As the month-long football carnival drew to a close on Sunday, IBNLive takes a look at some of the standout performers in Brazil who find a place in the Best 2014 World Cup XI.
STRIKERS: Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben
Before the world cup started Argentina were picked by many as favourites. To a large extent this was because of Lionel Messi. The four-time Ballon d'or winner (taking his 2009 win into account) has so far carried Argentina's hopes. Although the little genius hasn't yet taken the tournament by the scuff, he has had a defining impact on the fortunes of his team and with four goals remains in contention for the Golden Boot.
While the world watched Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, it is 30-year-old Arjen Robben who has grabbed all the headlines. With 3 goals and an assist, Robben has been fundamental to Louis Van Gaal's Dutch side reaching - unexpectedly - the final four. His outstanding pace and an overwhelming desire to drive his team forward has been a huge factor in Netherlands' success.
Neymar could have been the big star of the World Cup. With four goals and two assists, he had created quite a buzz, but then one bad tackle brought a sudden and painful end to his campaign. With him up front, Brazil was able to cover up its defensive frailties; but once Neymar was ruled out, the hosts looked impotent up front to instill any sort of fear in their opponents' hearts.
MIDFIELDERS: Thomas Mueller, Toni Kroos, James Rodriguez, Wesley Sneijder
Rodriguez has been the standout player of the World Cup by a mile. The Colombian attacking midfielder, who also plays on the wings, ended up as the top scorer at the end of the semis with six goals. Aged just 22, expect a lot of top clubs to knock on his doors this summer.
Mueller is a man of many talents. A certain vine clip that has gone viral recently also shows him putting his dancing shoes on, but in Brazil its his football cleats that did all the dancing.
Kroos has been in the headlines as much for his display in the heart of Germany's midfield as his rumoured transfer away from Bayern Munich. Arguably the best midfielder in the world at the moment, Kroos has scored 2two goals but more importantly set up three more.
Wes has been a player reborn at the World Cup. Under van Gaal, a coach he wasn't a big fan of ahead of the tournament, he has had a tremendous tournament. With a thundering strike against Mexico - which sparked a sensational Oranje comeback - and two assists, Sneijder has been the unsung hero for the Dutch.
DEFENDERS: Daley Blind, Mats Hummels, Javier Mascherano, Philipp Lahm
The 24-year-old Dutch left-back, Blind, caught everyone's attention with a stunning cross that set up Robin van Persie's stunning header against Spain. Blind managed two assists in that rout of the Armada. He has also helped the Oranje keep three clean sheets.
Borussia Dortmund's Hummels is arguably one of the best centre-backs in the world right now. With two goals and three clean sheets, Hummels has been a standout performer for the Mannschaft. His performances have caught the attention of Manchester United, and Dortmund should expect several more queries regarding his availability.
Mascherano is playing more as a defensive midfielder for Argentina than his regular centre-back position. But his match-saving tackle on Robben in the dying minutes of the semi-final showed his excellent defensive technique. He has also helped Argentina keep four clean sheets.
Philipp Lahm is arguably the best right-back in the world right now. The man who is described by Pep Guardiola as the most intelligent footballer he has ever trained has been an absolute rock for Germany. Fully adept at playing as a defensive midfielder and as an attacking full back, Lahm even notched up an assist against the Brazilians.
GOALKEEPER: Manuel Neuer
This world cup has had many outstanding performances between the goal posts. Ochoa's heroics will be remembered for a long time, and so will be Romero's penalty shootout saves against Netherlands, which took Argentina to the final. Tim Krull with his penalty-cameo also lit up the Arena Fonte Nova, but it has been Neuer who has been the outstanding gloves-man. Germany's No. 1 has been consistently impressive at the tournament and is unarguably the best keeper in the world right now. His consistency, positional awareness and an uncanny ability to come off his line and out of his box in a sweeper role added to Germany's solidity at the back.
MANAGER: Louis van Gaal
The Iron Tulip with big cojones has done his staggering reputation no harm in his second stint with the Dutch national team. LvG, who is set to take over as Manchester United manager after the World Cup, has been a master tactician guiding his team to one unlikely triumph after another. His substitutions - including that of Tim Krull for the penalty shootout - and his fluid formations going from a 5-3-2 to a 4-3-3 with consummate ease has shown that he is truly a supremely intelligent football. manager. Many in Netherlands rubbished this team as being too raw and van Gaal as being too defensive, but he has proven his critics wrong.
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