For anyone watching the World Cup via the majesty of the internet, this has been a particularly groundbreaking staging of the tournament. Online streaming, coupled with the ubiquity of Twitter, has been both a blessing and a curse.
On one hand, the constant Twitter updates arriving before the action of lagging streams has ruined the excitement for plenty of people. Yet, on the other, Twitter has provided us with the kind of social commentary that has never been as widespread for any other tournament. So, as a hat-tip to all that Twitter has given us over the past months, here's a selection of the best World Cup tweets.
There was some great action during the group stages but, in reality, all anyone was talking about was Luis Suarez.
Was it a bite.....? Look at Chiellini's shoulder..... Second one is myself biting MY hand pic.twitter.com/JUA2HR66IE
— Jan Aage Fjortoft (@JanAageFjortoft) June 24, 2014
I guess any part of the body is up for eating. — Evander Holyfield (@holyfield) June 24, 2014
Suarez stat of the day. Luis has now been banned for 34 games since 2010 without receiving a single red card.
— Jake Humphrey (@mrjakehumphrey) June 26, 2014
Two of the defining stars of the tournament emerged during the early knockout rounds. James Rodriguez had everyone signing Colombia's praises while Tim Howard was given his 15 minutes of deity status in the US.
"See this guy? We kicked him. A lot." pic.twitter.com/JIbO3OivS3 — SimonNRicketts (@SimonNRicketts) July 4, 2014
Even the bug like James Rodriguez.. pic.twitter.com/tqtp9rnZ5I
— Football Stuff (@FootbalIStuff) July 4, 2014
If #USA win tonight!!!! #TimHoward pic.twitter.com/0dsAKZlEvs — Ben Brosnan (@BenBrosnan) July 1, 2014
Tim Howard today: pic.twitter.com/bbmmcApf3X
— (@xamnbae) July 1, 2014
After that it was on to the semi-finals and the match that will really go down in history as the defining memory of the tournament.
Poor Brazilians. Forever associated with disappointing Semis. #BraGer pic.twitter.com/8cFHrXPdd0
— The Lake Poets (@TheLakePoets) July 8, 2014
Wow RT @mattufford: The Getty photographer is Laurence Griffiths, and he deserves a raise. pic.twitter.com/53SL1MXzsU
— Eoghan O'Sullivan (@OSEoghan) July 8, 2014
Please stop uploading the game highlights to Pornhub... Our public humiliation category is full. #BrazilvsGermany — Pornhub Katie (@Pornhub) July 8, 2014
Spoiler Alert! I wrote the script for this World Cup game.
— George R.R. Martin (@GRRM) July 8, 2014
It was on to the final for Germany against Argentina and one of Ireland's favourite broadcasters had one last job to do.
Heading into my last programme with the lads with a large smile on my face following the Cork win — Bill O'Herlihy (@billoherlihy) July 13, 2014
Lionel Messi there, eating a sachet of sauce from an original Curry Pot Noodle unless I'm mistaken... pic.twitter.com/IP8swB29bX
— The Media Blog (@TheMediaTweets) July 13, 2014
Foto - Bei Weltmeistern in der Kabine: Bundespräsident #Gauck und Kanzlerin #Merkel gratulieren (BPA) pic.twitter.com/hpTKjfNU32
— Steffen Seibert (@RegSprecher) July 14, 2014
Podolski x RiRi x Shweinsteiger pic.twitter.com/Sq0HDFDcaB
— Rihanna (@rihanna) July 14, 2014
