World Cup a success?
In case you were in any doubt, the best World Cup ever has just come to an end. That's the result of a poll carried out by BBC Sport, in any case. The media have largely been in agreement with those voters and have been swept up in the excitement.
Final curtain
The sun shone on Rio as day broke on the World Cup final. After a couple of days where the weather was as underwhelming as the Brazilian team in the third-place playoff, it seemed like a sign that we'd get the climax that this tournament deserved.
Sweet dreams
A little fan holds a replica of the World Cup trophy at the German Embassy in Beijing on Monday after Germany won the World Cup in Rio.
Unknown players shoot to fame in Brazil
One of the joys of tournament soccer is the players who come from nowhere to plant themselves as household names, and this World Cup has been no different in that respect.
Brazilians admit defeat before the team even lose their last game
The mood in Rio before Brazil's final game in the 2014 FIFA World Cup was as subdued as the weather. Where the sun had shone brightly before the opening game against Croatia it was now in no mood to come out, much like the flag-waving, shirt-wearing fans that have so typified this tournament.
Football carnival comes to climax at Maracana
After nearly a month of being the only thing in the world, or at least seeming like it, the World Cup is about to climax on Sunday afternoon in Rio. The Maracana plays host to Germany against Argentina and a fascinating game that will end with either the Europeans just one title behind Brazil or the hosts’ closest rivals winning it in their own backyard.
Dream of 6th could end in Brazil’s worst nightmare
A swish of Maxi Rodriguez's boot and the continued failure of Jasper Cillesen to save a penalty in his professional career are how the greatest fears of Brazilians for this World Cup have started to become all too real.
Third place is pointless: Van Gaal
The team who started the brightest against the team whose World Cup ended in the most unexpected manner in the tournament's history will contest this year's third-fourth place playoff.
Germany one game ‘Kloser’ to their fourth title
It took 23 minutes and two bites of the cherry but Miroslav Klose is now the record scorer in World Cup Finals. His 16th goal at his fourth World Cup put him clear of Brazil's Ronaldo who was watching from the commentary box in Belo Horizonte.
Salvador puts on brave face during record-breaking national humiliation
It was raining on Tuesday morning in Salvador but that did not put a dampener on Brazilian spirits as they anticipated their country's semifinal clash with Germany.
All eyes on Scolari as the Selecao take on Germany
Germany take on the hosts on Tuesday afternoon (Brazilian time) in Belo Horizonte for a place in Sunday's World Cup final.
Brazil’s lack of strikers laid bare for world to see
Brazil has always been famed for its attacking talent and Neymar is a fitting heir to the stars that have lit up World Cups past. However, with his tournament over the lack of goal threat elsewhere up front has been brought into sharp focus.
Argentina take on Netherlands in semi
Argentina take on Holland in São Paulo on Wednesday afternoon with the winner taking a berth in the final at Rio's famous Maracana on Sunday. Both teams are in the semifinal on merit and both have scores to settle at this year's World Cup.
Van Gaal vindicated for goalkeeper mind games
To say no one was expecting Tim Krul to come on to the Salvador pitch with less than a minute to go in extra time is not quite true, but one man definitely had no idea.
Salvador is superb setting for engrossing quarterfinal
Salvador's impressive Fonte Nova stadium nestles between the hills of the historic Old Town and the city's main highway.
Brazilian nerves fray as team grind out their victory against Colombia
PublicBar in Salvador's hip Rio Vermelho district was packed by the time Thiago Silva led the Brazilian team out for the national anthems on Friday. Despite being thousands of miles from Fortaleza, where the game was being played, and a world away from the craziness of Salvador's downtown and its jampacked Fan Fest, there was an atmosphere befitting any stadium on the planet.
World Cup on Brazilian TV is a real turn-on, even for monolingual
The World Cup has forced me to watch an inordinate amount of soccer on television. It’s been quite the experience.
Brazil 2014 is the first World Cup played on social media
Soccer has long been sure of itself as the world’s most popular game but now it must feel like its claim can’t be tested thanks to social media.