World Cup Special By Namita Jain: Top 10 Contenders for the World Cup

World Cup 2014 is arriving. Teams are busy getting ready to blaze the field and football lovers the world over are getting ready for the bonanza that’s about to be unleashed the next month. Everyone is bursting with one question. Who will hold aloft the World Cup at the end of the competition!
In trying to solve this riddle wrapped in enigma, we give you a reverse countdown on top teams likely to win.

No. 10
South Korea

Coach: Hong Myung-bo
Star Player: Son Heung-min
Other Group Contenders: Belgium, Algeria, Russia

Of the three Asian nations –Japan, Iran and South Korea- making their way to Brazil, Korea is the strongest. The Reds actually have it in them to shock the living daylights out of any team on their day. This is their straight eighth World Cup (they played the1954 version too). They made it to the last four in the 2002. And the captain of that team is now the Coach of the present team. No Asian team has ever won the world cup; can Korea create history in more ways than one this time?

No. 9
Belgium

Coach: Mark Wilmots
Star Players: Hazard, Lukaku, Kompany
Other Group Contenders: Korea, Algeria, Russia
They were semi-finalists in the World Cup 1986. After a long time of being mediocre, they are on the rise again. This team has everything going for them- star players, great attack, steady defense and midfield. They are still outsiders but they do seem to have an outside chance. Can they turn the odds in their favour?

No. 8
Cote d’ Ivore

Coach: Sabri Lamouchi
Star Players: Drogba, YayaToure, Kalou, Bony
Other Group Contenders: Japan, Greece, Colombia
Like their Asian counterparts, no African team has ever held aloft the World Cup. Cote d’Ivore or Ivory Coast has great talent, many stars and an easy group. Their best in World Cup has been group stages in 2006 and 2010. Can they take a bigger leap this time?

No. 7
Portugal

Coach: Paolo Bento
Star Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Other Group Contenders: Germany, Ghana, USA
They have been nicknamed the Brazil of Europe. They have a Ronaldo to rival all the Ronaldos ever produced by Brazil. Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly world’s top footballer and in devastating form too. Portugal’s previous best in World Cup was no.3 spot way back in 1966. A talented and raring to go team, can they finally set Lisbon afire by holding aloft the World Cup?

No. 6
Germany

Coach: Joachim Loew
Star Players: Neuer, Schweinsteiger, Muller
Other Group Contenders: Portugal, Ghana, USA
3-time winners Germany have always been a giant in football. A force to reckon with in the World Cup and champs in 1954, 1974 and 1990, they have a great package of talent this time around as well. In a team full of both mature and young talent, can they get it right for a fourth time too?

No. 5
Uruguay

Coach: Oscar Tabarez
Star Playesr: Cavani, Suarez, Forlan
Other Group Contenders: Costa Rica, England, Italy
Uruguay, the Copa America champs, won their one and only World Cup way back in 1950. Though they did stand fourth in 2010 and have been on a steady rise since then. With formidable talent like Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego
Forlan, the star of World Cup 2010, Uruguay can be quite unstoppable. Will they be able to go the distance this time?

No. 4
Netherlands

Coach: Louis van Gaal
Star Players: Persie, Lens, Vaart, Robben
Other Group Contenders: Chile, Australia, Spain
The Oranje have always been a force to reckon with in world football. Runners up in 1974, 1978 and 2010, they have been so close yet so far at the victory podium. . In a talent exuding team packed with big names like Persie, Lens, Vaart and Robben , all in good form, can they be fourth time lucky?

No. 3
Argentina

Coach: Alejandro Sabella
Star Players: Messi, Tevez, di Maria
Other Group Contenders: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria
Brazil’s arch-rivals, Argentina would love to come up trumps in a World Cup being held in Brazil. They won the trophies twice way back in 1978 and 1986 and since then have never made it beyond the quarter-finals. An easy group, a great striker in Lionel Messi, the 4-time Ballon d’Or winner and a brimming with talent team- they have a lot going for them. Can they lift the trophy high one more time?

No. 2
Spain

Coach: Vicente del Bosque
Star Players: Iniesta, Soldado, Negredo
Other Group Contenders: Chile, Australia, Netherlands
Till they lifted the coveted cup in 2010, Spain was jinxed to be ousted in quarter finals many a times. As defending champions, Spain has a team that may not be in the class of their last World Cup triumph but is still strong in every department. Can they defend their title successfully; can they pull off another miracle?

No. 1
Brazil

Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari
Star Player: Neymar, Hulk, Luiz
Other Group Contenders: Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
Truly the host with the most, they have won the World Cup an astounding 5 times – 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. Talent they have in plenty, chances they will have to create. They would like nothing more than lift the cup once more, at home, in front of home crowd. Can they unleash the biggest carnival ever across Brazil?

Real Madrid Vs Bayern Munich Match Preview

Bundesliga Champions visit The Santiago bernabeu in their quest to retain the champion’s league trophy.

Kick off : 19:45 BST Santiago Bernabeu,Madrid ,Spain

Bayern Munich have somewhat been unstoppable this season, they swept aside opposition with ease in the Bundesliga with score of 4 – 0 and 5- 0 on many occasions with their slick passing style ,and were crowned champions of the German league on march a full month before the end of the season . Bayern have managed 4 wins and a draw in their last 5 champion’s league away games and visit Madrid with great confidence in their manager Joseph Guardiola, who knows how stop the white footballing machine very well. Guardiola football philosophy is one of ball possession, aggressive pressuring off the ball, and quick pass and movement. This system paid off well against Real Madrid when he was manager of then invincible Barcelona team that won him 16 trophies in 4 seasons. Although he has beaten real in many occasions in the recent years, he was still aware of the los Blanco’s danger and had the following to say about the game:

"I was unbeaten here but with another club.”It's always difficult to beat Madrid and we will not do so without playing extremely well. Player for player they are the most difficult rival we could have drawn. There is no one in football at the moment with a squad like Madrid's”

Joseph Guardiola Remains Unbeten in Madrid ,and is considerd by many to be the best football manager in the world at the moment 

Real Madrid currently 3^rd on the la liga standings  have great hope in players  like Cristiano Ronaldo ,and Gareth Bale  who scored the winning goal against Barcelona in the Copa Delray final earlier this month. Many doubted the welsh wizards ability when Madrid paid London based club totenham Spurs 85 million euros for his services ,but he has managed to convince doubters wrong ,and will look to further enhance his reputation by putting a good performance in tonight’s match . Madrid have won the champions league trophy 9 times and have been struggling to get the 10^th trophy for many seasons now and will look to climb a step closer to the dream by putting away the tournament favorites away tonight . Ronaldo will be looking to set a new Champions League record of 15 goals for a season, if he is fit enough to play that is, the best player in the world as some like to call him, has not been fit enough to play 2^nd of April, he will look to make a successful comeback by getting on the goal scoring sheet tonight when he faces what some call the best team in the world at the moment.  

Real's hope realies on theses two , the most Expensive players in the world with a combined transfer fee of 170 million dollars 

Injury news

Bayern are hopeful that goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will be fit to start after missing the weekend win over Braunschweig due to a calf injury.Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez are both available after missing the second leg of the quarter-final win over United through suspension.Left-back David Alaba has returned to training after sitting out the weekend game due to illness, but Daniel van Buyten has withdrawn from the squad, and Thiago Alcantara, Diego Contento and Xherdan Shaqiri are injured.

Real coach Ancelotti will make a late decision on whether to start Ronaldo, but insists he will not pick the Portuguese star if he has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury. Ronaldo has not played any competitive football since Real's 3-0 quarter-final first-leg win over Borussia Dortmund on April 2, but returned to full training on Monday.

Gareth Bale has overcome illness to be available, while Fabio Coentrao will start at left-back in place of Marcelo, who is not 100 per cent after a hamstring problem.

Final Score Prediction

Real Madrid: 2        Bayern Munich: 0 

It’s the 3rd classic of the season, and the La liga Giants Fight for the Copa Del Rey Trophy

 The two title hopefuls and la liga giants of the Spanish footballing league meet for the 3^rd time this season in the first leg of Copa Del ray final show down  today 16 April  20:30 BST  at the Mastalla stadium today  in the beautiful city of Valencia.

The Los blancos currently 2^nd with 79 points and trailing Atheltico Madrid by 3 points in the la liga standing. Barcelona hot on their tail with 78 points and with a better goal difference. Barcelona have managed to beat real Madrid in their last two meetings this season  with a score of 4- 3 and 2 -1 respectively ,and are looking likely to do it again ,as long as their defense can stand against Gareth bale ,and Angels di Maria’s attacks form the flanks. This game promises to be one of full action speedy counterattacks and creative football forms both sides. Real Madrids super expensive signing is expected to step up and prove his worth, while Barcelona’s messiah, Lionel messi who was criticized  for his poor performance in the quarter finals of the champions league will look to once again prove why many consider him the best footballer who ever lived . Barcelona will look to score as many goals in order to deacrese the chances of their rivals getting back into the game in the second leg, which will be held at the Santiago Bernabeu  Stadium (Real’s  home turf)  in Madrid on the 19^th . 

One will miss the game entirly,while the other will look to inspire his team to victory  (Image credit :ronaldo7.com)

Injury news /probable line ups

Real Madrid will be without their talented talisman Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese International and last year’s ballon Dore winner will not take part in the mouth watering and exciting fixture due to a hamstring injury. While Barcelona’s 1^st pick defender Gerrard pique will be out carrying a pelvis injury (Shakira might be to blame for this !) the shaggy haired Spanish international puyol is likely to start partnering argentine international and midfielder by trade ,Javier Macherano.

Score Prediction

Barcelona 3         Real Madrid 1 

Defending Champions Spain Take On Re- Jigged Italy As Cesar Prandelli Men Look To Save Face After World Cup Disaster.

Vicente Del Basque s 11 is set to kick against Italy in Gdansk stadium in Poland at 17 GMT.

La Fiora roja enter the tournament with an impressive 41 wins in their last 45 competitive games.

Winners of world cup 2012, and Euro 2008, they have become an immense force in intonations soccer tournaments.With the likes of David Silva, Andres inesta, Xavi and Iker Casilias in their ranks, Spain are the team to beat. Former real Madrid and current sprain manager  Vicente Del Basque was quoted in a late press interview saying:

We have an aim that no-one has ever achieved before and that is beautiful. We do have a lot of pressure because there is a lot of optimism that surrounds us. But we are accustomed to the pressure because we are defending the title and we are world champions.”

an early exit at the world cup two  years ago Italy look at this tournoment as a tool to redeem themselves

Italian football yet again has been rocked by a betting scandal involving several top flight teams.  .Dominico Cristico has been pulled from the national squad and Cesar Prandelli's  make due squad will look to install some pride back into their scandal ragged football. Being in a rather easy group with Republic of Ireland and Croatia the Italian team have great chance to qualify for the knock out phase of the tournament.

Torres Pictured on the right faces stiff competitions from compatriots Fernando Lorente  for the starting place 

Having lost American Born Giuseppe Rossi, to ligament injury, Cesar Prandelli does not have a lot of options up front. One player who can surely change a game s in an instant is Ghanaian born Mario ballotelli. The troubled youngster has had his share of negative publicity playing for Manchester City in England. His attitude has cost ballotelli a lot of credit as a quality player. The Italian coach still has faith in him recently having said the following about the player:

"I have asked Balotelli to do the talking on the pitch. He has an extraordinary opportunity and cannot throw it away."

We are surely in for a great spectacle as these two teams boast some of the best players in the world of football. Spain's ticky taka football will surly bedazzle the Italian defense, but surly Italians will not make it easy for Spain to score as the azurri are famous for their no nonsense defense.

 Line UPs 

Defensive wall ;Cares Poyul will surely be missed by the Spanish, as the shaggy haired defender is out injured. Francis Fabre gas will start on the bench as the player is still recovering from a thigh injury he picked up in Copa Del Ray finals with Barcelona.

thre are two aspects in the Spanish team that almost always guarantees them a win .

the first of the two is Del basques tactical genius ,and play system , second is the squads tremendous ability, as long as there are no surprises ,its another  win for Spain. Look out6 for David Silva's genus passes , and Xavi's amazing vision during the match.

 Andrea Barzagli is sidelined for the first two matches with a calf strain as defensive midfielder Daniel Di Rossi will fill in for him at the center of the defense. 

Italy s experimenting with a new untested formation against Spain is not a good idea ,and the fact they are  fielding De Rossi , who has a knack for chopping down players in the center of their defense males things even worse for Italy in my opinion. things are not looking good for Italy in this game. look out for Daniel De Rossi getting sent off ,or at least being booked for silly foul around the 18 yard box . 

Final Verdict 

Spain                          Italy

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