Seven Stars out! Will FIFA 2014 live up to its grandeur… We pay our timely bills to the cable network provider to keep the ‘Sports Channels’ aired, purchase the newest jerseys of the football club that we support. This routine continues each and every year. It does not matter how you flair in the sport, or for that matter whether you have played it. What keeps us glued to the television? I believe most of the times a good game let us forget the difficult times you go through in life and bad blood amongst the friends. Club position & history influences lot of fans; statistics do prove of this fact. Then there are the legends, players who assist forming the club into its current status. Their style of play, attitude lure fans from all ages, it is difficult to believe that these legends play a big part in future of the club as well. Important role at the club is the Manager, placing the strategy and the formation, selection of players, handling the transfer market; their decisions make everything much more interesting. Past few decades few of these managers reached their very best, creating news like storm even more than the players. Some managers have created their profile similar to players, their style of strategy, way they address media, purchasing of new talent; these mavericks that control the club football culture changes everything that happens in the world of football. Maturity gained in club football helps players in representing their country. So we wait the FIFA World Cup, what does 2014 has to offer. Eight of the top footballers misses the 2014 World Cup will this make an impact on this competition. 7 that misses Daniel Agger - Christian Eriksen - Petr Cech - Branislav Ivanovic - Robert Lewandowski - Gareth Bale - Zlatan Ibrahimovic Like in club football there are managers that change the 90 minute game into an absolute warzone; they are the best strategists in the field. Decision makers of the FIFA 2014 World Cup Vicente Del Bosque (SPAIN) - Luiz Felipe Scolari (BRAZIL) - Louis van Gaal (NETHERLANDS) - Roy Hodgson (ENGLAND) - Cesare Prandelli (ITALY) - Joachim Low (GERMANY) Amongst the players there are ones who stand out, they control the game from the position that they excel. They do have a direct impact on the each and every time that they stand representing their country on the ground. 64 stars to rely on, plenty in the watch list Brazil has advantages over other countries as the hosting nation but in the arena where world class football is played all teams have to be at their best. Team unity and the experience of the coach make them one of the top contenders. Brazil team has one of the top defences with ‘Thiago Sillva’ leading the line. Stars to eye – Thiago Silva, Neymar Prospects to watch - Dante, Oscar Strength in Croatia is their ponderous defence and the midfield partnership between ‘Luka Modric’ and ‘Ivan Rakitic’ but they will have to put up a big fight to go through the difficult rounds. Striking force equipped with Mario Mandzukic & Eduardo are facts other sides will have to keep an eye on. Stars to eye - Luka Modric, Mandzukic, Eduardo Prospects to watch - Ivan Rakitic Mexico has players with special skills in all departments. If Hernandez shows his talent in finding the net like he does in Manchester United they will definitely go to the next round. Oribe Peralta is one of the players that have shown lot of talent in the league matches he was part of. Stars to eye - Oribe Peralta, Javier Hernandez Prospects to watch - Moreno, Hector Herrera Cameroon has three players that needs show their best in their game during this competition. Samuel Eto’o needs to lead the pack from the front. Stars to eye - Stephane Mbia, Samuel Eto’o Prospects to watch - Nicolas Nkoulou Vicente Del Bosque has many tricks up in his sleeve and many aces that he could use as options to upset the other sides. Spain is also equipped with one of the best defences will surely be competition to all. Even the bench has stars such as Cesar Azpilicueta who were capable enough to adapt to the left back position at Chelsea. Star class striker Diego Costa opted Spain leaving his birth nation Brazil. Stars to eye - Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Prospects to watch - Diego Costa Netherlands coach & manager has no option but to choose a very different formation 5-3-2 because of the huge blow in the midfield. If they manage to reach the competition final this will be their 10th final. Even though they have a very powerful strike force missing Kevin Strootman would still be a huge blow. Stars to eye - Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie Prospects to watch - Daley Blind Chile has a huge potential in reaching the quarter final for the second time. Their lighting quick striker ‘Alexis Sanchez’ will definitely be a boost for the entire team. Stars to eye - Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sanchez Prospects to watch - Jorge Valdivia Being the lowest ranked country to qualify Australia will create highlights if they reach the next rounds. It will be the same reason why other sides will keep Australia in their watch list. Stars to eye - Mile Jedinak & Tim Cahill Prospects to watch - Matt Ryan Colombia will be one of the countries that won’t mind the hot conditions that Brazil has to offer, with their attack minded variations they are amongst the favourites to reach the next rounds. Stars to eye - James Rodriguez, Jackson Martinez Prospects to watch - Juan Cuadrado Ivory Coast does not have the back line that they require but they do equip world class strike force such as Drogba & mid field to cope up with him. Ivory Coast has attack and midfield players that reached the best stage in their career but will it be enough? Stars to eye - Yaya Toure, Salamon Kalou, Drogba Prospects to watch - Wilfred Bony Greece is one of the countries that had luck in their competitions that they took part; this will be a good opportunity to prove the bookies wrong. Kostas Mitroglou is the star that has to put up his A game to prove this. Stars to eye - Kostas Mitroglou Strike force of Japan is their biggest weakness and their midfield has enough creativity that could upset the other side. Stars to eye - Makoto Hasebe, Keisuke Honda Uruguay is one of the contenders with problems that they need to shed some light on. Edison Cavani leads the strike force with Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez behind him. Their main problem is their ageing defence, will the backline of Uruguay be strong enough to reach the final. Stars to eye - Diego Godin, Luis Suarez, Edison Cavani, Diego Forlan Costa Rica has put forward the best talent of their country to the competition and was unlucky enough to have been drawn in to one of the difficult groups. Losses of their first choice forward Alvaro & Everton fullback Brian Oviedo are huge blows to their chances. Stars to eye - Keylor Navas, Bryan Ruiz England will be one of the most pressured countries in this competition as Roy Hodgson coach the side as the first Englishman to lead the squad in 16 years. Leighton Baines and Wayne Rooney are players that are in the hot seat. Phil Jagielka plans to prove that his partnership with Gary Cahill is as good as John Terry’s. Stars to eye - Gary Cahill, Wayne Rooney Prospects to watch - Adam Lallana Italy are one of the favourite sides to reach to the latter stages, this is a possibility with their previous experience and their star skilled players in both defence and in midfield. Mario Balotelli will have something to prove to everyone. Stars to eye - Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi Prospects to watch - Mario Balotelli Switzerland will pass and pass and will complete their passes neatly, their two central mid fielders will assist this pressure but one of them will move forward when they attack. Stars to eye - Xherdan Shaqiri Ecuador depends on their wingers and the death of their player Christian Benitez last summer has also affected the side in a huge manner. Stars to eye - Jefferson Montero Prospects to watch – Christhian Noboa France is struck with a huge blow as star player Frank Ribery missing the world cup due to an injury. Coach admitting that France is no longer amongst the elite teams is interesting. Stars to eye - Karim Benzima Prospects to watch - Paul Pogba Honduras is excited with their second qualification and their coach plans to take it to the next level. Stars to eye - Jerry Bengston Argentina has a strike force that has 124 goals this season and having Angel Di Maria in the midfield offers defensive protection that they badly require but only a little. Their biggest weakness is their backline and the central midfield as they are not equipped with players who can take back the ball. Stars to eye - Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi Bosnia is the bookie favourites to reach the final 16, their strength in technical ability and their strike force are the key points for this consideration. Stars to eye - Eden Dzeko, Miralem Pjanic Iran is the highest ranked team in Asia and has a defence that is of high standard with 10 clean sheets but are slow and predictable. Stars to eye - Reza Ghoochannejhad Stephen Keshi coach of Nigeria is the man behind the success. His selection at times has been questionable but has provided them with success. Stars to eye - Victor Moses, John Obi Mikel Germany is one of the contenders to the title however the injuries of Bastian Shweinsteiger and Sami Khedira before the competition have raised concerns. They are also having an issue with their left back options however Erik Durm is one of the prospects to watch. Stars to eye – Philip Lahm, Miroslav Klose, Erik Durm Portugal has no other option but to rely on Cristiano Ronaldo having chances of meeting Argentina at the quarter final. Joao Moutinho will provide them with an excellent skills in the midfield but as to goal scoring do they have other options? Stars to eye - Cristiano Ronaldo Ghana should improve their confidence as they are to face tough competition however their squad equipped with skilled players it will not be difficult. Stars to eye - Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan, Kevin Prince Boateng USA is another side that will give a huge fight with their goal keeper Tim Howard this is not impossible to achieve. Coach having a minimum aim to achieve the last 16 I think they will have a good competition. Stars to eye - Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard Belgium is filled with one of the strongest squads having young and impressive talent such as Eden Hazard, Alex Witsel & Romelu Lukaku they seem to be unbeatable. Sometimes your strengths will be your weaknesses similarly there is a tendency that their fullbacks would be exposed because of their counter attack. Stars to eye – Eden Hazard, Company Prospects to watch – Alex Witsel Algira might surprise lot of us if they reached the second round, Sofiane Feghouli is an attacking midfielder that all needs to keep their eyes on. He is said to have received a recommendation from Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger for his skills. Stars to eye - Sofiane Feghouli, Madjid Bougherra Russia depends on their strong midfield to hold and assist the defence which is also good. Alexander Kokorin acts as a key player that will make the side a bit competitive. Stars to eye – Alexander Kokorin, Sergei Ignashevich South Korea is no more the whipping boys in the competition and stands as a serious threat to other sides. Stars to eye – Son Heung Min
Posted on: Wed, 11 Jun 2014 20:47:36 +0000
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