Sports

After waiting 64 years to exorcise the ghosts of the Maracanazo, Brazil have instead suffered another defeat that may haunt them for decades.

For many Brazilians, Tuesday's humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany accomplished the unthinkable - a disaster even worse than the last time the country hosted the World Cup, in 1950.

The 2014 World Cup has produced several goals of outstanding quality. The following are five of the best so far.

FIFA said its disciplinary panel "cannot consider this matter" under the rules because the match referee saw the challenge by Camilo Zuniga.

"Obviously as a football fan I would love to see a Brazil-Argentina final, but going by the form it looks to be Germany versus the Netherlands," Ganguly said.

Belgium's coach Marc Wilmots said on Saturday that Italian referee Nicola Rizzou had gone easy on Messi during the World Cup quarter-final.

Former Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano is in an induced coma in a Madrid hospital after suffering a heart attack on Saturday afternoon.

Yes Mexico won a lot of hearts, so did Colombia, Algeria and Chile. But when it came to the business end of the tournament the wheat has separated from the chaff.

Zuniga jumped into the back of Neymar and his knee struck the Brazilian's third vertebra two minutes from the final whistle, dealing a major blow to the hosts.

About 400 people in the USA have signed a petition to make Howard the Secretary of Defence.

The 33 year old Yobo has announced his retirement from international football following the team's elimination from the World Cup.

Kaka will fly to the United States on Monday night to sign for Orlando's new Major League Soccer franchise.

Striker Lukaku is set to return but concern over captain Kompany is still clouding Belgium's build-up to their World Cup last-16 meeting with the United States.

Forlan believes that his team needs to be renewed after losing 0-2 to Colombia in the Round of 16 on Saturday.

Julio Cesar expressed happiness over his side's qualification by defeating Chile in a penalty shootout in the Round of 16.

"We need to constitute a commission to shine the light on Ghana's World Cup campaign," Mahama told reporters in Equatorial Guinea at a summit of African leaders.