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This article was first published 10 years ago

FIFA World Cup: Best Fans of the Final

Last updated on: July 14, 2014 10:50 IST

Image: A fan looks at the Germany flag before the 2014 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro
Photographs: Darren Staples/Reuters

From Buenos Aires to the Brandenburg Gate, millions of people watched Sunday's World Cup final between Germany and Argentina in Brazil.

In Rio de Janeiro, which hosted the final, the party was in full swing, with soccer fans flocking to Copacabana Beach and flooding the city's bars and restaurants.

PHOTOS: Super Mario stunner guides Germany to World Cup glory

Complete coverage of the football World Cup

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fans of the Final

Image: These Argentina and Germany fans enjoy the atmosphere ahead of the FIFA World Cup Brazil final
Photographs: Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images

A massive security operation was in force outside the famous Maracana stadium, where 10 heads of state attended the match along with nearly 75,000 fans.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fans of the Final

Image: Argentina fans enjoy the atmosphere ahead of the World Cup final
Photographs: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Although the host nation was not playing in the final, Brazil transformed the event into one massive carnival, with celebrations taking place across the entire country, from the favelas to the Amazon.

A tournament that has exceeded everyone's expectations and been widely deemed to be the best ever World Cup, reached its climax with a classic game between two great European and South American heavyweights.

Germany and Argentina had already played each other in two previous World Cup finals, Argentina winning 3-2 in Mexico City in 1986 and Germany triumphing 1-0 in Rome four years later.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fans of the Final

Image: An Argentina and Germany fans prior to the World Cup Brazil final between Germany and Argentina at the Maracana
Photographs: Martin Rose/Getty Imagess

After a week of rain, Mother Nature also looked kindly on the biggest single sporting event in the world, leaving Rio bathed in sunshine in the lead-up to the match as fans began to make their way toward the stadium.

“We are really excited and it is great," said Germany fan Elke Dambeck. "The weather is brilliant and now we just have to play like we did against Brazil, then it will all be fine.”

Another Germany supporter, who identified herself only as Stephanie, said it was a once in a lifetime experience.

“Unbelievable, I don’t think I will be able to believe I was here until I get home and see the photos," she said.

"You only have this much luck once in your life and we are lucky enough to be here today.”

Argentina fans were also in jubilant mood, chanting songs and joining in with supporters from all over the world, sipping on caipirinha cocktails.

 “I hope that we win," said Diego. "I don’t like to talk about possible goals, I just want Argentina to win. That’s all I want.”

Another fan, Horacio, added: “I made a lot of sacrifices to be here and I hope that the players will put in the same effort on the field so that Argentina are champions again.”

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day

Image: Brazil fans react after the Netherlands scored to take a 3-0 lead in extra time on Copacabana Beach
Photographs: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Brazil ended their World Cup with a 3-0 defeat by the Netherlands in Saturday's World Cup third-place play-off in Brasilia.

- PHOTOS: Netherlands stroll past hapless Brazil to secure third spot

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day

Image: A Brazil fan cries after being defeated by the Netherlands 3-0
Photographs: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

With the home fans watching in disbelief, Van Persie stepped up to smash in the penalty as the home fans in the stadium and throughout the Brazilian capital fell into near silence.

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day

Image: A young Brazil fan is consoled after being defeated by the Netherlands
Photographs: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

It was the fourth time Brazil played in a third-place match. It beat Sweden in 1938 and Italy in 1978, and the only other loss had come against Poland in 1974.

The Netherlands had played in the third-place match one other time. It fell to Croatia 2-1 in 1998 after being beaten by Brazil in the semi-finals.

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day

Image: German fans pose with a replica of World Cup trophy
Photographs: Drawlio Joca/Getty Images

Germany's biggest challenge remains how to contain Messi, who has been heavily marked throughout the tournament but still looms as the big danger.

Have you met Lionel Messi's sexy girlfriend?

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day

Image: A Germany fan poses
Photographs: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Germany were back on the training pitch at their secluded base camp in Santo Andre after taking Wednesday off following their 7-1 thrashing of host-nation Brazil on Tuesday.

And so where their fans cheering them from the sidelines.

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day

Image: Argentina fans celebrate after their team won the 2014 World Cup semi-final match against the Netherlands as they watched at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro
Photographs: Jorge Silva/Reuters

Goalkeeper Sergio Romero saved two penalties as Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-2 via the penalty shoot-out to seal the country's first World Cup final place in 24 years after the first ever goalless semi-final at the end of extra-time on Wednesday.

- PHOTOS: Romero's heroics guide Argentina into World Cup final

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day

Image: Argentina fans kiss a replica of the World Cup trophy
Photographs: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Twice champions Argentina now travel to Rio de Janeiro for Sunday's final against old rivals Germany, who thrashed hosts Brazil 7-1 in the other semi-final in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday.

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day

Image: Argentina fans enjoy the atmosphere during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Semi Final match between the Netherlands and Argentina at Arena de Sao Paulo
Photographs: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

It will be a repeat of the 1986 and 1990 final and the first time the same two teams will have faced each other three times in the title decider.

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day 1

Image: Germany fans celebrate after Thomas Mueller scores the opening goal against Brazil on Tuesday
Photographs: Thomas Peter/Reuters

Germany football fans were all smiles on Tuesday as their team mauled Brazil 7-1 to reach the final of the 2014 FIFA Worlld Cup.

PHOTOS: Germany pump seven past hosts Brazil, make eighth final

Germany have the chance to win the World Cup for the fourth time when they play the winners of Wednesday's semi-final between Argentina and the Netherlands in Sunday's final in Rio de Janeiro.

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day 1

Image: Fans of Brazil pose for pictures as they wait for the start of their 2014 World Cup semi-finals against Germany at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday
Photographs: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

These Brazilian fans look all happy before the commencement of the semi-final between the hosts and Germany.

But the smiles on their faces were wiped out after their boys received a mauling at the hands of a superior German squad.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day


Photographs: Ian Walton/Getty Images

There was no dearth of excitement when France faced African opponents Nigeria on Monday. 

PHOTOS: France leave it late, keep impressive record intact

Nigeria were tipped to give France a run for their money and so  did, keeping the fans on the edge of their seats. 

These supporters of 'Les Blues' had to wait till the 79th minute for their team to score the first goal. Soon after the winner came when Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo scored an own goal to seal the deal late in the match and give these pretty ladies lots to smile about.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day


Photographs: Julian Finney/Getty Images

There was also reasons for this beautiful German fan to flash that beautiful smile.

PHOTOS: Germany beat Algeria to set up quarter-final with France

Her team made it to the last eight after a hard-fought win over plucky Algeria. 

The fans got their share of satisfaction when Germany won in extra time.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: Mexico fans show support
Photographs: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The fans of the national team of Mexico have faith in their players and they believed that this team was destined to go farther than before.

-PHOTOS: Dutch leave it late to beat gritty Mexicans

But a stoppage time penalty from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar gave the Netherlands a dramatic 2-1 victory over Mexico in the second round of the World Cup on Sunday, minutes after the Mexicans seemed certain to reach the quarter-finals.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: Costa Rica's fans celebrate after their team scored a goal against Greece as they watch a broadcast of their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game in San Jose
Photographs: Juan Carlos Ulate/Reuters

Costa Rica secured a place in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time on Sunday after beating Greece 5-3 on penalties after the teams finished level at 1-1 after extra time, the Central Americans playing for almost an hour with 10 men.

-PHOTOS: Costa Rica book their maiden quarters berth

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: Brazil fans celebrate on Copacabana Beach after their shootout win over Chile
Photographs: Mario Tama/Getty Images

The Brazilian fans kept chanting “Eu Acredito” (“I believe”) and so, finally, did their team.

-PHOTOS: Brazil do a last 16 'hat-trick' over Chile

Hosts Brazil beat Chile 3-2 in a penalty shootout to reach the World Cup quarter-finals after their dramatic last-16 match in Belo Horizonte ended 1-1 after extra time on Saturday.

-Complete coverage of the Football World Cup...

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: Fans cheer after Brazil scored a goal
Photographs: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Brazil continue to be Chile's bogey team at the World Cup. The last three times (including this match) Chile has made it to the round of 16 in the tournament, it has come up second best against Brazil.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: US fans react during the 2014 World Cup Group G match between Germany and the US at a viewing party in Hermosa Beach, California
Photographs: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

In USA there was celebration without a victory.

Germany topped Group G courtesy a winner from Thomas Muller against USA. Yet the Americans made it to the last 16. It was via Portugal's 2-1 win over Ghana in another Group G encounter in Brasilia that made the fans cheer.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: A Belgium fan poses during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group H match between South Korea and Belgium at Arena de Sao Paulo
Photographs: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images


Jan Vertonghen led 10-man Belgium to a 1-0 win over South Korea that gave them top place in their World Cup group H and ended Asian hopes.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: A Honduras fan shows her support prior to the FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Switzerland at Arena Amazonia
Photographs: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Honduras’ participation at the finals in Brazil ended but they head home with a consolation prize.

-Complete coverage of the football World Cup

Carlo Costly scored a lone goal in three outings. The goal came in their second outing against Ecuador in Group E. It broke the team’s 32-year World Cup goalscoring drought and put the underdogs in the headlines.

PHOTOS: Shaqiri's treble crushes Honduras

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: Fans arrive before the Group A match between Brazil and Cameroon at Estadio Nacional
Photographs: Celso Junior/Getty Images

Football and Samba style dancing is synonymous with Brazil and when they get together it is a mouth watering combination. The picture says it all.

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day 1

Image: A US fan cheers during the 2014 World Cup G match between Portugal and the US at the Amazonia arena in Manaus
Photographs: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

Brazil has turned out to be the perfect place for the American fans. There is festively on the sun kissed beaches before the games which they take over to the stadiums during matches.

-Complete coverage of the football World Cup

-PHOTOS: Portugal live to fight another day; Algeria thump Korea

And just when it looked as though the Americans had secured a come-from-behind victory to qualify for the second round, Silvestre Varela scored with a flying header from a Cristiano Ronaldo cross to keep alive Portugal's hopes.

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day 1

Image: US fans cheer
Photographs: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

The result of another wildly entertaining World Cup match means that after two games the US are in second place, level with Germany on four points.

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Tags: FIFA , Germany , US

FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: An Italy fan cheers before 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco arena in Recife
Photographs: Yves Herman/Reuters

Costa Rica continued their giantkilling spree in the World Cup and secured a spot in the next round as they defeated four-time champions Italy 1-0. In the process they knocked England out of the tournament.

-Catch the complete coverage of the football World Cup

It was heartbreak for the fans too. They were waiting for a goal that never came.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: An Italy fan cheers
Photographs: Yves Herman/Reuters

There wasn’t much to celebrate and what started out as cheers and excitement ended later in disappointment.

The win also meant curtains for England in the group which was termed as the 'Group of Death' also featuring Croatia. While Italy will need a draw to make it to the last 16, Uruguay can't settle for anything less than a victory.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: Colombian fans enjoy
Photographs: Ian Walton/Getty Images

The Colombia- Ivory Coast match was one of the most entertaining in the World Cup so far as Colombia scored twice in six minutes. And there was an encore in the stadium. The Colombian fans could not have asked for more action.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: A Colombia fan enjoys the atmosphere prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup match
Photographs: Warren Little/Getty Images

The young generation of the South American side took the centre stage with 22-year-old Rodriguez and 21-year-old Quintero scoring a goal each in front a partisan Colombian crowd at the Estadio Nacional.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: A Colombia fan holds a flag prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group C match against Ivory Coast
Photographs: Ian Walton/Getty Images

One big party is assured in Colombia. They thrashed Greece 3-0 in their opening match, are now on the verge of a berth in the knockout round as they now topped the group with six points with one match remaining -- against Japan on June 24.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: A Colombia fan enjoys the atmosphere
Photographs: Warren Little/Getty Images

The South Americans, who are returning to the World Cup finals stage after a gap of 16 years, had reached the round of 16 at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: A Colombia fan enjoys
Photographs: Warren Little/Getty Images

The match only really came to life in the second half and the fans also started making more noise.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: A Spain fan enjoys the atmosphere prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup
Photographs: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

Stunned by Spain's 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands, Spain fans are already bemoaning the end of a glorious era and fearing the worst.

Instead of a proud and angry response all the fans got was watching their team getting bulldozed once again.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: Chile and Spain fans cheer prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group B match between Spain and Chile at Maracana
Photographs: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

On the day King Carlos of Spain abdicated his throne, his once glorious footballers found they would advance no further and will return home at the end of the first stage.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: Spanish fans react while watching their team play against the Chileans
Photographs: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Spanish fans reacted to the World Cup champion’s elimination with astonishment.

The streets were dead silent after the end of the match.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: American soccer fans react
Photographs: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Americans are starting to get a little rowdy at the World Cup in Brazil and that's just dandy for fans whose devotion highlights a growing football culture in a nation slow to embrace the world's most popular game.

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Whether they call it football or soccer, US supporters reveling in Monday's 2-1 win against Ghana are helping foster the kind of tribal and community ties that make the sport, and especially the World Cup, an indispensable event for many nations across the globe.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: American soccer fans react to their team beating Ghana 2-1
Photographs: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The dress code ranged from traditional team kit to super-hero chic to creative uses of an American flag as hundreds of boisterous fans balanced their beers and took turns batting a beach ball around a large hall.

The increasing passion of US fans has mirrored growth of the game at home, where it competes for attention with the established sports of American Football, ice hockey and basketball.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: A fan looks on during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group H match between Russia and South Korea at Arena Pantanal
Photographs: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

A South Korean fan has mixed emotions after the Asian giants were held to a draw by Russia.

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FIFA World Cup: Best Fan of the Day

Image: An Argentina fans take a selfie in the crowd prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group F match between Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina at Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday
Photographs: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

Where there is a big team there are fans and where there is Argentina there are beautiful fans!

This picture is proof to the above statement.

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While Argentine fans came in hoards to support their team this girl in particular found a lot of interest among her compatriots in the stands.

The sexy lass clicked selfies with fellow Argentines in the stand while her voice went hoarse while egging on her team.

This Argentinian fan could have been the reason behind Messi's magical performance.

She was seen screaming and cheering for Messi and company, as they edged past Bosnia- Herzegovina 2-1.

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Bosnia had its share of support

Image: Bosnia and Herzegovina fans in the stands on Sunday
Photographs: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The Bosnian crowd was not to be left behind as they joined in the football revelry, armed with their scarves, banners and smiles!

Now that is what we call a true football fan!

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day 2

Image: Alessandra Ambrosio
Photographs: Courtesy: Alessandra Ambrosio/Instagram

Alessandra Ambrosio could not help but promote her country during the FIFA World Cup.

-Football World Cup

The sexy supermodel couldn't have been happier as the football World Cup kicked off on her home turf.

She tweeted, “I'm warming up, getting ready for the World Cup.”

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day 2

Image: Alessandra Ambrosio
Photographs: Courtesy: Alessandra Ambrosio/Instagram

The 33-year-old uploaded a photograph an image of her in a bikini, playing with a football. She also added a photograph with her daughter and son, clad in Brazil’s team colours.

-Points Table: Football World Cup 2014

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day 2

Image: Alessandra Ambrosio
Photographs: Alessandra Ambrosio in the Floral Fantasy Bra and Gift Set by Victoria's Secret

The Victoria's Secret model looks a million dollars (literally!).

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day 1

Image: A Brazil fan smiles before the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup
Photographs: Warren Little/Getty Images

We probably do not know this lady with the best smile. All we know is that she supports Brazil and how!

-Football World Cup

This blonde beauty is dominating all the major news agencies and newspapers all over across the globe.

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Tags: FIFA , Brazil

FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day 1

Image: A Brazil fan poses before the Opening Ceremony
Photographs: Warren Little/Getty Images

Football is truly a ‘beautiful’ sport and such pretty fans truly make make it worth watching.

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FIFA World Cup: Best fan of Day 1

Image: A fan waves a Brazilian flag
Photographs: Christopher Lee/Getty Images

Thousands of Brazilian fans flocked to Fan Fests in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to watch the hosts' opening match against Croatia.

Brazil made a winning start to their campaign after a colourful opening ceremony in Sao Paulo.