World Cup 2014 – A Preview

June has arrived and has brought huge cheer to the faces of football fans. There was a dip in the mood of the footie enthusiasts due to completion of league football matches. But before the wait could get any longer came the biggest sports extravaganza in the World. With Brazil at the core for all the activities, people are ready for a month of non-stop football action.

Here is a football fan’s guide for the 2014 World Cup held in Brazil.

Out of the 32 participating teams, some teams like Bosnia & Herzgovinia are makng their debut while teams like Algeria & Honduras are just happy to play along with the big boys. Some countries naturally start as the favorites and will show their footballing prowess in this spectacle.

Brazil: The five time winners and the World cup hosts are the favorites to win the title. ‘Selecao’ as they are fondly called boasts a number of stars like Neymar, Hulk, Thiago Silva who can propel their charge towards the title and will have the fans playing as 12^th man on the field. Will the overall pressure get to them is what we have to wait and see?

Spain: ‘La Furia Roja’ or The Red Fury as they are called, are the defending champions and enter the competition as one of the favorites. They possess a complete squad with all their players – the likes of Diego Costa, Iniesta and Sergio Ramos - in top form. Lets see if their unique playing style of tiki-taka will blow the opposition or not?

The Netherlands: The ‘Oranje’ have been perennial under achievers at the world stage but will be boosted by their performance at the World stage in 2010 where they reached the finals. A similar feat is expected from them and with players like Robin van Persie & Arjen Robben gunning for success its quite in reach.

Germany: The three time champions will look to put out another title winning squad with players hungry for success. The team which believes in total football built around pace and technique revolves around crucial players like Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller, Bastian Schweinsteiger and captain Philip Lahm. Theres no holding back ‘Die Mannschaft’ this World cup!!

Argentina: Having the World cup being played in their continent, ‘La Albiceleste’ will have a distinct crowd support. With top strikers like Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain all ready to score in goals, the team looks destined to win and repeat the success of 1986.

Then there are the dark horses as well. Portugal with the mercurial Cristiano Ronaldo and a host of other stars can be one of the teams to look out for. Belgium who are making an appearance in the World cup after 2002 and with its array of superstars like Eden Hazard & Vincent Kompany can very well surprise all. Italy has the knack of winning trophies with a steady setup and that man, Andrea Pirlo at the centre of all things.

Top 5 Superstars who can make the World Cup as theirs:

Neymar is the Golden Boy of Brazil and is destined for big things. The World Cup 2014 acts as a perfect stage for him to rise on top of the world and be the best player around.

Lionel Messi has won all accolades – personal and team – but one thing which has eluded him is the World cup. If he wants to match the resume of his idol Diego Maradona, this World cup has to be his for the taking.

Cristiano Ronaldo or CR7 is already the captain of the Portuguese side and has won the FIFA/Ballon d'Or award for the best footballer in the world this year will be looking to put his stamp on this World cup.

Arjen Robben the flying Dutchman is coming off a title winning season at the club level rich with goals and assists and will look to propel his team, the Netherlands, to the title.

Andrea Pirlo the veteran statesman who will be probably playing his last World cup will be looking to end it on a high. Expect some killer long balls and scintillating free kicks from the ‘Bearded one’. 

Different Strokes

As the 78^th Masters is upon us in the first full week of April, all the golfing brains are working in over time to speculate who will take the green jacket this time around.

The current champion Aussie Adam Scott will be challenged by players from all around the world for the $8 million prize. But one golfer who will not be there to claim the much coveted green jacket would be Tiger Woods. Fans from around the world, who travel just to tour the course and follow Tiger, will miss the golfing great due to his back surgery. All the golf fans will have to wait to see Tiger Woods get one more title under his belt, in overcoming his quest of 18 titles set by the great Jack Nicklaus.

The tournament had its fair share of fairy tales with Adam Scott winning the first green jacket for Australia that too in a playoff against Angel Cabrera in pouring rain last year. In 2012, it was Bubba Watson who played the tournament of his life to outwit Louis Oosthuizen and claim the honors. This year should not be any different thereby expecting total drama till the very end.

The journeyman Phil Mickelson has an excellent opportunity to add to his three green jackets. World number 3 Henrik Stenson is struggling with his wrist pain and number 4 Jason Day is fighting his own battle of lack of match practice. It’s an already known fact that Rory Mcilroy is not the same anymore but still very much in contention and top 10 of the world. Some of the other suspects like Dustin Johnson, Luke Donald and Bubba Watson will also look to add to the competition. The current man in form is undoubtedly Jimmy Walker who has won 3 PGA tours in the last six months, an outstanding record by the 35-year old.

The first few days don’t really give the real picture and it is only until the back nine that things start to heat up. Past two years gave us a winner only in the playoffs.

We have to wait and see if this year provides another nail biting finish or one golfer leading the pack from the start till the end. Over to the first week of April !!

In the end, it was the American Bubba Watson who won the tournament claiming the coveted green jacket.

Golfing Terminologies:

Birdie  is not a cute cartoon bird from Warner Brothers cartoon, but one shot under par (Standard number of strokes for each hole) score on a hole.

Bogey is what belongs to a train is its namesake bogie, while this means one shot over par score on a hole.

This Eagle doesn’t soar high up in the sky, this is two sots under par score on a hole.

Albatross is a large sea bird spotted in the Pacific, but in golfing terms is three under par score at a hole. Also called a ‘double eagle’.

Who knew ‘Rough’ is longer and thicker grassed area of the course and ‘Green’ is the area of course around the hole with very short grass.

Bunker is not a scenario of a war zone but a small depression around the green usually filled with sand.

And lastly there is a Caddy, who is more than just a person who carries a player's bag and clubs. Each golfer needs a trusted sidekick afterall.