As the biggest sporting event in the whole of the world is fast appoaching; and without posting my predictions and thoughts going into the event I thought it would be appropriate to do so. Ahhh how excited I am for the World Cup. Ever Since the draw back in the winter I havent gone a week without thinking about it. The 2014 World Cup will be taken place in Brazil. The country I support, where my father is from and where I am citizen; Because of this, it is especially important to me. Now lets take a look at how things in my opinion are gonna play out this summer.
The Groups
Taking a look at the groups. There will be the standard 32 teams competitng in the tournament. 8 groups evenly divided by 4 teams in each group.
Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon.
This group will mainly be a battle for second place as I see Brazil sweeping all three teams and topping the group.
Brazil: Statistically, one in three hosts win the World Cup - and you would hardly bet against Brazil next summer. Their performances in winning the Confederations Cup this past summer were better than anticipated and if they can maintain the fabulous work ethic they demonstrated in that tournament then they have a real chance. The flicks and tricks remain second nature, but this Brazil side is also resilient and well organised, moulded by the pragmatism of 2002-World Cup winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. Brazil usually adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation and are not afraid to be direct, often seeking out the flamboyant Neymar on the left with long balls from the back. Take your pick, Coach Scolari has the required major tournament know-how, the players are talented and well-drilled, a passionate home crowd will surely inspire the team again, as they did at the Confederations Cup in the summer, and even the iconic yellow jerseys can intimidate the opposition. Believe the hype; Neymar is pivotal to Brazil. Full of energy and deft touches, and able to dribble at incredible speed, he is the player most capable of changing a game for Scolari's side. The 21-year-old World Cup poster boy - who joined Barcelona in the summer for £48.6m - appears unfazed by the public expectation, scoring 13 times in his last 16 caps. Neymar always plays his best football the Selecao is without a doubt a big game player. I expect Neymar to continue to shine this summer much like he did in the Confederations Cup. There are a few changes I would like to be seen made in both the starting 11 and the 23 man squad taken to Brazil. In the Starting 11 I think Scolari would be safe to put the same front 3 that lead the Confederations Cup. Questions should be asked of the current form of Fred who is playing in Brazil and Hulk playing in the Russain Premier League. I personally would experiement in the last few friendlys before the World Cup and try diffrent attacking options. I think Scolari should try and play Hulk as a striker with his blistering pace and incredible shooting ability which is limited on the wing. This would allow the likes of Willan to come on the right wing and Neymar opposite him on the left. With Willan's impressive debut season with Chelsea, Scolari should seriously consider him in the starting 11. Other changes from the Confederations Cup starting 11 I think Scolari should consider is Fernandinho starting instead of Luis Gustavo. Fernandinho has been considered the signing of the BPL season with his always consistent displays. I think he is much more overall effective player than Luis Gustavo and will make Brazil much better attacking and defending. The other change I would make is to replace David Luiz with the inclusion of Dante. Dont get me wrong, David Luiz is an extremly talented player and his heroric off the line clearance vs Spain in the Confederations Cup final swong the whole game in Brazil's favor and without a doubt influenced the result of the game. I have a few problems with David Luiz at center back for Brazil. For starters, he plays his best for club Chelsea when he plays as a defensive midfielder. He enjoys going forward and he has a great long pass on him. This is why Jose Mourniho has been playing him there and has been a success. Another reason is he is just way to casual with everything he does on the field. His marking off set pieces is extremly lazy ( example Confederations Cup Semi Final corner kick penalty given ). He is also not good at reading the play and making smart decisons coming out of the back. Overall his laziness combined with his casual aproach to the games is why I would much rather prefer a more solid and reliable figrue back there. This is where Scolari should look no further than Bayern Munich center back Dante. Dante is better than David Luiz in every aspect of the defensive side of the game and has had a better season than any Brazilian centre back. With the possible partnership of Thiago Silva and Dante strengthened in the last few friendlys, Brazil will solidfy there defense as the best in the world. I also firmly believe that Scolari could be potentially leaving out two of the most promising young footballers in the world. Lucas Moura, and Phillepe Coutinho. These two should be on the plane back home to Brazil to play for the Selecao. Weather or not they are not even on the subs bench and on the reserves these two emense talents need to be given the chance. They have both been in good form this season especailly Coutinho at Liverpool. Lucas when given the chance at PSG always puts in top class performances and defenders struggle to deal with his combonation of skill and change of pace.
A key reason why I beleive that Brazil are the most complete team in the World Cup is Brazil know how to win more ways than any other team. If needed, Brazil can play scrapy and look to play more direct to the target of Fred and the tricky and skillfull wingers of Hulk and Neymar. They can also play possession with the techinal midfield of Oscar, Fernandinho and Paulinho who are not afraid to get stuck in. Expect to see Brazil change their style of play based on how the opposition decide to approach the game facing the samaba boys. Combine Brazil's talented and deep squad with home support for the whole tournament and they should undoubltey be considered one of the favorites.
Predicted Lineup: ( 4-2-3-1) : Cesar, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Dante, Marcelo, Paulinho, Fernandinho, Oscar, Neymar, Fred, Hulk
Croatia: Croatia lack the depth of talent associated with their golden generation of the late 1990s but they remain capable of bloodying the nose of most sides. They contain an extremly technically gifted midfield. Their midfield should prove to be the strength in their team, with the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Raktic looking to make magic happen from the midfield. Up front their is Mario Mandzukic, 27, who has averaged better than a goal every other game in 2013, helping Bayern Munich win a historic treble and top scoring for Croatia with four goals in qualifying. Munich coach Pep Guardiola says "there is no one better in the air in the world" than the striker, but his red card for a studs-up lunge in the play-off win over Iceland will limit his World Cup involvement leaving him on the side lines vs Brazil in their opening game.
Predicited Lineup: ( 4-5-1) : Subasic, Srna, Lovern, Corluka, Pamic, Kovacic, Modric, Rakitic, Persic, Ilievic, Mandzukic
Mexico: Some good news for the Mexicans is that the climate will be in their favor. Mexico used 47 players and four coaches in a turbulent qualifying campaign which left a host of questions unanswered. There is undoubtedly talent within their playing pool, but the 2012 Olympic gold medallists have little time left to no time left to find a winning formula. Predicting their line-up is pure guesswork at this early stage, but Oribe Peralta top scored in qualifying with 10 goals, including five in the play-off against New Zealand. The Santos Laguna striker was an instrumental player at the 2012 Olympics and scored both goals as Mexico beat Brazil to win gold. Mexico qualifed by the skin of their teeth. Only a late comeback from the USA against Panama saved El Tri from elimination in the final round of Concacaf qualifiers. That set-up a two-legged tie against New Zealand which they won 9-3 on aggregate. This will be their 15th appearance - a tally bettered only by Argentina, Brazil, Germany and Italy. Quarter-finalists on home soil in 1970 and 1986, they have bowed out at the last-16 stage in the last five tournaments.
Cameroon: It is a long time since Cameroon lived up to their nickname of Indomitable Lions. They have failed to qualify for the last two Africa Cup of Nations. Amid player friction and discontent with Cameroon's football federation, which was briefly suspended by Fifa in July because of government interference. The national side is top heavy with defensive midfielders but lacking in creativity, to the extent that Barcelona's Alex Song has been deployed in an unfamiliar role as playmaker. Samuel Eto'o is the captain and a four-time African Footballer of the Year but it is off the field that his influence could be most telling. The Chelsea forward, 32, briefly retired from international football in September in the wake of a dispute with coach Volker Finke, and in the latest fallout with team-mates he then claimed there was a "plot" among them not to pass him the ball in the World Cup play-off against Tunisia. He has re-discovered some form under old club boss Jose Mourinho and will be looking to turn that momentum into goals at the World Cup. Brazil will be their seventh World Cup - an African record - but Cameroon have only won one match in four editions since reaching the quarter-finals in 1990.
Group Predictions: 1st Brazil 9pts, 2nd Croatia 6pts, 3rd Mexico 1pts, 4th Cameroon 1pts
Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, New Zeland.
Group B along with D and G are the three hardest groups without a doubt. The two 2010 World Cup finalists will be playing in this groups opening match.
Spain: Spain have won the last three major tournaments they have entered, so you have to fancy them. Spain I still believe even though many of the key players from the 2010 winning team are aging, are serious contnenders. Adding the Inform Diego Costa up front to their starting 11 and they look extremly dangerous. The only thing that's stacked against them in my view is history - no European team has won the World Cup in South America. This Spain team remains more than capable of changing that though. Spain's possession game, coupled with their determination to quickly win the ball when they don't have it, has been wearing down the opposition for over seven years. Spain typically play 4-3-3, with full-backs Jordi Alba and Dani Carvalj attacking like wingers and centre backs Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique often joining in play beyond the halfway line. Strikers only tend to enter the box at the last minute for the element of surprise. I expect them to play more of a 4-5-1 formation in order to play their plethera of world class midfielders into the lineup. Spain have a seemingly inexhaustible supply of talented midfielders: Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas, Xabi Alonso, Juan Mata, David Silva, Javi Martinez, Santi Cazorla, not to mention European Under-21 winners Isco, Asier Illarramendi and Thiago Alcantara. A revitalised Pedro has added extra penetration and goals. There's the issue of who plays as a striker. in 2010 Cesc Faberags was given the " false nine" role and did well. Now with the more straight forward strikeing options ( Negredo, Diego Costa) I expect a true # 9 to play the role. None of the candidates have excelled in their auditions so far, although I expect Diego Costa to prove to be a success and continue the best year of his footballing career.
Predicted Lineup: ( 4-5-1) : Casillas, Ramos, Pique, Carvajal, Alba, Busquets, Xavi, Ineiesta, David Silva, Pedro, Diego Costa
Netherlands: As ever with the Dutch at a major tournament, it is difficult to predict how they will fare. The 2010 World Cup finalists have finished unbeaten this year, scoring goals for fun, but that achievement is less impressive when you look at who they have faced. Is a front four of Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van Der Vaart at its peak or a fading force? Netherlands are a team especially in late 2013 and 2014 who are not playing well at all. In their last three results they have tied Japan 2-2, Colombia 0-0 , and most recently were beaten 2-0 to France. There strong point will be there attack with RVP leading the charge and Arjen Robben on the right hand side looking to make the diffrence. The only way I see Netherlands advancing through this group is if RVP and Robben are in top top form. There mdifield is dull and slow with not much creativity to be fair. Combine that with lack luster defence and Holland can say goodbye to Brazil after 3 games.
Predicted Lineup: ( 4-3-3) : Steklenburg, Heitinga, Ron Vlaar, Willems, Van Der Wiel, Snedjier, Van Der Vart, De Jong, Robben, Van Persie, Ola John
Chile: One of my Dark horses of the tournament is Chile who I have coming in second place in the group and who knows could even pull out on top. Chile is a national team primed for a strong world cup showing. Against Germany in there last game they were by far the better team despite a 1-0 loss. They play a fast paced attacking style that will catch alot of teams off guard. Key players for Chile include Vidal in the center of the midfield and Alexis Sanchez on the wing. Eduardo Varagas will also have to start finishing better than he did against Germany. Chile is also a threat from set pieces as they tend to win most headers. I can see them easily going by Australia then taking Netherlands by suprise. The game against Spain I actually believe they will match up well. They will be content to see Spain pass and defend behind the ball and when oppurtunity stikes to attack them on the counter. They also have the ability to play high pressure defense which was extremly impressive and effective against Germany. I will be intrigued to see what kind of defensive style coach Jorge Sampaoli decides to play throughout the tournament. History is good for Chile when they manage to get to the major tournaments which have been hard to come by. This is only the third time they have qualified in eight tournaments, but they did reach the last 16 in 1998 and 2010 - losing to Brazil on both occasions. They got to the semi-finals on home soil in 1962, again losing to the Brazilians. If they do end up coming in second, they could yet again come up againt Brazil in the round of 16.
Predicted Lineup: ( 4-1-2-1-2) : Bravo, Isla, Medel, Gonzalez, Fierro, Vidal, Pizzaro, Valdes, Valdivia, Alexis, Vargas
Australia: Australia are the lowest ranked country to qualify, and the remit for new coach Ange Postecoglou is to bring through the youth. His predecessor Holger Osieck was sacked in October after back-to-back 6-0 defeats to Brazil and France, having been accused of staying too loyal to the Socceroos' ageing players. Australia's Player of the Year, Mile Jedinak, will surely have to play a vital role as chief midfield protector if the Socceroos are to enjoy a fruitful World Cup. In the prime of his career, the Crystal Palace captain can also play in defence. Australia will really be against it in this group; any type of result would be considered a success.
Group Prediction: 1st Spain 9pts, 2nd Chile 6pts, 3rd Netherlands 3pts,
4th Australia 0pts
Group C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan.
This group is one of the most open groups in terms of anyone can really go through.
Colombia: I believe Colombia have the best chance to take the group with second place being battled out between Ivory Coast and Japan. Colombia have a high world ranking, but that means nothing and I don't see them having a chance of winning the World Cup, despite their unrealastic Fifa World Ranking of 4th. A huge setback with Colombia will be that of star striker Falcao having a torn ACL. He may be still available as he has made great recovery thus far. Coach Jose Pekerman is a tactical chameleon who favours attack-minded variations on 4-4-2, 4-2-2-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations. Napoli pair Pablo Armero and Juan Zuniga provide width as adventurous full-backs, with Fiorentina's Juan Cuadrado and Monaco's James Rodriguez the key creative influences on the flanks. Rodriguez plays his club football alongside striker Falcao, and the duo have a deadly understanding. The squad is top-heavy with attacking talent playing for leading European clubs - so much so that Porto's Jackson Martinez and Inter Milan's Fredy Guarin struggle to get a game. Conditions in Brazil may also suit them. They played qualifiers in the sweltering Caribbean port of Barranquilla, opting for mid-afternoon kick-offs in the belief rivals would wilt in the heat. While Colombia conceded fewer goals than anyone else in South American qualifying, there is a dilemma at centre-back. Mario Yepes, 38 in January, lacks any pace, but is the captain. AC Milan's Cristian Zapata, 27, deputised successfully last month in a 2-0 win in Belgium and 0-0 draw with the Netherlands. He may be a better bet in Brazil.
With Falcao fit and playing as he normally does Colombia could definitely surprise a few making it to the quarter finals.
Predicted Lineup: ( 4-4-2) : Ospina, Arias, Zapata, Yepes, Armero, Guarin, Quintero, Cuadrado, Rodriguez, Falaco, Martinez
Ivory Coast: The Ivorians' golden generation now has a distinctly grey-ish tinge, and this tournament is set to be the last of Didier Drogba's international career. Their talented squad has flattered to deceive, with their failure to win at least one Africa Cup of Nations particularly mystifying. Ivory Coast holds great indivudals and I will take them being the strongest African side on paper. This golden generation has yet to really shine together on the internation stage and will be looking to change things. Manchester City powerhouse Yaya Toure scored four times in six qualifiers, a tally bettered only by Lille forward Salomon Kalou. Yaya Toure will need to lead the team through the midfield in order for the Ivoranians to make any sort of run in the knock out stages.
Predicted Lineup: ( 4-4-2) : Copa, Eboue, Kolo Toure, Kone, Tiene, Yaya Toure, Tiote, Kalou, Gervinho, Drogba, Bony
Greece: Greece conceded four times in their qualifying group, a record bettered only by Spain. They are not the most thrilling team, but they do get the most out of limited resources. The bookies rate them as Europe's weakest side in Brazil but it is worth recalling they upset Russia to reach the quarter-finals at Euro 2012. Target man Kostas Mitroglou has been in incredible form for club and country. He scored three goals in two play-off matches against Romania and a hat-trick for Olympiakos at Anderlecht - which made him the first Greek to score a Champions League treble. The Greeks strong point will be the defense. Their defense has proven in qualfying that they can be the strongpoint of the squad. Now they just need to prove themselves against some harder opponents. Captain Giorgos Karagounis will be leading the his troops from midfield. The Greeks have had a decent draw and will have as good as an oppurtunity as anyone to prove themselves.
Japan: Expect the unexpected from the technically gifted yet defensively susceptible Asian champions. They breezed through qualifying but exited the Confederations Cup with three defeats. Losses to Serbia and Belarus then led to calls to sack coach Alberto Zaccheroni. November's draw in the Netherlands and a win in Belgium have revived hopes that Japan could yet be a surprise package. Keisuke Honda, 27, is Japan's talisman, with Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki the rising stars. Attacking midfielder Honda, who joined AC Milan from CSKA Moscow in January, can drag his team-mates to another level if in the mood. Their inconsistent results say that anything can happen with this Japan squad.
Group Predictions: 1st Colombia 7pts, Ivory Coast 5pts, Japan, 4pts, Greece 0pts
Group Predictions: 1st Colombia 7pts, Ivory Coast 5pts, Japan, 4pts, Greece 0pts
Group D: Italy, England, Costa Rica, Uruguay.
Uruguay: I get the feeling we have yet to see the best of this current Uruguay team and that they are petering out as a major force. They have a lovely triumvirate of forwards in Cavani, Suarez and Forlan; you'd always fancy them to score. Behind that, are they strong enough to go a long way? I wouldn't be surprised to see them reach the quarter-finals but they will be hard pushed to manage a repeat of their fourth-place finish in 2010. Mind you, they did lift the trophy the last time it was held in Brazil! I expect them to suprise alot of people in Brazil. Many people still don't always reconginze the threat that Uruguay is and how strong of a team they are. On paper people will see the star names, Suarez, Cavani, etc but, in fact their defensive style is what they thrive on especially against the bigger teams. They work extremly hard as a team and are very physical. Experienced centre-back pairing Diego Godin and captain Diego Lugano will be looking to lead from the back. Godin is having the best season of his career with Atletico Madrid so I can see Uruguay being a hard team to break down. They also contain a world class goalkeeper in Fernando Muslera from Galatasary. As qualifying went on, coach Oscar Tabarez settled on a pragmatic 4-4-2. The industrious Edinson Cavani leads the line, with Luis Suarez given licence to roam. Tabarez, however, is not afraid to switch formations, doing so in away matches and during the Confederations Cup to counteract the opposition, including playing 3-5-2 and 4-3-3. Expect him to vary it up in Brazil. The key piece of the puzzle for Uruguay will be the realsonship between Edison Cavani and Luis Suarez. If these two can work together and build a good connection they will be one of the deadliest partnerships in this tournament. In Luis Suarez's 4th Premier League season with Liverpool he is enjoying by far the best season of his career. In 29 games so far he has aboslutley mind blowning statistcs. 29 games played, 29 goals scored, and is not only the top goal scorer this season but also leads the league in assists with 12. If he can carry his Premier League form to the World Cup look out for Suarez to be a possible Golden Boot canidate.
Predicted Lineup: ( 4-4-2): Muslera, Periera, Godin, Caceres, Fucile, Gargano, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Alvaro Periera, Suarez, Cavani
England: England is the one footballing nation that I and many people believe are extremly overated. Optimism is not high among fans and media alike that England can make much headway in Brazil. Although they have many young talents coming through the ranks the likes of Shaw, Barkley, Sterling, OX , I just dont see them doing anything in this world cup. Roy Hoodson still doesnt know his strongest lineup and will be debating weather or not to star more youth in this years team or go with a mix. With the young emurging talent of players like Sterling, Ox, Barkley, Shaw ; they are a team for the future in my opinion and in 2016 and 2018 should be looking to be contenders. England will be looking for World Cup verternas Wayne Rooney, who is now enetering his third World Cup, and captain Steven Gerrard for leadership. England will need him at the top of his game - and to keep his cool - in Brazil. England is not primed for a strong World Cup, but you never know this is football and in football anything can happen.
Predicted Lineup: 4-2-3-1 : Hart, Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Cole, Gerrard, Wilshere, Rooney, Oxalde Chamberlin, Sterling, Sturridge
Italy: Italy are a possession-based team with a dynamic attacking threat. Their 2013 Confederations Cup experience could prove to be a trump card in dealing with the heat. Recent defensive frailties at crosses and high balls are a concern but the bookmakers predict Italy will reach the last eight. AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli, 23, heads to the World Cup as a maturing performer. He inspired Italy to the Euro 2012 final, scoring twice in the semi-final against Germany, and top scored in qualifying with five goals. Balotelli has managed 12 goals in 29 appearances - and Italy have never lost when he has scored. Balotelli along with Andrea Pirlo, Chellini, and Buffon will be the anker to the Italian ship looking to tie Brazil's record of 5 World Cups. Italian head coach, Cesare Prandelli is well respected by all in Italian football. Tactically astute, he has hard-line views on behaviour, both on and off the pitch, and has spoken about banning social media in the camp. Despite this, even Balotelli is on his side. His contract expires next summer but the Italian FA are keen to keep him. Italy should also be noted that against England have the better of things when the two fair of agianst each other. Italy have taken the spoils when it's mattered most in tournament football, winning their Euro 2012 quarter-final on penalties and the third-place play-off at the 1990 World Cup. The overall record is tight, with Italy ahead by nine wins to eight, with seven draws. The last point I will prove is that virtually all of the Italian team play domestically together in Serie A; meaning that the team will have more chemsitry and a better understanding than most. Expect the a strong showing from the Italians and take your bets with them. Besides, who would bet against Andrea Pirlo and that beard.
Predicted Lineup: ( 4-5-1) : Buffon, Abate, Cheillini, Barzagli, De Sciglio, Pirlo, Marchiso, De Rossi, Cerci, El Shaarway, Balotelli
Costa Rica: Costa Rica is really against the look of things in Group D. The Central American side are defensively organised, with an emphasis on pressing the opposition. At the other end of the pitch, they will need key contributions from the likes of talented but erratic captain Bryan Ruiz and promising Arsenal forward Joel Campbell if they are to reach the knockout stage. Costa Rica probably have more World Cup experience then most people would assume. They made a winning World Cup debut against Scotland in 1990, going on to reach the last 16. Group exits have followed in 2002 (W1, D1, L1) and 2006 (L3). Any type of results against their 3 alpha counter parts would be considered a success.
Group Predictions: 1st Uruguay 9pts, 2nd Italy 6pts, 3rd England 3pts, 4th Costa Rica 0pts
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
France: France will be looking to turn around an emabrassing showing from South Africa in 2010 and make a strong run. France undoubtley traditionally is one of the strongest footballing nations in the world. They have many young talented players coming through the ranks and could be a true contender in 2018 and possibly one of the favorites for that tournament. They will be lead by Ballon' Dor finalist Frank Ribery who will need to have a huge tournament if the French really want to make a strong showing. Karim Benzema will have to add his finishing touch and be in form. The Midfield is going to be young for France and will be played for 3 box to box midfielders in there 4-3-3 formation. Picking those 3 will be hard. Only one of the 4 possible midfielders for France has semented his spot in the starting 11 and that is Blaise Matuidi. The PSG midfielder has been in form this whole season and has yet to put in a poor performance for his national team. The other 2 spots will be battled out by 3 remaining players. Cabaye, Pogba, Nasri. If I were the coach I would probably play Pogba along side Matuidi and the play Nasri in front of the two holding. The front 3 for France not that hard. Ribery on the left hang side, Benzema down the middle. The spot for the right wing will be duled out between Antoine Griezmann, and Mathieu Valbuena. I think that Didier Deschamps will start with Valbuena for the first game and then the second game give Griezmann a chance to prove his point. Whoever Deschamps thinks played better will probably get the nod for the remaning starts of the tournament. The French have a lot of potential to prove many people wrong and once again become a force in world football.
Predicted Lineup: Llolris, Sagna, Koscienly, Rami, Evra, Matuidi, Pogba, Cabaye, Ribery, Benzema, Nasri
Switzerland: Switzerland could be a suprise package in this World Cup and is a team well coached and strong defensivley. They have proven that they can compete with some of the best teams and even beat the best. Beating Brazil in 2013 1-0 at Stamford Bridge shows how effective their defensive style can be. Switzerland's place among the top teams for the World Cup draw caused some debate about the seeding system, but sides are generally seeded for a reason - they're tough to beat. Swiss national sides of the past have been notorious for their dull brand of football. More recently though, Switzerland have excelled at youth level and some dynamic young players are now emerging on to the senior stage. The national team is improving, but of course it's not like drawing Brazil or Spain. In order for Switzerland to have a strong World Cup the deffense will have to be their strong point. A record of nine clean sheets in Switzerland's last 14 matches - including in a 1-0 win over Brazil - is testament to the strength of their aforementioned defence. Their weakness is that they are weak in front of goal which was admitted by head coach Ottamar Hitzfield. This World Cup may come too soon for their new generation of talent to really shine.
Predicted Lineup: Benaglio, Lichsteiner, Schar, Von Berger, Rodriguez, Inler, Berhami, Xhaka, Shaqiri, Stocker, Seferovic
Ecuador: There's no doubting Ecuador have talented attacking players but there are a paucity of top-class defenders. Their results away from Quito, the altitude sickness-inducing capital, do not bode well either. They only dropped two points at home, against Argentina, but failed to win a single away qualifier, taking just three points from those eight games. The wing play for Ecuador will be their strong point and main game plan. Mexico-based left winger Jefferson Montero can be unplayable at times. He scored three goals during the qualifying campaign and attracted interest over the summer from a host of Premier League clubs, with Cardiff making a failed bid. Along with experienced Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia they look to strongest out on the flanks.
Honduras: The Hondurans have qualified for back-to-back World Cups for the first time in their history but it would be a major shock if they avoid an early exit. The squad lacks real pedigree, and they are one of the tournament's outsiders. Their lack of technical ability could be partly compensated for by familiarity with the hot and humid conditions expected in parts of Brazil.
Predicition: 1st France 7pts, 2nd Switzerland 7pts, 3rd Ecuador 3pts, 4th Honduras 0pts
Group F: Argentina, Nigeria, Iran, Bosnia.
Argentina: Will this be the biggest chapter yet in the Messi era? Hard to say but he has as good as a chance as anybody. Messi will be looking to lead Argentina to their 3rd World Cup and to solidify his place amongst the greatest ever to play the game. Argentina are a team I fancy quite strongly. They are better coached now under Alejandro Sabella and have so many wonderful players throughout the side. Messi will be lead along side Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain which should be the most potent attack in the tournament. The key for Argentina will be two things. Will Messi turn up and will we see the Messi of 2009-2012? And will the Argentina defense be able to hold it down and not prove to be their achiles heal.
Argentina often fielded a bold 4-3-3 formation in qualifying, although a more conservative 5-3-2 was deployed for tricky away fixtures. This allowed Messi to play as a classic number 10 in behind both Aguero and Higuian. The midfield 3 will consume of Angel Di Maria who has been converted into an attacking midfielder under Carlo Ancelotti and Los Blancos. While Mascherano will try to provide a defensive minded solidity in the holding midfield role, alongside either Gago or Benega who both play domestically in Argentina which could be a worry for Argentina. I personally prefer Benega who is a better passer and can link up with the front 3 better. The center back pairing is, Garay who is a Manchester United targer come this summer, and Federico Fernández from Napoli. Zabelata will provide a strong attacking option through the right side and Rojo will play on the left staying more defensive minded. The Argentina back line is actually stronger than most people would think. Garay is one of the most underated center backs in the world. The Benefica man is strong and the air and reads the play very well. He will be the key leader back there. Overall Argentina does not really have a threat in this group on paper and should be looking to help themselves in the round of 16 with an easier match. The battle for second place will be between Nigeria and Bosnia.
Predicted Lineup: Sergio Romero, Zabaleta, Garay, Fernandez, Peruzzi, Mascherano, Di Maria, Benega, Messi, Higuain, Aguero
Bosnia: Expect the adventurous Bosnians to attract plenty of support from neutrals. Their tally of 30 goals was the fourth highest in European qualifying, while no strike duo can match the total of 18 goals shared by Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic. The Round of 16 would be considered as a huge success. The midfield creativity will be offered by Roma playmaker Miralem Pjanic, 23, who has been in outstanding form for Roma this season. His passing ability will be the key to unlocking the deffence of Nigeria and Iran which can lead them to a second place finish.
Predicted Lineup: Begovic, Salihovic, Bicakcic, Spahic, Zukanovic, Pjanic, Rahimic, Lulic, Misimovic, Dzeko, Ibsevic
Iran: A predominantly domestic-based squad will do well to improve on Iran's World Cup record of one win in nine attempts. They only conceded twice in eight matches during the final qualifying phase but stronger opponents lie ahead.
Nigeria: After failing to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles have undergone a radical transformation under Steven Keshi, who has sought to lower the average age of the squad. His selection policy, at times controversial, has paid off - this year the Super Eagles won their first African title since 1994. They produced a competent showing at the Confederations Cup, but improvement is needed to reach the knock-out stages in 2014. Victor Moses will have to be the firepower needed for Nigeria to come second in the group. He proved to be talent with his strong performance at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and sorely missed out of the Confederations Cup with an injury.
Predicted Lineup: Vincent Enyeama, Omerou, Ambrose, Oboabona, Taiwo, John Obi Mikel, Onazi, Joel Obi, Victor Moses, Emenike, Musa
Group Prediction: 1st Argentina 9pts, 2nd Bosnia 4pts, 3rd Nigeria 4pts, Iran 0pts
Group G: United States, Germany, Portugal, Ghana.
Germany: I have mixed feelings about Germany. If you look at their roster and on paper they undoubtley have one of the most talented and deep teams in the world. German club football is on a high and producing top-class talent. The national team's attacking midfield options are incredible. Joachim Low will play a 4-2-3-1 which is the most up and coming formation in world football. They will likely rotate the two center backs spots between Per Mertesacker, Mats Hummels, and Jerome Boateng. Philip Lahm will start at right back and may possibly be introduced in the midfield, while Marco Schmezel will start on the left. Manuel Neuer who is without a shadow of a doubt the best goalie in the world will start in goal. Recent news shows that Ikay Gunodogan will not play in the tournament. This is a big loss for Germany as he in my opinon is one of the strongest up and coming center midfielders in the world. Even with the injury they will be fine. This just means that Bastian Schweinsteiger will start most likely along side Sami Khedria if fit or Toni Kroos with Philip Lahm haveing a strong chance to play some time in the middle. The front 3 attacking midfield will prove to be key in order to acheive the success Germany is hoping for. Arsenal playmaker Mezuit Ozil will be the most likely starting number 10 for Germany. Recently coming back from a stint out due to an injury substained in the Champions League he will be counted on to find gaps and the final pass in the opposition deffence. On the left one of the most up and coming attacking players in the world Marco Reus while on the right will most likely be the proven Bayern Munich goal scorer Thomas Muller. Up front either Klose or Mario Gomez who are both not in the prime of their careers which could prove to be a weakness. This is why I believe the midfield is really going to have to strive for Germany to succed. Marco Reus and Thomas Muller will both need to have their shooting boots on. The Germans contain two weaknesses that I think will hurt them in the long run in tournament. German teams traditionally have a reliable defence but the current one has creaked of late and they conceded seven goals in two qualifiers against Sweden. Per Mertesacker is approaching 100 caps but he has a perceived lack of pace and can be vulnerable to balls over the top. The other as I mentioned before is their forwards. They lack a world class number 9. The evergreen Miroslav Klose is just one goal shy of Ronaldo's all-time World Cup finals tally of 15, but he will be 36 by the time the tournament starts and a reliable replacement has yet to be found. Overall the Germans have one of the strongest teams and will be considered one of the favorites.
Predicted Lineup: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Hummels, Schmelzer, Kroos, Schweinsteiger, Muller, Gotze, Reus, Klose
Portugal: It would be disingenuous to say Portugal are a one-man team, but realistically the form and fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo will determine how far they advance. Pepe will have to prove to be a leader in the back and not make stupid mistakes and not lose his temper like he has shown he is very capable of on the biggest stages. Joao Moutinho holds the key from midfield to unleashing Cristiano like he did agaisnt Sweden in the playoff. Portugal also holds a pair of solid outside backs Joao Perreria and Fabio Coentrao. Portugal has a solid balance of experience with the likes of Cristiano, Joao Moutinho, Pepe, and nice compliment of youth with Bruma, and much sought after and Manchester United transfer targert defensive midfielder William Carvalho. Portugal always show up in the big tournaments and will prove to be a threat in this group. With Cristiano fireing on all cylinders the sky is the limit for this Portugal team under a young and talented manager Paulo Bento.
Predicted Lineup : (4-3-3): Rui Patricio; Fabio Coentrao, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Joao Pereira; Miguel Veloso, Raul Meireles, Joao Moutinho; Cristiano Ronaldo, Helder Postiga, Nani
Ghana : On the face of it, Ghana are one of the strongest African sides. Semi-finalists at each of the last four Africa Cup of Nations, only a cynical Luis Suarez handball prevented them from reaching the same stage at the 2010 World Cup. They were significantly strengthened during the latter stages of the 2014 qualifying campaign by the return from self-imposed exile of brothers Andre and Jordan Ayew, Michael Essien and Kevin-Prince Boateng. Keeping that quartet on board will be vital. Ghana might turn out to be the tournaments suprise package.
Predictied Lineup: Fatau Dauda - Harrison Afful, Daniel Opare, Jerry Akaminko, Rashid Sumaila - Michael Essien, Andre Ayew, Kevin Prince Boateng, Kwadwo Asamoah - Abdul Majeed Waris, Asamoah Gyan.
United States: The country where I am from probably got the hardest group they could of possibly asked for. Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann says the minimum aim is to reach the knockout stage, and a national record 16 wins in this calendar year - including against an admittedly depleted Germany - gives cause for confidence. Defence is a concern and then there's the lack of continuity ; 37 players were used in qualifying. The key player for the USA will be proven attacking midfield leader and talent Clint Dempsey. With his eight goals during the qualyfying campaign the Americans will be looking for him to create most of the chances. In their 4-2-3-1 formation Micheal Bradley and Jermaine Jones will called upon to protect the fragile defence and connect passes. Tim Howard in goal will be a vocal strong point leading the defence and organizing from the back. The key for the USA will be having a strong start to their games. Against Ukaraine the team looked awful from the start with no intensity and no drive or passion. If we come out of the books like that against any of the three teams in our group we will get publicly undressed. In their first match vs Ghana they must get 3 points. If they can manage 3 points in the opening game they can gain some momentum and hope for draw against either Germany or Portugal which might be enough to see them through the dark, dark tunnel that is Group G.
Predicted Lineup: Howard, Cameron, Gonzalez, Beasler, Beasley, Bradley, Jones, Donovan, Dempsey, F. Johnson, Altidore.
Group Predictions : 1st Germant 7pts, 2nd USA 4pts, 3rd Portugal 3 pts, 4th Ghana 1pts
Group H : Belgium, Russia, Algeria, South Korea.
Belgium: Belgium are arguably the most emerging European nation. They have an amazing array of talented players ; with many of them playing in the Premier League. This may have a toll on the squad come the summer with fatigue becoming an issue. Brazil will be their first major tournament for a while and, although experience always helps, younger players tend to have no fear. This side has a lot of class and they could go well. A quarterfinal place would justify their seeding and would be a huge step forward for this Belgium team. Their results played since 2013 till now have yet prove that they can defeat a top 10 ranked team viva the offical FIFA Rankings. A feature of their usual 4-2-3-1 system is the frequent positional interchanging between the three attacking midfielders. Belgium are a physically imposing side with the likes of Kompany, Vertonghen, Vermalen, Witsel, Lukaku, Fellani etc. They should be a threat from set pieces. Wilmots has expressed concern that regular starters such as Thomas Vermaelen, Kevin De Bruyne, Nacer Chadli and Marouane Fellaini are suffering from a lack of playing time at club level. The wide players like to drift infield and do not routinely help out with defensive duties, which can leave the fullbacks exposed. The recent loss to starting Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke is a huge loss for the team. It should not be a huge worry because the in form Everton striker Lukaku will come in to replace him. If he can have a strong showing he may well earn his place back into Jose Mourinho's plans at Chelsea. Chelsea's Eden Hazard, 22, has generally flourished under Wilmots after a previously underwhelming contribution to the national side. A superb technician with an explosive turn of pace, the playmaker is Belgium's key creator. Vincent Komapany with is without a doubt one of the best defenders in the world will need to have a big time tournament when Belgium reach the knock out stages. Young but already establshing himself as a world class goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois should be another strong point for Belgium. Overall Belgium is lacking in experience but not in talent or ability. I'm interested to see how they do when they get matched up against a harder challenege than provided by any of the teams in Group H.
Predictied Lineup: Thibaut Courtois, Anthony Vanden Borre, Thomas Vermalen, Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen, Dries Mertens, Radja Nainggolan, Axel Witsel, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku
Russia : While defensively well drilled and well coached collectivley, they lack a goal threat, so progressing beyond the last 16 may prove difficult. Aleksandr Kerzhakov hit five goals in qualifying but is inconsistent. The form and fitness of playmaker Alan Dzagoev, who has featured sporadically since Euro 2012, could be a crucial factor. Former England boss Fabio Capello inherited a side that had been meekly eliminated from Euro 2012. He quickly instilled a greater mental fortitude into the team and dropped fading forces Andrey Arshavin and Pavel Pogrebnyak. The Italian's authoritarian style divided opinion in England, but has earned approval in Russia there is talk of his contract being extended until 2018. A key player for the Russains will be goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev recently set a national team record by going 12 hours without conceding a goal. Once tipped as a future world star, his career with CSKA Moscow has been held back by two serious knee injuries. With every player on the likely World Cup squad playing domestically in Russia a collective lack of big game experience could hault them from succeding if they reach the round of sixteen.
South Korea : The Koreans are taking part in their ninth World Cup, and eighth in a row, but look far weaker than in recent years - of the 32 teams heading to Brazil, only Australia have a lower Fifa ranking. New boss Hong Myung-bo has been experimenting in the hope of finding a winning formula and will take heart from November's win against Switzerland. The Key player for the Koreans will be forward Son Heung. He joined Bayer Leverkusen from Hamburg this summer for a club-record €10m fee. He has found goals hard to come by at the BayArena but is still only 21. Overall from the South Koreans I dont expect to much from them in this group and would be suprised to see them adavance.
Algeria: Qualification for the World Cup marked a dramatic upturn in fortunes after their failure to reach the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and becoming the first side to be knocked out of this year's edition. Algeria were bottom of their group at their last two World Cup finals, and any improvement is dependent on the successful integration of emerging players such as Inter Milan pair Saphir Taider and Ishak Belfodil. Its also three years since they played outside Africa. Algeria will be looking for France-born Sofiane Feghouli, 23, an attacking midfielder or winger who was described by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a year ago as "exceptional" and "a physical beast", to provide most of the attacking supplement to their game. With the likes of many players becoming more and more avaialbe to play for Algeria, their squad is not doubt becoming stronger and we have to take note. They should not be taken lightly by any means.
Group Predictions: 1st Belguim 9pts, 2nd Russia 4pts, 3rd Algeria 2pts, 4th South Korea 2 pts
Group A: Brazil, Croatia
Group B: Spain, Chile
Group C: Colombia, Ivory Coast
Group D: Uruguay, Italy
Group E: France, Switzerland
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia
Group G: Germany, Portugal
Group H: Belgium, Russia
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