Road to Brazil
The 2014 FIFA World Cup kicks off in few hours. The 20th edition of the FIFA World Cup is all set to begin with host nation Brazil taking on Croatia in the competition's opening game. This year's edition of the World Cup features 32 nations fighting for that one crown which will make them better than the rest. The participating teams are from five different confederations from across the globe with 13 from Europe; 4 from the Asia; 4 from North America, Central America and the Caribbean; 6 from South America; and 5 representing the African continent.
Eden Hazard (Belgium):
The Belgium winger is coming in the tournament after a sensational season for Chelsea in the EPL and will be one of the key men for his country in Brazil. He is generally deployed in a wide role keeping in mind his pace, trickery and good deliveries for the strikers. Hazard made nine appearances in the Red Devils' successful 2014 World Cup qualification campaign, scoring twice.
Robin van Persie (Netherlands):
The 30 years old striker for Manchester United who is the captain of the Netherlands national team has scored 172 goals for the gunners. In spite of spending his first years as an attacking midfielder he is perhaps the world’s most complete striker. Van Persie ended the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign as top scorer in the UEFA section with 11 goals.
Wayne Rooney
(England):
Rooney led his qualifying group with
seven goals and will be the main man for England once again. With England in
Group of Death, fans will rely on his all-round ability to help England
through. In the past, Rooney has gone into the World Cup with injuries, but
this time he has declared himself 100 per cent fit and will be looking to leave
his mark on the most elite competition of the beautiful game. Rooney
ended the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign
as England's top
scorer.
Lionel Messi (Argentina):
Lionel Messi (Argentina):
It's been a struggle to get Lionel Messi to perform for
Argentina despite his dominance at club level but this time around things can
change. Playing on the turf of arch rivals Brazil, Argentine fans will be
hoping that star attacker can be at his best in a month-long tournament. He
will be given a free role as a striker by his national coach and that will
allow him to dominate the opposition defenders. Considering he has won everything there is to
win with Barcelona, he has not won anything with Argentina yet. Messi ended the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign as second-top
scorer in the South American section with ten goals.
2013 Ballon d'Or winner will be
hoping to take the World Cup by storm. He has the ability to help his team win
matches single-handedly, and keeping in mind his form for Real Madrid, the
Portugal captain can give nightmares to the opposition defenders. A rasping
long shot, pace, astonishing athletic presence and aerial ability make him a
complete player in modern-day game. Ronaldo scored eight goals in Portugal's FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifying
campaign. Ronaldo was hampered by thigh injuries towards the end of the
2013-14 season with Real Madrid and the Portuguese Football Association
confirmed on 4 June 2014 that he had a "muscle injury on the back of his
left thigh as well as left-leg patellar tendinitis."
Neymar (Brazil):
It has been a strange year for Neymar. He starred at the 2013
Confederations Cup, leading to Brazil on home soil & turned in a maiden
campaign with Barcelona. Brazil's newest
hero will be expected to shoulder the expectations of millions this summer.
Neymar operates in a free role for Brazil and keeping his pace and dribbling in
mind he can be handful for the opposition. He will be seen as a match winner
for Brazil. On 5 March 2014, Neymar scored his first international
hat-trick in a friendly win against South Africa in Johannesburg.
The Hot Favorites
The Hot Favorites
Can Spain dominate other teams like they did in 2010 in South Africa? Will they
be able to successfully defend their crown in Rio on July 13th? On
the other hand, the Germans, who are also seen as favorites, have advanced from
the Group Stage in all but one of their prior World Cup appearances. Being
the hosts of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil is expected to lift their record
6th World Cup in front of the home crowd. Brazil showed a glimpse of their
potential when they defeated Spain 3-0 in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup but
can they become the fourth host nation to win the World Cup? On the
other hand, Brazil's arch rivals Argentina have been the favorites since the
playing days of the great Maradona, but they have not lived up to their
reputation since they claimed the World Cup in 1986. So can Lionel Messi,
Sergio Aguero, Angel di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain give them taste of their
glory in their rivals backyard?
This year's World Cup will see 12
cities in Brazil hosting 62 games from June 12 to July 13. The 12 venues are
Estadio do Maracana, Estadio Nacional, Arena de Sao Paulo, Estadio Castelao,
Estadio Mineirao, Estadio Beira-Rio, Arena Fonte Nova, Arena Pernambuco, Arena
Pantanal, Arena da AmazĂ´nia, Arena das Dunas and Arena da Baixada.
So surely the World Cup is going to be a carnival in Brazil
and for football fans all around the world. Let the beautiful game begin.
! “VIVA FOOTBALL” !
Meet you next with another one – another day!