Despite being a tournament labeled as the return of attack-minded soccer after the caution shown in South Africa four years ago, Brazil 2014 has been a platform for the world's best goalkeepers to shine.

Sunday's final featured the widely regarded best stopper in the world in Germany's Manuel Neuer, whose sweeper-keeper ability to rush from his goal could lead to a revolution in how the position is played.

However, even those less widely recognized at club level have shone in the bright lights of Brazil over the past five weeks.

Argentina's Sergio Romero made just one league start for Monaco last season, but ­became a national hero when he saved penalties from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder to send his side into their first World Cup final in 24 years.

With more teams committed to attack, the wide-open nature of the tournament ­certainly gave those in the last line of ­defense more chance to shine.

However, they have also been aided by a reliable ball in the Brazuca which hasn't dipped and swerved to leave keepers bewildered like the ­Jabulani did four years ago.

The CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) enjoyed their best-­ever showing at a final with three teams reaching the last 16 in large part thanks to their goalkeepers.

Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa somehow kept Brazil at bay in a 0-0 draw in Fortaleza and ­almost certainly earned himself a lucrative contract in the process.

Ochoa is a free agent having left French club Ajaccio and has been linked with a move to Spanish champions Atletico Madrid among others.

Another man on Atletico's radar is Costa Rica's Keylor ­Navas who is the only player along with Lionel Messi to have won three man-of-the-match awards in Brazil.

Navas conceded just once from open play in 510 minutes and also guided his side into the last eight for the first time in their history with a stunning penalty save from former Levante teammate Theofanis Gekas to eliminate Greece.

The single most impressive goalkeeping display of all, though, may have come from American Tim Howard against Belgium in the last 16. Howard made 16 saves, a record for any goalkeeper in a World Cup match stretching back to 1966.

The Everton goalkeeper became an overnight sensation back in the US with the hashtag "ThingsTimHowardCouldSave" becoming a trending topic on social media site Twitter, while he also received a personal call of thanks from US President Barack Obama.

Even goalkeepers that played just one minute of action were decisive as the Netherlands' Tim Krul became one of the most important substitutes of the tournament when he was brought on in the last minute of extra time for the side's penalty shootout with Costa Rica.

Despite having a far-from-stellar penalty saving record with club side Newcastle ­United, Krul made two fine stops to end the Central Americans' fairy-tale ride to the last eight.