Latest from Football World Cup

Paul Lewis: Luis' return leaves game with a gnawing problem

Poor, old Luis Suarez. The more you see the biting incident in this otherwise terrific World Cup, the more you fear for the guy's mental health.

Innocents cop Kiwi ref's abuse

The Peter O'Learys of the world are crying foul over abuse being meted out to them instead of a controversial Kiwi referee with the same name.

Football: Arjen is Robben the limelight

Always appearing older than he is, 30-year-old Arjen Robben seems to have been around, fully formed, for years. But what we are seeing at this World Cup is a player at last coming of age.

World Cup: 5 things we learned

No All Whites, no worries for punters

There may be no All Whites this time but that hasn't slowed the willingness of Kiwis to take a punt on the Fifa World Cup.

Sam Malcolmson: Major powers about to fully test upstarts

The spirit of unity among the remaining World Cup contenders will be vital in the knockout stage.

Goalmouth scramble: Lessons learned from the group stage

Football: World Cup Power Rankings

World Cup wrap: Three questions

With half of the World Cup teams heading home, we look back on the group stage of the 2014 World Cup and which teams and players stood out.

Fifa World Cup: Pretty boy Neymar becomes a footballer for the people

When street protests erupted in Brazil a year ago, Neymar issued a statement that enhanced his hero status.

Fifa urges to get tough over Suarez

Giorgio Chiellini demanded that Fifa show the "courage" to ban Luis Suarez from the World Cup after becoming the third opponent to be bitten by the controversial Uruguayan striker.

Chris Rattue: Time to stop Chewy Luis

Three bites and you are out, writes Chris Rattue. That should be football's response to a third Luis Suarez biting scandal in four years, this one damaging the image of the World Cup.

Football: Old Cup rivalries get loud and insulting

The video circulating around a gleeful Argentina has not been lost on the long-suffering Brazilians, just across the eastern border.

Fat chance of Brazilian sign being adopted here

Football: Jogo Bonito casts magic spell

It's taken 64 years for the World Cup to return to Brazil but, in just over a week, it feels like football has regained some of its true essence.

German World Cup jersey sales to hit record

Adidas predicts it will sell a third more Germany jerseys this year than when the country hosted the World Cup eight years ago as fans worldwide get behind the team in Brazil.

Francesco Ricatti and Mauro Valeri: Super Mario - black, proud and a target for racists

Mario Balotelli is already an international football star and could become one of Italy's greatest ever strikers.

Kiwi ref 'frustrated' by backlash

The Kiwi football referee who received death threats after officiating a World Cup match this week is "frustrated" by the vitriolic backlash but "happy" with his performance.