The 20th edition of biggest sporting event of the planet, FIFA World cup is going to kick off from 12th June this year. The Carnival will run in Samba country Brazil up to 13th July. 204 nations competed to be part of this coveted competition and finally final 32 are ready for the final showdown. 64 matches will be played in 12 cities in second World Cup to be held in Brazil.
Fuleco, and armadillo is the official mascot of Brazil World Cup. The target is to catch children aged between 5-12. Over 1.7 million people participating in choosing name of the mascot. The name represents football with ecology.
Brazuca by Adidas will be the official ball for this WC. More than 1 million fans voted for the name of the ball. Adidas is official supplier of the ball since 1970. The name symbolizes dance culture of Brazil.
For the first time, FIFA will use Goal line technology to solve problem of ‘phantom’ goals. Referees will use vanishing spray to mark the line for wall of players at the time of freekicks.
It will be the costliest World cup ever held with an estimated cost of around US$14 billion. That is why native people are protesting the cup, as they demand better facilities and infrastructure for them.
Teams are divided in 8 tough groups. None of the group is easy. Brazil is favourite to lift the trophy. Spain, Germany and Argentina are other strong contenders for the cup. Belgium and Switzerland could be the dark horse of the tournament. Group D comprises of Uruguay, Italy, England and Costa Rica. It is a group of champions as first 3 share 7 FIFA WC out of 19. It is the ‘Group of Death’ of this WC. Another tough group is Group C where past champion Spain, runner up Netherland, talented Chile and Australia are clubbed together. Brazil, Germany and Argentina are in a relatively easier group.
Asia has 3 representatives in WC. Iran is the only representative of soccer crazy Gulf region in 8 years. Japan and Korea are the other nations from Asia, carrying high expectations of the biggest and most populated continent.
Diego Costa (ESP), Luis Suarez (URU) and Ramadel Falcao (COL) are nursing injury and it has seriously affected attacking strategy of the teams. Talented Samir Nasri (FRA), Carlos Tevez (ARG) Luca Toni (ITY) and Alberto Gilaradino (ITY) failed to impress their coaches and will miss the action at Brazil. Zlatan Ibrahimovich (SWE) and Gareth Bale (WAL) are some of the big stars who are not part of the galaxy at WC as their nation failed to qualify for the finals.
Mirolslav Klose has opportunity to become all time top scorer in WC. Currently, Ronaldo (BRA) holds the record with 15 goals in 3 World Cups. Klose is only 1 goal short of equaling his record in his fourth WC. Neymar and Messi are strong favorites to pick the ‘Golden Boot’. The host nation and the world are eagerly waiting for kicks at the soccer WC. All the competing nations want trophy in their land but ultimately, ‘We are one’.