Group D - Uruguay- Costa Rica- England - Italy
Uruguay
The Manager: Óscar Tabárez
- Star Player: Luis Suárez
- Position: Striker
- Age: 27
- Team: Liverpool FC
- Why? Arguably the best striker in world football, coming off the best season of his career to date. He possesses both superb technical ability and a tenacious will to win and will surely to be looking to expand upon his ever-growing reputation in Brazil. Group opponents England, containing five of his Liverpool team-mates, will certainly be aware of his immense talent and a World Cup on his home continent could be just the platform to cement his status as a truly great forward. A partnership with Cavani could be just the potion to conjure up another excellent tournament.
- One to Watch: Fernando Muslera
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Age: 27
- Team: Galatasaray
- Why? Muslera has been a mainstay in between the sticks for Galatasaray since his big money move from Lazio. With a fairly weak central defence in front of him, he will need to be on his best form if Uruguay are going to advance out of his group.
- Wildcard: Diego Lugano
- Position: Central Defender
- Age: 33
- Team: Free Agent
- Why? Uruguay’s captain, struggled with West Brom in the Premier League this season which has saw him be released by the midlands club. With sloth-like pace, I'm not sure if he can be relied on to inspire others around him when facing the likes of Sturridge or Balotelli one-on-one.
Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco da Gama), Rodrigo Munoz (Libertad).
Defenders: Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica), Diego Lugano (West Bromwich Albion), Diego Godin, Jose Maria Gimenez (both Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Liverpool), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Jorge Fucile (Porto).
Midfielders: Alvaro Gonzalez (Lazio), Alvaro Pereira (Sao Paulo), Walter Gargano (Parma), Egidio Arevalo Rios (Morelia), Diego Perez (Bologna), Cristian Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Gaston Ramirez (Southampton), Nicolas Lodeiro (Botafogo).
Forwards: Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Edinson Cavani (Paris St-Germain), Abel Hernandez (Palermo), Diego Forlan (Cerezo Osaka), Christian Stuani (Espanyol).
Fun Fact: Diego Lugano has a self made motivational video on Youtube to the scene with Al Pacino from Any Given Sunday
Costa Rica
The Manager: Jorge Luis Pinto
- Star Player: Keylor Navas
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Age: 27
- Team: Levante
- Why? Navas came out of nowhere to become one of the stand out goalkeepers in La Liga this season. After an immense season with Levante, Navas will most certainly need to bring that form to the World Cup to shut the attack-heavy teams out in Group D. Surely an impossible task, however he thrives on shot stopping.
- One to Watch: Joel Campbell
- Position: Striker
- Age: 21
- Team: Arsenal
- Why? Campbell is capable of creating goals out of next to nothing, the young Arsenal forward is expected to carry his country in Brazil. After gaining valuable experience this season with Olympiacos in the Champions League, he will be more ready than ever to tackle the World’s best defences. Arsenal could have a cheeky striker in the making for next season.
- Wildcard: Bryan Ruiz
- Position: Winger/ Attacking Midfielder
- Age: 28
- Team: PSV
- Why? Bryan Ruiz has technical quality, however the only consistent thing about him is his inconsistency. The World Cup could go one of two ways for the PSV wide man, he could play out of his skin and help Costa Rica to an upset, or his head will drop and he will be invisible. He's an enigma, so we'll just have to wait and see what kind of character he possesses in Brazil.
Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas (Levante), Patrick Pemberton (Alajuelense) Daniel Cambronero (Herediano).
Defenders: Johnny Acosta (Alajuelense), Giancarlo Gonzalez (Columbus Crew), Michael Umana (Saprissa), Oscar Duarte (Bruges), Waylon Francis (Columbus Crew), Heiner Mora (Saprissa), Junior Diaz (Mainz 05), Christian Gamboa (Rosenborg), Roy Miller (New York Red Bulls).
Midfielders: Celso Borges (AIK), Christian Bolanos (Copenhagen), Esteban Granados (Herediano), Michael Barrantes (Aalesund), Yeltsin Tejeda (Saprissa), Diego Calvo (Valerenga), Jose Miguel Cubero (Herediano).
Forwards: Bryan Ruiz (PSV Eindhoven, on loan from Fulham), Joel Campbell (Olympiakos, on loan from Arsenal), Randall Brenes (Cartagines), Marco Urena (FC Kuban Krasnodar).
Fun Fact: Joel Campbell Simulator 2014
England
The Manager: Roy Hodgson
- Star Player: Wayne Rooney
- Position: Forward
- Age: 28
- Team: Manchester United
- Why? There is no doubt that on his day Rooney has the ability to single handedly win matches. However, it is his mental strength that will determine whether or not he can England's key man and goalscorer. The English media don't make it easy for him and whether or not he has the strength to put the doubts aside and perform effectively and consistantly is still the big question.
- One to Watch: Raheem Sterling
- Position: Winger
- Age: 19
- Team: Liverpool
- Why? A doubt to even make the plane to Brazil at the start of the season, it now looks likely the precocious teenage talent will be named in Roy Hodgson's starting XI when the tournament begins. With pace, skill, technique and a keen eye for a pass, Sterling's young shoulders may well carry the weight of a nation's hopes as England look to him to provide a creative spark that has been sorely lacking in recent tournaments. Gerrard and Sturridge will be key to Sterling's directness which has been sorely lacking from previous England team's at a major tournament.
- Wildcard: Ross Barkley
- Position: Central Attacking Midfielder
- Age: 20
- Team: Everton
- Why? Barkley showed signs of brilliance in his first full season with Everton, warranting his inclusion to this England team. He'll undoubtedly be used off of the bench, with his explosive running from deep and range of passing being utilised to cause problems late on in the group games. If England have a shocker in their first match against Italy, don't be surprised to see Barkley start the second next one.
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City).
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United).
Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson (both Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).
Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United).
Italy
The Manager: Cesare Prandelli- Star Player: Andrea Pirlo
- Position: Central Midfielder
- Age: 35
- Team: Juventus
- Why? Still the star man for his country in his later years, Pirlo isn't showing any signs of slowing down. The maestro of a world-class midfield with Marchisio and De Rossi, he'll be expected to control the Azzuri's tempo with his metronomic passing game. This will especially be key with the heat and stifling humidity of the Brazilian climate.
- One to Watch: Lorenzo Insigne
- Position: Winger/Attacking Midfielder
- Age: 22
- Team: Napoli
- Why? A player who has it all. Likes to play the trequartista role with defence splitting passes, inch perfect crosses and an eye for goal from distance. His only downside is his composure in front of goal. It will be difficult for Insigne to break into the starting lineup but when he does get an opportunity, expect him to bring the game to life.
- Wildcard: Mario Balotelli
- Position: Striker
- Age: 23
- Team: AC Milan
- Why? Labeled as ‘mental’ by most of Italy, Balotelli hasn't been in great form for a poor AC Milan side this season. Prandelli will feel he is just too good on his day to leave out though, which was proved the case in EURO 2012. When Mario puts his mind to it, he is a world-class clinical striker who can terrorise any defence. His lines of running and movement in synchronisation with Pirlo's passing are paramount to Italy's success.
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris St-Germain), Mattia Perin (Genoa).
Defenders: Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorigo Chiellini (all Juventus), Gabriel Paletta (Parma), Ignazio Abate, Mattia De Sciglio (both AC Milan), Matteo Darmian (Torino).
Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio (both Juventus), Thiago Motta, Marco Verratti (both Paris St-Germain), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Marco Parolo (Parma), Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina).
Forwards: Mario Balotelli (AC Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli).
Fun Fact: Italy's World Cup kit contain “micro-massage” taping to “provide players with a faster, more effective energy supply to the active muscles."
Just under a week to go!
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