================================================================================
by PAM
Here's why I absolutely believe that 2014 is going to be a spectacular year...
Brasiiiiiilll... let's do it!
...World Cup, baby!
There will be beauty - lots of it! Oy, absolutely! There will be brilliance and awesomeness - that's for sure! There will be drama... tons of it! And, yes, it will be a big party! Therefore, let's do this!!! Brasiiiiiiiiillllll... get ready, we're coming to ya! :)
My bet... aw, man, I don't want to jinx this, but there is absolutely nothing wrong about wishing for España to make a back-to-back win. La Roja is still teeming with just about the finest men of the beautiful game... in talent, teamwork that's exhilarating to watch, heart for winning... and yes, 'beauty itself'! :) They smashed Euro two years ago with a back-to-back win, there is no reason why they
won't be able to do a repeat of that awesome feat in the World Cup - considering WC's importance, and how a victory for them this year would be a Spanish football success of historical magnitude. The only problem is, they are in the "Group of Death". They have the Dutch squad and Chile in their way to defending their crown. Now, that's a towering hurdle to clear right there!
 |
| The 'weapon', and the prize... for the 'most beautiful' of 'em all! (Credit: Getty Images) |
An Albiceleste (Argentina) win would mean the sweetest story of all (at least for me)... the four-time 'Best Player' in the world helping his squad to reach the apex of success for his country... Lionel Messi, of course! That would be a most dramatic finish - for the books... and films, considering how his country favored Juan Martin del Potro as Sportsman of the Year for 2013! Man, talk about drama! :) And, Argentina is teeming with incredible talents of its own as well, what with Sergio "Kun" Aguero, Javier Mascherano, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria? Mama España'd better watch her back... but, honestly... uhm, I won't mind too much if Argentina snatches the crown from Spain. *blush*
There is no discounting the host country, too... Brazil will always be a strong contender, especially with Neymar, Jr.'s awesomeness fast-approaching its apex - that could be a game-changer. Let's see how'd they fair against Mexico and Cameroon in the Group Stage. I'm also keeping a close watch on that 'football brute force' that is Oranje (The Netherlands), which is in the same Group as Spain and Chile... man, that's going to be a do-or-die Group Stage saga right there, considering how Oranje almost hijacked Spain's 'date with destiny' in Africa four years ago! That championship was almost a karate match on the pitch, with Oranje playing the 'bully' to the elegant Spaniards... good thing La Roja were up to it, and 'beauty' prevailed! ;)
Italy with its pride and passion, France with its fine players, and Germany will be contenders, too. I love these German brilliant 'young guns' and their well-dressed manager. They came very close in Africa four years ago... defeated in the quarterfinals by the eventual Spanish victors. Their inexperience worked to their disadvantage then. Now, with more experience and grit, these young men are a force to reckon with! OK, Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo will make their presence felt, too, that's for sure... whatever! Germany will be fighting it out through the Group stage, with Portugal and Ghana to wrestle a place with to the knockout stage. And, oh, did I mention England already? No? Well, the Three Lions squad is in my shortlist, too. :)
The other thing is, in 2010, Uruguay was a great team... and they can be back with the same intensity and brilliance, the way they did then and in Copa América, too, in 2011. The only problem is, they are in the same Group as England and Italy... now, that's a tough Group to crack into the knock-out stage through! Talk about exciting!
We'll see how it goes... hopefully on site - in Brazil! Woohoo! :)
***
