The World Cup - A Guide to Group A

Seems like only a few months ago that we were enduring the constant 'voovoolzing' of the vuvuzelas in front of the TV. But It's now another World Cup year and Brazil are hosting a sun kissed-samba-soccer-show.

Putting aside the clearly flawed infrastructure to ready the facilities for Thursday 12th June, the violent protests and crime, It's the perfect country for a World Cup. The weather, carnival atmosphere and passion are the perfect formula to host an amazing tournament of football. 

Here is my guide to the groups.

Group A - Brazil - Croatia - Mexico - Cameroon

Brazil

The manager: Luiz Felipe Scolari

• Star Player: Neymar
• Position: Second Striker or Forward
• Age: 22
• Team: Barcelona
• Why? He is the one player at this World cup with the (pundit's classic cliché) weight of a nation's expectation on his narrow shoulders. He has had a solid start to his Barcelona career with the odd moment of magic thrown in with his decent goals ratio however he is transformed when in the 'Verde-Amarela' of Brazil. Playing in Europe has toughened him up a little and with his exceptional technical ability on the ball and range of finishing, he could be just the talisman to bring home a sixth World Cup.

• One to Watch: Oscar
• Position: Central Attacking Midfielder
  
• Age: 22
• Team: Chelsea
• Why? Diminutive in physique but large in talent. He may not have had a great second half of the season for Chelsea however on his day Oscar is a match winner. He'll most likely play in front of two combative holding midielder's with his duty to get on the ball, thread passes to Neymar and Hulk. Being the central creative force for Brazil is a position with a huge expectation for goal scoring and assists. Zico in 1982, Kaka 2006, Oscar 2014..?

• Wildcard: Fred
• Position: Striker, Centre Forward
  
• Age: 30
• Team: Fluminense
• Why? The 2013 Confederations Cup top goalscorer with 5 goals. Plays domestically in Brazil who adds a different dimension to the centre forward role. Seemed like a bit of a spent force while at Lyon in 2009 and after singing a 5 year contract with Fluminense he has banged in the goals warranting his place in the Brazil team. Do not underestimate Fred. He may seem like a bit of a donkey for long periods in matches but he is a deceptively astute finisher and potent poacher.

• Fun Fact: Former World Player Of The Year winner's Kaka & Ronaldinho didn't even make the provisional squad for this World Cup.

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Toronto FC, on loan from QPR), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Atletico Mineiro).

Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (AS Roma), Maxwell, Thiago Silva (both Paris St-Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Henrique (Napoli).

Midfielders: Paulinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Ramires , Willian, Oscar (all Chelsea), Hernanes (Inter Milan), Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Fernandinho (Manchester City).

Forwards: Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Neymar (Barcelona), Fred (Fluminense), Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg).

Standby: Diego Cavalieri (Fluminese) Miranda, Filipe Luis (both Atletico Madrid), Rafinha (Bayern Munich), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), Lucas Moura (Paris St-Germain), Alan Kardec (Sao Paulo).

*(Some of the squads are provisional that will need to be cut to 23 before the start of the competition)

Croatia

The manager: Niko Kovač

• Star Player: Luka Modrić
• Position: Central Midfielder
• Age: 28
• Team: Real Madrid
• Why? Modrič has started to show the class week in week out for Madrid in Europe. If Croatia want to progress he will be paramount to their cause. Comfortable and classy on the ball, his passing and intelligence will definitely cause problems for Croatia's group opponents.

• One to Watch: Ivan Rakitić
• Position: Central Midfielder
• Age: 26
• Team: Sevilla
• Why? Compliments Luka Modrić very well, 12 goals and 10 assists this season for Sevilla. Similar to Modrić in style but has a better turn of pace and a better eye for goal. Having just helped Sevilla win the Europa League, confidence will be sky high. 

• Wildcard: Mateo Kovačić
• Position: Central Midfielder
  
• Age: 19
• Team: Inter Milan
• Why? Often compared to Boban and possessing a wonderkid (the last few season's of Football Manager) label is a lot to live up to for any promising footballer. But this magician has been receiving the plaudits since his move to Inter Milan. He has the ability to beat a man and thread the impossible pass in behind the striker. The trio of Modrić, Rakitić and Kovačić is a mouth watering prospect for any football team.

• Fun Fact: Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic will miss the Croatia’s opening game vs Brazil because of suspension.

Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Rostov), Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Oliver Zelenika (Dinamo Zagreb).

Defenders: Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dejan Lovren (Southampton), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Gordon Schildenfeld (Panathinaikos), Danijel Pranjic (Panathinaikos), Ivan Strinic (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kiev), Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa), Igor Bubnjic (Udinese).

Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Niko Kranjcar (Queens Park Rangers), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Ivan Perisic (Wolfsburg), Mateo Kovacic (Inter Milan), Milan Badelj (Hamburg), Ivo Ilicevic (Hamburg), Marcelo Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Mocinic (Rijeka), Mario Pasalic (Hajduk Split), Sammir (Getafe).

Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Hull City), Ante Rebic (Fiorentina), Duje Cop (Dinamo Zagreb).

Mexico

The manager: Miguel Herrera

• Star Player: Javier Hernández
• Position: Forward
• Age: 25
• Team: Manchester United
• Why? Chicharito (Little Pea) is the predator that Mexico need if they are to progress out of Group A. A bit part player at Man Utd the last few seasons, however his goalscoring record at international level is pretty good. Mexico will be hoping for his intelligent movement in and around the box to get the goal needed for success.  

• One to Watch: Carlos Peña
  
• Position: Midfielder
• Age: 24
• Team: León
• Why? Known as Gullit, due to being a look-a-like of the ex-Netherlands International Ruud Gullit. He organises the midfield whilst being solid in defence and attack. A relative unknown as he plays his football in Mexico, Peña has the qualities to stand out and a move to a decent European team on the back of a some sexy football is almost a certainty. 

• Wildcard: Giovani dos Santos
• Position: Forward
• Age: 24
• Team: Villarreal
• Why? The Yellow Submarine player will have extra motivation playing in the birth place of his footballing father (Zizinho). After a fine season in La Liga, Gio's trickery and speed on up top and out wide will hopefully live up to expectation. On his day he is a fantastic little player, confidence is key for him though. Never quite did it for Spurs, for Mexico he's a different animal.

• Fun Fact: Carlos Vela is in self exile after admitting that he is not mentally strong enough to compete for Mexico yet.

Goalkeepers: Jose de Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca).

Defenders: Miguel Layun (America), Carlos Salcido (Tigres), Paul Aguilar (America), Andres Guardado (Bayer Leverkusen), Hector Moreno (Espanyol), Francisco Javier Rodriguez (America), Diego Reyes (Porto), Rafael Marquez (Leon).

Midfielders: Juan Carlos Medina (America), Jose Juan Vazquez (Leon), Luis Montes (Leon), Hector Herrera (Porto), Isaac Brizuela (Toluca), Marco Fabian (Cruz Azul), Carlos Pena (Leon).

Forwards: Oribe Peralta (Santos), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Giovani dos Santos (Villarreal), Raul Jimenez (America), Alan Pulido (Tigres).

Cameroon

The manager: Volker Finke

• Star Player: Samuel Eto’o
• Position: ST
• Age: 33
• Team: Chelsea FC
• Why? Cameroon’s captain in Brazil, Eto’o’ has many critics in his homeland for perhaps not performing as well for country as he does for his club. Still though, Eto’o’ is the all-time leading scorer for Cameroon. He can still be one of the deadliest strikers in front of goal, however his ageing legs might have caught up with him to make any real significant impact this time round.

• One to Watch: Vincent Aboubakar
  
• Position: Forward
• Age: 22
• Team: FC Lorient
• Why? He is rapid. Second top scorer in Ligue 1 behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic is impressive. This could be his real chance to prove that he is next big African talent.

• Wildcard: Joël Matip
• Position: Centre-Back, Defensive Midfield
• Age: 22
• Team: Schalke 04
• Why? He plays centre back for Schalke 04 but plays as a defensive midfielder for Cameroon. Not ideal for the world's toughest tournament although his versatility could actually help prevent being picked apart by Brazil and Croatia. He is a bit of a beast too, so watch out for him at set-pieces. 

• Fun Fact: Alexander Song has 17 sisters and 10 brothers.

Goalkeepers: Charles Itandje (Konyaspor), Guy Roland Ndy Assembe (Guingamp), Sammy Ndjock (Fethiyespor), Feudjou Loic (Coton Sport).

Defenders: Allan Nyom (Granada), Nounkeu Dany (Besiktas), Cedric Djeugoue (Coton Sport), Aurelien Chedjou (Galatasaray), Nicolas Nkoulou (Marseille), Jean-Armel Kana-Biyick (Rennes), Henri Bedimo (Lyon), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (QPR), Gaetang Bong (Olympiakos).

Midfielders: Enoh Eyong (Antalyaspor), Jean Makoun (Rennes), Joel Matip (Schalke 04), Stephane Mbia (Sevilla, on loan from QPR), Landry Nguemo (Bordeaux), Alexandre Song (Barcelona), Cedric Loe (Osasuna), Edgar Salli (Lens).

Forwards: Samuel Eto'o (Chelsea), Eric-Maxime Choupo-Moting (Mainz 05), Benjamin Moukandjo (Nancy), Vincent Aboubakar (Lorient), Pierre Achille Webo (Fenerbahce), Mohamadou Idrissou (Kaiserslautern), Fabrice Olinga (Zulte Waregem).

Group B will be with you shortly...