Thereà were just five minutes remaining of an electrifying encounter between Ghana and Germany. The two sides had left no inch of turf uncovered at Estadio Castelaoà and the score was locked at 2-2.
Yet despite the heat and humidity in Fortaleza - strength-sapping conditions for any player - there was one man who continued to charge around the pitch, dashing back to win the ball before roaring upfield again to send in a dangerous cross.
That man was Ghana No23 Harrison Afful, who had been patrolling the Black Starsââ¬â¢ right flank all match long yet still seemed to have more pace and energy than any of the other 21 players on the field.
A relatively unknown name on the global scene, performances like this at the 2014 FIFA World Cup mean Afful is unlikely to remain in the shadows for much longer.
How, you might ask, can such a phenomenal athlete have stayed below the radar for so long, particularly at nearly 28 years of age? The answer is simple: Afful has never played in European football.
He has notà lacked offers, but the all-action wing-back has instead preferred to continue with Tunisian giants Espérance Sportive de Tunis, where he has spent the past four years.
ââ¬ÅIââ¬â¢ve had offers, but I didnââ¬â¢t feel they were right for me,â⬠said a smiling and refreshingly humble Afful, speaking toà FIFA.comà after the Germany game. ââ¬ÅIââ¬â¢m happy in Tunis and theyââ¬â¢ve always treated me very well, I wouldnââ¬â¢t want to leave just for the sake of trying something new. That said, if an interesting opportunity does come my way, of course Iââ¬â¢d consider it,â⬠he added with a glint in his eye.
Hope still intact Of course, the versatile defender has more strings to his bow than merely speed and stamina. Citing a never-say-die attitude as a further strength, Afful's technical quality is remarkable too, as demonstrated when he sent in the pinpoint cross that enabled Andre Ayew to head Ghana level at 1-1.
ââ¬ÅIt [fighting spirit] is part of me. If I wasnââ¬â¢t like that, I wouldnââ¬â¢t be myself,â⬠said the diminutive dynamo. ââ¬ÅEver since I was very young Iââ¬â¢ve been quick and Iââ¬â¢ve always liked having the ball, so when Iââ¬â¢m near it I have to go looking for it. Whatââ¬â¢s more, I really love my country and my team-mates, so Iââ¬â¢ll never stop giving everything Iââ¬â¢ve got to help them.ââ¬
How does Afful see Ghanaââ¬â¢s chances of progressing from Group G, now that their destiny is not solely in their hands? ââ¬ÅItââ¬â¢s a shame we couldnââ¬â¢t win today. It would have been great to take all three points. But we ran ourselves into the ground and played really well against a team of the calibre of Germany,â⬠he said, before signing off with a vow to all Black Starsââ¬â¢ followers. ââ¬ÅWeââ¬â¢ve still got a game to go and weââ¬â¢re going to give it our all to go through. If we donââ¬â¢t qualify, it wonââ¬â¢t be for lack of effort.ââ¬