Today the World Cup Brasil 2014 drawing was held in Costa do Sauipe Brasil.
Three groups of death have emerged, two very near to my heart. Group B with Spain as world champion in 2010 and the Netherlands, runner up in 2010, as well as Chili and Australia is the one I will be nervous about the most. The Netherlands is my home country and we still have something to prove after the most devastating losses in 1974 in Germany, 1978 in Argentina and last but not least 2010 against Spain in South-Africa. But… Spain has changed in 4 years and the young team of Ajax beat Barcelona in the Champions league recently so anything is possible. And in the end it is simple, to win the world cup you have to beat the best, be lucky, have a great game of football/soccer and be in the right spot at the right point in time.
The Netherlands, otherwise known as Holland played well but was lucky in South-Africa. Until the final where a reckless karate kick to the chest of a Spanish player only resulted in a warning, a yellow card where it sholuld have been a send-off, a straight red card. That’s when we used up all our luck for the final. Minutes later Arjen Robben just missed a chance to score when Cassillas, the Spanish goal keeper kept Robben from scoring with his toe. In over-time the Spanish team scored in counter attack, one which Holland could not erase in the final minutes. So…it is time for revenge and the Dutch will be prepared to to take the Spanish team on without hesitation. Group B has been lucky with regard to the venues where they play their group matches, none of them are in a hot and tropical area.
Group D, Uruguay, Costa Rica, England and Italy is the next group of death. Uruguay was eliminated by Holland in South-Africa in the semi finals. Italy is always a strong contender and has won the world cup several times. England although only won the world cup once at home in 1966 is also a contender who can never be counted out. This group will play most matches in very hot and humid cities. Maybe…just maybe tiny Costa Rica smells its chance.
The third group of death and also near to my heart due to my adoptive country the USA is group G. Germany, Portugal, USA and Ghana, what a group. USA coach Jurgen Klinsman will have to compete against his home country, that will be fun. Portugal with one of the best players in the world Real Madrid’s Christiano Ronaldo will be a tough team to beat. And as Group D, this group will play in hot humid cities like Manaus. Not only is Manuas tropical, it is a heck of a flight from anywhere else. Tough circumstances, but as Klinsman said, “to win the world cup (as he has done twice with Germany in his playing days) you have to be able to deal with anything that gets thrown at you.
Get ready for an exciting 2014 World Cup in Brasil…!!, Put the date in your calendar June 12, 2014 opening match between host Brasil and Croatia! Go Dutch and Go USA!!
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