A World Cup with a difference
RANDBURG – Records, facts and odd incidents make this world cup distinct from those before it, and one residents love.
The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil has witnessed a few records being broken, novelties and out of the ordinary occurrences that have made it different from those before it.
Goal-line technology and disappearing foam were introduced to the world cup, to determine whether the ball crossed the goal line or not, and to keep defending players at least 10m away from the free-kick taker, and the free-kick taker from moving the ball forward.
This is the most expensive world cup of all time, with about R161 billion spent already (about USD15 billion).
Uruguay striker Luis Suárez bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder on 24 June and received a four-month football ban.
Germany striker Miroslave Klose tied with former Brazil striker Ronaldo as leading goal scorer in world cups (each 15 goals).
Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon (43) became the oldest player to play in a world cup match when he came on as a substitute against Japan on 24 June.
On the same day that Prince Felipe (now king) ascended the Spanish throne on 19 June, Spain, the best team in the world according to FIFA rankings, was knocked out of the world cup at the group stage.
Keep sharing your views of the world cup with us by tweeting with the hashtag #jozikicks, or comment on questions posted on our Facebook wall and we will include some of your views in our match summaries.
