Football World Cup: Best PHOTOS from group stage matches

We have witnessed lots of drama, excitement and goals from the first half of the football World Cup.

Rediff gives you a quick flashback of the best moments from the World Cup group stages.

Robin van Persie of the Netherlands scores the team's first goal with a diving header against Spain.

The Dutch thrashed the defending champions 5-1 in their Group B match.

Brazil's Thiago Silva (left) challenges Croatia's Ivica Olic during their opening match at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo.

Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 under controversial circumstances.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo refreshes himself during the final group match against Ghana. 

Ronaldo scored his only goal -- his 50th -- in this edition the World Cup to seal victory against the African nation. But the win wasn't enough as both teams were knocked out of the tournamenti in the group stage itself.

Italy's Giorgio Chiellini shows his shoulder, claiming he was bitten by Uruguay's Luis Suarez during their final Group D match. 

Uruguay's Suarez received a nine-match suspension and has been banned for four months from any football-related activity for the biting incident. 

Hector Moreno of Mexico heads the ball as he is challenged by Stephane Mbia of Cameroon during their Group A match at Estadio das Dunas in Natal.

Mexico beat Cameroon 1-0.

Joel Campbell of Costa Rica celebrates scoring his team's first goal against Uruguay. 

Costa Rica shocked Uruguay with a 3-1 win.

Pepe of Portugal headbutts Thomas Mueller of Germany resulting in a red card.

Eventually Germany eased past 10-man Portugal 4-0 in their World Cup Group G match at Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador.

Gerard Pique of Spain challenges Arjen Robben of the Netherlands during their Group B match.

Antonio Valencia of Ecuador competes for the ball with Roger Espinoza of Honduras during their Group E match. 

Ecuador beat Honduras 2-1.

Miroslav Klose does a sommersault to celebrate scoring Germany's second and the world record-equalling goal against Ghana in their Group G match.

Miroslav Klose scored a landmark goal as Germany and Ghana drew 2-2 with all the goals coming in a terrific second half of another rip-roaring football World Cup clash in Fortaleza.

Leroy Fer of the Netherlands scores his team's first goal off a header in their Group B match against Chile.

The Dutch beat Chile 2-0.

France's Olivier Giroud (centre) tries to score past Ecuador's goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez in their Group E match. 

South Korea's Son Heung-min cries after their Group H match against Belgium at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo.

Ecuador's Walter Ayovi covers his face with his jersey after their Group E match against France at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.