Dear diary,
A photoblog has been long overdue on this space. I present to you the 2014 world cup, in pictures!!!
This tournament is one that won't be forgotten in a long time. History was made again and again. Little wonder why it's celebrated every 4 years.
You could feel the excitement in the air. Every match left you breathless, wanting more and more. We saw the good, the bad and the ugly.
The fans came prepared...
The goalkeepers??? Phenomenal!
Only goalkeeper to have 19 saves in one match; Tim Howard, won my heart after that match. Others like Ochoa and even our very own Enyeama were quite exceptional.
There is very little you can do as a goal keeper when your team is not corroborating your effort.
Surely, you do not expect the young black woman not to be partial about her own country. The boys played a goalless draw against Iran, defeated Bosnia Herzigovinia by 1-0, were beaten by Argentina by one goal before they proceeded to the knock out stage.
At the knock out stage, France knocked us out of the competition. Yeah we didn't get to the semi's like we hoped (dodges slippers and bucket) but at least we didn't go down without a fight. Thumbs up Super Eagles, we await Russia 2018.
There was a particular stage of the competition where matches kept moving into extra time and then penalty kicks. I couldn't even watch, I was just holding my chest like...
While some goalkeepers stood like this in front of a goal post...
Underdogs? Surely they did not come for this tournament. Every country was a potential winner. Infact, it was the "bigger boys" that chickened out at the group stage. Countries like Italy, England et Spain (the defending champions) were shown the way out in the most embarrassing way.
Talk about Spain's defeat and all I can do is shake my head.
The Suarez moment...
Some players went down with serious injuries and they had to watch the rest of the tournament from the bench or in some cases, their home countries. Players like Neymar, Onazi, Babatunde, Dimaria e.t.c. We wish them safe recovery.
There were a lot of tears at this World Cup...
Never have I seen a player so determined to succeed. Schweinsteiger actually bled for his country in the process...
Germany played Brazil and scored the 2000th World Cup goal. Miroslav Klose became the all time goal scorer of the World Cup with 16 goals to his cap. Brazil was humiliated in a 7-1 defeat by the German machines.
It is without doubt, the most humiliating World Cup match of all time. We really missed these guys at the tournament...
Germany played Argentina at the World Cup finals and truth be told, any of the two teams deserved to win it. The German machines won the competition by a goal margin in extra time...
Congratulations to the 2014 champions, GERMANY!!!
A few lessons from the tournament:
1. Never, ever underestimate anybody!
2. Don't miss an opportunity to showcase yourself (imagine if J.Rodriguez did not come for the competition, who would have known he had potentials?)
3. Learn to control yourself even in your subconscious (Suarez made a mistake at the world stage and he'll be paying for it for a long time)
4. Every player in a team needs to work cohesively with the other player. A team should play together and not depend on one or two key players.
5. In all situations, give thanks!
I had fun following this tournament, I can't wait for the next one. Russia 2018, here we come!
*Picture credit: Instagram (Fifaworldcup2014live), twitter, google, my TV :)
All three of my favourites were rather disappointing but at the end we all got to watch good football. Good to see the madamé picked interest in a certain player :) Viva Football!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, the madamé has to have other reasons for following the tournament...lol.
DeleteYou are doing a very great job.. keep up the good job and, soon u'd be up there.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kingsley :)
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