World Cup Brazil 2014

I am not going to make this about me. There will be no story to tell. It is all business. The World Cup is here and I’m very excited about it. It is a special tournament and deserves a lot of media and fan fare. The fact that it is four years makes it even more intriguing. Ask yourself where were you four years? What were you doing? What was your frame of mind? I can tell you where I was. I was in college. I was preparing my thesis for my final year of school and I was tad bit negative about stuff. This World Cup has returned to South America and I do think Brazil was a fine choice despite of the country's socio-economic problems. Despite the protests and all of the clamor about the climate and the murmurs about stadium completion. Brazil is still a proper football nation with the right attitude for the game and no one deserves this opportunity more. The problems that the country face is a major concern and it is not right to just sweeping them under the rug because they need to be discuss but I don’t think I am the one to tackle them. So I will deal with what I know or pretend to know and that is the football. So here is my semi educated attempt of a group preview.

Group A
Brazil
Cameroon
Croatia
Mexico



Brazil

Naturally let us start with the host. Unlike the last World Cup this year’s host can actually play the sport. I’m trying to be ask courteous to South Africa as I can but they aren’t and weren’t very good and in my opinion didn’t deserve the honor and if they didn’t host the tournament would not have being vying for trophy in 2010. In contrast Brazil are the model host. A past winner. A country with the pedigree in the game. A regular World Cup attendee and a land that belches out one football great after another. Brazil is aiming to capture her sixth World Cup crown a stat that is crazy if one was to think about it. The objective is clear for the “Seleção,” win the World Cup at home. The pressure to do so will be enormous but coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has the credentials to do it having won the tournament before but that was in 2002 in France. To lift the cup at end will be difficult, I just can get pass the pressure this group of young men from Brazil will face. The country may actually suffocate them but that being said it could go the other way, the energy from nation could embolden them. It will be interesting for Brazil and for their coach who has to get a side sharp that has not played a competitive match since the Confederations Cup in 2013. Granted Brazil did host and won the tournament but playing a handful of games in a tourney that boasted Tahiti does not compare to the grind of a World Cup qualifying campaign. We will see how they do. A lot of factors will be at play. As for the personnel I think host look strong throughout their squad. They have some solid goalkeepers and the defense is very strong, which is even weird to say when talking about a Brazilian national side but Thiago Silva and company have proven in recent times to be very rigid. In midfield, Oscar is the name that leaps out at you as well as young Bernard. Up front it’s all about Neymar. With all of that, will Brazil win the tournament? They could but they aren’t my favorite despite that I do think they will go deep.

Key Man- If Brazil are to win their sixth World Cup crown Neymar will have to play a big role. The party tricks he breaks out will have to be flawless and his ability to score will be needed to sling Brazil into winning positions.

Cameroon











Volker Finke’s men virtually strolled through the process of World Cup qualification. Cameroon secured her seventh trip to the FIFA World Cup by firstly topping Group I in the Africa’s qualifying zone (CAF). A group that contained Libya, Democratic Republic of Congo and Togo. After the group stage Cameroon went onto hammer North African heavyweights Tunisia 4-1 in a two leg play off thus booking their passage to Brazil. Cameroon along with Côte d’ Ivoire are the only two African teams that should actually be feared in my opinion. The men from Yaoundé will for me ultimately battling out with Croatia for that second spot in Group A as I expect Brazil to dominate and Mexico to flag. Cameroon’s squad is littered with European based players. The likes of Samuel Eto’o, Alexander Song, Benoît Assou-Ekotto, Joël Matip and Jean Makoun have all been knocking about Europe for years and have some big game experience and will be called on to perform. If they can’t produce I see a third place finish because the Croats are too business like to slip up. What could work in the Africans favor is the climate...I know people are talking about how hot it will be in Brazil and every pundit has spoken at length about it. As they should. Cameroon does have an advantage playing in these conditions it's nothing new to them but it isn’t new for Brazil or Mexico either. The odd man out is Croatia but I even ask how much advantage is it in a case like this. It’s not like Croatia is a winter land, the Balkans can get steamy too. Cameroon as a country has a ton of World Cup experience and has a well travelled squad so you never how far they can go but I have to say I can only see a lone Mexico win in their future.

Key Man- There has been a lot of talk about Samuel Eto’o’s age but to me he is still a stud. It’s funny how Jose Mourinho never once mentioned Didier Drogba’s age. A man who is a clear three years older than Eto’o. Cameroon will peg almost all their attacking endeavors on Eto’o. If they are looking to advance out of the group the Cameroon will have to find him early and often.

Croatia

Under the umbrella of Yugoslavia, Croatia has seen a few World Cups and as apart of the old federation they have seen wonderful times. As a lone entity the Croats will be making their fourth trip to the World Cup but their qualification took the long route. Croatia was placed in Group A of European qualification along with Belgium, Serbia, Scotland, Wales and Macedonia. The Balkan state finished second behind group winners Belgium and was forced into a two legged play off with Iceland. A match up that the Croatians eventually topped by coming out 2-0 winners. My thoughts on Croatia are leaning to the optimistic side and why not? In their ranks Croatia have a recent UEFA Champions League and Copa Del Rey winner in Luka Modric. A multiple Bundesliga champion in Mario Mandzukic. They also have Ivan Rakitic´ a player who just wrapped up a Europa League title with Sevilla and Dejan Lovren who is coming of a fine season with Southampton. In short the Europeans are stacked. I think they will have what it takes to slot in behind Brazil for the second spot above Cameroon and Mexico. This is a nation who has always done well at FIFA tournaments I feel that this one will be kind to them as well.

Key Man- Mario Mandzukic’s goals will be vital for the Croatians. I don’t think that this group in the World Cup boast the most defensive savvy teams and there will be goals to be had. It’s just matter how much more Mandzukic can score than the rest of the bunch.

Mexico

      








I have seen a lot of Mexico these past four years and let me say they should prepare themselves for a short stay in Brazil because they just don’t look very good. The constant hiring and firing of coaches.  Poor Gold Cup and Confederation Cup showings and the shaky World Cup qualifying campaign has Mexico looking fairly soft. This World Cup will be the 15th for “El Tri.” The man chosen to lead the Mexicans is Miguel Herrera and to his credit has steered the national side through a bad patch. The fact that Mexico needed the United States to pick up a victory against Panama in the CONCACAF Hexagonal to ensure a playoff birth against New Zealand shows what bad a shape they were in. All said in the end New Zealand were beaten so all the stress of qualifying must now be a bad memory for Mexico. I honestly don’t think Mexico’s players will have what it takes to topple Cameroon, Brazil or Croatia.  Main players for Mexico are either in or out of form like Giovani Dos Santos or have not been playing enough like Javier Hernandez. A big blow to the side has the self omission of Carlos Vela. Which is a real shame because the striker has had a stellar year for Real Sociedad. If Mexico are to get out of this group which I doubt they will, coach Herrera has to heavily depend on home based players like Oribe Peralta, Miguel Layun, Rafael Marquez and Marco Fabian.

Key Man- Giovani Dos Santos has to produce the silky skills and look to link up with other members of Mexico’s attacking force. Blessed with amazing vision and is a true playmaker.  Mexico will need all of his wizardry to advance out of this group.

Predictions- Brazil to win the group with the Croatia hanging on to second, with Cameroon slotting into third with Mexico propping up the table. I hope I’m right simply because I hate being wrong. Brazil’s World Cup pressure will come in later rounds, this group will cause no problem to them. Croatia’s big game players will have enough to teach Cameroon and Mexico a lesson. Cameroon will be very dependent on Samuel Eto’o’s goals. if he can not find the net the Africans will look lost. As for Mexico I just feel the lead up to the games wasn’t the best and the bad habits will spill over into this tournament for them.  

Brazil