World Cup 2014: The best games of the tournament

With a month of fantastic football at an end, our writers select their best game of the tournament.

SAM WALLACE - chief football writer

Germany 7-1 Brazil

Not any of the three England played. For the sheer novelty of it, I would have to say that being in Belo Horizonte for Brazil’s 7-1 stuffing stood out. During that period in which Germany scored four goals in quick succession it was as if anything could happen: a pitch invasion, a player, or players, walking off.

IAN HERBERT - football correspondent

Australia 2-3 Netherlands

It was more than indefatigability that the tournament’s lowest ranked nation displayed against one of the best. Australia were behind for a minute, ahead for eight minutes and should have taken an unassailable 3-1 lead. They provided the spectacle of Matt McKay, of Brisbane Roar, dominating midfield. And all that before a certain Tim Cahill goal.

GLENN MOORE - football editor

Germany 2-2 Ghana

It was not just thrilling, but also technically of a high quality. It was not error-free, both sides spurned chances to win, but it underlined Ghana’s potential, which is sadly still to be realised, and the class of Germany, which has subsequently been seen.

JACK PITT-BROOKE - football writer

Germany 2-2 Ghana

Before Germany moved into machine mode, they were a dangerously open side. Their second group game, against Ghana, was an end-to-end classic. Both teams exposed each other defensively and it was only poor finishing which kept the score this low. It prompted Joachim Löw to change to 4-2-3-1, but it was great fun at the time.

TIM RICH - football writer

Brazil 2-1 Colombia

For sheer, shrieking, edge-of-your seats drama the last 20 minutes could not be bettered. The injury to Neymar was merely the chaotic climax to a frenzied game. Given what happened to him against the Germans, David Luiz’s spectacular free-kick is destined to become lost in the wash.

SIMON HART - football writer

Belgium 2-1 United States

The thrilling last-16 tie between Belgium and US got better the longer it went on. Tim Howard made a record-breaking 16 saves to keep Belgium at bay until extra time and even at 2-0 down, the spirited Americans somehow found an extra gear and nearly forced a shoot-out.

MIGUEL DELANEY - football writer

Brazil 1-1 Chile

At the time, it seemed like the kind of nervous knife-edge moment that could finally give Brazil momentum. Instead, it foreshadowed their eventual collapse. Because of that push-and-pull as well as the bravery of Chile, it was one of the most fascinating games.