FIFA World Cup 2014 Schedule and Team Previews

[GlenDavis]

Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is a international football competition. The current format of the tournament involves 32 teams competing for the title at venues within the host nations over a period of about month. and last 2010 world cup Spain won the tournamen in south africa. and now who do you think will grab the championship? will it spain again? here are the
teams that are qualified for world cup 2014 and some history about them.

12 JUN 2014 - 17:00 Local time
GROUP A
Arena de Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo

Brazil

Brazil is the most successful national team in the history of the world cup, having won five FIFA World Cup titles and reaching the final in 2 other opportunities. Brazil is also one of the countries besides Argentina and Spain to win a FIFA World Cup away from its continent and its only The only nation to have taken part in every edition of the elite competition, Brazil have lifted the coveted Trophy on a record five occasions (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002), finished in second place twice (1950 and 1998) and taken the last spot on the podium at another two editions (1938 and 1978).

Croatia

This team was dissolved in 1945 as Croatia became a constituent federal republic of SFR Yugoslavia. In between 1945 to 1990, Croatia did not field a separate team for competitive matches and Croatian players for the Yugoslavia national team. The modern Croatian team was formed in 1991, shortly before Croatians’Independence from Yugoslavia and by 1993 had gained membership in FIFA and UEFA.

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13 JUN 2014 - 13:00 Local time
GROUP A
Estadio das Dunas
Natal

Mexico

Mexico has qualified for fourteen world cups and has qualified consecutively since 1994. Mexico played France in the very first match of the first World Cup on July 13. Mexico have fallen in the round of 16 on their last five appearances in the finals, with Argentina halting their progress at both Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010. Only twice have the Mexicans made it to the quarters, both time on home soil in 1970 and 1986.

Cameroon

The Cameroon national team is also known in French as Les Lions Indomptables is the national team of Cameroon. It has qualified seven times for the FIFA World Cup. In World Cup 2010,the team was grouped with the Gapon, Togo, and Moroccan national football teams. The coach of Cameroon, Otto Pfister resigned. Frenchmen Paul Le Guen was appointed as the new coach after a draw against Morocco. Cameroon defeated the Atlas Lions of Morocco 2-0 in Fez in their last match of their campaign.

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13 JUN 2014 - 16:00 Local time
GROUP B
Arena Fonte Nova
Salvador

Spain

Spain became a member of FIFA in 1904, even though the Spanish football federation was first established in 1909. Spain debuted in 1920. Since then, the Spanish national team have participated in a total of thirteen of nineteen FIFA world cup. Spain are reigning world and European champions having won the World Cup 2010 and EURO 2012. They also the ranked 2 in the World Football Elo Ratings and number 1 in the FIFA World Ranking.

Netherlands

With legendary coach RinusMichels pulling the strings from the bench, Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens and Co won their way through to the final in 1974. This team is colloquially referred to as Het Nederlands Elftal (The Dutch Eleven) and Oranje. Like the country itself, the team is sometimes referred to as Holland. The Dutch hold the record for playing the most world cup finals without ever winning the final.

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13 JUN 2014 - 18:00 Local time
GROUP B
Arena Pantanal
Cuiaba

Chile

Chile appeared in eight World Cup Tournaments and were host of the 1962 FIFA World Cup where finished in the third place. The highest position the country has ever achieved in the World Cup.The forward player Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas and the attacking midfielders Matias Fernandez and Arturo Vidal are the leading men in a squad packed with talent and boasting viable alternatives in each position.

Australia

In last World Cup in the third round qualification drawn into a group, composed of Qatar,Iraq, and China. Australia finished first. Australia eventually saw progression through the 2010 FIFA World Cup after comfortably winning in the fourth round of qualification. Australia currently hold the world record for the largest win and the most goals scored by a player in an international matches.

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14 JUN 2014 - 13:00 Local time
GROUP C
EstadioMineirao
Belo Horizonte

Columbia

Since the mid-1980s the Columbian national team has been a stronghold fighting the negative stereotypes towards the country's reputation. This has also made the sports very popular and made the national team a sign of nationalism, pride and passion for many Columbians worldwide. Columbia has played with a new talented golden generation since 2011 Copa America bringing its current rank within the top 10 for the first time since 2002. After a 16-year long wait, Columbia finally returned after qualifying to the FIFA World Cup 2014.

Greece

Greece is one of the most successful national teams in European football, being one of only nine national teams to have won the European championship. Greece is referred by the media and the Greeks in general simply as "Ethniki" which means National. The team is often called Galanolefki (Sky blue-white) due to its kit colours which are also the color of the Greek flag.

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14 JUN 2014 - 16:00 Local time
GROUP D
EstadioCastelao
Fortaleza

Uruguay

Uruguay has won two FIFA World Cups, including the first ever World Cup in 1930 as hosts. Beating Argentina 4-2 in the final. In the years that followed the Uruguayans appeared only infrequently in the global showpiece. After falling to qualify for USA and France they return at Korea/Japan only to go out in the group phase and then lose out to Australia in the play-off for a place at Germany 2006.

Costa Rica

The Costa Rica national football team also known as La Sele or Los Ticos. They are the most successful team in Central America having qualified to four World Cups, including reaching the last sixteen on their debut in Italy 1990. The Costa Rica national football team failing to qualify for 2010 World Cup in South Africa, began with the need to initiate a new era, based on the combined shift with young but experience talent such as Bryan Ruiz called "a truly special player" by the former coach Rodrigo Kenton.

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14 JUN 2014 - 18:00 Local time
GROUP D
Arena Amazonia
Manaus

Italy

Italy is considered to be one of the best national teams in the world. It is the second most successful national team in the history of the world cup behind Brazil. Italy football team is known as the from the traditional color of Italian national teams and athletes representing Italy. Blue was the color of the kingdom of Italy. Italy key players the captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is the only survivor from their 2006 triumph in Germany along with Andrea Pirlo.

England

England are one of only eight countries to ever win the FIFA world cup, which they did in 1966 when they hosted the finals. They defeated the West Germany 4-2 extra time in 1966 to win their first and last world cup title. They won nine of their ten matches on the way to the 2010 finals. Wayne Rooney remains England greatest talent and his seven goals in his six world cup qualifying starts underlined his importance to Roy Hodgons' side.

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14 JUN 2014 - 22:00 Local time
GROUP C
Arena Pernambuco
Recife

Cote d Ivoire

The Ivory Coast national football team also known as "Les Elephants" They have qualified for three consecutive World Cups. They qualify again for South Africa in 2010 and not get through the group stage again. Cote d Ivoirewas the only nation to name a 23-man world cup squad composed entirely of players who play their club football outside their home country.

Japan

Japan is considered one of the most successful football teams in Asia. Having qualified for the last five consecutive FIFA World Cups with second round advancements in 2002 & 2010 and having won the AFC Asian Cup a record four times in 1992, 2000, 2004& 2011. Having excelled during the last FIFA World Cup and the recent AFC CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda has quickly established his place as the team's new leader, filling the void left by Hidetoshi Nakata and ShunsukeNkamura.

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15 JUN 2014 - 13:00 Local time
GROUP E
EstadioNacional
Brasilia

Switzerland

The team’s logo ASF-SFV, represents the Swiss Football Association's initials in Switzerland’s official languages. Switzerland have contested the FIFA World Cup Finals nine times to date. Reaching the last eight on three occasions, however their most recent appearance at the quarter final stage came almost 50 years ago at 1954 finals on home soil.So far, the Swiss have earned no major trophy. The closest they have come was the quarter finals of the World Cup on three occasions and they have won silver medal in 1924 Olympic games nParis. The youth teams have been more successful as the U-17 squad became European champions in 2002 and World Champions in 2009.

Ecuador

Ecuador has qualified for three FIFA World Cups in 2002, 2006 and 2014. Their best performance came in 2006 when they advance to the round of 16 eventually eliminated by England. Ecuador players like Antonio Valencia and Christian Noboa as well as forwards Felipe Caicedo and Jefferson Montero represent and exiting new wave for Ecuadorian football.

[GlenDavis]

15 JUN 2014 - 16:00 Local time
GROUP E
Estadio Beira-Rio
Porto Alegre

France

France was one of the four European teams that participated at the inaugural world cup in 1930 and have appeared in 13 FIFA World Cups, tied for fifth best. The national team is one of eight national teams to have won at least one FIFA World Cup title. France boast solidity and strength in depth at the back with a pair of top-drawer goalkeepers in Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda and a rearguard bolstered by the european experience of Eric Abidal, Laurent Koscielny and Raphael Varane.

Honduras

The Honduras national football team also known as Los Catrachos. They are a rising team in CONCACAF an ascent that started with their third place finish in the 2001 Copa America. World Cup journey began with an automatic bye to the third round of the qualification because of their third place position in the FIFA World Ranking. The Honduras team qualified for the final round by finishing first in their third-round group. Which include Panama Canada and Cuba. Emilio Izaguirre was the find of the 2010/11 season for Celtic. He is helped by captain and goalkeeper Noel Valladares who despite a shy off the field personality.

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15 JUN 2014 - 19:00 Local time
GROUP F
Maracanã - Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho
Rio De Janeiro

Argentina

Argentina is one of the most successful national football teams in the world having won 2 World Cups in 1978 and 1986. Argentina have contested four FIFA World Cup Finals in all.The first of them at the inaugural tournament. Uruguay 1930 when they went down 4-2 to the host nation. Respective contributions from Mario Kempes and Diego Maradona inspired them to the biggest prize in football on home soil in 1978 and again at Mexico 1986, while their last showpiece appearance came at Italy 1990, when they were denied by an Andreas Brehme penalty. Since then they have been unable to progress beyond the quarter-finals.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

The Bosnia-Herzegovina national football team have never appeared in the finals of the FIFA World Cup as an independent nation, however the national team have qualified for 2014 FIFA World Cup. With Bosnia-Herzegovina players capable of changing games in an instant,ranging from the likes of EdinDzeko and VedadIbisevic up front, through midfielders MiralemPjanic and ZvjezdanMisimovic, all the way back to defensive rock Emir Spahic and goalkeeper AsmirBegovic.

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16 JUN 2014 - 13:00 Local time
GROUP G
Arena Fonte Nova
Salvador

Germany

Germany is one of the most successful national teams in international competitions, having won a total of three world cups (1954, 1974, 1990) and three European championships. They also been runners-up three times in the European championships, four times in the world cup and have won a further four third places. The next generation appears immensely promising too. Former real Madrid starlet MesutOzil who now laces his boots at Arsenal was just 21 when he thrilled the crowds at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and is a gifted creative player with passing ability to match the best in the world.

Portugal

In 2014 FIFA WorldCup Qualifying, Portugal finished second in the group behind the Russia and had to enter a playoff. In a home-and-away playoff series against Sweden. Portugal won both matches with 4-2 aggregate score to qualify for the 2014 world cup. The star player Cristiano Ronaldo is still very much Portugal’s go-to man though the peerless real Madrid star is supported by a very able cast. The central defensive pairing of Pepe and Bruno Alves is the cornerstone of a very solid rearguard that also features flying full backs Joao Pereira and Fabio Coentrao.

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16 JUN 2014 - 13:00 Local time
GROUP F
Arena da Baixada
Curitiba

Nigeria

Football is the most popular sports in Nigeria. TheNigeria national football team also known as super eaglesor green eagles according to FIFA world rankings, Nigeria at 39th are currently the 5th best team in the Confederation of African Football. The highest ranking achieved by an African football team. Theyare the current Africa Cup of Nations Champions. They have won the Africa Cup of Nations a total of 3 times and have reached the FIFA world cup round of 16 twice. They have qualified for five of the last six World Cups, with their first appearance coming in the United States in 1994.

Iran

Iran national football team also known as Team Melli rank 1st in Asia and 37th in the world according to the May 2014 FIFA world rankings. Despite their presence within Asia, Iran have so far been unable to progress beyond the group phase at the FIFA world cup. They debut campaign with a point courtesy of a 1-1 draw against Scotland. But their 1st win came in the second appearance when a golden generation, boasting the likes of Ali Daei, Karim Bagheri and Mehdi Mahdavikia, came up with a memorable 2-1 defeat of USA, their last participation at Germany 2006 saw them head home with a point after a 1-1 draw against debutants Angola.

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16 JUN 2014 - 19:00 Local time
GROUP G
Estadio das Dunas
Natal

Ghana

The Ghana national team also known as the Black Stars. Black star is administered by the Ghana football association (GFA) the governing body for football in Ghana and the oldest football association in Africa founded in 1920 prior to 1957. The team played as the Gold Coast. Although the team did not qualify for the senior FIFA world cup until 2006, they had qualified for five straight Olympic Games football tournaments when the tournament was still a full senior national team competition. There are few better midfields in the world than Ghana's as the black star can call on veterans Michael Essien and SulleyMuntari as well as players hitting their prime like Andre Ayew, KwadwoAsamoah and Kevin-Prince Boateng.

USA

The United States regularly competes at the FIFA world cup and the CONCACAF Gold cup. The US has also played in the FIFA Confederations Cup, Copa America by invitation as well as several minor tournaments. The best result for the United States in a world cup came in 1930 when they reached the semi-finals. The best results in the modern era include the 2002 world cup, when the US reached the quarter finals and the 2010 world cup when the US won its group.

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17 JUN 2014 - 13:00 Local time
GROUP H
EstadioMineirao
Belo Horizonte

Belguim

The Belgium national football team also known as Red Devils. The best achievements from Belgium in international tournaments so far were the qualification for six successive FIFA World Cups between 1982 and 2002 including a fourth place finish in 1986, the title of European runner-up in 1980 and the 1920 Olympic football gold medal on home ground. The side coached by Georges Leekens in his first spell at the helm came third in their group and made an early exit. While in 2002 Robert Waseige's men fell in the last 16 to eventual winners Brazil.

Algeria

The team was established in 1963 as the successor of the FLN Football team. Algeria has qualified for four World Cups in 1982, 1986, 2010 and 2014. Algeria has also won the African Cup of nation once in 1990, when they hosted the tournament. The traditional rivals of Algeria have been Morocco, Tonisia and Egypt. However, more recently Egypt has become the main rival after a number of incidents involving the two teams, most recently during the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification in which Algeria defeated Egypt 1-0 in a tense tiebreaker in Omdurman.

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17 JUN 2014 - 18:00 Local time
GROUP H
Arena Pantanal
Cuiaba

Russia

Russia reached the quarter finals at Sweden 1958, Chile 1962 and Mexico 1970. In the former two tournaments, they were eliminated by the host while Uruguay were accountable for their exit after extra time in Mexico City. The Eastern Europeans went one better at England 1966 when inspired by goalkeeper Lev Yashin and forward Igor Chislenko.

Korea Republic

The Korean Republic is commonly called The Reds by the both fans and the media due to the color of their primary kit.The South Korea is one of the most successful Asian team and has participated in eight consecutive and nine overall FIFA World Cup tournaments. The most for any Asian team. Despite going through five World Cup tournaments without winning a match. South Korea became the first and currently only Asian team to reach the semi-final stages when they co-hosted the 2002 tournaments with japan.

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