2014 Brazil World Cup - Round-up 4
The group stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup is over and we now know the line-up for the knockout stage. Sixteen teams are through, sixteen are out. We have now seen 48 games, with 16 more to go. The first day of Round Two is an all South-American affair with Brazil against Chile, and Uruguay taking on Colombia. Another interesting game could be Holland against Mexico, with the Mexicans capable of causing a shock and beating the Dutch team. Italy and Portugal were two of the big names to exit the tournament in the final games of the group stage. Perhaps the biggest shock of the tournament so far has been the biting incident involving Uruguay's Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan was one of the best players of the tournament and scored two fantastic goals against England. FIFA has banned Suarez for four months and nine international games for his bite on the shoulder of Italy's Giorgio Chiellini. The striker will miss the first nine Premier League games for his team club Liverpool, if the club does not sell him before then. The Uruguay Football Association has appealed the ban, calling it an "excessive decision". |