Heading to Brazil to take part in World Cup 2014 festivities? Here's a few things you may need to know before heading down there for the biggest event in soccer.
In 1994, the World Cup came to the United States for the first time in history. Even though it was a historic moment for the nation, the turn history was made by another nation: Brazil. El Selecao won its fourth World Cup by defeating Italy on penalties in the final. The South American side was composed of numerous great players, but one of them dominated the competition. That man was Romario and he was the eventual Golden Ball winner. Here is a look at Romario's heroic campaign in 1994.
The 2014 World Cup will place a tremendous amount of pressure on a number of major stars, among those is Argentina's Lionel Messi. Considered the best player in the world, Messi is often omitted from the conversation about whether or not he is the greatest soccer player of all time, and faces a similar situation that Diego Armando Maradona faced in the 1986 FIFA World Cup held in Mexico.
In 2006, Italy became an improbable World Cup champion. The team was known for having an impenetrable defense, but was also suspect for giving up a lot of scoring chances to the opposition. Fortunately, the team had arguably the greatest goalie the world at the time manning the nets. Buffon was given the Golden Gloves at the tournament for being the best keeper, an award that he amply deserved.
Zinedine Zidane. A living legend. But also a polarizing one. France's eternal superstar and one of the greatest players to ever put on the boots proved to be the hero for his country in one instance and its antihero in another. Zidane's great World Cup career took place over the course of two tournaments.
Back in 1970 Gerd Muller scored 10 goals in the World Cup. Since then only one player has come anywhere near that standard. That man was the great Ronaldo, who managed eight goals in that tournament and holds the record for highest scoring player in World Cup history with 15. Ronaldo did not earn the Golden Ball for his performance in 2002; that honor was given to the nearly impenetrable Oliver Kahn. But Kahn, who had been dominant throughout the first seven games of the tournament (he only conceded one goal in that span), met his match in the decisive match and allowed not one, but two goals against the superstar forward.
The World Cup is a showcase for some of the best teams in the world, but also one in which the major stars make get a chance to express themselves to billions of people. The 2010 World Cup featured a number of brilliant superstars playing their best soccer. Uruguay's Diego Forlan managed to win the Golden Ball for a sizzling performance as he led his nation to the semifinals. Wesley Sneijder was the star behind the Netherland's finals berth while Thomas Muller was a major breakout star for Germany in their third place finish. But the performance of the tournament would go to Spain's top goaltender Iker Casillas who became the backbone of a team that won with a team-first mentality.
With less than a month until the first ball kick, Brazil continues to see protests against the biggest sporting event of the year. Preparations for the World Cup have been followed by a specter of popular discontent, and as the games near. more people hit the streets to voice their displeasure with the government and the Cup.
On Tuesday May 13, Spain's manager Vicente del Bosque announced his preliminary squad for the national team. The roster featured most of the mainstays from last year's Confederations Cup roster.
Group H is one that is passing under the radar as it does not contain any of the major contenders. Belgium and Russia are seen as favorites, but the group also contains South Korea and Algeria. The latter side has a huge task on its hands as it is undoubtedly the least favored side in the tournament. Can the Algerians surprise the world and make a run at the knockout rounds?
Four years ago, the African nations bonded around one country in the World Cup knockout rounds. Despite hosting the tournament for the first time in the event's history, the African nations continued to struggle in the group stage and only saw one of its neighbors manage a berth in the round of 16. That nation was Ghana and it carried the hopes of a continent. Despite falling short, the run was one of the most impressive in Africa's history. Ghana is arguably the best African side at this year's World Cup in Brazil, but the team is faced with a monumental group to overcome. Can Ghana prove to be among the world's elite in 2014?
Latin Post.com breaks down the team's in Group E of the 2014 World Cup; which of these teams are the favorites to win futbol's biggest prize in Brazil this summer?
The World Cup is a major showpiece for some of the biggest soccer teams around the globe. However, one of the highlights of the tournament is watching how some of the relative "unknowns" fare against the bigger powers. Costa Rica enters this tournament as one of this lesser-known soccer nations and actually fits the aforementioned description of a small country taking on big powers as it will face Italy, England and Uruguay in the group stage. Can the underdog seize the spotlight from the aforementioned World Cup champion nations?