Top 5 Footy Photos of 2014
No sport makes for stunning visuals quite like football, and 2014 marked yet another year when an array of incredible photos were produced from matches across the planet.
From Turkey to Brazil to Spain and back to Brazil again, here are the top five footy photos of 2014:
5) Lights go out at Besiktas's Ataturk Olympic Stadium
A Europa League fixture between Besiktas and Tottenham earlier this month saw the lights go out at the Turkish club's Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
While the power outage caused the match to be temporarily delayed, it made for a beautiful image as Besiktas supporters decided to light up the ground using their cell phones.
4) Don't cry for me, Chile
Chile's exit from the World Cup was as heartbreaking as they come. Jorge Sampaoli's side were bounced from the competition in the round of 16 following a gut-wrenching penalty shootout against host nation Brazil.
If that wasn't bad enough, Chile were also cruelly betrayed by the woodwork at two crucial points in the match. Mauricio Pinilla smashed a shot off the crossbar in the 119th minute that would have essentially guaranteed Chile's progression, and the shootout itself ended as a result of Gonzalo Jara blasting Chile's fifth and final penalty off the post.
Sadness subsequently overcame the faces of Chilean supporters, including this young man, who couldn't hold back the tears as they rolled over a painted flag on his cheek.
3) Giant insect lands on James Rodriguez
In one of the more unusual moments of the World Cup, a massive insect, which appears to be a katydid, landed on James Rodriguez during Colombia's 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Brazil.
If that wasn't weird enough, the locust jumped on him immediately after he converted a penalty that gave Colombia a late glimmer of hope.
What did it mean? We're not sure. But the stars clearly aligned, and we, for one, welcomed our new insect overlords.
2) 'Tito, Always Eternal'
The footballing world lost one of its greatest coaches in April when ex-Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova lost his battle with throat cancer.
His death was met with an outpouring of support from players and fellow coaches, among others, and outside the Camp Nou, supporters showed up in droves to leave mementos at a memorial that read "Tito, Always Eternal."
1) Brazil 1, Germany 7
Germany's 7-1 thrashing of Brazil in the World Cup semifinals was the most defining moment from the footballing world in 2014.
With the weight of a nation on their shoulders, the Selecao were humiliated in front of their own supporters at the Estadio Mineirao as Germany pulled off one of the most extraordinary results in recent history.
A sadness consumed Brazil after the final whistle, and inside the Mineirao, the mourning of Brazil's World Cup aspirations was met with darkness as the lights were turned out, leaving the "1-7" scoreboard as the only visible item.
