Mesut Ozil was criticized after he posed for a photo in May with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose," he said.
This is the first time the World Cup has used video replay to make official calls. Some say it has made for a cleaner game, but soccer purists claim it's ruined the event.
The Brazilian soccer player is the focus of an onslaught of mockery for his habit of hurling himself to the ground and rolling to cry foul. But some Brazilians have come to his defense.
Until Tuesday, this World Cup hadn't seen zero matches in which both teams failed to score. That set a record, but didn't make it any easier to watch France and Denmark play pat-a-cake for 90 minutes.
South Korea's men's soccer team tried to confuse scouts from Sweden's team by swapping jerseys so their opponent couldn't tell the players apart. But could a strategy like that actually work?
You'd be forgiven for confusing airport tarmacs of Russia for the catwalks of Milan: From street-ready kits to swank trophy cases to entire teams in matching suits, the World Cup aims to impress.
The tournament in London, wrapping up on Saturday, brings together 16 teams from nations, ethnic minorities and regions not part of the World Cup's geography.