This month the entire world will shift attention towards the intense action of the Fifa 2014 World Cup football in Brazil. All teams at the world cup qualified on merit and constitute 32 formidable national teams. But usually in the tournament there is one or more favourites tipped to dominate the final stretches of the tournament. I have been closely following all qualifying matches; have watched teams in South America, Europe and Africa. But I have noticed 4 or more teams that can unlock or knockout Brazil from the tournament. This might sound controversial in the eyes of some soccer pundits around the globe as many think the Samba boys possess clear-cut chances to win a sixth World Cup title. It is very true; Brazil is a football nation, they have won the tournament more times than any team in the world and will be playing on home turf. They have a talented squad especially in the defense and midfield but are naïve in attack. The noticeable weakness in the preferred starting eleven for Brazil is the striking line of JO or Fred playing alongside Hulk and Neymar. Both Hulk and Neymar have not been at their best all season and I am sure there are many defenders at the world cup who will not find difficulty to stop or interrupt their rhythm of play. In addition JO and Fred are not top strikers who can beat top class goal keepers like Iker Casillas or Manuel Neuer from any angle. I expect Brazil to top their group or even get past the knock-out phase but it will be tougher from the quarter final stage. I believe teams like Argentina, Spain, Colombia, Uruguay and Germany have players who can beat or knockout the hosts. Brazil was not involved in South American qualifying rounds for the world cup but doubt whether they would have topped the South American group standings. The current Argentina squad is more balanced than Brazilians in every department. Argentina is one of the potential teams that can beat Brazil at the world cup. Argentina boasts of clinical strikers and midfielders who can deliver quick passes. Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero are all top class finishers. Reigning champions Spain are still as strong as in the previous edition. They even look much stronger this time round though they are likely to face tougher opponents. The likes of Xavi Hernandez, Andreas Iniesta, David Silva, Santi Cazorla, Javi Martinez and Diego Costa are all top class players to watch at the world cup. But like any other team, Spain also does possess weaknesses especially in the defense. There is lack of quality in their centre-backs as both Gerald pique and Sergio Ramos like overlaps. Their partnership as centre-backs is not the best. They are both vulnerable to mistakes. Colombia and Uruguay possess average players but with good physical condition, good coordination and high work rates on the pitch, these are the kind of teams that can surprise everyone at the world cup. Even though Colombia will be missing the services of their star striker Radamel Falcao, they do possess clinical finishers in the likes of Victor Ibarbo (Cagliari), Jackson Martinez (Porto), Carlos Bacca (Sevilla), Adrian Ramos (Hertha Berlin), Teofilo Gutierrez (River Plate). Remarkable special qualities with all these strikers; they are very imaginative, very flexible and can shoot at any angle. They possess amazing pace and very good physical display. Another world attention is on the current Germany squad that constitute players who have been very consistent in the previous editions of the world cup. Germany has always finished in the final and semi-final phases of the competition in the previous 3 editions since 2002. They will be aiming to move a step higher and their strength lies on the tactical aspect of their coach Joachim Low. Germans have always showed potential to improve at the world cup and change their style of play game after game. They do possess an outstanding goalkeeper and the current world’s number one shot stopper in Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich. The likes of Mezut Ozil, Marco Reus, Mario Gotze, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philip Lahm and Thomas Muller are world class players. Muller won the golden boot at 2010 world cup in South Africa at the age of 20 and has been a consistent goal scorer at Bayern Munich. Thomas Muller knows how and where to grab winning goals and is a reliable man in attack. He knows how to catch defenders on a blind eye. There are other teams that can pull surprises like Mexico, England and host of teams that will participate in 2014 world cup. England and Mexico have a generation of young players who can easily surprise the world.
