9 World Cup meltdowns that united the footballing world in laughter

While we all watch the World Cups hoping to witness great games and brilliant goals, there's no denying that richly entertaining meltdowns have added enormously to the tournament's rich tapestry.

From individual tantrums to an entire team collectively losing their marbles, millions around the world grabbed their popcorn and laughed as some of the biggest names in the game defected to their legacy.

We looked at nine World Cup meltdowns that would have embarrassed a screaming toddler.

After cheating their way to the final - via Thierry Henry's handball against Ireland - France disintegrated at South Africa 2010 much to the chagrin of fans around the world.

Two scoreless matches against Uruguay and Mexico were the prelude to Nicolas Anelka being sent home, with the whole team going on strike and coach Raymond Domenech being forced to give reasons to perplexed media.

Caustic all the way, they did just enough to prevent South Africa from reaching the round of 16 in their last match. The French countryside was the subject of a government investigation upon their return to Paris.

"Mick, you're a liar...you're a fucking wanker," Roy Keane spat venomously at a Saipan training ground.

“I didn't rate you as a player, I didn't rate you as a manager, and I didn't rate you as a person. world in the ass.

“The only reason I have relations with you is that you are sort of the manager of my country.

And with that, Keane was fired from the Irish training camp. Even though McCarthy's side reached the second round, losing to Spain on penalties, many Irish fans believe they could have reached the final with an excellent Keane patrolling midfield. /p> Brazil 2014

Brazil tearfully fought their way to the semi-finals of their own tournament eight years ago, until Germany made them infamous.

At least 1950 no longer haunts Brazilian football; it was replaced by something much worse…

TRY A QUIZ: Can you name Brazil's starting XI after their 7-1 loss to Germany at the 2014 World Championships?

Cameroon were really meant to match their Italia '90 exploits in the 2002 edition, but their tournament descended into petty squabbles over bonuses.

“We had a big breakdown in Paris before the World Cup and we spent six days in a hotel without training properly,” striker Patrick Suffo recalled of the moment that characterized his experience of the World Cup.

While the bonuses were finally paid, Cameroon arrived in Japan two days before their opening game and suffered a first-round exit after finishing behind Germany and a Keane-less Ireland.

"We had one of the best Cameroonian teams ever and we didn't get the result we should have got with this team," Suffo said. "We have regrets for ourselves because we had the players, the coach, the mindset and everything, but there is always something that spoils things.

"This time it wasn't players, it was our officials. That's the saddest thing."

With England more inept than usual in 2010, Terry attempted to stage a coup against Fabio Capello during a press conference when the hill he chose to die on was pressuring for the inclusion of Joe Cole in the starting XI.

Draws against the United States and Algeria meant the knives were out and the defender told reporters: "As a group of players, we owe it to ourselves and everyone in the country that if we feel there's a problem, there's no point in keeping if it upsets him or anyone else...