50 HD Photos Of Brazil 2014's Biggest Moments

Revel in the nostalgia of possibly the greatest ever World Cup...

1.

Via SplashNewsOnline

Just when the Opening Ceremony couldn't get any more underwhelming, J-Lo and Pitbull join Brazilian star Claudia Leitte onstage for a song. It's strange having to get used to awful ceremonies after London 2012.

2.

Via BBC Sport

Posterboy Neymar gets the tournament off to a flying start, scoring twice for the hosts against Croatia.

3.

Via Independent

Cameroon coach Volke Finke watches the first of three defeats for his side, in the pouring rain against Mexico. "Current mood: Cameroon coach" become an internet joke for a couple of hours.

4.

Via BBC

The first huge shock of the World Cup: Robin van Persie scores a flying header in the Netherlands' 5-1 defeat of world champions Spain.

5.

Via BBC

...van Persie runs straight over to van Gaal for a high five, as the Dutch coach is praised for his tactical nouse of using five at the back...

6.

Via BBC

...and Arjen Robben is on hand to seal a memorable win for the Dutch, in one of the most exciting games of the group stage.

7.

Via Guardian

Arsenal's Joel Campbell nets as Costa Rica shock Suarez-less Uruguay, running out 3-1 winners in Group D's opening game.

8.

Via Mirror

Daniel Sturridge scores England's first goal of the tournament, as Hodgson's side start strongly against Italy...

9.

Via Mirror

...it's not long until the masterful Andrea Pirlo's running the show though. Italy win 2-1.

10.

Via GetFootballNewsFrance

Karim Benzema scores the first World Cup goal to be decided by goal-line technology. Four years late for Frank Lampard and England, but France profit nicely, beating Honduras 3-0.

11.

Via Times

Lionel Messi fails to crack under monumental pressure, scoring a sublime strike against Bosnia & Herzegovina, who are playing their first tournament.

12.

Via Guardian

Pepe loses his cool, headbutting hat-trick hero Thomas Muller, in Germany's 4-0 victory against Portugal.

13.

Via Guardian

Clint Dempsey nets a late winner against bogey team Ghana; US interest in "soccer" soars.

14.

Via BBC

Belgium's super-subs strike for the first time, overcoming Algeria in their first group game.

15.

Via Goal.com

Mexican coach Miguel Herrera bounces up and down his touchline, as the Mexicans hold Brazil to a well-earned 0-0 draw.

16.

Via ESPN

Australian talisman Tim Cahill gives the winless Socceroos something to cheer about, with a beautiful, van Basten-esque volley against the Dutch.

17.

Via BBC

Holders Spain tumble out the competition with a lacklustre defeat to Chile. This fella becomes a meme with a comforting iPad message of "Adios Spana" to Del Bosque and co.

18.

Via BBC

James Rodriguez continues his fine form in the 2-1 win against Ivory Coast, and inspires a new dance craze in the Colombian side.

19.

Via BBC

Luis Suarez, a major doubt before the World Cup, plays most of the England game, and scores twice to sink the Three Lions and ultimately knock them out. It was England's worst performance at a World Cup since 1958.

20.

Via BBC

Captain Gerrard takes his fair share of the blame for the winner, and is left considering his international future.

21.

Via Guardian

Benzema is on target again, as the French power past Switzerland. The 5-2 victory makes them outside favourites for many.

22.

Via Telegraph

Cristiano Ronaldo sports an intriguing new hairstyle before waltzing through the American defence. He can't break the US down though, as his Portugal side hold them to a 1-1 draw.

23.

Via ESPN

Neymar is again on form as Brazil top their group and march towards the knockout stages of the tournament, disposing of Cameroon 4-1.

24.

Via ITV

David Villa scores a wonderful backheel for Spain before being substituted in his last international appearance. Despite a strong win against the Aussies, a dynasty is over.

25.

Via ITV

Luis Suarez makes world news as he bites Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini. FIFA ban him from football for four months.

26.

Via BBC

Frank Lampard plays what is likely to be his last game in an England shirt too, captaining a young England side to a goalless draw with Group D winners, Costa Rica.

27.

Via ESPN

Ivorian hearts are broken as Georgios Samaras scores a late penalty for Greece. The African side fail to qualify from their group for a third consecutive World Cup.

28.

Via BBC

Again, Messi bosses an Argentine performance, as they beat Nigeria 3-2. This free-kick is the pick of the bunch though.

29.

Via ESPN

Old friends Joachim Low and Jurgen Klinsmann meet in a flooded Recife, as Low's Germany win 1-0 and top their group.

30.

Via Times

For all Brazil's attacking flair, Julio Cesar is the star of the 2nd round's first encounter, sending his country through on penalties against Chile.

31.

Via Times

Scolari comforts an overwhelmed Neymar after the spot kicks.

32.

Via Telegraph

Arjen Robben becomes the centre of a storm after it's claimed that he dived to win the Netherlands a last-minute penalty against Mexico. Mexico had been leading all game, but late goals from Sneijder and Huntelaar sent the Oranje through.

33.

Via BBC

James Rodriguez scores one of the goals of the tournament, as Colombia cruise through to the quarters against Uruguay.

34.

Via ESPN

Costa Rica net five perfect penalties in a shootout against Greece.

35.

Via BBC

Switzerland hold on for dear life, but are just edged out of the World Cup by a late Angel Di Maria goal, as Argentina march on.

36.

Via Guardian

Manuel Neuer raises eyebrows with "sweeper keeper" tactics against Algeria; Germany are taken to extra time, where they eventually dispose of the last African side in the competition, 2-0.

37.

Via Goal.com

Tim Howard saves a record 16 shots, as the Belgians bombard the US goal...

38.

Via BBC

...it's not enough to keep America in the competition though, as Belgium win 2-1. Howard becomes a national hero though, even receiving a phone call from President Obama, who congratulates him for his performance.

39.

Via BBC

Mats Hummels scores the only goal of the game as Germany beat France in the Maracana.

40.

Via Guardian

David Luiz scores the deciding free kick that knocks out Colombia...

41.

Via Guardian

...but the 2-1 win comes at a cost, with star man Neymar picking up a bad back injury that rules him out for weeks.

42.

Via ESPN

Luiz comforts a tearful James Rodriguez, and encourages the crowd to applaud his fine performance in Brazil this year.

43.

Via ITV

The Belgians are eventually knocked out by another clinical Argentine display; Higuain this time providing the solitary goal.

44.

Via BBC

Louis van Gaal brings on Tim Krul for Jasper Cillessen in the last minute of extra time, and the reserve keep is the hero for the Dutch, who knock surprise package Costa Rica out.

45.

Via Telegraph

In Brazil's first semi-final since they last won the trophy, Germany capitalise early on poor defending...

46.

Via BBC

...Klose heaps on more pain for the Brazilians, netting his sixteenth World Cup goal and surpassing Ronaldo at the top of the leaderboard...

47.

Via Times

...and things go from bad to worse as the Germans run out 7-1 winners.

48.

Via BBC

This is the first competitive fixture that Brazil have lost on home soil in nearly forty years. The country goes into sporting mourning.

49.

Via BBC

After a goalless 120 minutes, Jasper Cillessen can't repeat Tim Krul's Holland heroics...

50.

Via BBC

...Argentina beat the Netherlands on penalties and advance to their first World Cup final in twenty-four years.