2014 World Cup: Five of the Most Memorable Moments
From Brazil's World Cup-opening victory to Argentina's penalty kick victory last Wednesday, the 2014 hasn't been short on drama.
Last Month's nail-biter between the United States-Portugal averaged a record 18.2 million viewers, eclipsing the 1999 Women's World Cup final's mark. It was the most watched non-football sporting event in Cable TV history, and with good cause.
Fans and impartial viewers alike have watched every free kick, every controversial call, and every body-bending save together.
Here are five of the best and worst moments from a memorable World Cup.
Luis Suarez bites Italy's Giorgio Chiellni
The bite that launched hundreds of memes began on an innocuous play. Star striker Luis Suarez bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellni in the 80th minute of their June 24 meeting. One minute later, Uruguayan defender Diego Godin headed in the game winner, sending Uruguay to the knockout stage.
Suarez denied he did any wrong despite blatant bite marks appearing on Chiellni's right shoulder. FIFA disagreed, suspending the Premiere League forwards for months and from nine international matches.
Aptly nicknamed "the cannibal," this is not the first time Suarez has chomped into a player. In 2010, he was suspended for seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal. A similar act last year left Suarez off Liverpool's squad for 10 games.
FIFA rejected Suarez's appeal early last week.
Messi di Maria send Argentina to quarterfinals with 118th minute goal
As Argentina prepares for Sunday's final with Germany, one can't help but wonder where they would be without Messi.
His 91st minute goal against Iran secured La Albiceleste's spotless mark in Group F play, but his feed to Angel di Maria late in their match with Switzerland send Argentina to the quarterfinals.
A scoreless affair late into their Round of 16 contest, Messi dribbled past the Swiss defense and found an open di Maria. His shot curled around the arm of goalkeeper Diego Benaglio and into the bottom corner.
Had the Argentinian strikers not connected, their journey may have come to an end then and there.
Guillermo Ochoa blanks Brazil
Somewhere in Mexico, a statue is underway for goalkeeper Guillermo 'Memo' Ochoa.
Ochoa was Man of the Match for his six-save effort against Brazil on June 17, a performance that inspired El Tri into the knockout round. Brazil controlled the entire match and pressured the Mexican defense, but Ochoa didn't budge.
Twenty-six minutes in, Neymar nailed a perfect header to the left side of the goal before Ochoa dove and swatted it away in what may be the greatest save of the World Cup. He produced remarkable save- after-remarkable save in denying the host nation; a shot by Paulihno in the 44th minutes, another effort by Neymar, and Thiago Silva's powerful header in the 86th.
Ochoa blocked Silva's shot from point-blank range. It was the exclamation point on a 0-0 draw many expected Mexico not to survive.
Portugal scores equalizer against United States as extra-time ends
The most watched soccer game in U.S. history had the results the country eagerly wanted through 94 minutes. That 95th minute broke a lot of hearts.
Second-half strikes from midfielder Jermaine Jones and captain Clint Dempsey brought the Americans back from near-disaster. Dempsey's 81st minute score gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead in the final moments.
Injured Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo made up for mediocre play with a pinpoint cross to Silvestre Varela for a clean header deep into stoppage time. None were more shocked than American goalkeeper Tim Howard, who unsuccessfully flailed his right arm at the ball.
The U.S. still advanced to the knockout stage but missed an opportunity for a more favorable matchup winning the group would have granted. For American fans, Ronaldo's cross stands out far more than any other play.
Germany humiliates Brazil, 7-1
Neymar and Silva's absence was going to factor into Brazil's semifinal match with Germany. Nobody could have imagined a 7-1 thrashing.
Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar was overwhelmed from the beginning. Thomas Mueller got the onslaught started with an 11th minute goal off Tony Kroos' bender from the right side of the box.
Die Mannschaft went on to score four goals in a six minute span, including Miroslav Klose's record-setting shot in the 23rd minute. Klose moves ahead of Ronaldo for most goals scored in the tournament's history.
At one point, Germany stopped celebration their goals. Meanwhile, the disheveled Brazilians didn't reach the back of the net until a second-half stoppage time goal from Oscar.
It was the worst-ever loss by a World Cup host country and Brazil's first home defeat in 39 years.