The headlines throughout the build-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup were covered with the number of absent well-known stars, those unable to get over injury in-time to contend in what many think of as the top of their playing career; Radamel Falcao, Marco Reus et al. But Brazil was hoping to carry on a good tendency which recently has witnessed the number of reported injuries continuously drop since 2002 and our initial evaluation indicates a hugely optimistic step towards the development in the health and well-being of those representing their country in a major event.

Competing game injuries dropped by almost 40% from 125 in 2010 to just 78 in Brazil, an average of around 1.2 recorded issues per game comparing positively to the high of Japan / Korea which registered an average of 2.7 injuries per match. Incidents which caused player withdrawal through the first half were up to 50 % of that in the second, results typical of the research we have conducted previously with around 60% being attributed to muscular problems - the hamstring muscle being the most typical. There were an additional two players injured prior to kick-off; Wesley Sneijder and the regrettable Sami Khedira who endured a calf problem moments before the World Cup final.

Pivotal during the rout over Brazil, the current Real Madrid midfielder had only just made the tournament after his remarkable recovery from an ACL injury and his inclusion was fully justified with a string of solid displays; it took the Germans time to regain their composure at the Maracana following his late withdrawal.Half-time saw a further 7 players replaced throughout Brazil while Gary Medel was the only player to suffer during extra-time; the Chile defender was stretchered off against Brazil after 108 minutes - finally losing his ongoing battle against a leg strain; an outstanding performance from the Cardiff City player.

Non-competitive injuries accounted for about a fifth of the total registered with the majority restricting player game-time; Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea was a candidate to exchange the decidedly shaky Iker Casillas right after Spain's 5-1 drubbing at the hands of the Netherlands only for the 23 year-old to endure a hip flexor injury during coaching. Casillas looked a pale shadow of his former self through the defeat to Chile, a result which would eventually cost them progression to round two; the Manchester United Player of the Year has certainly grown in stature over the past season and his availability could have ensured a different result entirely.