We are barely one week into the 2014 Fifa World Cup and the showpiece in Brazil has already provided us with almost all what we could ask for. Goals have been aplenty, 42 in total and with only one scoreless draw after 14 matches (before Tuesday’s fixtures), counting for three goals per game, which is an outstanding rate at any level—and here we are talking about the very highest. We have had controversial moments, a couple of red cards, use of the much-debated Goal Line Technology (GLT), own goals, the first hat-trick of the tournament, shock defeats, injury scares to one or two high-profile players, to mention but just a few. There were also fears that the event would be overshadowed by angry protests by Brazilian, who are not happy that their government is spending billions of dollars on organizing the competition instead of investing in things that directly benefit the ordinary citizen, but so far thing appears to be normal. Most importantly, there has been more attention inside stadiums than outside. The hosts’ win against Croatia in the opening match set the tone for what is turning out to be an exciting tournament, with all teams doing their best to justify their presence in Brazil. So far, no team has come out to try and defend, which has resulted in end-to-end action in almost all the first 14 matches—fans have been served the entertainment worth sitting out until wee hour in the night. Thomas Muller scored the first hat-trick of the tournament (he now has 8 goals at the finals); Lionel Messi is off the mark with his first goal at the World Cup finals since 2006, amazingly, only his second in total, Cristiano Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure in his team’s first game. It sets up so well for the second week.
