World Cup Brazil 2014

After the challenging time of trying figure who will advance from Group C of this summer’s World
Cup. I now am faced with an either harder bunch in Group D. A group that contains  three former winners. When making decisions like this I first like to go with my gut. Whatever pops into my head I immediately scribble down. If I’m not satisfied with that I tend to look at the players each nation has, the form they are in and their fitness via stats and calculations. Another interesting tool I like to implicate is the "special factor.” Does a team has a veteran roster? So this may be a last hooray for the players. They may use that as motivator. Does a team have a home team advantage or a huge following in a country? For example, Portugal will be well supported and culturally will feel very comfortable in Brazil. Lastly I just ask a good friend who they think is going to win or advance. Sometimes having an outside perspective is the best angle one can take. I’m very critically of myself and the work I produce. In any realm of life and though I may not like being criticized, it is welcomed. So I can at least give myself room to dwell on thoughts. So there you go a snippet into my mind. Here is hoping I can have clear thoughts moving forward.

Group D
Costa Rica
England
Italy
Uruguay


Costa Rica

If you don’t feel for sorry for Costa Rica you have to be subhuman! The Costa Ricans really didn’t deserve this. I know because I  basically watched their whole qualifying campaign in CONCACAF. They were heroic, marvelous and didn’t shirk from any challenge. I will never forget when they played that nightmare of a football match in snowy Colorado against the United States where they turned in a stoic display only to barely lose. Costa Rica enter World Cup qualification in CONCACAF’s third round and were place in Group B with perennial giants Mexico and bottom feeders Guyana and El Salvador. As to be expect the Costa Ricans finished the Mexicans to advance to the final stage of the region’s qualifying, “The Hexagonal.” In the “Hex,” the Costa Ricans exceed expectations and finished just behind the Americans to claim second spot and automatic qualification. A remarkable feat considering Mexico and Honduras were in the pool as well. This will be the “Ticos,” fourth World Cup. Their best ever finish was at Italy 1990 when they reached the round of 16. I’ve seen the Costa Rica squad coach Jorge Pinto will has chosen for the World Cup and the fact he has chosen just three flat out strikers tells you his intention. He isn’t stupid  he knows that he will have to close the blinds given the opposition his team will face. Pinto has to get his tactics right and ensure men like Joel Campbell, Bryan Ruiz and Michael Barrantes at least give a wanting defense a break.

Key Man- Like so many squads going into this World Cup Costa Rica has been hit by injury. Pinto has loss Real Salt Lake forward Álvaro Saborío to a broken foot in training. A man who would have linked up well with star man Bryan Ruiz. The former Fulham man will have limited touches in the ball but when he gets his chance he will need to be spectacular.   

England

It's not a well kept secret that England has underwhelmed at FIFA competitions for awhile. Which is a shame because the country credited for bringing the game to the world they should be draped in even more glory than they already have. England’s only international crown came in 1966 when they hosted and won the World Cup. Ever since then it has been an ocean of mediocrity for the English. Which doesn’t make much sense when you look at the players  the nation have and had. What I will say this their 14th trip to the World Cup seems to bring an air of optimism with it. In recent times there has been clamor in England to go with youth...well they got what they asked for because this squad heading to Brazil is definitely young. To be honest I think that was the right step because in qualifying for Brazil, England did use a youthful squad when they stepped out on top of UEFA’s Group H. Which was a very tricky ordeal because the English had to see off Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and San Marino. England will be led by Roy Hodgson and the team he has picked for the tourney is missing a few good men for me at least. There is no Jay Rodriguez and Theo Walcott ruled out through injury. England are always without the famed Chelsea pair John Terry and Ashley Cole. Both confirming there international retirement for one reason or another. Steven Caulker was not picked, which is a little puzzling to me given his good form. The regulars however are there for the “Three Lions.” Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Joe Hart and Glen Johnson will all be in Brazil. They will be joined by fresh talent like Luke Shaw, Raheem Sterling, Fraser Forester and Danny Welbeck which sounds good. It can’t be side stepped...this is a tough group the English could win it or finish behind Uruguay and Italy. We will have to wait and see.

Key Man- I’m sure almost every pundit has Wayne Rooney as the go to man for Roy Hodgson but I see it differently. Daniel Sturridge is such a amazing player I can’t wrap my head around some of his performances. I’m tipping him to overshadow Rooney simply because he is such a real talent.

Italy

Italy coast through UEFA’s Group B where they easily conquered Denmark, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Malta and Armenia. This will be the Italians 19th World Cup and they are looking for their fifth title.  The Italians this summer will be led by coach Cesare Prandelli and he has brought with him some familiar names. The always reliable Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Danielle De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo will be there. Prandelli has also incorporated some youth into the squad. Forward Lorenzo Insigne, midfield man Marco Veratti and defender Matteo De Scigilio will make the trip. Combining these youngster into the squad immediately gives Italy a much more mobile look and feel. I mean I can call all the names I want but we all know that Mario Balotelli is the go getter for the “Azzuri.” I won’t say the Italians won't win this thing but if they do he will be a big help. To doubt Italy changes at any FIFA tournament is folly. The players heading to Brazil look strong and I know they will do a job but the Serie A is flagging a bit and Italy’s players are competing in an ailing league. One just has to look at how well Italian teams are doing in the UEFA Champions League in recent seasons. Attendances and financing for the league isn’t as strong as other spots in Europe but the Italians being Italians won’t care and would discount all of that. Again here we have another team who could well come along and win this whole thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if they do.

Key Man- As I said just now Mario Balotelli is clearly the star here. Some may argue that Andrea Pirlo, Gigi Buffon or Giorgio Chiellini  are more important and that would be sound but Balotelli brings the fear. No one should ever underestimate the power of intimidation in sport.

Uruguay

Winners and host of the first ever World Cup, Uruguay go to Brazil with history on their side. The Uruguayans are seeking their third ever world title and it is worth noting that the last time the World Cup was in Brazil they did win. Qualification for Óscar Tabárez men was not uniformed at all. Uruguay finished fifth in CONMEBOL qualifying thus earning an intercontinental tie with Asian side Jordan. The Jordanians knew it was a long shot qualifying for Brazil and Uruguay quickly reminded them of that. The South American side strolled over to Amman and whacked the Jordanians 5-0. In the return leg in Montevideo the host didn’t even bothered to score and Jordan gave up the ghost so a 0-0 draw ensued. This World Cup Tabárez has put the band back together. Diego Forlán, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suárez I’m pretty sure will all be in the starting XI for Uruguay and for rest of the teams in group that’s bad news. Fernando Musalera will be goal. You can expect veteran defenders like Diego Lugano and Diego Godín to feature. Uruguay has also brought Sebastián Coates, a defender who dominated at the last Copa America but who has also been hurt for a long time. In the middle Diego Pérez will be there alongside Cristian Rodríguez. While for some creativity in the midfield Tabárez has opted to give Gastón Ramírez a shot. Looking at the personnel on display for Uruguay I can easily say they can be in for a long run. Not a dark horse but  a contender that can legitimately win it all.

Key Man- After sweating out on Luis Suárez for a little while Uruguay will be ecstatic to have their star man ready for the tournament. If you watched the Barclays Premier League 2013-14 season you would easily see why this guy is my pick. He got me a ton of Fantasy points.

Predictions- I have Uruguay coming in first. Followed by Italy closely followed by England with Costa Rica taking a backseat. Suarez, Cavani, Forlan and Stuani can produce a volume of goals that teams just won’t be able to match. Italy always find a way. England defensively are a little dodgy. As for Costa Rica they might as well not be here.

Costa Rica