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The 27 greatest moments of the 2014 World Cup

Eddie Keough / REUTERS

The greatest of all-time. Miraculous. Outstanding. Sublime. Brilliant. The most beautiful game.

Despite all of the hyperbole surrounding it, the World Cup remains a sports competition. What justifies descriptions like magisterial, and elevates it to the level of cultural phenomenon isn't the individual outcome of a particular match, or even the ever-increasing stakes as the tournament progresses.

The World Cup is what it is because of its individual moments. No matter our geographical location, our political ideology or our level of interest in soccer, the quadrennial tournament reminds us of our collective ability as human beings to appreciate the small things. We get a kick out of individual moments, and that recognition extends across cultures to make us feel as though we're a part of something bigger than a game.

What better way to end theScore's coverage of the 2014 World Cup than by reliving what made it so special?

Here are the 27 moments that made this tournament what it was:

The Brazilian Anthem

The sound of 80,000 Brazilians belting out their national anthem will be one of the enduring memories of this World Cup. The sight of Julio Cesar crying during the anthem before the tournament’s opening game will last long after this World Cup.

- Devang Desai

Robin van Persie's Diving Header vs. Spain

The first iconic image of the tournament might also be its most lasting. Down 1-0 to Spain near the end of the first half, Daley Blind's brilliant cross to Robin van Persie allowed the Dutch striker to not just even the scoreline in the most photogenic way possible, but also begin sprinkling dirt on the grave of Spain's golden generation. The Netherlands never looked back, and Spain never recovered.

- Dustin Parkes

Guillermo Ochoa Stops Brazil A Gazillion Times

The Mexican ‘keeper turned into a World Cup hero overnight after his clean sheet vs. Brazil. Oh, and don’t forget that he made the save of the tournament, denying Neymar.

- Erin Valois

The Goal John Brooks Scored Vs. Ghana

U.S. substitute John Brooks scored the winner against Ghana after heading in a corner kick from Graham Zusi. However, what will be remembered was his reaction. 

First, Brooks threw his arms up in celebration, almost involuntarily. Then, suddenly, the expression on his face changed from gleeful to impassioned. It was as though the substitute realized the enormity of what he'd just accomplished all at once, and the weight from this knowledge knocked him down and brought tears to his eyes.

- Dustin Parkes

Chile End Spanish Rule

It had to end at some point. Three major tournaments, three titles over a four-year span. Tiki-taka revolutionized the way the sport was played, and everybody’s sole focus was trying to stop it. Chile did. For good. They made Spain look old. They were slow, second to every ball as the dynamic Chilean attack tore them limb from limb, and officially ended their reign as the best team on the planet. 

- Gianluca Nesci

Messi Breaks Iranian Hearts

The reaction of the Iranian players said it all. As 91 minutes passed without a goal, Lionel Messi created just enough space to break away from his marker and curl a shot past the Iranian keeper to ensure his nation would stay atop the group. 

The stoppage time goal completely shattered the hopes of the Middle Eastern country. Upon seeing the ball burst into the back of the net, players immediately collapsed to their knees in complete despair after such an admirable performance.

- Gordon Brunt

Ronaldo's Cross vs. The United States

Nobody deals with more unfair criticism than Cristiano Ronaldo. Playing on one knee throughout the tournament and carrying a listless Portuguese side on his back, Ronaldo produced the best ball of the competition to briefly stave off his country’s elimination by setting up Silvestre Varela with an immaculate cross in injury time to salvage a 2-2 draw in their Group G encounter against the United States.

- Gianluca Nesci

David Villa's Tears

David Villa scored a back-heel goal for Spain in his last international game, and then left the pitch in tears after he was substituted in the 57th minute. It was the only way to go out.

- Erin Valois

Diego Costa Tries to Wax Xabi Alonso’s Leg

In one of the stranger moments at the World Cup, Diego Costa apparently tried to wax Xabi Alonso’s thigh while they were hanging out on the bench during a 3-0 win over Australia. They were already out of the tournament, so might as well be productive with your time.

- Erin Valois

Suarez Bites Chiellini

Did Luis Suarez just bite someone? Again? No, he couldn’t have. Hold on, let’s see the replay. Oh my god he did. Look at the teeth marks! His shoulder! Look at Chiellini’s shoulder! (Cue incessant yelling, followed by deafening silence).

- Gianluca Nesci

Mauricio Pinilla Hits The Crossbar

If it wasn't for a little extra air under Mauricio Pinilla’s strike, Brazil would've been bounced from the tournament 10 days prior. In the 120th minute of Chile’s 1-1 deadlock with the host nation, Pinilla gave it one last go from just outside the box and was just inches from all the glory. The booming right-footed shot evaded an outstretched Julio Cesar, but met the crossbar head on.

- Justin Cuthbert

Julio Cesar Saves The Day In Penalties

In the most iconic moment of his international career, Julio Cesar achieved the status of a Brazilian god after stopping Chile’s first two penalties in their round-of-16 shootout. First up was a save on Mauricio Pinilla. Then came a remarkable diving stop on Alexis Sanchez. When Gonzalo Jara hit the post on Chile’s fifth spot kick, Julio Cesar suddenly became the most popular man in Brazil.

- Carlo Campo

The Best Fan Ever

Crowd shots of attractive women were everywhere during the World Cup, but they didn’t steal the show like one Colombian fan with a sweet camera and a heart of gold. This guy was having fun and didn’t care who knew it. Not all legends are created equal.

- Devang Desai

The Name Is Bond, James Rodriguez

Is this the worst headline of all time? Yes, it is. The Times of India saw an opportunity to do something special. Instead, they came up with this. RIP Newspapers.

- Devang Desai

Arjen Robben Earns A Penalty Vs. Mexico

Rafa Marquez fouled Arjen Robben in the box. He stepped on his foot. That's not debatable. What is questionable is the theatrics it inspired. While Robben's exaggeration certainly earned a penalty that won the match for the Netherlands, it also gained him a whole lot of enemies. Their case against flopping would have been stronger if previous fouls in the match were called by the official when Robben didn't hit the turf.

- Dustin Parkes

Tim Howard Stops Almost Everything

In retrospect, it’s not the kind of performance you’d want from your 'keeper because you shouldn't have to rely on him so much. After stopping 15 shots for his country, Tim Howard finally succumbed to Kevin De Bruyne three minutes into extra time. Howard was immense in front of a defense that was among the weakest in the group, marshalling his players and acting as a one-man wall for the United States as they clung to a 0-0 draw for a brutal ninety minutes.

- Richard Whittall

France’s Mathieu Valbuena Gets Tallest Mascot

It’s not clear if this was FIFA’s attempt at humor during the anthems, but it was pretty great to see this child tower over the France midfielder. Paul Pogba, on the other hand, had a great view.

- Erin Valois

James Rodriguez Is Proclaimed Leader Of Earth By Alien Insect

Where does James Rodriguez get his boundless skill and seemingly endless supplies of energy? Perhaps from whatever planet the insect on his right arm hails from. Brazil and Colombia's tense quarterfinal affair had a brief moment of levity when the odd looking bug stuck to the Monaco midfielder's arm during the second half. The laughter was silenced only minutes later by the darkest stain on an otherwise beautiful tournament.

- Dustin Parkes

Juan Camilo Zúñiga Ends Neymar’s World Cup

Neymar entered the World Cup as the poster boy of a Brazil team that were expected to win on home soil. But that script quickly fell apart when Colombia’s Juan Camilo Zúñiga fractured the Brazilian superstar’s third vertebrae on a reckless challenge in the quarterfinals. Neymar was immediately taken to hospital, where it was discovered that his participation in the tournament was over.

- Carlo Campo

David Luiz Provides The Last Great Moment For Brazil

After David Luiz’s 35-yard strike in the quarterfinals inspired so much joy for the host nation, few could have anticipated the humiliation Brazil would suffer in the following match when a devastating 7-1 defeat against Germany sent them crashing out of the World Cup. Luiz’s goal gave Brazil a two goal lead in a match they eventually won 2-1, and would ultimately be the last moment his nation was sent into a state of delirium as depression prevailed days later.

- Gord Brunt

Argentina Manager Alejandro Sabella Becomes Internet Sensation

When Sabella pretended to faint after Gonzalo Higuain’s attempt hit the crossbar in a tense match vs. Belgium, he stumbled and almost fell over for real. Besides the fact his squad made fun of him in the days to come, he also probably didn’t realize he would become a viral sensation:

- Erin Valois

Tim Krul's Villainous Heroics

In sport, when an understudy embraces his ancillary role, they're revered. Enter Tim Krul — literally. The Netherlands' backup keeper was entrusted with studying penalty takers ahead of their quarterfinal match-up with Costa Rica, and made a task many would consider trivial, his own. With the Dutch knotted in a scoreless tie with Costa Rica, Krul entered with a confidence teetering on the unethical. He danced in the six-yard box and taunted each sorry Costa Rican national who stepped to the spot.

And he guessed right. Every. Damn. Time. Stopping two kicks, and sending the Dutch through to the next round.

- Justin Cuthbert

Costa Rica’s Cinderella Run

Slotted into Group D with three former World Cup winners, 34th ranked Costa Rica was not given much of a chance to earn a point - let alone advance from the group stage - but the CONCACAF upstarts shocked established powers Uruguay, Italy and England to win the group. Led by Joel Campbell up front and Giancarlo Gonzalez on defense, Costa Rica defied expectations even further by downing Greece in the Round of 16. Their run would end in the quarterfinals, losing to the Netherlands in penalty kicks, but Costa Rica’s performance served notice to those who counted them out - a mistake few are likely to make again.

- Chris Battaglia

Miroslav Klose Becomes The World Cup's All-Time Leading Scorer

Hidden beneath the rubble lives a moment free of calamity following Brazil's 7-1 semifinal thrashing. Miroslav Klose became the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with his 16th goal, a marker that gave Germany a 2-0 advantage in the 23rd minute. The record-breaker deflated Brazil, but only piled onto its misery. Klose pried the distinction away from Brazil's own legendary striker, Ronaldo.

- Justin Cuthbert

Germany Dismantles Brazil 7-1

When Thomas Muller opened the scoring with an 11th-minute tap-in, it was obviously a bad start to the semifinal for Brazil. But it was only the beginning of what would become the most humiliating loss in the Seleção’s history. Germany scored four goals in a six-minute span to enter the interval up 5-0, and by the time the final whistle blew, Die Mannschaft had defeated Brazil 7-1, giving the host nation its first loss in a competitive match on home soil since 1975 and bringing the Brazilian population to its knees.

- Carlo Campo

"THE NETHERLANDS"

It was an up and down performance by the commentators tasked with putting words to video in Brazil. Jonathan Pearce had a falling out with goal-line technology and John Helm could not stop talking.

Thankfully, Peter Drury forgot the score during Argentina’s penalty win over the Dutch, and changed the world in the process. “THE NETHERLANDS” forever.

- Devang Desai

The Goal

Andre Schurrle sent in a peach of a cross to Mario Götze in front of goal. Götze put on a masterclass of a finish, chesting the cross and lashing it across Sergio Romero into the corner. An incredible goal to end an incredible tournament.

Germany are champions.

- Richard Whittall

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