They are the bits of tournament television coverage we love to watch but which we also dread, and in the battle of the World Cup 2014 montages BBC just shaded it over ITV.

It was a World Cup full of stunning goals, epic entertainment, brilliant performances and many shocks. Sportsmail's Chris Wheeler reflects on Brazil 2014 and lists 10 reasons why it was the best ever.

SAM CUNNINGHAM: Blood oozed from the cut beneath his right eye. The wound was so deep that the bright red claret streamed down his protruding right cheek.

Mario Gotze may look like he is not long out of babygrow lederhosen but his status as Germany’s wunderkind has been established for some considerable time.

And then there was one, Germany the winners of Brazil 2014 following their victory over Argentina in the final at the Maracana. But what about the other numbers to emerge from the finals?

MARTIN KEOWN: The World Cup final can be the best occasion of a footballer's life, or the worst if they crumble under the pressure.

Jose Mourinho says Lionel Messi should not be considered the scapegoat after Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Germany.

Fred has retired from international football at the age of 30 after Brazil's disappointing World Cup campaign came to an end. He scored 18 goals in 39 games.

It was party time for Germany after clinching their fourth World Cup with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the final on Sunday.

Ray Whelan, the English director of FIFA's official ticket and hospitality partners MATCH, is in police custody after handing himself in to a judge in Rio de Janeiro several days after being declared 'a fugitive' by police investigating a ticket touting ring.

There will have been plenty of Arsenal fans cheering on Germany on Sunday evening, attempting to share in the triumph of a World Cup win that seems to edge further away from England's dreams.

Germany's World Cup-winning stars were letting their heroics at the Maracana sink in on Monday as they relaxed at their Rio de Janeiro hotel with their ultimate prize.

Diego Maradona took a swipe at Lionel Messi the day after his World Cup heartache by insisting the heir to his throne didn't deserve to win the Golden Ball award.

Lionel Messi's crowning as the World Cup's outstanding player shocked some prominent figures, but without his individual brilliance Argentina's goals dried up.

BRIAN BARWICK: This has been a hugely enjoyable World Cup for viewers and one that England’s early exit failed to diminish.

Philipp Lahm was Germany's intrepid leader on the pitch but Lukas Podolski was leading them home to their inevitable rapturous reception in Berlin.

Luiz Felipe Scolari quit as manager of Brazil after the host nation tasted their first back-to-back defeats on home soil since 1940 during a humiliating World Cup.

There's nothing better than your country winning the World Cup, but Barbadian singer Rihanna seemed more than happy after Germany beat Argentina.

SPONSORED: Lionel Messi and James Rodriguez have lit up the summer with their silky skills and fabulous flair... but back home these football freestylers have impressed on a special pitch in east London.

Gary Neville had barely digested his first breakfast under the new world order when he waded into an online debate with those who thought England should simply try to copy the way Germany produce footballers.

Bastian Schweinsteiger is targeting further glory with Germany after finally winning his first major trophy with the national side. Schweinsteiger had become used to just coming up short in major tournaments.

MARTIN SAMUEL AT THE MARACANA: The perfect team versus the perfect superstar that was the narrative here. On one side Die National Mannschaft, on the other Lionel Messi. Yet football has a way of confounding such expectation. Mario Gotze scored a team goal, true, but with a level of technique that would have won Messi the Golden Ball had it come from his foot.

Former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has ignored all of the furore caused by him posing with what appeared to be a gun on Instagram by going jet-skiing with his fiancee Fanny Neguesha.

I'm lucky to live at home with my parents so this is why I just need to earn around £100 a week to pay the bills I need to per month. But should I earn more to get in the system for the state pension?

I have multiple pension pots. I am 52 and plan to retire at 55, in summer 2022. I am in receipt of a Royal Air Force pension and along with that I have four other pensions.

I like so many other veterans were contacted by a private financial adviser. We were promised good returns of 5-10 per cent a year and the opportunity to gain access to the funds at 55.

I have read the age at which she could take a personal pension will rise to 57 in 2028. My wife would be 53 and would have to wait four years. Is it legislated for currently? Steve Webb replies.

The weekly paid seem to be the most vulnerable to losing a qualifying year. Should they register as unemployed or play class 3 contributions so they don't miss out?

My wife was divorced with two children when we got married in 1976. I was a soldier in Germany. The only way she could get child benefit (so we were told) was to have it paid into my bank by the Army!

My wife was told she was not getting enough state pension as she was only getting 39 per cent of my payment when she should be getting 60 per cent.

My mum has always worked (some years part time) and raised three children. She is now separated from my dad. The amount she receives is way short of the full state pension.

If she takes the £10k pot she is liable for tax. This seems very unfair as every other year before this and after she will earn a lot under the limit. Can't she share the excess over several tax years?

My husband has a pension pot of around £380,000 which we don't want to use at present and is still being invested. We don't want an annuity as we would like our children to inherit.

Your employer is contributing a large part of the cost of your pension, and it brings many benefits including guaranteed payouts from retirement onward, says pensions agony uncle Steve Webb.

Do I have the right to challenge the delay in forwarding the employees' contribution due to the detriment this may have to pension performance?

I am 51 now and would like to retire at 60. I realise I need to be looking long term, but at the moment I just see thousands slipping away. Is there anything I can do to protect my pension pot?

My husband is terminally ill now. Will I receive any of his state pension when he dies? This is Money's pensions columnist, Steve Webb, explains how the rules work according to a couple's ages.

I have just found out I'm not divorced after 30 years. My state pension is very low. I'm only getting £78 per week. My husband gets a full pension. If I get divorced now, would I get more?

This is Money's agony uncle Steve Webb explains how final salary schemes work, and what happens to them in financially turbulent times.

The deadline for me to take a decision on the full lump sum without paying tax is due in summer 2021. Anything after that date, I have to pay up to 40 per cent tax on the lump sum if I take it out.

Do you think it is possible to successfully challenge this in a court of law, since I feel it is discriminating unfairly on grounds of marital status?

What happens to my pension if the insurance company has serious financial problems or goes bump? Our agony uncle Steve Webb explains what happens to pensions that are bought out by insurers.

Longstaff is one of the top flight's lowest earners but has still put money towards the NHS' fight against coronavirus as part of the Premier League's 'Players Together' initiative.

Documents lodged last week and made public on Tuesday appear to be laying the legal framework for a deal to proceed. Sources close to the club say it is proof of talks being advanced.

Despite putting their scouting and recruitment staff on furlough and discussions ongoing over a potential £350m takeover, club executives are pressing ahead in their attempt to sign Soumare.

KIERAN GILL: Amanda Staveley could be about to become the new First Lady of Football. She is thought to have a personal fortune of £115m-plus, and is no stranger to the limelight.

CRAIG HOPE: Newcastle United are in talks with Amanda Staveley over the sale of the Premier League club. So is this finally the end of Mike Ashley's 13-year reign as owner?

The Italian left Juventus at the end of last season and has been out of work since, despite being linked with a host of teams across Europe.

EXCLUSIVE BY MIKE KEEGAN AND CRAIG HOPE: Sources have disclosed that all the necessary paperwork has been lodged, and that the potential deal now awaits their approval.

Newcastle's potential new owners believe that the finances of the £300m takeover mean there will be no need to continue the controversial furlough scheme, according to the Telegraph.