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12 things that restored our faith in football at the 2014 World Cup

Crying during anthems, fan reactions, ‘why always me’ and more…

LET’S FACE IT — it’s not always easy to be a football fan.

The game is rife with cynicism and general bad behaviour, whether it be in the form of diving, demanding excessive wages or biting.

Yet, it’s not all bad. The 12 instances below, all of which took place during the 2014 World Cup, illustrated that footballers aren’t always money-hungry mercenaries intent on showing us the worst excesses of humanity.

On the contrary, many of these beloved stars are genuinely decent people, if the noble acts presented in this list are anything to go by.

1. Samaras persuading the Greek FA to get a ticket for the Costa Rica game to his biggest fan

ΕΛΛΑΣ Εθνική Ομάδα Ποδοσφαίρου (Greece National Football Team) / YouTube

2. Serey Die crying during the Ivory Coast anthem

Favela Cornelius / YouTube

3. Lionel Messi celebrating like a football fan after Argentina won their semi-final penalty shootout

Brazil Soccer WCup Netherlands Argentina Manu Fernandez Manu Fernandez

4. Luis Suarez consoling Steven Gerrard after England were eliminated from the competition

Soccer - England Filers PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

5. Arjen Robben taking time out to embrace the Costa Rica coach during the World Cup quarter-final

Brazil Soccer WCup Netherlands Costa Rica Matt Dunham Matt Dunham

6. All those upsets

Brazil Soccer WCup Spain Chile Manu Fernandez Manu Fernandez

7. Samuel Eto’o giving a heartfelt hug to a Cameroon fan

Netbuster! / YouTube

8. Brazil players belting out the anthem prior to every game

Luis Vargas / YouTube

9. Mario Balotelli not being afraid to laugh at himself

Bal

10. David Luiz giving the most passionate celebration, possibly ever, after scoring against Colombia

Kiercio / YouTube

11. Colombia genuinely looking like they were having fun (especially when celebrating)

VVVube / YouTube

12. All those insanely passionate fans

Brazil Soccer WCup Germany AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Brazil Soccer WCup Germany AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Colombia Brazil WCup AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Soccer - FIFA World Cup 2014 - Round of 16 - The Netherlands v Mexico - Arena Castelao AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Brazil South Korea Soccer WCup Ahn Young-joon Ahn Young-joon

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