The World Cup experience is more than just the game of football. It's an event. And it will fly by faster than you think. It will end and you'll be saying, 'Wow, it's over already?And there are these teamswhich make you question yourself What if ?Every World Cup has a set of teams which lost the match, but won hearts and this edition was no different. Although, this may seem like a clich used till the point of ridicule and sometimes harsh mockery, the following teams really made viewers feel for them. These teams had you longing for more and sometimes brought tears to your eyes. These were the teams which were oh so seemingly close and yet so far.Here are the teams which made you desperate for more.
#1 Chile
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Losing to hosts Brazil on penalties was a pretty harsh way to bid adieu to the supposed South American minnows. Lacking any glamorous names other than Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal, Chile were assured to finish 3rd in Group B, consisting two finalists from the previous edition in South Africa. They unsurprisingly defeated Australia but their encounter versus Spain raised plenty of eyebrows. Spain were caught dozing trying to tiki-taka Chile to sleep. And they paid the price, losing 2-0.
Chile lost their 3rd group game to Netherlands in the dying moments and finished second in a tough group defying most expectations. They faced hosts Brazil who were high on confidence after topping group A. Brazil took an early lead through David Luiz but Alexis Sanchez equalized almost immediately. The game moved into extra time and in the 119th minute, to the relief of millions of Brazilians, Mauricio Pinilla hit the crossbar much to his own shock. Chile finally succumbed at penalties 3-2, but yes indeed, they won the hearts of the footballing fraternity.
Chile took everyone by surprise with their ferocious gameplay along with a never-back-down attitude. They always had viewers at the edge of their seats with their high intensity play fueled with energetic pressing. And Pinilla, whose missed opportunity will haunt him for life, decided to get a tattoo of the very same shot which he agonizingly missed.
#2 Costa Rica
Destined to be the bait for the other teams the Group of Death, Costa Rica stunned the entire world and maybe even themselves, topping the group with 7 points, leaving England and Italy gasping for breath and on their planes back home. They skillfully brushed aside a wounded Uruguay, without the talismanic Luis Suarez, 3-1. But Costa Rica ensured that this win was no fluke as they triumphed over Italy keeping the dangerous Mario Balotelli at bay and the legendary Andrea Pirlo subdued through the entire match. Ensured to qualify, Costa Rica played out a goalless draw with England.
The Round of 16 match against Greece was decided on penalties after Greece scored a late equalizer. But it proved to be too much the Greeks as they bowed to a composed Costa Rican outfit which scored all their 5 penalties. But the semi-finals seemed to be a bridge too far after losing to Netherlands on penalties.
With three astute central defenders, Costa Rica conceded only 2 goals in the entire tournament. Players like Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell delivered when it mattered the most and transformed the status of Costa Rica from prey to predators.
#3 Mexico
Grouped along with hosts Brazil and dark horses Croatia, this wasn’t a cakewalk for the Latin Americans. Their stalemate against Brazil was a talking point for a majority of the Cup, with goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa drawing worldwide praise for his fantastic saves which thwarted and frustrated millions of Brazilians.
Finishing second in Group A only on goal difference, Mexico met Netherlands in the Round of 16 and lost only to two late goals – one a penalty Arjen Robben won. Many accused Robben of blatant theatrics but the goal by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar stood and Mexico bowed out.
You need to work as a team to triumph in football, for that matter any sport but sometimes a a pinch of individual brilliance does the trick. Guillermo Ochoa will be revered for many days to come with his insane saves and spiderman-like reflexes. With a coach like Miguel Herrera who resembled a live wire more than a human, his passionate outbursts and antics were celebrated worldwide. And with a fairly good campaign, Russia 2018 is an inviting prospect.
#4 Colombia
Colombia were expected to top a relatively easy group but it was the Round of 16 and quarter-final which really attracted attention. Scoring an impressive 9 goals in the group stage, Colombia thrashed Greece 3-0 and then later humiliated Japan 4-1. It wasn’t the fact that Columbia topped the group but it the way they moved along the pitch freely and scored picturesque goals that highlighted their campaign.
Uruguay beckoned in the Round of 16 but were without Luis Suarez after he was banned for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chielini; and Colombia made the most of the situation, with James Rodriguez hammering an absolute beauty. In the quarter-final, they again met South American opponents but this time it was the hosts Brazil. It seemed less of a football game but an ugly brawl with tackles flying high and low with Neymar and Rodriguez being primary targets. Both Brazilian centre backs scored and although James Rodriguez scored a late penalty, it wasn’t enough.
Exceptional talent along with a highly cohesive team packs a sucker punch and Colombia had the power to scare the living daylights out of opponents. The absence of Radamel Falcao didn’t hinder their campaign as it seemed. James Rodriguez, who won the Golden Boot, scored in every game and announced his arrival on the international stage in style.
#5 Algeria
Similar to Costa Rica, Algeria were considered nothing more than something to chew on for the others. Despite losing narrowly to Belgium, Algeria drubbed South Korea 4-2 and later drew with Russia to move to the Round of 16, leading to frenzied celebrations across the country. Algeria had never qualified for the second round amassing just one win in their entire World Cup history, way back in 1986. This was indeed a big achievement for the Africans.
The Round of 16 tie against Germany was a grudge match, after the injustice caused by the Germans in Gijon in 1982. Germany were expected to dispatch Algeria with ease, but were given a tough time by the resolute North Africans. Germany only won in extra time with two goals in either half.
But the Algerian public was satisfied with their team’s gallant performance in Brazil. And this win of sorts has somewhat revived North African football which has endured a torrid time for the past two decades. Although Algeria didn’t cause any major upsets, this World Cup is a source of inspiration for the years to come.
