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Was this World Cup the best ever?

With the conclusion of the final between Germany and Argentina yesterday (this morning, Singapore time), this World Cup may have surpassed the previous record number of goals scored of 171 — achieved in France in 1998. Already, many are claiming Brazil have staged the best World Cup so far, but not everyone shares that opinion.

Robin van Persie’s unique header against Spain is one of the outstanding goals at this year’s World Cup in Brazil. Photo: Getty Images

Robin van Persie’s unique header against Spain is one of the outstanding goals at this year’s World Cup in Brazil. Photo: Getty Images

With the conclusion of the final between Germany and Argentina yesterday (this morning, Singapore time), this World Cup may have surpassed the previous record number of goals scored of 171 — achieved in France in 1998. Already, many are claiming Brazil have staged the best World Cup so far, but not everyone shares that opinion.

YES, IT WAS THE GREATEST

COMMENTARY BY JASON BURT

The claim that this has been the best World Cup is a bold one. But then this has been a bold World Cup. There has been some inevitable caginess in some of the knockout matches, not least the semi-final between the Netherlands and Argentina, but the exhilarating, unpredictable football that dominated the opening weeks should not be forgotten. Look at the quality of those goals, as well, and the thrilling individual performances from an array of attacking players.

The stars have been the forward players: James Rodriguez, Neymar, Arjen Robben, Alexis Sanchez, Lionel Messi, Thomas Muller and Karim Benzema. And so many of the goals have been outstanding: Rodriguez’s stunning volley against Uruguay, Robin van Persie unique header against Spain, Tim Cahill’s strike against the Netherlands and Chile’s team goal against Spain. The list goes on.

There has been tactical variation and great coaching from the likes of Louis van Gaal, Joachim Low and Chile’s remarkable firecracker Jorge Sampaoli. The underdogs, too, have barked. Not only Costa Rica, but Algeria and Chile — and none of them tried to achieve success by “parking the bus”. Then there was the United States and Ghana and even Iran.

When else has there been a World Cup in which the holders were thrashed 5-1 in the opening match and failed to get through the group stage, as happened to Spain? When else has there been a World Cup in which a nation such as Costa Rica would top a group that included three previous winners in England, Italy and Uruguay?

And when else has there been a World Cup with the extraordinary, sad, painful, dramatic encounter that unfolded in Belo Horizonte as the hosts Brazil were eviscerated 7-1 by Germany. It was a piece of history that will resonate through the decades.

Above all this it has, gloriously, poignantly — and controversially — been a Brazilian World Cup. Yes, there have been the incumbent problems of poverty and logistical chaos, but this has been an almost religious congregation of the world’s most popular sport. Brazil has made its own mark: The people, the stadiums, the atmosphere — and the games. Thirty-two nations came to the greatest show on earth and most them wanted to play a full part.

It was cheesy to label this World Cup as football returning to its spiritual home, but there was truth in that. Brazil has brought the best out of the World Cup and the World Cup has brought the best out of Brazil.

Jason Burt is a senior football writer at The Daily Telegraph.

NO, IT WAS NOT

COMMENTARY BY JIM WHITE

This has been a wonderful World Cup , full of goals and upsets, of freshly-formed heroes and pantomime villains, a tournament that has lived up to the footballing traditions of its host nation. Best of all, it has been a brilliant corrective to the awfulness of the past World Cup. 2010 was a dire, sterile, unambitious affair.

But simply because it was so much better than the previous outing should not lead us to believe it is the best ever. No competition that boasts as its penultimate tie Argentina and the Netherlands playing for penalties across 120 minutes from the first peep of the referee’s whistle can make easy claim to that status.

For sure, we can happily conclude that this is the best tournament this century, even if — the extraordinary capitulation on Tuesday by Brazil notwithstanding — we ignore the fact that this has been an event that has rather gone off the boil since the first knockout round.

It has been better than 2010, obviously, better than 2002 as well, and certainly better than 2006, which had a great group stage only.

Of course, it is better than United States in 1994, Italy in 1990 and Mexico in 1986, tournaments that flickered only occasionally. And we can probably conclude it is better, certainly in terms of its scale and competitive range, than any before 1966, even if those who were there say 1958 had its glories.

But better than 1970, won by the greatest international agglomeration of talent ever assembled? Better than 1982, with its Technicolor Brazilians, madly celebrating Italians and a heart‑warming cameo by snappy underdogs Northern Ireland?

And what about France in 1998? Like a proper drama, that was a World Cup that built and built, sustaining its excitement right to its conclusion. Played in fine stadiums that did not appear to be under military siege, this was the competition illuminated by sumptuous goals from Michael Owen and Dennis Bergkamp, in which every municipal fountain anywhere across the country seemed to be occupied by a cheerful Scotsman in a kilt.

It was also a competition in which the host nation embraced local expectation, rather than withered under it, playing with panache and style until the very last kick. That was the tournament against which every World Cup must be measured.

And, while pushing it close, it will take an exceptional final for Brazil 2014 to surpass it.

Jim White is a sports columnist at The Daily Telegraph.

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