The 26 most satisfying newspaper pages of the World Cup

After months of optimistically building up their respective teams, newspaper editors around the world have been confronted with the dilemma of whether to back their men or hang them out to dry once their nation's World Cup fate was sealed.

Here are some of the most eye-catching (and eye-watering) front and back pages from the past month...

Germany

The only team to leave Brazil as winners had one man to thank:

"World Champion!"

But also basked in the glory of the most memorable game of the tournament:

"Without words!"

Before producing this lovely (yet slightly optimistic) front page on the day of the final:

"World Champions"

Brazil

Before crashing out at the hands of the eventual champions, it all started so optimistically for the hosts:

"We are all Brazil"

As the heroics of goalkeeper Julio Cesar saw the team scrape through the first knockout game against Chile:

"Hail, Cesar!"

But then this guy got injured:

"Brazil in the semi, but without Neymar"

And it all went a bit pear-shaped...

"1-7"

Spain

The fate of the defending champions was similarly disastrous:

"A pitiful end to La Roja's most glorious era"

Argentina

Despite defeat at the last hurdle, Argentina's newspapers hailed their men as heroes:

"Total thanks"

Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo was left needing a calculator to work out Portugal's chances of progression after their draw against Ghana:

"Do the math"

They eventually missed out on goal difference.

Belgium

For everyone's favourite dark horses there was just one highlight of a thoroughly underwhelming World Cup... this front page:

"Tonight we dance the Tango"

(Picture via 101 Great Goals)

Australia

Similarly, the Socceroos didn't make too many headlines, except this weird homage in Dutch daily De Telegraaf :

(Picture via Jens Schroder)

Oh, and this wasn't bad either.

Netherlands

In fact, De Telegraaf continued their penchant for outrageous national stereotype throughout the tournament...

After victory over Spain:

After victory over Mexico:

Croatia

The Vatreni were given a pasting by national media after failing to make it out of the group stage:

"Debacle in the game of truth"

(Picture via TweetNewsNet)

Italy

Italy's, usually pink-papered, sports daily turned blue with patriotism on day one of the World Cup to support the Azzurri.

"Let us be blue"

And then blue with rage as they crashed out:

"The shambles"

Ghana

The Black Stars created headlines around the world with allegations of match-fixing in the Telegraph :

Uruguay

This guy made a few headlines:

"A tooth for a tooth"

But they weren't all bad news stories...

Mexico

Guillermo Ochoa gained admirers (and probably added a few zeroes to his next contract) after his goalkeeping heroics against Brazil:

"Stopped by the wall"

France

Les Bleus returned home with the admiration of L'Equipe

"An exit with honour"

Chile

Meanwhile, Chile gained admirers for their never-say-die attitude and attractive football:

"Don't cry, Pitbull, rock on there for a while"

Colombia

Star player James Rodriguez was certainly the source of this year's best/worst headline from the Times of India :

But the team were also welcomed home...

"As heroes"

Costa Rica

The Central American nation surprised everyone with their run to the quarter-finals:

"Immortals"

And finally...

England

Sigh.

Hat tips to TweetNewsNet and the BBC's Nick Sutton.