Vibrating watches, vanishing spray and the gadgets of Brazil 2014
At Brazil's 2014 World Cup the referee wore a watch that buzzed whenever the ball fully crossed the goal line. Fourteen high-speed cameras, seven trained on each goal, fed a processing centre that rebuilt the ball's position virtually, ending the era of disputed ghost goals at football's biggest tournament.
The system, called Goal Control, had been tried at the 2013 Confederations Cup before its World Cup debut. Its first decisive moment came in France's group game against Honduras, when it confirmed that the French second goal should stand. Referees also carried something humbler: a water-based spray that marks the ten-yard line for defenders and the spot for a free kick, then fades within minutes.
The ball changed too. The previous tournament's Jabulani had drawn heavy criticism, so Adidas spent more than two years testing its replacement, the Brazuca, cutting it to six thermally bonded panels for steadier flight. It was manufactured by Forward Sports in Sialkot, Pakistan. Heat brought another novelty. If the wet bulb globe temperature topped 32 degrees Celsius, referees could stop play for three minutes after the half-hour mark, and the first such break came in the Netherlands versus Mexico round-of-16 tie, played at 32 degrees with 68 percent humidity.
Brazil was confirmed as host unopposed in October 2007 after Colombia withdrew, and twelve cities staged 64 matches, forcing long journeys across the country. The Maracana was the only stadium also used in 1950. Around a million foreign visitors arrived from 202 countries, and fan fests in the host cities drew five million people. Bosnia and Herzegovina were the only newcomers.
On the pitch, the hosts suffered a 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany and finished fourth, and holders Spain went out in the groups. Germany then beat Argentina 1-0 in the final, Mario Gotze volleying the winner in the 113th minute. It was their fourth title and the first by a European side in the Americas.
Source: 2014 FIFA World Cup
