GIF Gallery: The Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week

Image via Complex Original

Date: 6/23/2014
Match: Australia v. Spain
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, Brazil

It was anything but a World Cup to remember for the defending champions Spain, after being eliminated from the tournament with a group match still to play. However, the Euro 2012 champs did go out on a high note with a 3-0 victory over fellow Group B bottom dwellers Australia. This cheeky backheel finish from David Villa put La Roja on the board first in Curitiba, and earned the New York bound striker man of the match plaudits.

Date: 6/22/2014
Match: United States v. Portugal
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Arena Amazonia, Manaus, Brazil

The United States just needed to hold on for 30 more seconds in their second group match against Portugal to complete a dream comeback in Manaus. But football can be cruel, and often sobering at times. Such was the case when Cristiano Ronaldo's perfectly teased cross came into the box, and substitute Silvestre Varela flung his entire body at the ball to fire past a helpless Tim Howard. Perhaps a point was fair on the balance of the match, but the U.S. surely felt like they let three slip away there.

Date: 6/26/2014
Match: United States v. Germany
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Arena Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

Germany looked like scoring early and often against the United States on Thursday, but thanks to Tim Howard and Omar Gonzalez they found the U.S. defense harder to breach than the likes of Portugal and Ghana. In the second half, however, following another Tim Howard save, the rebound fell to Thomas Muller, and the Bayern man made no mistake with this finish. This would prove to be the match winner as Germany won 1-0, and finished as Group G winners as well.

Date: 6/23/2014
Match: Cameroon v. Brazil
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Estadio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil

Neymar has constantly been the danger man for Brazil at this World Cup, as many expected going into the tournament. He racked up four goals during the group stage, and perhaps turned in his best performance during Brazil's final Group A match against Cameroon. He shows no fear running at the Cameroon back line, cuts inside on his right peg, and unleashes a shot to the near post without even taking a look up. Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am. A quarterfinal date with high-flying Colombia awaits Neymar and co.

Date: 6/23/2014
Match: Croatia v. Mexico
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Arena Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

From a neutral perspective it's hard not to like Mexico at this World Cup. From Guillermo Ochoa's heroics in goal against Brazil to Miguel Herrera's epic sideline celebrations, El Tri has silenced many of the doubters they had before the tournament began. Still, they needed a victory in their final group game against Croatia in order to ensure progression to the Round of 16, and a victory is exactly what they achieved. Rafa Marquez put them on the board first in the second half, and this precision side-footed effort from Andres Guardado all but ensured the three points.

Date: 6/24/2014
Match: Japan v. Colombia
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, Brazil

James Rodriguez is lighting it up in Brazil these past few weeks, and he completed Colombia's clinical demolition of Japan in style with this oh so casual chip finish. The 22-year-old Monaco man isn't just scoring goals--which he's done in every single one of Colombia's matches we might add--he's showcasing a variety of skill and flare with each passing match. This kid is the next big name in world football.

Date: 6/25/2014
Match: Nigeria v. Argentina
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Nigeria had to wait until they heard the final result of Bosnia's 3-2 victory over Iran in order to celebrate their progression into the Round of 16, but that had to be the last thing on their minds during the match with Argentina. And despite going behind just three minutes into the match courtesy of Leo Messi, Ahmed Musa and the Super Eagles were flying once more after this equalizer just a minute later. Musa expertly curls this one around Romero for his first of the match.

Date: 6/24/2014
Match: Japan v. Colombia
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, Brazil

Colombia were in full effect against Japan in Cuiaba on Tuesday, and while it maybe James Rodriguez getting most of the plaudits at the moment, Jackson Martinez made sure the world knows exactly who he is as well by turning in a man of the match performance. Here, the Porto man times his run to perfection, leaves his defender for dead, and coolly finishes with a fine curling effort past Kawashima in goal. Colombia will take on hosts Brazil in the quarters on Friday, and we can't wait.

Date: 6/25/2014
Match: Honduras v. Switzerland
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Arena Amazonia, Manaus, Brazil

A player who is perhaps looking to use the World Cup as a platform to make a club move this summer, Xherdan Shaqiri has looked more and more comfortable for Switzerland as their tournament has progressed. And that skill from the Bayern Munich man was on full display during Switzerland's 3-0 romp of Honduras. Shaqiri gets this one on his left foot and needs no second invitation to have a go. A hat trick on the day will have him, and the rest of the red and white, thinking upset when they meet Argentina in the Round of 16.

Date: 6/22/2014
Match: United States v. Portugal
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Arena Amazonia, Manaus, Brazil

The United States would've felt disheartened after going behind early to Portugal following an errant clearance from defender Geoff Cameron, but their response in the second half was absolutely inspired. And when a rebound fell to Jermaine Jones in the 64th minute the Schalke man only had one thing on his mind. He absolutely whips this ball in from 30 yards out, and leaves Beto rooted to his spot in goal.

Date: 6/25/2014
Match: Nigeria v. Argentina
Competition: World Cup Group Stage
Ground: Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil

All the talk before Argentina's World Cup began seemed to center around the opinion that the South American's will go as far as Lionel Messi will take them. Well, from their first match against Bosnia in Rio to their last game against Nigeria in Porto Alegre, Messi has almost single-handedly put the team on his back. He scored a classic Messi goal against Bosnia, pulled out a brilliant last gasp curler to sink Iran, and scored this peach of a free kick to help Argentina remain perfect through the group stage. Switzerland awaits in the Round of 16.

Date: 6/28/2014
Match: Colombia v. Uruguay
Competition: World Cup Round of 16
Ground: Estadio Maracana, Rio de Janeiro

James, James, James. The 22-year-old Colombian striker is making quite the name for himself in Brazil this summer. After yesterday's heroics against Uruguay, the Monaco man now leads the race for the Golden Boot with five goals in the tournament, and has scored in every single one of Colombia's matches. Rodriguez grabbed a brace yesterday to ensure Colombia's progression to the quarters, and this first strike could be the goal of the tournament so far. Real Madrid and Barcelona are on line one, young man.