The 2014 Football World Cup is now less than six months away in Brazil, with many already discussing their expectations for this wonderful festival of entertaining and exciting football. Every four years, the world looks forward to this great spectacle. In T&T, it is no different with many people already speculating on the final match and ultimately the winner.
The action starts June 12, in Sao Paulo, when host country and five times World Cup champions Brazil play Croatia. The final is set for July 13 in Rio De Janiero.
There are many who believe that Brazil, Argentina and to a lesser extent Belgium, have it fairly easy in their groups. Brazil seems to have been handed a rosy pathway into the last 16 with only Croatia of any real substance, given the inconsistency of both Cameroon and Mexico (who scraped into the finals courtesy of a playoff with New Zealand).
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said after the draw: "It's always good to start off against a European team because they have to go through an adaptation period in Brazil and there are a series of things they'll need to implement," he said of the tournament opener against Croatia on June 12. It will be a balanced first match but we live here, we work here and we know this country better than anybody."
Argentina also would appear not to have too much opposition.
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella also stated after the draw, "We didn't get the group of death and we got a geographical area playing in Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre, that is in general terms positive."
Belgium has continued to excel in their performances and their squad boasts a lot of talent. The biggest question will be if each of these individually brilliant players can perform together.
Spain and Holland have a penchant for playing each other and the ageing Spanish team, must be concerned not only about their own personal team performances but also the fact that their older players are becoming more injury-prone. Spain's coach tactics of not blooding enough youngsters has become a major talking point in his homeland, while Holland will hope that given the consistency of their team, they can take advantage of this.
There are two groups which stand out: Group D, where four-time champions, Italy, will face off with one time winner Uruguay and England, as well as the dangerous Costa Rica. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli declared, "We're not worried about the group. I would have been worried if the media had started saying that it was an easy group.
"The conditions (in Manaus) worry me because it's not just about taking on these teams but how you do it. We maybe have a slight advantage over the other teams, apart from Uruguay, because we know the difficulties that we had to face in the Confederations Cup."
England coach Roy Hodgson however confirmed: "It's a tough group; there's no doubt about that. A lot of people are saying they are in tough groups but there is no doubt that in Italy and Uruguay we've almost got two number one seeds because Italy were very unlucky not to be seeded among the first eight."
The other group that has a daunting look is Group C which seems very open with Ivory Coast, Japan, Colombia all looking equal and Greece.
Among the other favoured teams, France who struggled to qualify will believe they have a great opportunity in Group E, with Ecuador their greatest threat possibility.
France coach Didier Deschamps admitted as much: "It could have been more complicated. Beyond the name of our opponents the other good thing is that we won't play in the northern towns where the temperatures are high, we'll stay in our zone. We know Switzerland well; they were seeded so obviously are the toughest opponents. We don't know Ecuador and Honduras that well and it will have an influence on our preparation. We'll play at least one pre-tournament friendly against a South American nation."
Germany would appear to have it easy unless Portugal and USA can provide some fireworks.
Germany Coach Joachim Loew noted: "We will be meeting old friends. It's already something special to have the US in our group. (coach) Juergen (Klinsmann) and I have had a very good and close relationship for a long time...We have always exchanged ideas on a regular basis but that will certainly change before the World Cup match."
Portugal coach Paulo Bento stated: "It looks like a pretty balanced group to me with a favourite that is Germany. We also started the last European Championship against Germany, we lost 1-0 but put in a good match...The US and Ghana are also very organised sides with many players having European football experience."
So as we count down the days, it is good to anticipate Brazil 2014, but hope that in Russia 2018, T&T can be among the 32 finalists.
How the teams
shape up
Group A–Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon,
Group B–Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
Group C–Colombia, Greece, Cote D'Ivoire, Japan
Group D–Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
Group E–Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
Group F–Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria
Group G–Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA
Group H–Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic
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