Every match day, artist Simon Prades will illustrate one defining moment from the latest drama in Brazil. When this year’s tournament produces its stoppage-time miracles (“They think it’s all over…It is now!”) and stunning flops (hello, 2014's Roberto Baggio), you’ll find them captured here as beautiful drawings suitable for framing—or for taunting supporters of the other side on social media. Return to TNR's full World Cup coverage.
Germany vs Argentina - 13 July 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
A starter at midfield early on in the tournament, Mario Gotze was relegated to substitute status as Germany continued its match through this year's tournament. But the 22-year-old'a chest trap and perfect volley in the 113th minute finished off a resilient Argentina and secured a fourth World Cup championship for his country.
Brazil vs Netherlands - 12 July 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
After giving up 10 goals in two games, Brazil, losers to Holland in the "small final," exits the tournament with a whimper.
Netherlands vs Argentina - 10 July 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
Out of substitutions, Holland could not bring on Tim Krul to again play shootout hero, leaving Dutch fans to look on as Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero got his turn as savior. Romero's block of Wesley Sneijder, the keepers second in three attempts, secured the win for La Albiceleste, sending them on to the final.
Brazil vs Germany - 9 July 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
First came Muller's volley in the 11th minute. Then, the deluge: Klose, Kroos, Kroos, Khedira, an impossible four goals in six minutes. Schurrle would add another (and another) in the second half for exclamation, but it was all over for Brazil with a full hour of play left to go.
Argentina vs Belgium - 5 July 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
Gonzalo "Pipita" Higuain scores for Argentina on a lovely half-volley in the 8th minute. After 24 years, the "Albiceleste" reach the semifinals, where they will meet the "Oranje."
Brazil vs Colombia - 4 July 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
With three minutes to go, Juan Zuniga of Colombia smashes his knee into Neymar, leaving the Brazilian sensation with a broken vertebra. The hosts prevailed 2-1, but lost their star for the rest of the tournament.
United States vs Belgium - 1 July 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
Tim Howard makes one of his 16 heroic saves against Belgium. By the end of extra time, his performance had earned the US goalkeeper a place in the World Cup record books—and American sporting lore.
Germany vs Algeria - 30 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
In the 8th minute, Manuel Neuer beats a charging Islam Slimani to the ball--the first of many times the German goalkeeper will venture outside the 18-yard box to defuse Algerian attacks and keep the match scoreless until his teammates can steal the winning goals in extra time.
Netherlands vs Mexico - 29 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
The crafty Arjen Robben draws a foul for Holland, setting up Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to bury a penalty kick and kung fu the corner flag and prolong Mexico's Round of 16 nightmare in the 90th minute.
Brazil vs Chile - 28 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
Chile's Mauricio Pinilla rattles the crossbar with a rocket of a shot in the final seconds of extra time of a match that threw a big scare into, but ultimately did not sink, mighty Brazil.
USA vs Germany - 26 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
Soccer converts across America become passionate defenders of World Cup tiebreaker rules as Cristiano Ronaldo finally scores and Portugal finally wins—but are eliminated on goal differential as Clint Dempsey, Jurgen Klinsmann, and the USMNT advance despite losing to Germany.
Switzerland vs Honduras - 25 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
Xherdan Shaqiri scores his first of three goals against Honduras, bending a ball into the upper corner as he dribbles across the top of the eighteen. After losing 2-5 to France, Switzerland showed its best form of the first round and fought its way into the knockout stage.
Uruguay vs Italy - 23 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
In the 80th minute, Luis Suarez cradles his mouth as if Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder had hit his teeth, rather than the other way around. It is not impossible that The Bite surprised him as much as it shocked the world.
Greece vs Ivory Coast - 23 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
A match day marked by madness closes with an act of sweet humanity. After knocking a controversial penalty past him in the 95th minute, Greece midfielder Giorgios Samaras consoles Ivory Coast goal keeper Boubacar Barry.
Mexico vs Croatia - 23 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
Rafael "El Kaiser de Michoacán" Marquez sparks El Tri's win over Croatia with a cannily timed header in the 72-minute. Mexico's 35-year-old captain was declared past his expiration date before the tournament; he now has goals in three different World Cups.
United States vs Portugal - 22 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
Portugal's equalizer was the one mattered. But it was Jermaine Jones's assertive blast in the 64th minute which epitomized a dominating US attack that had the game won for the Americans--until it didn't.
Germany vs Ghana - 21 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
Miroslav Klose’s 71st minute goal against Ghana cemented his status as World Cup royalty—the 36-year-old striker is now the competition’s joint top scorer with 15 goals
for Germany in four World Cups, tied with (Brazilian) Ronaldo. “Król” translates to king in Polish, and is an homage to Klose’s country of birth.
Switzerland vs France - 20 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
A lovely ball from Paul Pogba in the 67th minute sets up Karim Benzima for a goal--the fourth for Les Bleus in a 5-2 romp and the third for Benzima (an early Golden Boot contender) in two matches.
England vs Uruguay - 19 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
Luis Suarez bashes in his second goal for Uruguay in the 85th minute, all-but burying England's prospects for moving on to the second round.
Spain vs Chile - 18 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
After a stunning bicycle kick by Brazilian turncoat Sergio Ramos plays the ball to him at the post in the 53rd minute, Spain's Sergio Busquets blows an easy chance, knocking the ball off his shin and out of bounds. Eliminated by a strong Chilean team, La Furia Roja, winners of the past three major international tournaments, are fearsome no more.
Mexico vs Brazil - 17 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa stymies Brazil with a magnificent save of a strong Neymer header in the 26th minute. There would be more saves like it before the final whistle sounded.
United States vs Ghana - 16 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
John Brooks heads in the winner for the US against Ghana and is overwhelmed first by the fact that he scored, and then by his teammates.
Argentina vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - 15 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
Messi's goal–that final, extra touch!–against a feisty Bosnian side was typically beautiful. But amid an uneven performance from the Argentine attack, his celebration, as he'd later admit, was one of "relief."
England vs Italy - 14 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
In the 50th minute, Mario Balotelli makes the most of a beautiful cross from Antonio Candreva (and sloppy marking by Gary Cahill) to head home the winner.
Spain vs Netherlands - 13 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
Robin van Persie's first goal against Spain was a wonder of precision and improvisation that tied the match and is an early, formidable contender for the finest goal of the entire tournament. But it was his second, scored in the 72nd minute after a bad touch by Spanish keeper Iker Casillas (one of the heroes of 2010) that was more emblematic of a match that was less revenge thriller than epic collapse.
Brazil vs Croatia - 12 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
Brazil lacked imagination in the team's opener against Croatia, but its acting was convincing enough to steal a win. In the 69th, Fred flops in the penalty area and Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura awards the decisive penalty kick.
Opening Ceremony - 12 June 2014
Illustration by Simon Prades
While the official opening ceremony held in Sao Paulo's Arena Corinthians made a pageant of the host country's diversity,
outside the stadium riot police were clashing with protestors representing the actual diversity of interests where the Cup and the Brazilian people are concerned.