Top 5 contenders for FIFA World Cup 2014

With the FIFA World Cup in Brazil less than eight months away, we look at the top five favourites for the tournament:

5. The Netherlands

The Netherlands have reached three World Cup finals but are yet to get their hands on the holy grail. Can they finally do it? If the qualification phase was anything to go by, they have every chance.

Oranje‘s main strength lies in attack with Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, and Wesley Sneidjer being the heartbeat of the team. The Dutch also have a swarm of talented young players – Kevin Strootman Bruno Martins Indi, Georginio Wijnaldum, Leroy Fer, etc – all of whom will be eager to get on the plane to Brazil.

4. Germany

Germany have been really impressive over the last five years, but have always managed to choke when the big match comes around. In the 2010 World Cup, Germany swept everyone who stood in their way until they were beaten by a solidarity goal from Carles Puyol in the semi-finals against Spain.

Three years on, Germany look stronger. With the Bayern players who represent Germany having experience of winning the Champions League, they’d be more feared than ever. Germany’s fortitude is their strength in depth in midfield. There are the likes of Mesut Ozil, Mario Gotze, Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira, with Bastian Schweinsteiger being the engine of the team.

3. Argentina

The Albicelestes, with an abundance of talent in their attack, failed miserably at their last two big international events. A 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Germany saw them packing their bags in South Africa, whilst at home a year later, they lost on penalties to Uruguay in Copa America after a lacklustre tournament.

As usual, the Argentine fans will be looking to their forward-line to carry them to World Cup glory. Lionel Messi , Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria and Segio Aguero – any team in the world would die to have a front four like that. Let’s not forget that the likes of Ezequiel Lavezzi and Erik Lamela can’t even get a start when everyone’s fit. There have been encouraging signs in defensive areas too, as Ezequiel Garay and Pablo Zabaleta have done well for their clubs in Europe.

2. Spain

The Spanish Armada have been on quite a roll in international tournaments in recent times. They have won successive Euros and a World Cup over the last six years.

No one since Brazil in 1962 have successfully defended their World Cup triumph and Spain’s embarrassing loss at the hands of Brazil at the Confederations Cup have given rise to numerous sceptics, but lets not forget even at the Confederations Cup in South Africa in 2009, Spain failed to bring their A game as they lost to United States in the semi-finals back then. Spain still have their spine in tact from the World Cup, though with Xavi ageing and Xabi Alonso plagued by injuries, we could see more of Bayern’s dynamic midfielder Javi Martinez.

1. Brazil

Brazil edge past Spain as most people’s favourites because of their 3-0 demolition of La Furia Roja in the final of the Confederations Cup in June this year. They might have won the tournament a record five-times but lost in a heartbreaking manner to Uruguay at home in 1950. They will have extra motivation want to erase that memory.

La Seleccion have an array of talented attackers with the Neymar, Oscar, Lucas Moura, Hulk, etc doing tremendously for their clubs in Europe, while there is a lot of competition in defensive areas as European champion Dante is constantly putting pressure on David Luiz for a centre-back slot.