Now that the first round of games has finished, there have been many surprises including the fact that Portugal, Spain and England have scored only two goals between them while Germany and Holland have combined to strike nine times.
A
Brazil and Croatia kicked off the tournament with the hosts going behind to a bizarre own goal from Marcelo only to level with what should be the first of many goals for Neymar just before the half-hour mark. Croatia pushed to go back in front but went behind after conceding a controversial penalty which Neymar converted for his second strike of the evening. The gloss was put on the win in added on time when Oscar struck a superb third.
Mexico got their campaign off to a perfect start after a 61st minute strike from Peralta was enough to secure the three points over Cameroon with the two winning sides set to meet in the next game while Cameroon will take on Croatia.
B
Chile looked to have started with good confidence as they took a 2-0 lead against Australia inside 15 minutes after goals from Sanchez and Valdivia but Australia hit back through Cahill in the 35th minute to give themselves hope. However, Australia's hopes of levelling were dashed right at the end as Beausejour sealed a 3-1 win in the 90th minute.
Spain and Holland faced off in a rematch of the 2010 final but what took place in the next 90 minutes was to be the shock of the tournament so far as despite going ahead in the 27th minute with an Alonso penalty, Spain went in level at the break after Van Persie levelled in the 44th minute.
However, the second half was a different story as Spain capitulated with goals from Robben (53) and De Vrij (65) putting the Dutch in control at 3-1 before Van Persie and Robben sealed a brace each in the 72nd and 80th minutes to seal a 5-1 demolition of the defending champions.
C
Colombia began with a comfortable 3-0 win over former European champions Greece with Armero putting the South Americans in front after only five minutes, Gutierrez made it 2-0 just before the hour mar with the win confirmed in the final minute with a strike from Rodriguez.
Ivory Coast joined the Colombians on three points after a 2-1 win over Japan though it was the Japanese that went in front after a goal from Honda in the 16th minute but two goals in the space of as many minutes after the hour mark gave the Africans the win as Bony (64) and Gervinho (66) completed the comeback.
D
Uruguay came into the tournament with high hopes of repeating their semi-final charge from 2010 but suffered a huge blow in their opening game despite a Cavani penalty giving them the lead in the 24th minute as two goals in three minutes before the hour gave the Costa Ricans a 2-1 advantage as Campbell (54) and Duarte (57) put them in control and the win was sealed six minutes from the end when Urena scored just minutes after coming off the bench.
England's World Cup campaign got off to a bad start as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Italy with the Italians going in front in the 35th minute via a nice strike from Marchisio only to be pegged back by a leveller from Sturridge just two minutes later. England's push for a winner saw them leave themselves wide open for Balotelli to head home for a 2-1 lead that gave the Italians a winning start.
E
France made the perfect start to their campaign with a 3-0 win over Honduras with the game turning just before half-time when Palacios was dismissed and when Benzema converted the resulting penalty, the French led 1-0 into the interval. The lead was extended just three minutes into the second half when Valladares hit into his own net and the win was completed in the 72nd minute when Benzema struck for a second time.
Switzerland left it late to claim a 2-1 win over Ecuador with the South Americans leading in the 22nd minute after a goal from Valencia but the Swiss levelled just three minutes into the second half through Mehmedi and completed the comeback right at the death as Seferovic struck a last-gaps winner.
F
Argentina began their charge for the final with a 2-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina with an own goal from Kolasinac deflecting into his own net after only three minutes, Messi made it 2-0 in the 65th minute but the Bosnians setup a tense finish when Ibisevic pulled a goal back in the 85th minute but the Argentine's held on for the win.
Iran and Nigeria played out the first goalless draw of the tournament which ensured both sat above Bosnia with a point each after the first game.
G
Germany made a stunning start to their campaign with a 4-0 thrashing of Portugal with a Muller penalty putting them in front after only 12 minutes with Hummels adding a second in the 32nd minute but Portugal's hopes of a comeback were dealt a huge blow five minutes later when Pepe was dismissed and Germany took advantage with a third just before half-time from Muller.
The win was completed in the 78th minute as the Bayern Munich midfielder completed his hat-trick and struck Germany's fourth to seal a superb victory. USA began with a 2-1 win against Ghana and made a stunning start as Dempsey scored inside the first minute. Ghana looked to have sealed a draw with an 82nd minute leveller from Ayew but their joy was soured four minutes later by a winning goal for the Americans from Brooks.
H
Algeria let a 1-0 lead slip to go down 2-1 to Belgium but the Belgians had work to do after going behind to a penalty from Feghouli in the 25th minute but a leveller in the 70th minute through Fellaini gave the Belgians hope before the comeback was complete with ten minutes to go when Mertens struck the crucial winner.
Russia came from behind to seal a 1-1 draw with South Korea after the Koreans had taken a 68th minute lead through Lee only to have their joy curtailed by a leveller from Kerzhakov just six minutes later and with neither side able to find a winner, they came away with a point each.
ABrazil and Croatia kicked off the tournament with the hosts going behind to a bizarre own goal from Marcelo only to level with what should be the first of many goals for Neymar just before the half-hour mark. Croatia pushed to go back in front but went behind after conceding a controversial penalty which Neymar converted for his second strike of the evening. The gloss was put on the win in added on time when Oscar struck a superb third.
Mexico got their campaign off to a perfect start after a 61st minute strike from Peralta was enough to secure the three points over Cameroon with the two winning sides set to meet in the next game while Cameroon will take on Croatia.
BChile looked to have started with good confidence as they took a 2-0 lead against Australia inside 15 minutes after goals from Sanchez and Valdivia but Australia hit back through Cahill in the 35th minute to give themselves hope. However, Australia's hopes of levelling were dashed right at the end as Beausejour sealed a 3-1 win in the 90th minute.
Spain and Holland faced off in a rematch of the 2010 final but what took place in the next 90 minutes was to be the shock of the tournament so far as despite going ahead in the 27th minute with an Alonso penalty, Spain went in level at the break after Van Persie levelled in the 44th minute.
However, the second half was a different story as Spain capitulated with goals from Robben (53) and De Vrij (65) putting the Dutch in control at 3-1 before Van Persie and Robben sealed a brace each in the 72nd and 80th minutes to seal a 5-1 demolition of the defending champions.
Colombia began with a comfortable 3-0 win over former European champions Greece with Armero putting the South Americans in front after only five minutes, Gutierrez made it 2-0 just before the hour mar with the win confirmed in the final minute with a strike from Rodriguez.
Ivory Coast joined the Colombians on three points after a 2-1 win over Japan though it was the Japanese that went in front after a goal from Honda in the 16th minute but two goals in the space of as many minutes after the hour mark gave the Africans the win as Bony (64) and Gervinho (66) completed the comeback.
D
Uruguay came into the tournament with high hopes of repeating their semi-final charge from 2010 but suffered a huge blow in their opening game despite a Cavani penalty giving them the lead in the 24th minute as two goals in three minutes before the hour gave the Costa Ricans a 2-1 advantage as Campbell (54) and Duarte (57) put them in control and the win was sealed six minutes from the end when Urena scored just minutes after coming off the bench.England's World Cup campaign got off to a bad start as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Italy with the Italians going in front in the 35th minute via a nice strike from Marchisio only to be pegged back by a leveller from Sturridge just two minutes later. England's push for a winner saw them leave themselves wide open for Balotelli to head home for a 2-1 lead that gave the Italians a winning start.
France made the perfect start to their campaign with a 3-0 win over Honduras with the game turning just before half-time when Palacios was dismissed and when Benzema converted the resulting penalty, the French led 1-0 into the interval. The lead was extended just three minutes into the second half when Valladares hit into his own net and the win was completed in the 72nd minute when Benzema struck for a second time.
Switzerland left it late to claim a 2-1 win over Ecuador with the South Americans leading in the 22nd minute after a goal from Valencia but the Swiss levelled just three minutes into the second half through Mehmedi and completed the comeback right at the death as Seferovic struck a last-gaps winner.
FArgentina began their charge for the final with a 2-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina with an own goal from Kolasinac deflecting into his own net after only three minutes, Messi made it 2-0 in the 65th minute but the Bosnians setup a tense finish when Ibisevic pulled a goal back in the 85th minute but the Argentine's held on for the win.
Iran and Nigeria played out the first goalless draw of the tournament which ensured both sat above Bosnia with a point each after the first game.
Germany made a stunning start to their campaign with a 4-0 thrashing of Portugal with a Muller penalty putting them in front after only 12 minutes with Hummels adding a second in the 32nd minute but Portugal's hopes of a comeback were dealt a huge blow five minutes later when Pepe was dismissed and Germany took advantage with a third just before half-time from Muller.
The win was completed in the 78th minute as the Bayern Munich midfielder completed his hat-trick and struck Germany's fourth to seal a superb victory. USA began with a 2-1 win against Ghana and made a stunning start as Dempsey scored inside the first minute. Ghana looked to have sealed a draw with an 82nd minute leveller from Ayew but their joy was soured four minutes later by a winning goal for the Americans from Brooks.
HAlgeria let a 1-0 lead slip to go down 2-1 to Belgium but the Belgians had work to do after going behind to a penalty from Feghouli in the 25th minute but a leveller in the 70th minute through Fellaini gave the Belgians hope before the comeback was complete with ten minutes to go when Mertens struck the crucial winner.
Russia came from behind to seal a 1-1 draw with South Korea after the Koreans had taken a 68th minute lead through Lee only to have their joy curtailed by a leveller from Kerzhakov just six minutes later and with neither side able to find a winner, they came away with a point each.
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