The second round of group fixtures saw 16 games played with 45 goals scored. Our writer Declan Olley (@declanolley) looks at some of the best and worst moments of the second group phase and gives his team of the round…
Best match: Germany 2-2 Ghana
A game that epitomises this World Cup, it had goals, lightning counter-attacks and carefree football providing the world with thrilling Saturday night entertainment. It will always be remembered too for Miroslav Klose’s equalling Brazilian Ronaldo’s World Cup scoring record of 15 goals.
Honourable mention: Australia 2-3 Netherlands
Worst match: Japan 0-0 Greece
Once Greece had their captain Kostas Katsouranis sent off just before half-time there was only going to one outcome: a forgettable 0-0 draw. Japan played their part too; they look a shadow of the side which excited at the Confederations Cup and did not test Greece goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis once.
Just got away with it: Belgium 1-0 Russia
Best goal: Tim Cahill vs. Netherlands
After receiving his second booking of the tournament, this would turn out to be Tim Cahill’s last World Cup game with Australia and he left the global stage on a high by scoring one of the tournament’s greatest ever goals. A sumptuous first time volley with his weaker foot crashed in off the underside of the bar cancelling out Arjen Robben’s effort a minute before.
Honourable mention: Eduardo Vargas vs. Spain, which made put Chile 1-0 up in their 2-0 win
Worst mistake: Luiz Felipe Scolari
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari got his tactics and team selection all wrong against Mexico. He played Ramires out wide in place of the injured Hulk – the Chelsea man came off at half-time. Willian, the player who should have took Hulk’s place, came on too late. Scolari also left the ineffective Paulinho on for the entire 90 minutes – the midfielder should have been off at half-time for Fernandinho.
Just got away with it: Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan, whose error allowed the Netherlands to nick a late winner
Best save: Guillermo Ochoa vs. Neymar (Brazil 0-0 Mexico)
In an echo of Gordon Banks’ memorable save from Pele at the 1970 World Cup, Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa pulled off an unbelievable stop to deny Brazil’s current icon and number 10 Neymar whose header looked destined to find the net.
Honourable mention: Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero’s save from Ashken Dejagah’s header (Argentina 1-0 Iran)
Team of the second group phase (4-4-2): Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico); Junior Diaz (Costa Rica), Gary Medel (Chile), Giancarlo Gonzalez (Costa Rica), Fabian Johnson (USA); Ivan Perisic (Croatia), Blaise Matuidi (France), Charles Aranguiz (Chile), Juan Cuadrado (Colombia); Enner Valencia (Ecuador), Luis Suarez (Uruguay).