A Case of Belgian Waffles and Rotten Strawberries

Ochoa diving to his right to palm a
shot past the post.
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

Spiderman would have been proud of Guillermo Ochoa's display against Brazil. So commanding was he, darting from one side of the post to the other, flying in to gather crosses, sprinting across his line to get down to a low shot, palming it around the post. Whatever Brazil threw at him, the Mexican net never bulged.

Immediately though, I could hear murmurs from Samba fans, "Hmm, I doubt Brazil can win the World Cup, better support Netherlands. What about Germany? Or maybe Germany. Belgium, can Belgium do it? Or what about Balotelli? I mean Italy, what about them?"

It might be better to just calm down. Yes, the Brazilians were woeful, no spark and cohesiveness, no Neymar and Oscar, although they were on the pitch, no intricate passing and fanciful wing back play. Simply put, they were horrible, and on this display, they might not be able to really have a go at the other top level teams.

But do not discredit Mexico, as these guys put their heart and soul into getting a result last night, and got it. They now have a chance to win the group, though Croatia might turn the tables and it will depends a lot on whether they can get past Cameroon tonight.

Dries Mertens saved Belgium's blushes with an 80th minute winner
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

Many a fan expected much of Belgium, labelled as everyone's second favourite to lift the golden trophy.

Picture yourself going into one of the best dessert outlets in town, looking at the mouthwatering menu and picking out a Belgian waffle, with the picture displaying wonderful strawberries, lip-smacking chocolate syrup, sweet melted caramel and a cherry to go with it. So you have ordered the sinful dessert, but when it arrives, the waiter says, "Sorry sir/madam, we've run out of all the other ingredients, but here's your waffle."

Nothing but a flat, stale, unappetizing fawwel, I mean waffle.

Sofiane Feghouli giving Algeria a shock lead from the penalty spot
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

That was Belgium's performance last night. A team which promised so much looking at the brochure, but delivered almost nothing. The waffle was still there, but everything that made it special was missing. Marc Wilmots has to get into his players to step it up next time around, or they will struggle in the next round. Lukaku, Hazard and De Bruyne especially, have to pull their socks up and get the most out of their compatriots.

Aleksandr Kerzhakov grabbing the equaliser vs South Korea
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

Russia decided to mimic Belgium's drab display, by not producing much throughout the game, except for Aleksandr Kerzhakov's moment of brilliance. South Korea though did not let themselves down one bit, deservedly taking a point from this match after the whole team put their bodies on the line for each other.

What they did lack though, was that one moment of pizzazz to unlock the Russian defence. Both these teams are capable of beating Algeria, so it would come down to how well they strut their stuff against Belgium. This group is by no means over.

Games tonight, Australia v Netherlands, Spain v Chile, Cameroon v Croatia.

Spain v Chile

Do they still have it in them? Defending champions, back-to-back European kings, teams could not get anywhere near them. But today the talk is, "Has the sun set on Spain?"

In the clash of the 'La Rojas', this could prove to be a decisive moment in history. Spain win, and they're right back in this group. A defeat though, changes not only the complexion of this group, but perhaps also the lives of many of those in Vicente Del Bosque's team.

It might come as a shock, but Chile really do have a proper chance in this match. A young, vibrant and well organised team, with players like Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal who send shivers down opposing defenders' spines, they could do likewise to Spain.

With Spain's lack of pace, unless they start with Torres and Pedro, I'm going for another upset here, with Chile to nick this.

Spain 0-1 Chile

Australia v Netherlands

Before anything else, do not first hope for another 5-1 as it simply will not happen, unless the Australians do not show up. The Dutch under Louis Van Gaal will be brimming with confidence after their display against the World Champions, but they were under the cosh and were able to break away on the counter.

Australia will not play like that though. It is highly likely that they'll pack the defence, and look to hit the Dutch on the counter, sort of giving them the taste of their own medicine. When it comes to quality and class though, can we forsee anything but a Dutch victory here?

Australia 0-2 Netherlands

Cameroon v Croatia

Nico Kovac's side were extremely unlucky to lost agains the Brazilians last time out, despite bossing large parts of the game through Ivan Rakitic and Luca Modric. These two are real gems, and with Mario Mandzukic back in the Croatian side, look for them to score at least a couple of goals tonight against an abject Cameroonian side who do not have much to offer.

If they can get their act together, Croatia could probably run away with this.

Cameroon 1-3 Croatia

The first round of group games are over, with some shocks along the way. What did you make of it? Submit your thoughts in the comments below.

Till next time,

Thomas Mueller Pulled A Rabbit Out of a Hat-Trick, With Assistance From Pepe

There was never any doubt, was there? Muller went on
to grab his first hat trick for the national team.
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

After a mistake by Philip Lahm in the 8th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo came away with the ball, quickly moving through the gears onto Olympic sprinting territory. He was past the German defence in a flash, what with the likes of Mertesacker and Hummels playing in the centre. The World Player of the Year laid it off to Hugo Almeida, who scuffed his shot, sending the ball safely into the palms of the grateful Manuel Neuer. 

That was it for Cristiano and his team. 

Doesn't need a caption
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

That was what they played like, Cristiano and his team. It was never Portugal. It was more so about Ronaldo, and 10 other guys trying to get the ball to him. With someone like Messi though, it is quite a contrast. He loves support from his teammates, but he provides them with tonnes of assists as well. When Ronaldo is concerned though, individuality comes before the team. 

Some may say it's an unfair indictment of Portugal's superstar, but watch the game again, compare that with they way Messi went about his business in Argentina's opener. The difference is absolutely staggering. 

Joachim Loew's men were, however, simply spectacular on the night, buzzing around the Portuguese like a swarm of German wasps. Irritate someone like Pepe, and you know almost certainly how he would react. And react he did, extremely foolishly, costing his team any chance which they might have had. 

I can do better than Zidane!
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

If only Pepe had put more effort in heading the ball away, and stopping Germany's forwards, legally. But no, he's Pepe. Legal is not in his dictionary. Buffoonery, perhaps. 

After the first 45 minutes last night, I could not help but put the German team alongside the Spanish of 2008 and 2010. Supremely intelligent, with the right balance, adequate panache and players who can whip an omelette anywhere on the pitch. In Mesut Ozil, they have a 'scrambled egg' specialist, the ones you usually find at luxury hotels, who effortlessly puts the eggs where you want them. And makes it just right. But enough of eggs for now, what about Thomas Mueller?

He's neither a forward, nor an attacking midfielder, but hey, he's one heck of a player. Playing between the lines is what even the best defenders struggle with, and it was vividly displayed yesterday. The Germans will really take some stopping, but I will highlight them in a future piece, to see how far they can actually go in Rio 2014. 

If you were mesmerised by the German performance yesterday, you might have struggled to keep awake watching the Iranians take on Nigeria. Not because it was shown in the wee hours of this morning, but due to it being absolutely woeful. In terms of a spectacle, there was nothing in it whatsoever, so much so that even one of the Nigerian players took a nap on the fresh grass. (See below.)

Why don't we have a siesta, eh?
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

Both teams will be lucky to stay in the competition, after playing out a stale draw. 

The Americans though, produced a shock. I say that due to the Ghanaians having gifted crop of young players including the Ayew brothers, sons of Ghanaian great Abedi Pele. Perhaps if Kevin-Prince Boateng had started the game to provide more support up front to Gyan Asamoah, they might have done better. 

With that being said though, it is somewhat a long shot for them to get at least four points against both Portugal and Germany, hence their survival chances might have already faded. 

Tonight's fixtures see Belgium v Algeria, Brazil v Mexico and Russia taking on the South Koreans. 

Belgium v Algeria

On paper, this might sound like a foregone conclusion, and it may well be. In spite of that, Belgian fans should tune in to this game, as it might serve as a gauge on how well this group can do this time. Fancied by many as dark horses in this competition, the Brussels-based men have the right ingredients to take on, and beat the best of them. The question is whether they can do it on the field, with the right tactical setup. 

Look for Axel Witsel to boss the midfield, with a view of Adnan Januzaj coming off the bench to support talisman Eden Hazard. This whole team is loaded with class, from Thibaut Courtois in goal, right up till Romelu Lukaku at the other end. Kompany and Vermaelen form a very solid centre-half pairing. 

Algeria have no chance in this one, though do not be surprised to see Nabil Bentaleb of Tottenham and Sofiane Feghouli of Sevilla to put on a good showing. 

My take : Belgium 5-0 Algeria

Brazil v Mexico

A chance for Brazil to put themselves almost certainly into the knockout stages, up against the Mexicans. Last time out, the hosts were quite shaky, needing a magnificent display from Oscar to get themselves out of a deep pit. If Mexico can get at the heart of this team, right at the spine as well as the flanks, they might well have a chance. 

Do not completely rule out Mexico in this one, though will anyone go against Brazil? I think it'll be tight, but Brazil to come away 2-0 winners. 

Russia v South Korea. 

Under Fabio Capello, the gentlemen from Moscow have been difficult to beat, with the Berezutsky twins in the centre of defence, and Igor Akinfeev between the sticks. Known for their vodka more than anything else, perhaps even Vladimir Putin, the Russians could put a few past the South Koreans tonight, if Alan Dzagoev and Aleksandr Kerzhakov can apply the coup de grace quickly. 

Russia 3-0 South Korea

Messi Lights Up The Maracana

(Lionel Messi reeling off in delight after a stunning individual
effort)
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. 

Many doubted him, few believed him, some ridiculed him, others ignored him. Not Bosnia though. The Bosnians never for one moment, doubted, ridiculed, ignored or lacked belief in his capability, so much so that they were tasked to hack him with any chance they had. And so they did. 

In order to gauge how good a player is, people usually know what he is going to do before he does it, yet still fail to stop him. When Messi was bearing down on the Asmir Begovic's box, the crowd inside Brazil's iconic Maracana could see the net bulging before Messi struck his shot into the bottom corner, in off the post. 

In all honesty, though the scoreline seemed to suggest that it was a tight match, the men from Buenos Aires were playing with the handbrake on, in second gear at times. One had the hunch that if the need arose, they could pop the clutch and gather speed in no time. 

(Messi drives the ball past Asmir Begovic)
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

That's exactly what Messi did. Into third gear, then fourth, going pass five players before doubling Argentina's lead. 

Truly one of the great World Cup goals in recent history, made even better the fact that it lit up the Maracana. Can Argentina be stopped? Time will tell on that one, but their defence can be got at by the bigger more potent teams. They will coast out of this group though. 

Swiss fans having a gala time, after watching
their team nick the game at the death.
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

The remaining two matches last night were expected results, but the manner in which Switzerland got theirs was truly breathtaking. Coming from a goal down, they managed the almost impossible in the dying seconds in what was the last kick of that match, Haris Seferovic grabbed the winner. 

However, they might find it a bit harder to topple the French. Pace, power and strength is what Les Bleus have, with the quartet of Cabaye, Pogba, Griezmann and Valbuena buzzing in behind Karim Benzema, who could have bagged a hat trick had his shot gone in off the post. Thanks to goal line technology though, the goal was awarded and credited to Honduras' goalkeeper as an Own Goal. 

Karim Benzema "I'm the man for Les Bleus"
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

Today's fixtures present a bit of both, one cracker, and the remaining two which might not garner much attention.

Germany v Portugal

On one hand, there is a team which is shaped to get the best out of 11 players on the pitch, while the other has its base set, in order to support one superstar. Which will likely come out on top? 

It will come down to how solid DieManschaaft are tonight and whether they can defend as a pack of wolves, compact, organised in order to cut the feed to Cristiano Ronaldo. To nail him, they would have to keep an eye out for Joao Moutinho. Though not at Pirlo's level, this little guy at times can have the football tied to a string. 

Joachim Low's lack of backup to Miroslav Klose could prove telling, unless someone in the mold of Mario Gotze or Mesut Ozil start in that famous 'false number 9' up top, to bring out Pepe from his comfort zone. 

There is a question mark on Bastian Schweinsteiger's fitness to face the Portuguese tonight, though it might be better if he is left on the bench, in favour of Philip Lahm in centre midfield. The Germans lack a true holding midfielder in the engine room, but Lahm can more than do a job. 

I'm going for the team to come out on top against the individual tonight, though do not be surprised if Ronaldo turns on the magic. 

My take: Germany 3-1 Portugal

Ghana v USA

The Black Stars, as Ghana is known as, come into this one feeling a little aggrieved, after they went down to Uruguay in the last World Cup no thanks to Luis Suarez's ridiculous moment of 'Lev Yashin wannabe', but have a very balanced team this time around. 

Look for the Ayew brothers and Asamoah Gyan to be the standout performers in this encounter, but especially so when it concerns Kevin-Prince Boateng. He has had a terrific season with Schalke, and is primed to turn it on on the big stage. For the Americans though, I'm not exactly sure what sort of side Jurgen Klinsmann would put out in order to counter the Ghanaians pace, and might struggle if they are swarmed in constant attacks. 

My take: Ghana 2-1 USA

Iran v Nigeria

This one could turn out to be a dire affair, though Nigeria are the favourites going into this matchup, with the likes of proven goalscorers like Peter Odemwingie and Emmanuel Eminenke, flanked by Victor Moses. 

Iran though, might find it tough tonight, having to rely on team ethic and little else, unless of course Javad Nekounam can pull a rabbit out of a hat. 

My take: Iran 0-1 Nigeria

Till tomorrow

England on the Wrong End of a Rope-A-Dope

Mario Balotelli pumped after heading Italy past England at Manaus
(Pic Courtesy of the Daily Telegraph)

It was the eighth round in Kinshasa, Zaire. George Foreman had tried whatever his mind and fists could come up with, throwing whatever he had at Muhammad Ali, but the old man was still standing. 'Twinkle-toes' wasn't dancing around the ring, not as he used to when in his pomp, but he altered his tactics. 

Foreman was the younger of the two, had power, speed and seemingly unstoppable shots when it lands on its target. Ali meanwhile, was said to have gone past his best, unable to tango around the ring as he so fancifully used to. That is where the 'rope-a-dope' came into existence. After absorbing pressure for seven and a half rounds, a flurry of shots in 10 seconds ended the fight, and made Muhammad Ali World Heavyweight Champion again. 

Italy are not World Champions, at least not yet. But this group has the tactical and technical ability to go very deep into this competition. The rope-a-dope worked to great effect in the Amazon heat against England, similar to what Ali deployed in the searing weather in what was billed as the 'Rumble in the Jungle.' 

Andrea Pirlo, by far the best player on Manaus' pitch, controlled every facet of play by Cesare Prandelli's men, something I pointed out would happen in my previous piece here > http://trueotreat.blogspot.com/2014/06/spanish-kings-brought-to-their-feet-by.html. He danced around, did Pirlo, shimmied, and provided a delicate dummy to fool the England defence, which resulted in Claudio Marchisio driving the Italians one nil up. 

Pirlo, a class above the rest. (Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

Though England came back via a lethal counter, thanks to the combination between Rooney and Sturridge, preceded by a sumptuous pass from Raheem Sterling, Italy set about with a rope-a-dope. Something which England should have done, but failed to. The men from Rome drew Roy's troops out, and exposed their weak underbelly. That is where England can be got at, right at the heart of their defence. Johnson and Jagielka can be got at, Baines was left exposed, much due to Rooney's hesitancy of wanting to help out defensively or join the attacking party up front. 

England would have to be tactically more astute in order to get out of this group, and they will have to pay much gratitude to Joel Campbell and Co. 

The team from CONCACAF sent shockwaves after coming up trumps against 2010 semifinalists Uruguay, and Joel Campbell was at the centre of everything good about this team. He should feature in Arsene Wenger's plans after being shipped out on loan last season. 

Joel Campbell ran the show for Costa Rica
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

They have turned this group on his head, after many expected them to be the whipping boys of Group D, labelled the 'Group of Death.' Uruguay have much to do in order to get over their shortcomings, as they seemed devoid of ideas without Suarez. This sets up a fascinating encounter in midweek when they play the English, and it would certainly be mouthwatering to see who comes out on top between Suarez and Sturridge, Liverpool's SAS. 

Luis Suarez watching agonisingly from the bench.
"If only I'd been on the pitch.
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

Japan meanwhile, struggled a great deal in the heat against Didier Drogba's Ivory Coast. Solid and organised in the first half, a quickfire double from the Africans in the space of two minutes garnered three points for Africa's strongest representatives. In order to get points off Greece and Colombia, the Japanese would have to buck up and increase the tempo of their game, or they might have to start preparing their flight tickets out of Rio. Watch out for the Ivorians though, a team which on their day, could run the best of teams to the ground. 

Gervinho after heading in the winner via Serge Aurier's cross
(Pic Courtesy of FIFA.com)

Colombia on the other hand, played a calm and calculated match in their win against Greece. Although without their talisman in Radamel Falcao, in James Rodriguez of Monaco, they have someone who could unlock the door of even the best defences in town. Add that to the solidity and guile of Jackson Martinez off the bench, the pace and willingness to work of this team, could prove as vital ingredients of a team harbouring hopes of going past the group stages. They could top the group if they get past Ivory Coast. 

Moving onto tonight's set of fixtures though, sees Group D and E get their matches underway, with Switzerland taking on Ecuador, France against Honduras and Argentina getting their campaign up and running in a match with Bosnia & Herzegovina in Rio. 

Switzerland v Ecuador

Quite a contrast to a traditional Swiss team, this lot put together by Ottmar Hitzfeld possess a combination of grace, finesse, guile and extreme technique. Much like Switzerland's sporting icon in tennis great Roger Federer, this group of players have much talent and skill to put forth on the pitch. With the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Tranquillo Barnetta, Josip Drmic and Granit Xhaka, do keep watch on the Swiss in this tournament.

They might have a bit too much for the Ecuadorians, who, set up in a 'work-man' like team who will never stop running, could find it difficult, with Antonio Valencia their most notable player. 

Possible scoreline : Switzerland 2-1 Ecuador

France v Honduras

Recent outings have seen the 98' World Cup winners perform admirably, with the likes of Karim Benzema and Loic Remy hitting form at the right time. A lot would depend on the amount of ammunition supplied to the French front line by Yohan Cabaye. He makes this team tick, and with the energy of Paul Pogba, the French could be one of the dark horses in this competition. 

Honduras meanwhile, have not offered much in encounters with bigger teams, and with them known traditionally as a team which sits back and tries to hit teams on the counter, it might not work against the speedy defenders in France's lineup. In what which would shape up to be a one-sided affair could see the French victorious here. 

Prediction: France 2-0 Honduras

Argentina v Bosnia & Herzegovina

Will Lionel Messi light up in Brazil? That is the question on the minds of Argentina's fans. I would though, keep an eye out for Angel Di Maria and how he stamps his authority in this side. The speedy winger has been top class this season, and if he can get going and spur on his comrades in Aguero, Higuain and Messi to get going, this could be a long night for Edin Dzeko and his friends. It will also matter on the sort of level Asmir Begovic plays at, in order to keep out the Argentinians. 

Bosnia do have a formidable attack in their system, but it would depend on how good their defence is tonight, to stand any chance at all of causing an upset. Honestly, I find it hard to see that happening, and they could be on the end of a hiding tonight. 

I'm going for Argentina to win this, 4-1 

Spanish Kings Brought To Their Feet By Van Gaal's Flying Dutchmen

 (Wesley Sneijder giving Sergio Busquets a earful for going down as though

he's been shot)

(Picture courtesy of the Daily Telegraph)

It was five, should have been six, could have been seven to put the Dutch in heaven and rendered Spain bedridden. 

Change sometimes, cannot be said to be a bad occurrence. It helps one to evolve and keep in line, and perhaps stay ahead of time. To put it simply, evolving is key in daily life, though it has to be done right. If, however, one has mastered an art so well to the brink of perfecting it, fostering for change might not be too easy, even to the extent of being reluctant to do it. "What is all this fancy stuff?", you may ask, hoping I will get to the point sooner rather than later. 

Well, the higher you are, the harder you fall. Spain have rested on their laurels. Stagnated. And have been overtaken by the Dutch. Who have changed quite a bit. The Oranje were certainly good on the night, but I think it was more a case of Spain not being at their usual standard of days gone by. 

No pace whatsoever in the squad, with numerous players in the same mould, (Silva, Iniesta, Xavi, Xabi Alonso) with Busquets playing the role of 'dropping like a fly'. What was more shocking though, is that the whole team of little maestros, lacked ideas, inventiveness and panache which would usually be associated with them (highlighted in an earlier piece here > http://trueotreat.blogspot.com/2014/06/fifa-world-cup-2014-who-are-favourites.html. 

A team of "have been's" rather than one which "could be" great. It needs injecting life into it, does Spain. I will probably go into detail in a separate piece focused on the Spanish downfall, if it can be called that. But for now, the Dutch play has got to be celebrated. 

Not at the level of Rinus Michels' 70's team, but they could go some way to achieving big things, if the switching of play between van Persie, Robben and Sneijder can continue. He was absolutely magnificent, was Robben. They could not get anywhere near him, and he could have bagged a hat trick if it were not for Casillas' reflex. 

The South American La Roja meanwhile, did impress quite a bit in their first half last night. A very fluid team who prefers to play on the counter, and it could suit them against Spain who love to keep the ball. Still though, the jury is still out on whether the Chileans can cut the mustard against the big boys. Australia were good in periods, but were never in the contest to be honest. One had the feeling that Chile could step it up a couple of gears if the need had arised. 

Mexico's encounter with Cameroon though, was quite disappointing. I got it wrong with the scoreline, and the Africans did not offer much throughout the 90 minutes, being shaky defensively and toothless in attack. They could finish bottom in Group A, though Mexico might lose out on 2nd place to Nico Kovac's troops. 

On to today's matches. 

England v Italy

Another momentous match in store, with the English being slight underdogs in this one. It depends quite a bit on whether Roy Hodgson decides to put into practice Brendan Rodgers' ethos at Liverpool, meaning Johnson, Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling and Sturridge starting the match. The way this match will pan out will also lie with England's capability of limiting Andrea Pirlo's influence on the match. 

Easily the best passer of a football in the last 13 years, Pirlo can single-handedly dictate the tempo of a match, much like an orchestrator and his baton, similar to what so masterfully did. The similarities between the two are striking!

And with Mario Balotelli in their ranks, it could well be determined by the mercurial Italian.

With that being said though, pace, and lots of it, is what England possess. If Hodgson utilises it, and introduces Ross Barkley and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the latter stages of tonight's game, they could hit Cesare Prandelli's team on the counter. Defensively though, is where the problem lies for the English.

My take = England 1-3 Italy

I would not take too much time discussing the three remaining games tonight, with them being Colombia v Greece, the Ivorians against the Japanese and a Luis Suarez-less Uruguay taking on the North Americans from Costa Rica.

Colombia v Greece

The Colombians qualified only second behind Argentina, and are quite stable at the back, with plenty of pace out wide. It depends on what sort of form Jackson Martinez is in, but they still could have too much for the economically-struggling Greeks.

Prediction = Colombia 2-0 Greece

Uruguay v Costa Rica

Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan will be leading the line for the Uruguayans, who were the surprise package last time around. Costa Rica are quite an average team, relying more on hard work and team ethic to get past opponents. They could be in for a long night.

Possible scoreline : Uruguay 3-0 Costa Rica

Ivory Coast v Japan

This one could be decided on the toss of a coin. The Ivorians have a lethal front line, with Drogba, Gervinho, Bony and Kalou with Yaya Toure commanding the centre of the park. Kolo Toure, Didier Zokora and Serge Aurier make up the noticeable 'entrees' from European football. Disappointingly though, they usually fail to turn up on the biggest stage. It usually is a case of them being too individualistic and not playing collectively as a cohesive unit.

The team from Tokyo though, are a total contrast. Togetherness and fighting for each other is what they do on the pitch, and to an extent, these players are akin to little VTEC engines running around with supreme stamina and pace. Kagawa and Honda determine their tempo, but do not be surprise if the Japanese come out on top in this encounter.

Outcome = Ivory Coast 2-3 Japan

Till next time.

Can Brazil win an Oscar, or will he win them the World Cup?

(Brazil boss Scolari gesturing to his players to step up the tempo)

(Picture courtesy of the Daily Telegraph)

When a five star movie is released, and people flock to the cinema, many a time the thought which crosses viewers minds is, "Has he/she got the chance to have a crack at the Oscars?" 

With Brazil though, it is somewhat different. They have already got an Oscar in their ranks, the more important question is whether the five-time Kings have a five-star team? Based on last night's showing, it is a clear 'No' as they lacked on many fronts. 

The little magician Oscar though, played like a big man. Sleek touches, magnificent crossing, lethal shots when balls pop outside the box, and an eye for that killer pass any manager hopes to have in their arsenal. Brazil have that, though many might say "They have Neymar, he's the main man." Oscar makes this team tick. Defensively, Brazil were all over the place. Fullbacks (both Alves and Marcelo), bombed further up the pitch leaving Thiago Silva and microphone-haired man David Luiz at sea. Scolari will need to address these issues if the hosts are to progress deep into this competition. 

The Croats meanwhile, flattered to deceive. Modric had a haircut, and he might have lost some of his skills at the barbershop too. Pletikosa, the goalkeeper, looked more like he felt playing in a Sunday league game than in the biggest competition on this planet. They have much to improve on, and probably with Mario Mandzukic coming back in the 2nd fixture, that might provide them with a boost. 

Tonight's matches

Mexico v Cameroon

The Mexicans are in disarray at the moment, and with key striker Carlos Vela not in the 23-man squad, they might not do too well. With that being said though, both them and the Cameroonians will be oh so raring to go, to pile the pressure on Croatia, after last night's defeat. Do not count on both teams to sit back in this one, and if one were to judge this on paper, the Africans might just have the edge here. A solid defence with a potent attack in Samuel Eto'o, they always have a chance. 

Possible scoreline - Mexico 0-2 Cameroon.

Spain v Netherlands

Arguably the biggest game in the group stages sees the previous World Cup's finalists face off in their opening match. The Dutch under Louis Van Gaal will never take losing a game, let alone to the Spaniards. And with the fact that they have the duo of Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben in their ranks, nothing can be ruled out. 

La Roja meanwhile, are not coming into this game in the best of form. Numerous questionable performances in the lead up to Rio has seen Vicente del Bosque scratching his head an unsure on what his best team is, though I have a sneaky feeling that he might revert to the Barcelona axis of Xavi, Iniesta and Sergio Busquets in the middle of the park. That is where this game will be won or lost. If Spain can make do of the ball, rather than 'dilly-dally' on it, the Dutch might be in for a repeat result of South Africa 2010. 

With the lack of pace in the Spanish side though, I am seeing a 1-0 win for Van Gaal's Oranje.

Chile v Australia

The South American La Roja are the team I personally am backing, this time around. Look throughout their squad, plus the lesson they handed England at Wembley a couple of month back, and one would be able to reason it out. Alexis Sanchez heading the frontline, Arturo Vidal as the midfield anchor cum presser, and Claudio Bravo, who in my honest opinion, is behind only Manuel Neuer in terms of ball distribution. You have to watch him play to see it!

For the team from Down Under though, well, with the utmost respect to their team of players, but they have as much chance as a Kangaroo with a seahorse on its back, playing football, on a tennis court, with a cheesecake in both hands. Sorry Ozzies, I doubt this team could do much this time around. Mile Jedinak of Crystal Palace is their best player, nothing much left to be said there. 

Prediction - Chile 4 - 0 Australia. 

FIFA World Cup 2014, Who are the Favourites in Rio?

Over a cup of coffee about a week ago, a couple of my old friends who happened to be real aficionados on football said, "Can't you at least put some time into writing pieces on Rio2014? It's not no ordinary World Cup, this is in Brazil!"

That got me thinking. The FIFA World Cup. In Brazil. In Rio. Played at the Maracana. The Copacabana Beach. It will be a sea of yellow! Caipirinhas to go along with it. Now, how could anyone resist?! 

So, back to business and the greatest sporting event the world has, or will ever witness. Many will still have in their memory, the classic hit put together by Ricky Martin in France 98, 'The Cup of Life.' Hits which have followed, have not quite 'cut the mustard' at least in my book, though 'Celebrate the Day' in 2006 was not all that bad. 

Now that we've talked about the 'mood-lifting' theme songs, who will actually go on to life the golden prize that almost every footballer envisions about? Could anyone get past the hosts, Brazil? It might be tough to knock them off at their own turf. What about their fellow South Americans Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and Chile? Do any of the 3 have even a glimmer of hope of making it beyond the quarters? Then there are the mighty Europeans, from the Germans and Dutch, to the team from Sicily in Italy, and the English and their fish & chips? I might receive brickbats for not naming the defending champions in La Roja, where is Spain in all of this? Turned into Spanish Paella? Will they be able to defend their crown and put themselves up there in the reckoning to be the best national side ever (beating that 70's World Cup-winning Brazilians)? Can an African side be able to do a Senegal? Hear ye, hear ye, Cote de'Ivoire and Ghana? Last but by no means least, can anyone confidently rule out the mecurial Belgians and their composed unit of warriors? 

Let's take it one step at a time. 

Brazil, in the minds of many, are favourites, what with being the hosts and having won a handful of trophies, along with last year's Condeferations Cup. In order for them to win it, the structure of the team has to be set in such a way to get the best out of Neymar and Hulk, with Oscar pulling the strings in midfield. Defensively though, this team is supremely magnificent in my honest opinion. One would be hard-pressed to find a better centre-half pairing in the remaining 31 teams. The weakness of this team, comes right at the top, with Fred seemingly first choice for Luiz Felipe Scolari, a man no stranger to the World Cup. Oh what they would do to have Diego Costa leading the line!

The graphic below, based on a study done by 'The Economist' from matches played onwards of 1993 till today. And trust me, the person who came up with this research stated very clearly, that a whole load of scientific methods was involved in the number crunching.  

But is it a foregone conclusion? One thing's for sure, World Cup's are anything but certain. 

Spain's Matadors can reverse the idea of the winner being concluded before the first whistle. But can they actually do it again? Bear in mind that the crux of this team lies quite a bit with the club sides in La Liga, with Atletico, Real and Barcelona forming a huge chunk of this squad. Catalonia still has the largest representatives, but can the 'tiki-taka' conquer world football once more? If that system is not played to perfection, it's effectiveness can be called into question. Just take a peek at the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich this season in the Champions League, and contrast that with Real and Atletico's style of play. The 'pressing from the front', so to speak, has reaped more rewards this time around in club football, and I opine that could be the case too in the World Cup. Spain can become a tad predictable, and they do not possess the vital tool of pace in their squad, with only Pedro and El Nino being the quickest among all. Jesus Navas not being selected could come back to haunt them. 

Chances of Die Mannschaft will be discussed concurrently with that of the Dutch. German football is at the top at this point in time, even better than that of the Spanish. When one thinks of Germany, German efficiency comes to mind, with the likes of Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Mertesacker and Manuel Neuer forming the spine of this very magnificent team, this lot could go the distance. How Mesut Ozil, Mario Gotze and Lars Bender perform could prove the deciding factor here, and similar to the Brazilians, the lack of a top-class forward could be the reason they do not make it. 

The Dutch meanwhile, have some potential to take a crack at this tournament, but it all depends on which Robin van Persie turns up. If he displays the unpredictability and eminent class of his first season at Old Trafford, they could be ones to watch out for. Defensively very suspect, and that could be their downfall. 

Portugal and the Argentinians. Ronaldo against Messi comes to mind. The El-Clasico. As teams, Lionel's party has to have the upper hand here. With the quartet of Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Messi buzzing around them, the men from Buenos Aires have on paper, the best attack in the tournament. I still think though, they need a Maradona-esque from their talisman moment for La Albicelestes to lift the Golden Prize. The Portuguese though, are a different kettle of fish, or footballers. Ronaldo has a lot to do to just get his team out of the group stage, with them facing Ghana and Die Mannschaft in the process. Pepe and Bruno Alves might be able to hold the team together, and it will also depend on whether Joao Moutinho and Raul Meireles can thread through-balls in for CR7 to lethally finish off. I'd rank them as outsiders in this one. 

A team who loves Spaghetti and Pizza has got to do somewhat well, don't you think? That's where the Italians come in. The nucleus of this team is actually close to being ideal, with an orchestrator in Pirlo making many others dance to the tune of his feet. If the Mario Balotelli of Euro2012 turn up for this party (without fireworks of course), this bunch headed by Senor Cesare Prandelli could actually surprise many, and even give the English a wake-up call. 

Hodgson's men are the pretenders here, and nothing more. If the English boss goes for his tried and trusted players in people like Frank Lampard, and ignores trying to ignite fire in this team, by playing the little magician in Raheem Sterling, complemented with fabulous talents like that of Barkley and Chamberlain, not forgetting Lallana, then England will not even make it out of the group stages. Buck that trend however, and allow the free rein for Gerrard to be the mastermind, with Sturridge at the tip of the English frontline, then, maybe, just maybe, they could make decent headway. Quarter finals at best. 

I have on purpose, left out the dark horses in this one, and they hail from none other than the place where fine chocolates and sugary sweet, syrupy waffles are made. It's been a long time coming for the Belgians. Look around their team, and it oozes with nothing but class. Players with finesse, able to be individualistic and also play with pizzazz as a team, brings about a hybrid structure which can shake the footballing world. Ladies and gentlemen, beware of this Belgian team. This group is here to stay, and barring any mishaps, could take the favourites all the way in Rio. A terrifying strikeforce with Romelu Lukaku heading their weaponry, and with Hazard, Dembele, Mirallas roaming around him, they could unleash a full force upon all comers. Rock solid defence in Premier League winner, Vincent Kompany, and Vermaelen alongside him with Thibaut Courtois between the sticks, do not for one moment, doubt the capability of this team. 

Now with all that has been said, I would have to put a disclaimer of not being liable for any bets placed on teams which I've singled out, please do so on your own accord. The betting scene is rife with shocking discoveries just last week by the New York Times in a two-part series, here and here. It entails on how Malaysia and Singapore are hubs for the Asian, and the larger world for this most utmost ridiculous betting scene, where matches including those in World Cups, have been fixed, with referees, match officials, players and even managers being bribed. Do read it if you have extra time, as it provides a detailed account of these occurrences. 

So, let's then wait for things to kickoff in Rio. Matches will be covered here, as well as previews to future matches on a daily basis. Do stay tuned to 'Beyond Limits', as we see where Rio takes us. 

Cheers!