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Which football fan is not excited about the upcoming Fifa World Cup?
I guess there will be very few of them, after all it is the second biggest sports event after Olympics.The lure of this mega event is such that those people who don’t follow football everyday are drawn to it.So let’s just see who has the better chances of winning the most prestigious award the game of football is to offer.
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As most of the major teams have made it through the qualifiers(Yes,there are still some left!!).I, here will be reviewing the top 8 teams who have the chance to make it to the quarter finals and go on from there to win the trophy.So starting from top to bottom we have at number 8
Quarter Finalists
8.Italy
The winners of the 2006 World Cup,Italy are not the same ferocious side that helped them being crowned champions in the summer of 2006. They have abundance of experience in their team in Buffon,Pirlo,De Rossi and Totti. The young talent of Verrati and Balotelli are also very exciting but on a whole they lack spark. If Pirlo can repeat the performnce of 2012 Euro then they may go further than the last eight.But as of now it is difficult to see them progressing from the quarter finals.
7.Netherlands
What was the score in the last edition final?1-0.The team on the losing end that day were the Dutch.A 116th minute goal from Andres Iniesta saw them lose out in the finals.But this time they might not make it that far.With ageing Van Persie & Sneijder they may not be able to win matches come 2014. Arjen Robben is going to be a very key figure in their setup if they are to reach quarters and progress further asthe winger can produce moments of magic along with Robin Van Persie who has scored the most goals in European qualifiers.Although I might be wrong as their qualifying record shows. Just 2 points dropped.Very Impressive!!!!
6.Belgium
Belgium is having a golden era in their footballing history.They have so many promising youngsters that its hard to see them not winning major trophies in the near future.Likes of Hazard,Benteke,Fellaini, De Bruyne,Mignolet,Lukaku,Kompany,Vertonghen in the same team does sound really scary.But as it is the first time these guys will be playing at this level we should not expect too much of them.They may make it to the quarter finals but don’t rule them out to go further which they surely will in the near future.Belgium just might be the second favorite team of many football fans.
5.Argentina
Many people will argue that Argentina are one of the favorites to go on and win the trophy.With the likes of certain Mr.Messi in the team along with Aguero,Higuain and Lavezzi in the team,they do make a very strong team.But playing in the home of their fiercest rivals is not a place they will enjoy much.Also the load of expectations might just get to them and ultimately causes their downfall.But don’t be surprised if all this negativity fires them up and destroy every team put in front of them.That will be one very good show.
Notable Mentions (Portugal,Uruguay,Ivory Coast and France)
Semi Finalists
4England
England have always been the under achievers in the major tournaments since their historic win in the finals of 1996.Its hard to spot why though?England do have very good players in the form of Rooney,Gerrard and Lampard. Also they have very exciting young talent in the form of Wilshere,Townsend,Barkley and Phil Jones.And if Roy Hodgson is able to mix the experience of senior players with the young blood they may go all the way to create history.But as of now Semi Final is the best they can expect.In my view,they are the black horse in the race to the trophy.
Spain
A shock inclusion as they start favorites to retain the trophy which rightfully belongs to them.But lets not forget that 3 years have passed since that glorious day.And ageing effects everyone(except Ryan Giggs)to be honest.There are a number of reasons which might lead to Spain’s downfall in the next years finals.One of them is that they do not have a regular striker who can produce moments of magic.David Villa is fast ageing and you certainly cannot depend on Fernando Torres given his current form.Although this might change if Diego Costa agrees to play for Spain.The other major reason can be that their style of play is very predictable and if they do not figure out a plan B fast enough, teams will eventually figure out to beat them.All said and done we must not forget that how ruthless they can be on their day. They will surely want to add one more World Cup trophy for their golden generation.
Runners Up
Brazil
Home ground and extra ordinary home support might just set up the stage for one of the best finals.And with the home team playing we can expect it to be a carnival.Although they may not end up winning the trophy.Brazil has always been an excellent footbaling nation but they might not win the tournament this time, simple reason being their home league is not very strong. With the departure of the likes of Neymar and Paulinho the league has become even less competitive.Also most of their star players are playing for different European clubs, the understanding between them might not be of the same level as that of Germany and Spain.Brazil is a place full of surprises and don’t be surprised even a bit if they produce some of the best football you may ever get to see.And with the rocking home support it is very hard for me to see them being runners up.They may just lose to a team called…
WINNERS
Germany
A repeat of 2002 finals is very likely with a different end to it. Brazil plays Germany in a thrilling match and Germany emerge as winners. Yes, Geramny might just get their hands on that trophy again.Doing so that in the home of football will make it that extra special. Germany has every quality that requires a team to be successful on the grandest stage of them all. Creativity,Power,Ruthlessness,Not giving up attitude,Star Players,Experince,Young Talent. The current German side has got every single thing and they have a very good chance of winning the tournament.They have experienced campaigners in Schweinsteiger, Lahm and Neuer and the young talent of Ozil,Kroos,Gotze,Reus,Hummels can never be under estimated. The current German team does not seem to have a weak link and if the opposition teams do not figure out a way to contain them they will be in for a big battering.
So come the end on July 13th, 2014 we will have a winner crowned for sure.The tournament will be a spectacle to watch and which ever team might end up picking up the trophy be assured it is going to be a cracker jack of a contest.Roll on 2014.
