European stalwarts won title for the fourth time when substitute Mario Goetze volleyed in a brilliant goal seven minutes from the end of extra time.
Hair artist and master barber Rob Ferrel, known as "Rob the Original", cuts the likeness of Argentine soccer ace Lionel Messi into the hair of a customer.
With bets expected to exceed 10 billion yuan during the entire World Cup, many gamblers are paying with their lives after racking up huge debts.
Tim Howard left a lasting impression on Americans from coast to coast - and fans around the world, really - for his incredible, improbable saves in the loss to Belgium in extra time that sent the U.S. home from the World Cup to a country captivated.
A freekick that provided one of the most comical moments of the World Cup, when Germany's Thomas Mueller stumbled before stepping over the ball, was a rehearsed trick that went wrong.
Lionel Messi fell, then jumped back to his feet with a little help from the gentlemanly Swiss player who had knocked him down. This happened all afternoon, because Argentina is still a one-man show at this World Cup attracting all of every opponent's attention.
US President Barack Obama took a break from affairs of state to pop into a White House staff party to watch part of the World Cup soccer match between the US and Belgium. He arrived shortly after the second half began, having wrapped up a meeting with national security aides.
After being eliminated from the 2014 World Cup by Argentina in the round of 16, Swiss boss Ottmar Hitzfeld announced retirement from coaching here on Tuesday.
Although Luis Suarez has left the World Cup, he is not forgotten by fans who have started a trend of imitating the soccer player who has a reputation for biting opponents.
Romelu Lukaku scored a second goal for Belgium in extra time on Tuesday, giving the team a 2-0 lead over the United States in the second round of the World Cup.
Argentina took 118 minutes to break down stubborn Switzerland then survived an extraordinary, heart-stopping finale before reaching the World Cup quarter-finals after a dramatic 1-0 win on Tuesday.
After a few days of reflection, Luis Suarez has acknowledged what millions saw on TV that he did bite an opponent during a game at the World Cup.