What makes Brazil 2014 special?

1 Goal Line TechnologyFrance’s second goal in their match against Honduras was a milestone, it was the first time new automated goal line technology was used during this tournament to judge whether the ball had crossed the line or not.German made Goal Control is the system currently in use, it uses 14 high-speed cameras mounted […]

1 Goal Line Technology
France’s second goal in their match against Honduras was a milestone, it was the first time new automated goal line technology was used during this tournament to judge whether the ball had crossed the line or not.
German made Goal Control is the system currently in use, it uses 14 high-speed cameras mounted around the stadium – seven pointed at each goal to track the flight of the ball and detect whether it has cross the goal line or not.
In my opinion it is the most important football innovations in recent years, it has been a long wait and countless controversies wouldn’t have surfaced assuming this has been used long ago.
Used in other sports like tennis with incredible success not until the Frank Lampard wrongly disallowed goal against Germany in 2010 World Cup that FIFA opened it arms to this amazing innovation.
2. Vanishing spray
This has been used in league matches on the South American continent for some years, but for the huge global audience, it’s a first.
No more defensive wall creeping forward to cramp the free kick taker’s style, when the referee isn’t looking, it means we would now see more goals scored from free kicks.
According to Live Science it is: “a mixture of butane, isobutane and propane gas; a foaming agent; water; and other chemicals.
The spray is the brainchild of Argentine journalist Pablo Silva who developed the spray called “9:15 Fairplay,” a reference to the metric equivalent of the free-kick distance requirement.
3. Brazuca
The Adidas made official Brazil 2014 match ball is getting rave reviews, it has been widely praised by players and goalkeepers alike, Uruguay keeper said it’s the best he has played with adding that its amazing technique makes it an incredible experience for goalkeepers and on the players part Chile’s Alexis Sanchez called the ball a “strikers delight” Four-time world player of the year Messi said “My first impression of the ball is that it’s really good.”
Even non-Adidas contracted players such as Wayne Rooney, Julio Cesar and Joe Hart have praised the ball unlike the Jabulani of 2010 that was heavily criticized.
Oddities as bonus
4. English physio’s injury
Has it happened before I asked myself when I heard this, England physio Gary Lewin was the first to be ruled out of the tournament through injury, the medic who is supposed to attend to injured players injured his knee on the sideline while celebrating Daniel Sturridge’s goal in the 2-1 defeat to Italy.