Brazil lost to Germany in a semi-final match, in a 7-1 score. On the other hand, Netherlands got the boot out of Argentina after a penalty shootout took place in a two-hour play that kept fans glued to their seats.

The semi-final match had the two teams feeling down, after the game. Both teams knew they would have no choice but to forego their dream of capturing the World Cup 2014 championship trophy.

However, the journey is not yet over. The team still had the third-place match to face. Many have questioned the significant role that the third-place playoff plays in the overall concept of the tournament.

Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal had these statements to say about this:

"I think that this match should never be played."

"The worst thing is that there is a chance you are going to lose twice in a row. And in a tournament in which you have played so marvelously well, you go home as a loser."

In other sport events, the third-place match seemed to have served no role in enhancing the concept of which teams may earn the top trophies. This type of match seemed to just leave a mark of confusion on most spectators and players.

The third-place match distorts which team actually should be considered as the winner of the whole tournament. It seemed that this match is portraying two winners, in which one team does not edge out over the other.

It is now up to the each varying spectator and sports specialist, though, to gauge what's really behind the concept of a third-place match.