Home   >   Opinion   >   World Cup 2014 – Four Thoughts on the Second Round

World Cup 2014 – Four Thoughts on the Second Round

By on July 2, 2014

World Cup 2014 is already reaching its climax. The tournament has flown by – out of sixty-four matches, just eight are left. The original pool of thirty-two teams has now been trimmed down to eight after the Second Round. Alex Morgan’s key thoughts on what has been a scintillating Second Round:

The Heat IS Affecting

While the climates in Brazil are hardly that of what is expected at the controversial 2022 World Cup, and FIFA has done all it can to reduce its affect, namely introducing two minute “cooling breaks” halfway through each half if needed, it is undoubtedly still playing its part in the tournament. It is perhaps the biggest reason why we have seen so many late comebacks. Teams defending leads for long periods in the second half simply cannot keep putting in their efforts, and eventually let the opposition in. This has played a big role in why Mexico lost to the Netherlands after two late goals from the Dutch, and why Costa Rica allowed Greece to equalize in the last minute to take the match into extra-time.

– There are two World Cups going on

The Heat also draws further disadvantages. While costal cities benefit from the cool provided from winds and the ocean, inland and northern cities don’t. Thus, almost two World Cups have been create, those played in the hot tropical venues and those in the cooler, souther, costal venues.

The Brazuca Ball Has Been Doing Wonders

At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, its official ball, the Jabulani, was heavily criticized. With a new look, losing the former hexagonal pads, it attempted to make the ball truly round. Yet Adidas hardly got it right – the ball was hated by goalkeepers and forwards alike for its unpredictability.  But this time around Adidas nailed it. Not only is the Brazuca an eye-catching aesthetic ball, but it is so much easier to control. And you can tell the players are enjoying it, as well – so many incredible goals have been the result. Tim Cahill’s volley against the Netherlands, Robin Van Persie’s header verses Spain, James Rodriquez’s volley against Uruguay, are among the stunners that have requited incredible control, skill, and a good ball.

The Americas Are Winning

A lot has been made of the fact that no European team has ever won a World Cup on South American soil, but the Americas have so far been proving this fact to be true at this World Cup – successfully beating Europe. Eight of the last sixteen team left in the tournament were from the Americas, just six European. Ecuador and Honduras were the only two of the eight nations from the Americas that were eliminated in the group stages, and meanwhile, seven of the thirteen European teams that qualified for the tournament were knocked out at the same stage, including heavyweights Spain, Portugal, Italy, and England. And while that advantage was cut in the Second Round, leaving four South American nations and four European nations left, there is still a good chance at an all American final – Argentina are expected to get past Belgium in the Quarterfinals while Brazil and Colombia have both had better showings than France and Germany, one of which the winner of their Quarterfinal will face.

The Goal-Fest Has Cooled – But Not The Excitement

The Group Stages of World Cup 2014 have been toted as the most entertaining ever. Through the first ten matches of the tournament, there were five comeback wins, an average of over three goals-per-game, and no draws. And out of all forty-eight group stage matches, there was an average of nearly three goals-a-game. Yet during the Second Round, the story has been quite different, with just over two goals-a-game and two matches doing goalless into extra-time. And while that means less goals, it has hardly taken away from the thrill. Two of the eight Second Round matches went into penalties, while one was decided by a late comeback, another a late winner, and the others provided no less excitement.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.