Forget tiki-taka, it's 'attack attack' as Brazil puts on the BEST World Cup of all time
Spain’s tiki-taka passing style football was an early casualty
and England departed with undue haste. Find out what our experts have
loved about Brazil 2014 so far.
2 videos
Spain’s tiki-taka passing style football was an early casualty and England departed with undue haste.
But our experts have loved Brazil so far. Here’s what’s got them out of their seats...
VIDEO Scroll down to watch joint top scorers Neymar Jr and Lionel Messi entertain
2 videos
Forget tiki-taka, it's 'attack attack' as Brazil puts on the BEST World Cup of all time
- Sportsmail's experts review the World Cup so far
- Brazil's Neymar and Argentina's Lionel Messi among their favourite players
- There have been 136 goals in 48 World Cup group matches
Spain’s tiki-taka passing style football was an early casualty and England departed with undue haste.
But our experts have loved Brazil so far. Here’s what’s got them out of their seats...
VIDEO Scroll down to watch joint top scorers Neymar Jr and Lionel Messi entertain
Flying Dutchman: Holland's Robin van Persie's diving header against Spain was exquisite
JAMIE CARRAGHER
Best match and why?
England
v Italy was very good, full of quality and pace from both teams. But
nothing beats Holland taking Spain apart 5-1. That was counter-
attacking football at its best.
Favourite player and why?
I
have to go for Neymar over Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben. There is huge
pressure on Brazil’s poster boy but he is responding brilliantly. He
had a difficult season with Barcelona and people wondered whether the
hype was right but he has been outstanding.
What’s lifted your heart?
Watching
Brazil sing the national anthem. It’s inspiring and reminded me of
playing for Liverpool, when the crowd and team are as one. There is no
better feeling in football than when you have that support.
What’s depressed you?
The
Luis Suarez affair. But watching Spain give away their crown away so
meekly wasn’t nice. Some of the best players we’ve seen on the world
stage deserved a better exit.
Best goal?
Robin
van Persie against Spain. The ball to find him from Daley Blind was
pinpoint, the execution of the diving header was first class and his
celebration with Louis van Gaal put the icing on it.
What’s surprised you?
How
the Europeans have struggled. I thought the days of European teams not
travelling well had gone but seeing England, Italy and Spain lose to
South American opposition shows they have found the conditions, quality
and home support too tough to handle.
Sum up the World Cup in three words.
Goals, goals, goals!
Living up to the hype: Neymar of Brazil has been in amongst the goals after being the poster boy for the tournament
JAMIE REDKNAPP
Best match?
Holland
beating Spain 5-1 set the agenda for the World Cup for teams to be
fearless. From that moment on you knew this was going to be a really
exciting, attacking tournament.
Favourite player?
Neymar
and Lionel Messi have been the two outstanding players so far, but I’d
have to say the Brazilian — the reason being the pressure on him. A
lot of players would’ve shrunk but he comes alive when he pulls the gold
shirt on.
What’s lifted your heart?
The
way almost every team has tried to attack. There are times when
managers like to defend first and attack afterwards. This tournament has
shown you can get rewards for giving it a go and trying to outscore
opponents.
What’s depressed you?
England.
Not one Costa Rica player would get into our squad and they finished
top of our group. We had two years to build for the tournament and
should’ve gone through.
Top notch: Argentina's Lionel Messi shoots past Iran's forward Reza Ghoochannejhad to score the winner against Iran
Best goal?
Tim
Cahill’s volley is hard to beat. The fact it was struck with his left
boot, on his weaker foot, then crashed in off the bar, makes it even
better.
What’s surprised you?
Not
a great deal — with a World Cup in Brazil I expected the fever and
excitement, the big crowds and teams playing well, it’s been a joy to
watch. This tournament has been a breath of fresh air after South Africa
in 2010.
Sum up the World Cup in three words.
Goals. Excitement. Biting.
Dangerous: Chile's Alexis Sanchez has been terrorising defences
MARTIN KEOWN
Best match?
I’ve seen some bad ones! But Spain 0 Chile 2 was the best I’ve seen. To
see the world champions dethroned by such a brilliantly energetic Chile
team was jaw-dropping.
Favourite player?
Alexis
Sanchez of Chile. He looks far more dangerous than he does for
Barcelona. When he doesn’t have the ball, he terrorises the defence like
Ian Rush used to.
What’s lifted your heart?
The
home nation starting to party. Every time they scored against Cameroon,
there were fireworks going off in Fortaleza where I was watching. The
people are really beginning to believe in their team.
What’s depressed you? Being an Englishman abroad, trying to defend their performances. It’s not been easy.
What’s depressed you? Being an Englishman abroad, trying to defend their performances. It’s not been easy.
Best goal?
Van
Persie’s header against Spain was such a rare thing. You won’t see that
kind of goal many times again. He looked like a bird flying through the
air.
What has surprised you?
How
many of the European teams have struggled. I don’t know whether it’s
the weather or just the teams falling behind. The South Americans have a
tenacity and energy the Europeans don’t have.
Sum up the World Cup in just three words.
Addictive, compulsive viewing.
Holland look sharp: Arjen Robben has been linking up well with Robin Van Persie
MATT LAWTON
Best match?
Argentina
1 Iran 0. Only one goal — a brilliant finish by Messi — but great
drama. And I’ve never seen a football fan blub like the poor Iran
supporter at the end.
Favourite player?
Arjen Robben. He just looks electric.
What’s lifted your heart?
Seeing Messi deliver on the greatest stage of all. I just hope his colleagues at the back don’t blow it for him.
What’s depressed you?
England. Never been so disappointed in an England team and their manager.
Best goal?
Tim
Cahill’s volley. The best thing is I was there to see it. What’s
surprised you? How well organised this World Cup is. Airport chaos? I’ve
been on a flight almost every day and it’s been a breeze.
Sum up the World Cup in three words.
The. Best. Yet.
Effortless: Andrea Pirlo ran the show in Manaus against England
MATT BARLOW
Best match?
Germany 2 Ghana 2 — thrilling tempo, adventure and imagination from two teams determined not to defend.
Favourite player?
Andrea
Pirlo for his effortless appreciation despite carrying a big beard and a
fringe in his eyes — and the fact he stopped to answer questions in a
corridor at Casa Azzurri because I’d been unable to lodge one in the
press conference.
What’s lifted your heart?
Happy
football, Colombian dance moves, Pirlo’s dummy, Neymar and Messi
responding to expectation, a goal for Wayne Rooney, Costa Rica’s smiling
fans, the dazzling natural beauty of Rio de Janeiro and the caipirinha
cocktails.
Unacceptable behaviour: Luis Suarez bites Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's match against Italy
What’s depressed you?
The
premature exits of England, Pirlo and Luis Suarez, who ought to have
been one of the heroes of this tournament and is instead a villain, and
too many caipirinhas.
Best goal?
Tim Cahill’s against Holland. It’s hard to beat a fierce volley crashing in off the woodwork.
What’s surprised you?
The
referees controlling themselves with their cans of shaving foam. I’d
like to see them having a bit more fun, maybe produce a crime-scene
outline of a stricken player trying it on with a pretend injury.
Sum up the World Cup in three words.
Yellow, green, blue.
Great movement and technique: Colombia's James Rodriguez celebrates with Juan Cuadrado after scoring against the Ivory Coast
ROB DRAPER
Best Match?
Spain
1 Holland 5. Scintillating and truly shocking. It set the tone for the
World Cup and while many thought Spain were ageing, no-one saw that
coming.
Favourite Player?
James
Rodriguez, Colombia. Has great movement, technique and finishing. And
he is relatively unknown to English eyes, which is one of the reasons
the World Cup remains compelling. Memo to England’s much-gilded ‘youth’:
he’s 22 and delivering on the world stage.
What’s lifted your heart?
Teams
like Chile and Colombia playing fast, attacking football. Add into that
mix Costa Rica. They don’t have the players the other two sides do and
play with a back five. It’s hard not to be swept up in their story.
What’s depressed you? Apart from Luis Suarez?
The
pronouncement that tiki-taka is dead, as though passing the ball
properly was just a passing phase in football and that we can all go
back to hitting it long now.
Best Goal?
Lionel Messi is going to have to go some to match Tim Cahill. There’s a sentence I never thought I would write.
What’s Surprised You?
That attacking football has prevailed. You always fear that the pressure of a World Cup will bring out the worst in teams.
Sum up the World Cup in three words.
Compelling, magnificent, conflicted.
Determination: Ronaldo gave it everything but sadly for him Portugal didn't qualify for the next stage
JEFF POWELL
Best match?
USA 2 Portugal 2 – a thriller climaxed by a great equaliser made in heaven by Ronaldo.
Favourite player?
Neymar — wondrous goals. How does one so young ride the pressure?
What’s lifted your heart?
Ronaldo, with his glorious attempt to do the impossible in the last group game.
What’s depressed you?
England – players on the pitch, FA chairman off it.
Corker: Tim Cahill scored one of the goals of the World Cup with a thunderous left foot volley vs Holland
Best goal?
Tim Cahill’s mega-volley.
What’s surprised you?
Chicharito not starting for Mexico. Love the boy. Always keep faith in a great finisher to end his drought.
Sum up the World Cup in three words.
A carnival delight.
Depressing: It takes three hours to get to Recife stadium from the nearest town
IAN LADYMAN
Best match?
USA
2 Portugal 2. Great showing by a tournament underdog and the world’s
best player made his mark in the 95th minute to keep his country alive.
For a few days, anyway.
Favourite player and why?
Neymar. Came into the tournament with something to prove and has proved it spectacularly.
What’s lifted your heart?
The football. This is my fourth World Cup and nothing has come close to this one in terms of the action on the field.
Delivering on the world's biggest stage: Brazil's Neymar celebrates scoring against Cameroon
What’s depressed you?
Recife. I’m sure it has its good points but it takes three hours to get to the stadium and, when it rains, the roads flood.
Best goal?
Bryan Ruiz’s winner against Italy for Costa Rica. Not the most spectacular but few have meant more.
What’s surprised you?
That
anybody was surprised by England’s exit. We came into the tournament
suspecting that we weren’t good enough and so it proved.
Sum up The World Cup in three words.
Can’t be better.
Out at the first stage: Wayne Rooney and his England teammates are already back home after a dismal campaign
NEIL ASHTON
Best match and why?
Spain
0 Chile 2. The whole world was waiting for Spain to react to their 5-1
defeat against Holland. Instead, Chile ripped them apart inside the
Maracana.
Favourite player and why?
Thomas Muller. The German has composure and class. He is always one step ahead of his opponents with his vision.
What’s lifted your heart?
The huge, over-the-top celebrations between players and coaching staff every time a goal is scored.
What’s depressed you?
Watching
Brazil’s rolling news channels filming a convoy of cars carrying the
World Cup cash to Ghana’s team hotel. No problem with the players
getting paid, but sort it before a ball is kicked.
Best goal?
Muller
casually curving the ball beyond Tim Howard’s reach first time off his
right boot to secure top spot for Germany in the group.
What’s surprised you?
The number of goals and the quality of them. The world’s top strikers have come alive playing for their countries
Sum up the World Cup in three words.
Worth the wait.
In the race for the Golden Boot: Thomas Muller has been hugely influential for Germany, scoring four goals so far
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