Day 6 - End of Round 1

Who stole the show on the last day of Round 1.

Guillermo Ochoa,  Mexican goalkeeper. Technically, this match is the start of Round 2 but anyway, Play on..

What a save, what a nostalgic moment! If you know World Cup history, then no doubt you had images of Banks and Pele flooding as it happened. The beauty of the World Cup..

Not just a one save wonder, Ochoa showed his technique in the 1v1's and then on the bouncing Neymar volley. It gave a snapshot that he is one talented goalkeeper and will not be a free agent for long.

Another man that stole the show for me, was Marc Wilmots.

Belgium manager Marc Wilmots made all three of his substitutions by 65 minutes. Two of those substitutions were bold decisions to replace key attacking players while chasing the game, Dembele and Lukaku.

His third sub, Fellaini, levelled the score within 5 minutes from coming on and then his half time substitution sealed the blitz 10 minutes from time.

Marc Wilmots won his 1v1 duel.

There was one more man that stepped up today and showed his boldness.

Referee Cuneyt Cakir.

Cuneyt took the bold, unthinkable decision of awarding a foul in favor of Mexico, therefore becoming the first Referinho to penalise the home team. The outcry from the touristic home fans that were busy performing the Mexican wave was immediate. How could he?

And just when it could not get worse, he waved away Marcelo's penalty claims when he had clearly been swept away by the wind while through clean on goal.

Today brought an end to Round 1.

No doubt, the best start to a World Cup that I have lived.

The quality has been unbelievably high. It has made looking like death, mico-sleeping, and carrying a sore back from couch-sleeping worthwhile.

Can we pick a winner yet, no. If anything the competition has opened up.

The big movers, Germany, Netherlands, Colombia.

The big losers, Spain, Portugal and Uruguay.

Refill your coffee pods, purchase more eye drops, set twice as many alarms this round and fingers crossed for more of the same.