Now we are down to the last 8 in the 2014 FIFA World Cup - the business end where the best teams are looking to create history. And as it's been a marvellous World Cup so far, I would presume that we will see some classic quarter-final drama, exciting and memorable matches and moments as we watch the World Cup history being made. The last 8 has a nice variety. We have 3 from South America and 1 team from Central America and 4 european sides. We have the usual suspects in Brazil and Germany and n
After 136 goals in 48 matches, the group stage was arguably the greatest ever. Some big european teams have fallen, whilst 8 sides from the Americas and 2 from Africa have progressed. Other than Greece, the european teams have generally benefited from developing young footballers. The last includes a nice mix of teams from South America, Europe, Central and North America and Africa. Algeria and Greece have reached the last 16 for the first time, and there are sine other decent but other un fanci
[color=rgb(40,40,40)][font='Open Sans']23rd June:[/font][/color]
[color=rgb(40,40,40)][font='Open Sans']The first day of the final round of group matches. The first set of matches was the completion of Group B. Spain and Australia were already out and Chile and Netherlands were already through to the last 16. The two games were deciders for who finished top and who finished bottom.[/font][/color]
Netherlands vs Chile was an interesting game. Chile were good going forward and were causing s
The final group is also an interesting one where again nothing is guaranteed but there are high expectations for Belgium who have a highly talented young squad with some top players but they haven't been at a World Cup since 2002 so it will be interesting to see whether the hype comes to fruition. At the moment, I suspect they should finish top and they'll be one of the teams no one will want to meet in knock-out stage. It's difficult to separate the other teams - all of whom could cause Belgium
This is another of the eye catching groups where all four teams reached the last 16 in 2010. They are all decent teams with one of the strongest European teams Germany, presumably competing with a solid Portugal who have the current best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the USA and Ghana are two good international sides and in any other group, they would stand a decent chance of going through. I predict Germany to win the group, but a bad result in the first game would put them u
On paper this group should be a walk for one of the favourites Argentina who possess a lot of attacking threat with one of the greatest players to have played the game - Lionel Messi, who hasn't scored at a world cup since 2006! They are up against Bosnia and Herzegovina who have qualified for their first major finals. Not a lot of people know too much about them, but they are a very difficult team to beat and are dangerous up front and scored a lot of goals in qualifying, so I fancy them to be
Group E will be interesting but is expected to be fairly straightforward for an improving and young French side who could be a dark horses for the World Cup and will want to make up for the shambolic campaign four years ago. But another good European team with young talent who could surprise people are Switzerland who are expected to finish second and could even finish top if France are complacent. To an extent there is a geographical advantage for Ecuador but this is a team who were very poor a
Group D is another of the very close and competitive groups in the world cup. Uruguay, Italy and England are more then decent international sides but not absolutely top quality. They all have their key players and styles which can cause problems to and hurt other teams but they also have their inconsistencies and weak points that the very best teams can exploit. Whoever goes through will give any team cause for concern. Fine margins could separate joyous success from total failure - but is anyon
Group C is an incredibly open group and the toughest one to call as they all four teams are at least a decent international outfit yet there is not one outstanding team. Every team has their strengths and weaknesses and their own style and approach so it will be intriguing to see how the pragmatic Greeks, athletic Japanese, physical Ivorians and potential dark horses Colombia fare when they all meet each other. Whoever progresses probably won't be one of the favorites to go all the way but all t
13th June: The first full day of the 20th FIFA World Cup finals is complete and what a day it has been as the tournament came alive. Starting with last night, Brazil came through controversially and unconvincingly against a well-organised, technically skillful but ultimately unlucky Croatia. Unlike the past two World Cup opening games which saw wonder goals, the first goal was an own goal by Brazil's Marcello. A lot has been said about the expectations on poster-boy Neymar who scored two goals.
Group B is one of the standout groups in this year's World Cup. It has the reigning world and european champions - and the strongest side in international football - Spain who will be looking to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend their title. They are against the Netherlands, Spain's opponents in the 2010 World Cup final, who have a poor team by their standards and could disappoint in the group stage. Then we have Chile, one of the dark horses, who are a talented t
This evening, the 20[sup]th[/sup] FIFA World Cup will get underway in Sao Paulo with host nation and the tournament favourites Brazil taking on Croatia. Four years on from a well deserved victory for the great Spanish side who defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in a stop/start final at Soccer City in South Africa, hopefully Brazil – a nation who has embraced this sport like no other – during the next month will display and dazzling festival of football on the football field and hopefully off the f
Steven Naismith: (8) [vs Denmark 11, vs Czech Republic 11, vs Lithuania 11, vs Serbia 12, Macedonia 12, vs Northern Ireland 15, Gibraltar 15*, vs Poland 15]
James Morrison: (8) [vs NI 08, vs Denmark 11, vs Czech Republic 11, vs Lithuania 11, vs Serbia 12, vs Macedonia 12, vs Northern Ireland 15, vs Gibraltar 15]
Scott Brown: (8) [vs Croatia 08, vs NI 08, vs Denmark 11, vs Czech Republic 11, vs Belgium 13, Gibraltar 15, Poland 15, Denmark 16]
Alan Hutton (7): [vs Croatia 08, vs Czech Re
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This Wednesday the mome of football, Wembley Stadium, will host the first meeting between the English and Scottish national football teams since a Euro 2000 paly-off between the two countries at the Old Wembley on the 17th November 1999 when Scotland won 1-0 but went out 2-1 in the tie thanks to two Paul Scholes goals in Glasgow. England and Scotland represent the two oldest national sides in World football with Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow being the home of the first international football matc
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