to focus on the next game, not on the final game. Let the final game remain in the future for the time being. Teams cannot afford to get distracted by anything else. The objective is to win the next game. If not, they don't proceed to the next level.

Players with something to prove
Some players are expected to prove their greatness. The media is constantly breathing on the neck of Messi. It is field day for them during this World Cup. Some commentators even go so far as to say that Messi is not as good as Pele or Maradona.

Neymar of Brazil is another who is expected to prove something. Brazil has the advantage of being the host country for the 2014 World Cup. Brazil is expected to win. But things are not as straight forward as that. Even the mighty Brazilians can fall, shooting themselves on the foot.

Let us wait and see. Meanwhile, hurray to the teams that made it to the knockout stage. Who will bathe in glory? Who will go home in shame?

Read about the winning combination.

Hopes unfulfilled
There are many good players who want to demonstrate to the whole world that they have extraordinary skills. But excellent personal skills may not be enough for teams to keep winning. Members of the team need to click perfectly. If not, great names in football will return home with hope unfulfilled.

Neymar is the most recent victim of this unfulfilled hope. It was reported that he had to withdraw from the FIFA World Cup due to injuries sustained. Who is next? Keep your fingers crossed that your hero does not stumble and fall.

Is it that the greater the reputation the greater the shame?

Greatest shock of the 2014 World Cup
Then it happened!

The possibility for Brazil to lose to Germany was there. But who would expect Brazil to lose 1 to 7? The truth is more painful than a lie.

This could be the greatest shock of the 2014 World Cup. Better luck next time, Brazil!

The much expected glory had escaped Brazil's grasp. Only shock and shame remained. What a sad story! But the saddest story was that a young fan committed suicide as the result of Brazil's defeat.

Netherlands may have had the same hope of creating another shock by beating Argentina by a similar margin. But things did not work out that day. Netherlands lost in the penalty shoot out.

Argentina will meet Germany in the final.

Who  will win and be crowned 2014 champion? We'll wait and see. It can go either way!

Meanwhile, Brazil did not get the third spot losing to Netherlands 0 to 3. Well, anything can happen. After all, the ball is round, not square

Germany won the 2014 FIFA World Cup
Germany scored against Argentina in extra time, making them world champion. Congratulation to Germany!

Now this is strange! Brazil celebrated Argentina's defeat. Pele also belittled Messi, saying he was still better than Messi. A well-known person like Pele should not have said anything like that.