Even though the World Cup is about a year away, one feels yearning on which teams will face long trips in Samba Land. While Spain will be the perennial favourites, they are certainly not invincible, remember the Confederations Cup final where they were steamrolled by three goals by the home country Brazil. While no country has won the World Cup playing at home, the Brazilians do have the fire power in their armour to cause serious damage or even go all the way.
The same can be said of Germany who have a plethora of midfielders at their disposal thanks to their wonderful youth training camps where talents like Reus, Gotzes or Draxlers are nurtured. However can Argentina can go all the way? So here are the top four teams who I feel will definitely challenge Spain for the 2014 World Cup Crown.
Italy:
Football’s Globalization is quite funny, isn’t it? The European superpowers like Italy or Holland will fancy their chances come next summer, won’t they? I have started the list with Italy just due their international showings in the last couple of years. With Cesare Prandelli at the helm, they have a cool mind with a tactically astute brain who gets the best of his team at the right moments. But can they repeat their heroics of the 2006 World Cup in Germany under Marcelo Lippi? Why not? When you players like Pirlo, Daniel De Rossi, Maggio or a Balotelli, you have the right to believe . Forza Italy!!!
Argentina:
My personal favourite and my bet is on the Albicileste to lift the World Cup Crown at the home of their most ferocious rivals. With Lionel Messi, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and the plethora of the talented of midfielders in Gago, Mascherano and Di Maria, they will be a force to reckon with come next summer. Alessandro Sabella has a wonderful team at his disposal which is tactically brilliant as well as pleasing to eye. A disciple of the Bielsa theory which is modeled to press opponents high up the pitch, I for one wouldn’t be surprised if Argentina win the Wolrd Cup next year in Sambaland. Is Lionel Messi just warming up? Who knows!
Germany:
I had a wonderful stay at Munich for the last three days and I must say discussing with fans, they are quite opmistic about their national team’s chances next year in the World Cup. Recenlty the German FA extended Joachim Loew’s contract for two years given he has produced wonderful results taking over from former manager Jurgen Klinsmann. Under Joachim Loew, Germany have won 67 of their 98 matches and he must be praised for DFB team’s tactical approach from a static defensive stance to one that was much more dynamic and attack-oriented. Inclusion of the youthful exuberance of young players like Mario Gotze, Toni Kroos and Marco Reus along with the experience of Bastian Schweinstiger and Phillip Lahm has helped Loew to set the base for the future of the German Team.
Brazil:
Could I have completed the list without the home team? Simply not looking at the form they are currently in. they won the Confederations Cup with ease steamrolling past Spain in the final. With wonder stars like Neymar, Oscar, Hulk, Paulinho , David Luiz and Thiago Silva, this team looks set to stand up and deliver. What more when you have someone like a Scholari at the helm who has been here and done it before.