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World Cup 2014: The Favourite and The Outsider

By on May 14, 2014

Only 29 days to go until one of the globes biggest sporting event’s kick off. Brazil 2014 promises to be one of the best World Cup’s to date. Preparations are reaching their climax, squads are being announced and some fans are even beginning to arrive in South America!

This World Cup has been hugely anticipated more than many others; it has more diverse nations than ever before. The tournament will become home to the usual nations bursting with a seemingly endless talent pool with the added excitement of new emerging highly talented countries whom seem to be producing youngsters on what seems like a daily basis. *Cough* Belgium *Cough*.

THE FAVORITE; Brazil

Pre-tournament favourites and host’s Brazil kick off the tournament at the Arena de Sao Paulo against a strong minded Croatian side who will come into their first game of the tournament wanting to damage the party atmosphere instilled by the fierce locals. Brazil, managed by Luiz Felipe Scolari qualified automatically as they are hosts but that didn’t stop them from producing some eye catching attacking displays in their pre-pre tournament friendlies. In the hosts’ last game they easily smashed five goals past a hopeless South African side with one of the potential stars of the tournament, Neymar, collecting the match ball. Brazil’s preliminary squad was released last week and it is evident for all to see that Brazil do possess a squad capable of winning the World Cup. Yet nowadays in football, it seems as if there always someone better than you and in Brazil’s case this is all too apparent with side’s such as South American neighbours Argentina and tournament holders Spain holding squad’s that on paper have much more all round talent than that of the hosts. Although it is the World Cup and as we have seen before anything can happen!

THE OUTSIDER; Belgium

Everyone loves an outsider and this year’s outsider with pundits and the public alike is Belgium – the team is supposedly in it’s ‘Golden Era’, and you could hardly argue against that statement.  With a squad which seems to have the  perfect blend of young and old, spearheaded by a vibrant young attack which includes the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Adnan Januzaj. Belgium qualified for this year’s tournament undefeated with 26 points winning eight and drawing two of the ten games they competed in, and with a record like that you can hardly discount the western European nation as contenders to win it all. However, some believe it may be to early for the side and they should aim for international glory in the next major tournament, which is the Euro’s in 2016. Yet Belgium have been drawn into a relatively easy group for what their squad possesses; their biggest rivals inside group H will be Fabio Capello’s Russia who will be sure to provide a relative headache for Belgium boss Marc Wilmots.
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So who are you backing in this years World Cup? Will it be one of the clear favorites for the tournament or an outsider who could possibly sneak their way into a final. Remember the World Cup always springs a surprise or two on us and I’m sure this year will bear no exception. Wherever you are in the world make sure you take time out to watch some of this year’s World Cup because it is sure to be some spectacle!

About Callum Kenwright

Evertonian. Angler. Oasis. Spanish Football. Aspiring Football Journalist.