Viva Football - World Cup Special

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.

From Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi, from Eden Hazard to Neymar, we look at the players who can take this World Cup by storm.

                                                                         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):

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.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal):


 

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

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 13^th? 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 Amazônia, 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!