A festival of football that comes around every four years, I was meant to be in Brazil. Instead I'll be watching the World Cup at some dive bar, sipping on a Singapore Sling and wishing I was soaking up…
Brazil’s Golden BoyPersonal informationFull name: Neymar da Silva Santos JuniorDate of birth: 5 February 1992Age: 22Place of birth: Mogi das Cruzes, BrazilHeight: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)Playing position: Forward, wingerClub informationCurrent club: BarcelonaNumber: 11Youth career
1999–2003: Portuguesa Santista …
WORLD CUP PROFILESDID YOU KNOW? Out of the 19 World Cups so far, six have been won by the host country.
The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil…
Group H
BelgiumMarc Wilmots’ Belgium undoubtedly provide one of the most intriguing subplots
of this World Cup. There is the belief in some quarters that this ‘golden generation’
has what it takes to emulate the 1986 team and reach…
Group G
Germany
Over the last few years, Germany have tried, without success, to end
Spain’s dominance on the international stage. There is no doubt that Joachim
Low’s team remains one of the most riveting sides to watch…
Group F
Argentina
On the six previous occasions the World Cup has been hosted
in South America, a country from that continent has eventually come out on top.
That includes one of Argentina’s two previous World Cup wins, on…
Group E
France
For a few days in November, it did not even look like France
would reach the World Cup.
A miserable showing away to Ukraine in the play-off saw Les
Bleus come away from Kiev with a…
Group D
Uruguay
This is likely to be the final shot at World Cup glory for
Oscar Tabarez’s aging Uruguay side.
A repeat of the 2010 campaign where they finished third
behind Spain and Holland would be deemed a…
Group C
Colombia
Over the last 18 months, Colombia have risen from a trendy “dark horse” pick for an outsider contender at the 2014 World Cup to genuine challengers for the trophy.
This is quite remarkable given…
Group B
Spain
World Cup holders Spain again enter a major tournament in
rude health and are amongst the favourites to retain their crown.
La Roja qualified from their group in first place ahead of
France, despite being held…