Adios España and England v Uruguay

Not many people could have foreseen that World Cup holders and two time Euro winners Spain would be crashing out after only two matches. The Spanish media have already began their inquests into the error-strew and dismal display from the players, many of whom were the cornerstone to the victories in 2010 and 2010.

 

Having kicked off the tournament with a battering from the Dutch, a victory against Chile was paramount, but this was not the case. Instead, they slumped to another poor performance in which lack of movement and no plan 'B' culminated in a 2-0 loss. The problem arose through too many mistakes in key positions for Spain. Normally reliable, Xabi Alonso, was at fault for the first goal, where a bad pass allowed Alexis Sanchez to capitalise on the lapse of concentration from the former Liverpool man in order to square the ball for Eduardo Vargas. His Real Madrid team mate, Iker Casillas also had a night to forget when he flapped at a Sanchez free kick and the ball went straight into the path of Charles Aranguiz, who buried it with a toe poke into the back of the net.

 

Diego Costa also failed to perform in his short tournament amid the jeers of the on-looking Brazilian crowd. Having failed to find the net as of yet, Jose Mourinho and Roman Abramovich will be hoping that this is not a sign of things to come at Chelsea next year. It may be put down to the injury that he received in the latter stages of the Liga BBVA that also hampered his Champions League Final when he limped off after only eight minutes. He didn't look match sharp against the Netherlands or Chile but the match against Australia could see him click, but it will be too little too late for the adopted Spaniard.

 

The failures of this tournament may not spell the end for Tiki-Taka, but the end for ferocious Xavi-Iniesta partnership as well as captain, Iker Casillas and numerous other star components of the winners from 2008, 2010 and 2012.With Xavi aged 34, it is nearly 100% certain that he will not feature at another international tournament in a Spanish jersey. Del Bosque benched him for the first time in a major tournament, a testament to the changes that were required following the drubbing by the Netherlands. Iniesta wasn't nearly as effective as he was in South Africa, neither was Torres or Xabi Alonso. As a football fan, it is sad to see the contingent that won multiple trophies leave he international scene on such a disappointing note, particularly as Del Bosque, or the next manager will be persuaded to build another world beating side with the youthful talent of Koke, Thiago and co. Out with the old and in with the new seems to be the general consensus in Spain at the moment.

 

With Spain's days in the World Cup numbered, England will be hoping to not follow in the footsteps of the holders as they take on Uruguay in just under 20 minutes. A loss for Roy's boys would spell disaster as they would go into the last game with minimal to play for. I predicted that England would be able to qualify behind Italy for the knockout rounds, and the match between Uruguay and Costa Rica would fill England with belief.

 

Defensively, Uruguay are incredibly weak. Their full backs are not great defenders and are also relatively slow. As said previously, pace on the wings is essential. Sterling and Welbeck will wreak havoc down the wings, and expect goals from the wide areas. With Wayne Rooney placed in his preferred central role behind the Sturridge it will make him very to be marked which will allow Sturridge space to shoot. As so adequatley demonstrated by Maxi Pereira, the Uruguayans can be easily wound up and frustrated. This leaves an important role for Steven Gerrard who has to dictate the flow of the game from his deeper position, similar to what Andrea Pirlo did against England on Saturday night.

 

England will need to offer a better defensive performance than the game against Italy. While ITV may claim that Luis Suarez may not be 'match fit' he still needs to be stopped. A man of his calibre can cause damage regardless if he is fully fit or not. As we have seen for Liverpool over the last season he is ruthless and can punish England if underestimated. His strike partner, Edison Cavani, also needs to be stopped. With Gerrard and Henderson protecting the front four, it should help nullify the effect of Suarez, it will allow Cahill and Jagielka to mark Cavani. For the whole 90 minutes, they need to track his runs of the shoulders of the defenders as he is an excellent goal scorer and poacher. 

  

We have already had one shock this week with the Spanish having only one more game in Brazil. England, on the other hand, must win if they have any dreams of qualifying for the next round, and it's one that they certainly can win. Shrewd midfield play from Liverpool pair, Henderson and Gerrard, could leave the Uruguayans with little attacking outlet, therefore giving the front four the initiative to grab the goals that can leak from this defence. 

3-1 England.

The Dutch Destroy Tiki Taka and an England v Italy Preview

Last night was quite breathtaking. Nobody could have predicted a Dutch onslaught. I still cannot quite believe what took place before my eyes. Surely they must now be considered as serious competitors?

Credit must be given to a superb Netherlands side who rolled back to the days of Total Football, but Spain were abysmal, and that's being generous. It's amazing how easily Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique were made to look distinctively average. Gaps between the centre-halves were exploited with ease, but the problem started with the lackadaisical full backs. Quite often while playing for Barcelona, Jordi Alba enjoys to bomb down the left wing, leaving the left full back position exposed. This allowed the Dutch wing-backs Janmaat and Blind to commit and pull Ramos and Pique out of position. 

The equaliser from RVP on the stroke half time was a touch of genius. The way he leapt into the air like a salmon was utterly majestic, and the pass wasn't bad either. Children all around the globe will be attempting Robin's leap, but not many will be able to pull it off. The Spanish defence could not contain the pace of Arjen Robben or the skill of Van Persie. You could argue that they single handedly ripped Spain's tiki taka apart, it was simply sublime to watch.

Ajax's Daley Blind announced himself on the stage last night with a quality performance. Son of Danny Blind, he was exceptional in both attack and defence, and is a great prospect. If he continues his top quality performance, the top teams could come knocking at Ajax's door in order to acquire his services.

Not many people gave the Netherlands a chance, never mind 5-1 victory against the Spanish, so England will be hoping to do the same against the Italians tonight. England will get a big boost from the news that Gigi Buffon will be absent with a twisted ankle. An equally impressive Salvatore Sirigu replaces the veteran, but it will be Buffon's leadership that they will miss.

Andrea Pirlo passed England to death in the Euros and he will be the linchpin that makes Italy tick. It's pretty much impossible to prevent Pirlo from getting the ball, and man marking him in the tropical conditions of Manaus would be suicidal. Even if  they were to stop Pirlo from controlling the game, Veratti also needs attention. It is likely that Daniele De Rossi will sit just in front of the back four, with the solitary role of breaking up the English attacks, something which he has excelled at over his successful career.

Italy possess superb wingers in Alessio Cerci, Antonio Candreva and Lorenzo Insigne. Glen Johnson and Leighton Baines will need to remain focused for the 90 minutes if they want to neutralise the threat from the flanks. Based on the performances from the warm-up games, Glen Johnson does not fill me with much confidence. 

England do have the ability to hurt Italy. With relatively slow centre backs, it is imperative that Daniel Sturridge starts. His pace, along with Rooney, Welbeck and Sterling, has the potential to hurt Italy and they need to be running lines in behind the defence. Wayne Rooney's position in this starting line-up has been up for the debate. In my opinion he should start. His experience will benefit the team, and I tip him to end his goal drought in the World Cup this year. As for Ross Barkley, Roy needs to bring him on when the ageing Italian midfield begins to tire and it may give him a free run at Chiellini and Bonucci.

I said in a previous article that England should be able to beat Uruguay, and it is quite likely after seeing a shambolic performance against Costa Rica. We witnessed a scintillating Dutch performance last night, so let's hope for another superb match up in 45 minutes.

Spain v Netherlands

Barely 24 hours into the tournament and we already have our first bodacious tie. Brazil has already provided us with numerous contentious issues and most importantly, plenty of goals. Hopefully the South Africa's finalists can provide us with more of the same, minus the controversial incidents.

Tonight sees a rematch of the 2010 Final in which 14 players were booked and, astonishingly, Johnny Heitinga was the only player to be sent off. I'm quite sure you all know the outcome of that night, but the Netherlands will be out for revenge. With Robin Van Persie leading the attack, let's take a look at where the main threat will come from in this talented Dutch side.

No one can argue that Manchester United's Robin Van Persie will have an impact on Dutch progress in the tournament. He is definitely in with a shout of receiving the Golden Boot. He has the ability to score goals out of nothing, and is a real asset to the Dutch. Another player that cannot go without mention is Arjen Robben. He is arguably the most predictable player in world football, yet the most difficult to stop, particularly if he is deployed on the left. The main attacking threat will come from Van Persie, Robben and Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder.

The midfield will be need to be a lot more disciplined than 2010, if they want to shut down Xavi, Iniesta and Silva. As we all know, they aim to control the play and the tempo of the game. If they close the Spanish playmakers down and give them limited time on the ball, then the game is there for Holland to grab it by the scruff of the neck.

Albeit they were in a difficult group, The Netherlands will be hoping to make amends to a disastrous Euro 2012 campaign. It is often the case that the Netherlands have world class talent at their disposal however disruption in team harmony has led to them crashing out early in competitions. With fresh blood coming through in Memphis Depay, Bruno Martins Indi and Jordy Clasie. This could be their time to shine and show case their talent to the rest of the world.

Holders, Spain will be right up there in the latter stages of the tournament. Most of the players from the Euros in 2012 are at this tournament, but the most notable inclusion is that of Diego Costa. In 2012 it was common for them to play Cesc Fabregas as a false nine, which caught the opposition off guard. With Costa's inclusion, it will be interesting to see whether they deploy this tactic once again, or go with an out-and-out striker. In my opinion, this will be more of a help than a hindrance as it will give them a Plan B, something which may benefit them in the later rounds. 

This Spanish team have the ability to score goals, but they have also the ability to concede. When Jordi Alba bombs down the left, it may leave gaps at the back, and particularly in the tropical climate, he may struggle to get back. They may have defensive worries, but they do play very attractive football, as highlighted in previous tournaments. We all hope for more of the same in this tournament.

As for my prediction, a 1-1 draw is looking a good shout, as neither team will want to lose their opening game. It will be a cagey affair as a loss would be a colossal blow to their hopes of qualifying in pole position.

90% of people will be sitting throughout the Mexico v Cameroon match with much excitement. The other 10%, are lying. 8pm is the kick off time, so be there or be square.

World Cup Preview

"Twas the night before the World Cup, when all through the house

excitement was building, even in the mouse.

The fridge was loaded with beer and Doritos

and we were making our Brazilian mojitos."

I'll leave the poetry to Clement Clarke Moore and start discussing what lies in wait over the next month. It is hard to believe that in less than 24 hours, the 2014 World Cup will be kicking off. It seems like only yesterday when Andres Iniesta sent Spain to World Cup glory and they kick off their attempt to retain their title on Friday in a remake of the last final.

Everyone has seen the disruption and chaos that the country of Brazil is in, with stadiums not being ready and the protests from the natives over the World Cup, at why the money could not be spent with more wisdom on more pressing matters, such as tackling poverty and improving infrastructure. Blatter has already been in the media for the wrong reasons this week, and many people condemn him for heaping unwanted pressure onto the South American nation. Besides this not-so-small-issue, I hope the World Cup lives up to expectation once again.

Dark Horses

I would like to start with the teams who have the potential to cause an upset in the tournament. Under this bracket, I include the likes of Switzerland, Ivory Coast and Chile.

Firstly I'd like to begin with a personal favourite of mine, Switzerland. I tip the landlocked side to make an impression at the World Cup. They have a side that boasts a plethora of young talent such as Shaqiri, Xhaka, Schar and Stocker. In addition to this, their group consists of Honduras, France and Ecuador and Hitzfeld will be expecting to achieve a second place finish at the very least. Deep down, they must be thinking that they can topple France in order to avoid Argentina in the second round, and they certainly can do it.

Next is Ivory Coast. Similar to Switzerland, they have excellent options in attack. Even at the tender age of 36, Didier Drogba still has the capacity to excite, and with this almost certainly being his last tournament, he will be hoping to find his form for his country in order to go out with a bang. Drogba has former Chelsea team mate Saloman Kalou in support as well as Roma's Gervinho. A special mention also has to go to Yaya Toure in the engine room who guided Man City to their second title in 2 years.

Chile have been placed in a horrible group consisting of holders, Spain and runners up, Holland. Chile have an underrated team that consists of Nou Camp star, Alexis Sanchez in attack as well as Arturo Vidal in midfield. The Chileans finished 3rd in the South American qualifying table behind Argentina and Colombia. It is unlikely that they will get through, particularly if Holland are at their unstoppable best, however if a half-hearted Dutch side from the 2012 Euros is on show, they are their for the taking.

Big Slumps

Under this heading I will share my thoughts on who will be likely to flop at the tournament this year.

With all hype around the youthful Belgian side, along with a relatively simple group. They play Algeria, South Korea and Russia on the group, and with them likely to qualify, could meet Gemany or Portugal in the second round. The media and sports fans are expecting big things from this side, particularly with players such as Hazard, Lukaku and Kompany. On paper, this side would definitely not be out of place in the semis or even the final, but their lack of experience worries me. The last tournament that they qualified for was the 2002 World Cup when they reached the last 16. I can see them not getting past the last 16. However, this side has bags of talent, and will certainly will be around the big stars in years to come.

Another side that could suffer is Uruguay. They are in a group of 'death' along with England, Italy and Costa Rica. Many would tip Uruguay to qualify for the next round at the expense of England. I dont see this happening, as although they have a star-studded attack, their defense may let them down. With it being relatively slow, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sterling or Cerci can cause mayhem with their direct running. If Italy and England run directly at the Uruguayan defence, then Godin and Lugano will be tied up in knots and also will have their work cut out if they are to secure a position in the next round.

Likely Contenders.

The bookies make Brazil the favourites to clinch the title on home soil, and I am hoping that they do is well. In addition to this, holders Spain, Argentina, Italy, Holland and France must also be included in the likely contenders.

Brazil will be hoping to give the nation a lift in spite of the problems that the country has been going through over the last few years. The weight of a nation falls on the young shoulders of 22 year old, Neymar. He silenced the critics during last years Confederations Cup, and after a solid league campaign for new club Barcelona, he will be hoping to set the world alight once again. The ably named Fred will lead the line for Brazil and he comes off the back of a superb season at Fluminense.

Spain have often played the attractive football and captured everyone in South Africa when they blew away the competition. Spain will certainly be up challenging, and looking for their 4th consecutive title, something that may not be achieved for along time. If anyone can achieve this feat, it is definitely this Spanish side. It is unlikely that midfield maestros, Xavi and Iniesta will be around for the next World Cup, so another title would be a fitting end on the illustrious careers of these players.

Brazilian rivals, Argentina had a disappointing 2010 campaign so they will be hoping to rectify this, and there is no better place to do it than on rival turf. It is becoming a cliche that you aren't one of the best ever players if you haven't won the World Cup. For Lionel Messi, a win in Brazil who certainly cement his place in footballing history  along fellow countryman, Diego Maradona as well as Pele. The Argentinians have the firepower to claim the Jules Rimet trophy on the 13th July and boast a formidable attack. Consisting of Aguero, Messi, Lavezzi, Higuain and Palacio. The defence could prove their downfall, which lacks pace. A fast team such as Brazil and Spain could exploit.

One Final Note.

The tournament promises to bring the World to a stand-still and it is something that I have been excited for since the group draw back in December. I am rooting for a home win in Brazil. Not only do I have Brazil in my family sweepstake, I feel that this could unite a nation in turmoil. I also feel the football team deserves to give something back to the nation who has suffered due to the costs of the World Cup. Looking into my not-so-mysterious crystal ball, I can see an intense showdown between two bitter rivals in Brazil and Argentina, something which I'm sure the neutral would love. Also, Spain will get to the Semi Final and beat Italy in the third place play off. You heard it here first. Feel free to give me your predictions on the winners, shocks or big slumps.

It is almost upon us. Get the beers chilled and the doritos in the microwave. Get the the diaries cleared and the best spot in the living room. It's going to be a cracking ride, and one that will be over in a flash. The World expects. And I expect plenty of late and exhilirating nights.

England Can Get Out Of Their Group

From the moment that the English nation realised that they were to be drawn in a group with world giants such as Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica in the World Cup, it has been all negativity from English fans. Normally I am the first person to criticise and abuse England, but, even as a proud Northern Irish fan, I believe England have the ability to get out of their group.

Roy's Selection

It is not often when the England team goes into an international competition with little confidence. Of course, no one can argue that an easy task lies in wait of the Three Lions, but it is certainly one that they can rise to. In terms of the selection process, it was a good decision to omit Tom Cleverley and Michael Carrick, simply because Cleverley is not good enough, and Carrick has had a poor season by his standards. With Sterling, Flanagan, Barkley and Shaw all selected, it appears that Hodgson is preparing with the future in mind. Much to many people's disagreement, Wayne Rooney will be a vital cog in the England wheel. Even when he hasn't been in the best form of his career, he has carried an ageing Manchester United squad all season, scored 19 goals in all competitions and possibly cushioned the blow for them. Drop Rooney at your peril as he will be the determining factor in whether England have a sustained tournament or not.

Italy

What better way for England to kick off their World Cup campaign against Italy. I firmly believe that this match will be the deciding factor in who tops the group. The Italians will give England a game, and one that must not be taken lightly. Italy have a fearsome attacking options in Torino pair Alessio Cerci and Ciro Immobile and also Mario Balotelli, as well as the orchestrator, Andrea Pirlo in the middle of the field. The Italians boast a solid defence, and England's forwards may find it difficult to break through. Even if they do get past the defence, Gianluigi Buffon also has to be beaten. 

Italy have the right balance between experience and youth, and they have some exciting youth prospects at that. With it being the opening game of each team's campaign, expect a tentative start from both sides. A loss for either team means that they will be on the back foot for the rest of the fixtures and victories against Uruguay and Costa Rica would be imperative. Do England have a chance in the game? Why of course they do! Anything can happen in a one off game, but it will be no easy feat.

Uruguay

England travel to Sao Paulo for their second game against Uruguay. On paper this game seems a lot harder than it actually is. Obviously Luis Suarez is Uruguay's main attacking outlet, but if they can neutralise his threat, then I fail to see any other player that can provide them with enough fire power to see off the English. In this match, defensive discipline will be key. As we know, Diego Forlan, along with Suarez are dead ball specialists and will punish any cheap free kicks conceded around the edge of the box. 

In attack, England have all the ingredients to unlock an average Uruguayan defence. From an English point of view, Hodgson needs to play a pacey player like Sturridge, Welbeck, Oxlade etc. up front in order to trouble this defence. Against the popular opinion, Wayne Rooney needs to start. His unpredictable movement can pull the defence apart, and his vision and passing ability help utilise the quicker players. 

Costa Rica

The final group game sees England face minnows Costa Rica. On paper it is a foregone conclusion, but as so often with England, games are not won on paper. If England head into this match with everything to play for, they must not play with a relaxed attitude because it will be their downfall. It is likely that Costa Rica will have nothing but pride to play for, which can benefit and hinder England's chances. They may throw the kitchen sink at it and play all out attacking football which will make them susceptible to the counter. What is more likely is that they will keep men behind the ball and look to frustrate England. Whether Wilshere, Rooney, Milner and co. will have the temperament to remain composed is worrying. Overall, I do think England will be able to surpass the challenge of Costa Rica but composure will be essential.

The conditions may play a massive part in the tournament. Manaus holds hot, muggy, tropical conditions and will test the players particularly in the latter stages of the game. With England playing Italy in Manaus, it will come down to a case of who has done the best preparation for the conditions. Uruguay will be better acclimatised to the environment in Brazil, so this may give them the upper hand. The real test will be later in the tournament if England get through. It would be testament to the players fitness and mental stamina, having completed a long and gruelling Barclays Premier League season if they were able to challenge in the later stages of the tournament.

England have the ability and talent within the squad to proceed in the tournament. Even though they have been completely written off by the fans and media, England will still feel pressure, as they aim to give the English fans something to celebrate. With a state of the art training compound, the conditioning staff will have the players in top condition and the warm-ups will help them acclimatise to the Brazilian environment. Only 9 days remain until England kick off their campaign, and nerves will certainly be increasing in England.

Hot Prospects in the Serie A

With the World Cup nearly upon us, it gives Premier League managers the opportunity to hunt for some potential transfer targets. The Serie A has allowed some of the brightest young prospects to burst onto the scene this year. The league has a profusion of Italian talent, which could be useful for some clubs in the Premier League.

It is well documented that German giants, Borussia Dortmund have sealed Torino's Ciro Immobile as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski. Immobile had a spectacular Serie A campaign and topped the goal scoring charts this season with 23. His Torino narrowly missed out on qualification for the Europa League and if he was eligible to play in that match against Fiorentina, I would have bet Torino to secure a European spot for next season. He formed a formidable strike force with fellow Italian Alessio Cerci, netting 36 goals in the Serie A and Coppa Italia. Now that the season has concluded, Immobile turns his attention to Italy's World Cup campaign that begins on the 14th June against England. 

The 24 year old is regarded as a poacher and does share similarities in his play to that of Lewandowski. At the start of the season, it was unlikely whether Prandelli would select Immobile, but after his electric form in the league, his inclusion was vital. He has fierce competition for the starting spot against England, with fellow teammate Cerci in fine form along with other star studded talents. Prandelli may choose experience in Cassano or Balotelli, over Immobile, even though they're not in the same calibre of form as the Torino man. With the Immobile off to Dortmund, Klopp has bagged himself another bargain for an approximate fee of £15m. I feel that the English clubs have missed a trick here, and can certainly see him coming back to bite them on the back side in the Champions League.

Domenico Berardi is another talent that is one to look out for in the future. Berardi burst onto the scene scoring 4 goals in a 4-3 win over AC Milan in January, becoming the first player to score 4 goals against AC Milan in a single Serie A match. In addition to his Milan heroics, Berardi netted a first half hat-trick in a memorable victory over Fiorentina earlier this month. Berardi was certainly a factor in securing safety for a second season in Serie A as, he contributed 16 goals to the cause. Although not going to the World Cup, Berardi is player that will feature in years to come.

The 19 year old has been linked with a transfer to England prior to the January transfer window, however the Italian may be more difficult to capture than people think. Serie A champions, Juventus completed a deal in September 2013 with Sassuolo that Berardi was to be co-owned by both clubs. The deal also saw Luca Marrone transfer in the opposite direction along with a fee of €4.3m. Any clubs looking at the Italian protege will certainly have to stump up much more cash, however The Old Lady may be more favourable towards a loan deal. Clinching their 3rd successive Serie A title, Juve have a wealth of talent in attack through Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente, Mirko Vucinic among others. It will be unlikely that Antonio Conte will place his faith for the coming season in a 19 year old rather than the experience of some of those mentioned.

Internazionale's Mateo Kovacic is an exciting young player who can thread a pass through the eye of a needle. Beginning his career at Dinamo Zagreb, Inter snapped the 20 year old up for a total sum of €15m in January 2013. He is highly rated by the coaching staff at Internazionale, which is emphasised through receiving the infamous number 10 jersey upon his arrival at the Guiseppe Meazza. Making 45 appearances for the first team at Inter, a glorious World Cup could see him cement himself in Walter Mazzari's first team plans for the coming season. Even at the tender age of 20, Kovacic has several honours attached to his name. These include a successful time at Zagreb where he lifted the domestic double, and being awarded Croatian Football Hope of the Year in 2011. The Croatian playmaker became the second youngest scorer in the Premier League as he scored a goal in the last group game against Lyon. 

Kovacic has the ability to control a game of football and will become the pinnacle of the Inter team in the future. Due to the large fee Inter paid for him, it will take a lot of money to prize him from the clutches of Mazzari. The Croatian international has had many respected admirers in the past, including Ajax, Bayern Munich and Juventus who scouted him when he was 13, and also attracted the attention of Arsenal Chief Scout, Steve Rowley, who was reported to have watched him perform several U17 matches while at Zagreb. Capped at senior level for Croatia 8 times, it is likely that Kovacic will be heading to Brazil in less than 2 weeks with his national team which re-ignite the interest from top European clubs.

While the spotlight is all on the Saints' youth academy, many teams are forgetting about the vast amounts of talent located in Italy. I am sure that these players would be available for less cash than some of the English players. While I may have only discussed 3 players, there certainly are lot more, including Mauro Icardi and Victor Ibarbo. All of these players are destined to achieve great things and, with the correct tutoring, I don't see why they cannot achieve it.