FIFA World Cup 2014: Awards Trivia Quiz

Answer: Colombia

As part of its campaign to promote fair play, the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) regularly appraises team conduct on and off the pitch. Teams are judged on a set of criteria that includes positive play, respect towards opponents and match officials, and behavior of team officials and supporters. The TSG takes into account every match in the final competition, but ultimately only the 16 teams who progress to the knockout phase are eligible. Colombia exited after the quarterfinals with 91 fouls committed (a count surpassed only by the Netherlands, Brazil, and Costa Rica), but just 5 yellow cards. The roughness of the match against Brazil was largely blamed on a lack of control by the referees. Indeed, the officials did not even call a foul on Colombian defender Juan Camilo Zuniga's reckless challenge, a hard knee to the back that fractured Neymar's vertebrae.

Costa Rica earned the most cards (12 yellow and 1 red), besides which its supporters are not known for good behavior. Chile accrued 7 yellows. Cameroon did not make it through to the knockout phase, but picked up 4 yellows and Alex Song's red for violent conduct in the group stage.

Answer: Lionel Messi (ARG)

Messi received his award immediately following Argentina's 1-0 loss to Germany in the final. No doubt he was carrying the weight of the loss on his shoulders having missed some golden opportunities to score. After receiving the award, he commented, "Right now I do not care nothing, not about my prize, nothing. I just wanted to lift the cup and bring it to Argentina. The pain is very great".

Many fans and pundits felt that, despite his proven ability, Messi did not deliver the most outstanding performance at the tournament, and that someone more deserving should have won the adidas Golden Boot. In fact, his fellow countryman, the great Diego Maradona said, "I would give heaven and earth to Leo, but when marketing people want him to win something he didn't (deserve to) win, it is unfair". Shortly thereafter, the TSG released a very reasonable explanation for its selection.

Thomas Muller (GER) took the Silver and Arjen Robben (NED) the Bronze. Ronaldo exited after three games when Portugal failed to reach the knockout phase. Suarez was barred from participating in Uruguay's knockout campaign after biting an opponent in the final group stage game against Italy. Neymar missed Brazil's final two games after suffering injury in the quarterfinal.

Answer: Thomas Muller (GER)

German forward Thomas Muller was awarded both the Silver Ball and the Silver Boot at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He scored 5 goals and picked up 3 assists in 7 games. At the 2010 FIFA World Cup, in addition to receiving the Young Player Award, the exact same record of 5 goals and 3 assists over 7 games earned Muller the Golden Boot.

Answer: 6

Rodriguez collected 6 goals and 2 assists, scoring at least once in each of Colombia's 5 games. In the group stage, he put in one per game in the 3-0 win against Greece, the 2-1 win against Cote d'Ivoire, and the 4-1 victory over Japan. He scored both goals against Uruguay in the Round of 16 match, and added one more to his tally in the 1-2 loss to Brazil in the quarterfinals.

Thomas Muller (GER) netted 5 and added 3 assists to earn the Silver. Neymar (BRA) and Messi (ARG) recorded 4 goals and 1 assist apiece, but Neymar received the Bronze because he played fewer minutes.

Answer: Hyundai

The Young Player Award was first presented at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and was then sponsored by Gillette. Hyundai took over sponsorship at the 2010 and 2014 tournaments. At the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Hyundai Young Player Award went to the most outstanding young player in the tournament born on or after January 1, 1993. The recipient was elected on the official FIFA World Cup website with the help of the FIFA Technical Study Group. Paul Pogba (age 21) of France was the recipient. Pogba recorded an assist in the 5-2 group stage win against Switzerland and netted a goal in the 2-0 Round of 16 win against Nigeria.

It seems appropriate that the youngster should shine in Brazil. He captained France at the U-17, U-18, U-19, and U-20 levels. In 2012, after scoring the winner for Juventus against Bologna, he proclaimed that he did not intend to be a shooting star. In 2013, he was honored with the Golden Boy (l'Albo d'Oro) award and the Golden Ball at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Answer: James Rodriguez (COL)

While Rodriguez, van Persie, Cahill, and Gotze each delivered memorable showpieces, it was an exquisitely chested down, dipping volley smashed off the crossbar into goal that impressed most. Cahill and Gotze scored off brilliant volleys as well, while van Persie earned the nickname "Flying Dutchman" following an epic diving header against Spain. Of the four, only Rodriguez faced Uruguay.

Answer: German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Neuer was a commanding presence in goal at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. His sweeper-keeper style set him apart from the other contenders, of which several were outstanding. His ranging play and willingness to challenge the opposition certainly contributed to Germany's success, and caused him to be regarded by some as his team's eleventh man. Still, that hug, with all its sentiment and emotion and balletic composure, must go down as a shining moment.

Answer: Lionel Messi (ARG)

The Budweiser Man of the Match was assigned to the most outstanding player after each game. Awards were based on popular vote collected via FIFA.com, the FIFA Twitter account, and the FIFA mobile phone application. Messi was named Man of the Match in the games against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria, and Switzerland. His tally just edged out Keylor Navas (CRC), Arjen Robben (NED), and James Rodriguez (COL) who were each sitting on three.
Kroos, Luiz, and van Persie earned one apiece.

Answer: The winning goal came off a set piece

The game was goalless after regulation and was headed for a penalty shootout when Mario Gotze scored from open play with minutes left in the second period of extra time. Andre Schurrle blazed down the left flank and delivered a cross into the box. Gotze chested down and smashed in a left-footed volley. Both Schurrle and Gotze entered the game as substitutes (for Cristoph Kramer and Miroslav Klose, respectively).
Germany drew even with Italy on four World Cup victories, one shy of five-time champions Brazil.

Answer: Toni Kroos (GER)

The Castrol Performance Index is a system that employs the latest FIFA technology to capture and analyze metrics (such as pass completion rates, shot accuracy, distance traveled, etc.) to rate player performance. Kroos topped the list with a final rating of 9.79.

Benzema (9.6), Ozil (9.31), and Vlaar (9.48) just missed the Top XI (the best rated players by position in a 4-4-2 formation), though Benzema and Vlaar made the top 10 overall. The 2014 FIFA World Cup Top XI included keeper Manuel Neuer (GER), defenders Marcos Rojo (ARG), Mats Hummels (GER), Thiago Silva (BRA), and Stefan de Vrij (NED), midfielders Oscar (BRA), Toni Kroos, Philipp Lahm (GER), and James Rodriguez (COL), and forwards Arjen Robben (NED) and Thomas Muller (GER).