FIFA World Cup 2014 - Khaleej Times

FIFA WORLD CUP 2014

Greatestshow

onearth Neymar

Sadiq Shaban

T

he biggest sporting extravaganza is here. The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be played in Brazil from June 12 to July 13, 2014. Some of the world’s top names in football from 31 countries will compete in 64 matches played in 12 cities across Brazil. For the first time ever in the history of World Cup Finals, hightech technology like goal-line will be employed.

With the entire world’s attention focused on the sporting event in Brazil, experts say that the 2014 FIFA World Cup could see record-breaking digital and social media activity. FIFA has already sold over 3.3 million tickets (the highest ever). With ticket prices for the final to be played in Estadio Maracana pegged at around $990,

Executive Editor Patrick Michael Supplements Editor Suchitra Steven Samuel

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set to welcome 65,000 spectators to the June 12 World Cup opening match, which pits hosts and five-time champion Brazil against Croatia.

football’s governing body is likely to make its coffers richer by a whopping $4 billion from the event.

Brazil is fully geared up for the mega event, which is returning to the country after six decades. In the run up to the World Cup, a reported $3.47 billion has been spent on stadium projects and related infrastructure. Sao Paulo’s main football stadium is

EDITORIAL

Sub-Editor Sadiq Shaban Reporters Farhana Chowdhury Suneeti Ahuja-Kohli

KT SpEcIAL REpORT JuNE 11, 2014

The world’s biggest sport. The world’s best party destination. It doesn't get any better than the FIFA World Cup

Players to watch out for: Neymar (Brazil) Javier HerNaNdez (mexico) marco reus (GermaNy) Wilfried zaHa (eNGlaNd) KeviN strootmaN (NetHerlaNds) KeviN de BruyNe (BelGium) lioNel messi (arGeNtiNa) cristiaNo roNaldo (PortuGal) stePHaN el-sHaaraWy (italy) cHristiaN eriKseN (deNmarK) isco (sPaiN) James rodríGuez (colomBia)

pRODUcTION

Designers Mohammad Ejaz Khan Sidharthan imaging Venugopal Prabhu

ADVERTISING

Director advertising Haroon Qureshi Senior advertising Manager (Supplements) Philip Smith

Fast facts: Fuleco is the official mascot of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Fuleco is a portmanteau of the words Futebol (Football) and Ecologia (Ecology).

• This will be the second time Brazil will host the competition. The last time was in 1950 • The number of tourists to Brazil is expected to cross six million • The prize money for winners is $35 million and $25 million for runners-up

•

Most experts and pundits say that Brazil may emerge as a hot favourite to win the tournament with Argentina and Germany being the other strong contenders. If Brazil wins this World Cup, it will be its sixth win with most number of FIFA World Cup

titles. Not surprisingly many eyes would be on Brazilian national team manager Luiz Felipe Scolari who guided his side to victory in last summer’s Confederations Cup, when the team forward Neymar impressed on the way to a 3-0 final win over defending World Cup winners Spain.

With his countless goals for Barcelona, six La Liga titles and three Champions League winners’ medals to his name, Lionel Messi will be one of the most closely watched football stars in this edition of the World Cup along with Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portugese footballer has dominated Spanish and European football for the last four seasons. Other top names like Stephan El-Shaarawy, Christian Eriksen, Isco and James Rodríguez are expected to add star power to the high-adrenaline event.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup final is estimated to be watched by a live television audience of over a billion people, making it one of the world’s most-watched television events in history. Social media is going to be another key component. FIFA’s Facebook pages have reached over 280 million users. The World Cup page currently has

more than 18 million fans, with more than seven million FIFA followers on Twitter, who are likely to keep the buzz going in the online medium. The official World Cup app for smartphones makes it easy to follow all the action from the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, along with the latest headlines, photos and videos streamed live. The fun, as they say, is on.

—sadiq@khaleejtimes.com

Goal-line technology Also called Goal Decision System, it uses electronic devices to conclude if the ball has completely crossed the goal line. It has been hailed as a technological marvel that compliments the role of the officials and helps them in decision-making.

FIFA WORLD CUP 2014

Embrace the excitement Embracetheexcitement As the biggest tournament on the planet kicks in, we bring you a profile of the teams who will be fighting for the ultimate acclaim

Argentina's forward Lionel Messi (left) vies for the ball with Slovenia's defender Miso Brecko at a friendly football match.

Photo: AFP

Algeria

3 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 25 Key players: Madjid Bougherra is a key figure at the back, and he scored the all-important winner in the second leg against Burkina Faso. Sofiane Feghouli is an exciting attacking midfielder, while Medhi Lacen holds things down in front of the defence. Islam Slimani emerged as the most prolific option in attack during

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qualifying.

Coach: Vahid Halilhodzic

Argentina

15 Appearances; 2 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 7 Key players: Lionel Messi in the undisputed leader of the Argentina national team and a multiple-trophy winner with Barcelona. Breaking all kinds of goal-records, La Pulga is now looking to achieve greatness

KT Special RepoRT JUNE 11, 2014

after failing, surprisingly, to find the back of the net at South Africa 2010. Supporting him will be an all-star cast featuring Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano and Angel Di Maria.

Coach: Alejandro Sabella

Australia

3 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 59 Key players: Tim Cahill remains the

FIFA WORLD CUP 2014

England defender Phil Jones fights for the ball with Ecuador forward Felipe Caicedo during a friendly match between England and Ecuador. Photo: AFP

team’s undoubted star and talisman with a stunning goal ratio from midfield and remarkable heading ability despite his modest stature. Long-serving skipper and central defender Lucas Neill remains a bedrock of the team and has never let his country down. A two-goal showing at South Africa 2010 has seen Brett Holman’s profile and importance in the team took a sharp upward trajectory with the midfielder displaying versatility.

Coach: Ange Postecoglou

Belgium

11 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 12 Key players: On paper, Belgium can call upon an armada of stars, all plying their trade in Europe's most prestigious championships. The depth of their talent pool is striking, with Nacer Chadli threatening to eclipse crowd favourite Eden Hazard.

Romelu Lukaku, Kevin de Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Toby Alderweireld are

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the latest stars to emerge, while the likes of Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen, Axel Witsel, Marouane Fellaini and Steven Defour have already established themselves as senior figures.

Coach: Marc Wilmots

Bosnia and Herzegovina

0 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 25 Key players: Bosnia-Herzegovina have a core of talented players capable of changing games in an instant, ranging from the likes of Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic up front, through midfielders Miralem Pjanic and Zvjezdan Misimovic, all the way back to defensive rock Emir Spahic and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

Coach: Safet Susic

Brazil

19 Appearances; 5 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 4 Key players: Striker Neymar is already be-

KT Special RepoRT JUNE 11, 2014

ing hailed as a man capable of playing a key role for the five-time world champions come Brazil 2014. Currently among the supporting cast in attack is the youngster’s former Santos team-mate Robinho, while Barcelona’s Dani Alves is a lungbursting presence on the flank. Between the sticks, veteran goalkeeper Julio Cesar exudes confidence and security to the rest of the backline.

Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari

Cameroon

6 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 50 Key players: Samuel Eto’o remains the world-class threat up front, although the charismatic figure, who still serves as captain, has gone in and out of the team. But even without the Chelsea veteran, the side is loaded with experience and high-level talent. Nicolas N’Koulou, Benoit Assou-

Continued on page 12

GROUP A

GROUP B

Brazil Croatia Mexico Cameroon

Spain Netherlands Chile Australia

June 12, 13, 17, 18, 23

June 13, 18, 23

GROUP C

GROUP D

Colombia Greece Cote d'ivoire Japan June 14, 19, 24

GROUP E

GROUP F

Switzerland Ecuador France Honduras

Uruguay Costa Rica England Italy June 14, 19, 20, 24

June 14, 15, 20, 25

GROUP G

Argentina Bosnia-Hertz Iran Nigeria June 15, 16, 21, 25

GROUP H

Germany Portugal Ghana USA June 16, 21, 22, 26

Belgium Algeria Russia Korea Rep. June 17, 22, 26

Fixtures DAY TIME* TEAMS 12 June Thursday 17:00 Brazil v. Croatia 13 June Friday 13:00 Mexico v. Cameroon 14 June Saturday 13:00 Colombia v. Greece 15 June Sunday 13:00 Switzerland v. Ecuador 16 June Monday 13:00 Germany v. Portugal 17 June Tuesday 13:00 Belgium v. Algeria 18 June Wednesday 13:00 Australia v. Netherlands 19 June Thursday 13:00 Colombia v. C么te d'Ivoire 20 June Friday 13:00 Italy v. Costa Rica 21 June Saturday 13:00 Argentina v. Iran 22 June Sunday 13:00 Belgium v. Russia 23 June Monday 13:00 Australia v. Spain 24 June Tuesday 13:00 Costa Rica v. England 25 June Wednesday 13:00 Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Iran 26 June Thursday 13:00 Portugal v. Ghana 28 June Saturday 13:00 Group A Winner v. Group B Second Place 29 June Sunday 13:00 Group B Winner v. Group A Second Place 13:00 30 June Monday Group E Winner v. Group F Second Place 1 July Tuesday 13:00 Group F Winner v. Group E Second Place 4 July Friday 13:00 Quarter-Finalist 5 v. Quarter-Finalist 6 5 July Saturday 13:00 Quarter-Finalist 7 v. Quarter-Finalist 8 8 July Tuesday 17:00 Winner Quarter-Final 1 v. Winner Quarter-Final 2 9 July Wednesday 17:00 Winner Quarter-Final 3 v. Winner Quarter-Final 4 12 July Saturday 17:00 Semi-Final 1 Loser v. Semi-Final 2 Loser 13 July Sunday 16:00 FINALS

TIME* 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 13:00 13:00 13:00 13:00 17:00 17:00 17:00 17:00 17:00 17:00

TEAMS Spain v. Netherlands Uruguay v. Costa Rica France v. Honduras Iran v. Nigeria Brazil v. Mexico Spain v. Chile Uruguay v. England Switzerland v. France Germany v. Ghana Korea Republic v. Algeria Netherlands v. Chile Italy v. Uruguay Nigeria v. Argentina USA v. Germany Group C Winner v. Group D Second Place Group D Winner v. Group C Second Place Group G Winner v. Group H Second Place Group H Winner v. Group G Second Place Quarter-Finalist 1 v. Quarter-Finalist 2 Quarter-Finalist 3 v. Quarter-Finalist 4

TIME*

TEAMS

18:00 Chile v. Australia 18:00 England v. Italy 19:00 Argentina v. Bosnia and Herzegovina 19:00 Ghana v. USA 18:00 Russia v. Korea Republic 18:00 Cameroon v. Croatia 19:00 Japan v. Greece 19:00 Honduras v. Ecuador 18:00 Nigeria v. Bosnia and Herzegovina 18:00 USA v. Portugal 17:00 Cameroon v. Brazil 16:00 Japan v. Colombia 16:00 Honduras v. Switzerland 17:00 Algeria v. Russia

TIME*

22:00

17:00 17:00 21:00 17:00

*Note: The match timings are in Brazil Local Time. The UAE is seven hours ahead.

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KT Special Report JUNE 11, 2014

TEAMS

C么te d'Ivoire v. Japan

Croatia v. Mexico Greece v. C么te d'Ivoire Ecuador v. France Korea Republic v. Belgium

FIFA WORLD CUP 2014 Continued from page 8 Ekotto and Aurelien Chedjou remain vital at the back, while the midfield is even more loaded with Alex Song, Jean Makoun and Stephane Mbia at the heart of the team.

Coach: Volker Finke

Chile

8 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 13 Key players: Forwards Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas, as well as attacking midfielders Matias Fernandez and Arturo Vidal, are the leading men in a squad packed with talent and boasting viable alternatives in each position. Nor must we forget experienced performers such as Claudio Bravo, Gary Medel and Jorge Valdivia, or exciting rising stars like Jean Beausejour and Marcelo Diaz.

Coach: Jorge Sampaoli

Colombia

4 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 5 Key players: With his sparkling form at Monaco, the prolific Falcao is now generally regarded as Colombia's main attacking threat. The 25-year-old predator came to prominence at River Plate, first in the youth team and then with the senior side, before moving to Europe in 2009 where he won two Leagues, two Cups, three Super Cups and the UEFA Europa League with Porto, and added another UEFA Europa League and European Super Cup with Atletico Ma-

drid. The Colombians can also count on the experience of defensive duo Mario Yepes and Luis Perea at the back, as well as the creativity of attacking midfielder James Rodriguez and the goalscoring instinct of Teo Gutierrez.

Coach: Jose Pekerman

Costa Rica

3 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 34 Key players: Costa Rica’s fortunes lie at the skilful feet of one Bryan Ruiz. Called “a truly special player” by former coach Rodrigo Kenton, Ruiz established himself at club side Twente in the Netherlands before moving on to Fulham in England. Now back in the Eredivisie with PSV Eindhoven, he ranks among the best playmakers in the North, Central American and Caribbean zone. Alongside Ruiz are a number of triedand-trusted performers like Alvaro Saborio, Cristian Bolanos and outstanding goalkeeper Keilor Navas.

Coach: Jorge Luis Pinto

Côte d’Ivoire

2 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 21 Key players: Côte d'Ivoire boasts some of the greatest individual talents in Africa.

Forwards Drogba and Salomon Kalou are a formidable front pair, while midfield duo Didier Zokora and Yaya Toure perform key ball-winning duties in the middle of the park. Explosive winger Gervinho supplies service from both flanks, with Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure providing a wealth of

experience at the back.

Coach: Sabri Lamouchi

Croatia

3 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 20 Key players: Experienced captain Darijo Srna is a born leader, and playmakers Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar can always be relied upon for moments of inspiration. Kovac presides over a wealth of international-class attacking talent including Eduardo, Ivica Olic, Nikita Jelavic and Mario Mandzukic.

Coach: Niko Kovac

Ecuador

2 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 28

Key players: Wingers Antonio Valencia and Christian Noboa, as well as forwards Felipe Caicedo and Jefferson Montero, represent an exciting new wave for Ecuadorian football, but they are also ably assisted by a handful of evergreen stalwarts with European experience, such as Edison Mendez, Walter Ayovi and Segundo Castillo.

Coach: Reinaldo Rueda

England

13 Appearances; 1 Title FIFA Ranking position: 11 Key players: Wayne Rooney remains England’s greatest talent and his seven goals in six World Cup qualifying starts underlined his importance to Roy Hodgson’s side. In midfield, Gerrard and Frank Lampard provide experience and creativity while young guns Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andros Townsend highlight the Three Lions’ attacking flair for the future.

Danny Welbeck came into his own during qualification, scoring four goals on the way to the finals, while Daniel Sturridge’s emergence as one of the English Premier League’s top forwards can only bolster attacking options for Brazil.

Coach: Roy Hodgson

France

Italy's forward Ciro Immobile (right) vies with Fluminense's defender Ailton.

Photo: AFP

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KT Special Report JUNE 11, 2014

13 Appearances; 1 Title FIFA Ranking position: 16 Key players: France boasts 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. Further forward, Franck Ribery can produce moments of magic, while Karim Benzema and Olivier Giroud both possess a keen eye for goal.

Coach: Didier Deschamps

FIFA WORLD CUP 2014 Germany

17 Appearances; 3 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 2 Key players: Keeper Manuel Neuer is the undisputed number one; many experts believe he is the real deal, and will develop into one of the best. The next generation appears immensely promising too. Former Real Madrid starlet Mesut Ozil, who now laces his boots at Arsenal, was just 21 when he thrilled crowds at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He is a gifted creative player with passing ability to match the best in the world. Thomas Muller won the adidas Golden Boot and was named Best Young Player at the 2010 finals; youngsters Marco Reus, Andre Schurrle, Toni Kroos and Mario Gotze keep getting better and better.

Coach: Joachim Low

Ghana

2 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 38 Key players: There are no better midfields in the world than Ghana’s as the Black Stars can call on veterans Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari as well as players hitting their prime like Andre Ayew, Kwadwo Asamoah and Kevin-Prince Boateng. Up front, the athletic Asamoah Gyan will be a vital focal point.

Coach: Kwesi Appiah

of Honduran football playing for Stoke City, is also a crucial piece of the puzzle.

Current coach: Luis Fernando Suarez

Iran

3 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 37 Key players: Filling the void left by Mahdavikia is captain Javad Nekounam, who has quickly established his place as the team’s talisman. Aside from providing leadership, the skipper provides creativity alongside former Osasuna team-mate Masoud Shojaei. Belgium-based striker Reza Ghoochannejhad stands out among the emerging generation, while Fulham man Ashkan Dejagah shores up the midfield alongside Andranik Teymourian.

Coach: Carlos Queiroz

Italy

17 Appearances; 4 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 9 Key players: Captain and goalkeeper Gian-

Greece

2 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 10 Key players: Captain and seasoned midfield general Giorgos Karagounis remains the dominant figure in the Greek line-up but forwards Dimitrios Salpingidis and Mitroglou will certainly provide Santos with a variety of attacking options. He can also call on the experience of the likes of Theofanis Gekas and Giorgos Samaras, which will be key when the tournament begins. Incidentally though, despite their array of attacking talent, it was Greece’s defence that stole the show in qualifying.

Coach: Fernando Santos

Honduras

2 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 30 Key players: Left-back Emilio Izaguirre was the find of the 2010/11 season for Celtic — named Scottish Premier League Player of the Year — and is a key force within Honduras’s respectable backline. He is helped by captain and goalkeeper Noel Valladares who, despite a shy off-the-field personality, played an instrumental role in Honduras’s qualification for South Africa 2010 and their deep run at the latest instalment of the Gold Cup. Wilson Palacios, one of the more recognisable faces

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Brazil's Thiago Silva heads the ball over Serbia's Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Photo: AFP

KT Special RepoRT JUNE 11, 2014

luigi Buffon is the only survivor from their 2006 triumph in Germany along with Andrea Pirlo, while a host of youngsters have broken into the team, such as central defender Andrea Ranocchia and midfielder Marco Verratti. The transition from old to new has been dramatic thanks to the emergence of Stephan El Shaarawy and Giuseppe Rossi’s return to the fore. The maverick duo of Mario Balotelli and Pablo Osvaldo also have a vital role to play.

Coach: Cesare Prandelli

Japan

4 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 47 Key players: Having excelled during the last FIFA World Cup and the recent AFC Asian Cup, CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda has established his place as the team’s new leader. Spearheading the attacking-line are Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki, who finished the continental finals as the team’s top-scorer with three goals. Driving the cen-

Players (left to right) Rafael Burgos (9-El Salvador), Xabi Alonso (14-Spain), Richard Menjivar (6-El Salvador), Cesc Fabregas (10-Spain), Darwin Ceren (7-El Salvador), and Sergio Ramos (15-Spain), all look towards the ball during a friendly match at FedEx Field on June 7 in Landover, Maryland. Spain defeated El Salvador 2-0. Photo: AFP

tral field alongside Honda is set-piece specialist Yasuhito Endo, while Atsuto Uchida is the key man at the rearguard.

Coach: Alberto Zaccheroni

Korea Republic

8 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 55 Key players: The squad’s make-up kept changing during the qualifying and under new coach Hong Myungbo a new-look team has taken shape. A series of emerging stars, notably German-based Son Heungmin and Koo Jacheol have graduated into the team’s backbone force. Bolton Wanderers’ Lee Chungyong is wearing the captain’s armband and home-based Kim Shinwook and Lee Keunho are proven goal-scorers.

Coach: Hong Myungbo

Mexico

14 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 19 Key players: After an agonising qualifying competition full of setbacks, coaching changes and tactical reshuffles, predicting how the Mexicans will fare at Brazil 2014 is no easy task. While El Tri can count on a band of high-profile overseas-based players, spearheaded by Javier Chicharito Hernandez, Andres Guardado and Giovani dos Santos, the last few months have shown that the latest wave of young players also have much

to offer; chief players include Oribe Peralta, Raul Jimenez and Carlos Pena.

Coach: Miguel Herrera

Netherlands

9 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 15 Key players: Robin van Persie’s blossoming into one of the finest strikers in the world has been a huge boon to the Dutch, with the Manchester United marksman topping the goal-scoring charts with 11 goals. He was able assisted in that department though by the likes of Jermaine Lens ­— who has progressed into a key part of the Oranje outfit — and Rafael van der Vaart. Arjen Robben continues to be a menace on the wing, while Kevin Strootman and Daryl Janmaat are now key components of the side.

Coach: Louis Van Gaal

Nigeria

4 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 44 Key players: Coach Stephen Keshi has earned a reputation as a no-nonsense boss who is not afraid to choose in-form domestic players at the expense of more well-known stars, and that policy paid handsome dividends as Nigeria won the 2013 edition of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. Keshi has kept a relatively stable spine of the team since then, with Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel leaving his

mixed past with the Eagles behind to become the lynchpin of the side. In goal, Vincent Enyeama is an important veteran, while Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa and Emmanuel Emenike are key parts of a deep attack.

Coach: Stephen Keshi

Portugal

5 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 3 Key players: As he showed in the play-off against Sweden, 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. Joao Moutinho is the heartbeat of a creative midfield unit, while Nani can also be relied upon to shine alongside Ronaldo.

Coach: Paulo Bento

Russia

9 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 18 Key players: This latest Russian side is built on solid defensive foundations. Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev did not miss a single minute of the qualifying competition and conceded just five goals during the course of it, while Sergey Ignashevich marshalled the defence with aplomb. Yet Fabio Capello’s most

KT Special Report JUNE 11, 2014

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FIFA WORLD CUP 2014 prized assets are Roman Shirokov and Victor Fayzulin, who scored six goals between them in the qualifiers.

Coach: Fabio Capello

Spain

13 Appearances; 1 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 1 Key players: Though there is no doubt that Spain's embarrassment of midfield riches,

featuring the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Xabi Alonso, has been integral to their major trophy triumphs, La Selección are strong across the board. The men in red have a phalanx of very reliable keepers to call on, headed by Iker Casillas, while Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique have consolidated their positions as the leaders of a defence. Ramos and Jordi Alba are also a threat in the opposing box. With David Villa and Fernando Torres struggling to find their touch, Pedro has distinguished himself as an attacking spearhead, ably supported by Cesc Fabregas.

Coach: Vicente del Bosque

Key players: Strikers Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani have become the standard bearers for Uruguayan football and the national team over the last few years. The Liverpool man ended the South American preliminaries as the leading scorer with 11 goals, and was the second most-used player by coach Oscar Tabarez. The deadly duo have plenty of ballast behind them, with the vastly experienced Diego Lugano directing rearguard operations with aplomb, and Fernando Muslera providing a safe pair of hands between the posts.

Coach: Oscar Washington Tabarez

Switzerland

USA

9 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 8 Key players: There is undoubted quality throughout the side, starting with keeper Diego Benaglio, a German championship winner in 2009 with VfL Wolfsburg. The combination of experienced players such as Tranquillo Barnetta, Gokhan Inler and Philippe Senderos, with highly-talented youngsters Xherdan Shaqiri, Fabian Schar, Granit Xhaka and Valentin Stocker, has borne fruit and the side are more than capable of making their mark at Brazil 2014.

Coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld

Germany's midfielder Sami Khedira.

Photo: AFP

Uruguay

11 Appearances; 2 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 6

9 Appearances; 0 Titles FIFA Ranking position: 14 Key players: Jozy Altidore of English Premier League outfit Sunderland emerged as the complete package during the final qualifying competition. Klinsmann is reconsidered to be a part of the team by his burly striker, who scored goals for fun and was the perfect partner for Clint Dempsey in attack. Landon Donovan has made a return to football after a self-imposed months-long sabbatical and linked up beautifully with the sturdy central midfield presence of Roma's Michael Bradley.

Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

— Compiled from FIFA's official website

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It offers life empowerment by logging daily activities and representing them visually in Sony’s Lifelog application. It will also collect photos clicked, music enjoyed, games played and social activities.

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Core is a 24/7 wearable module — fully waterproof (rated IP58), despite its exposed microUSB port.

Sony is already a category leader in wear-

KT Special Report JUNE 11, 2014

able technology with the recently launched SmartWatch 2, a sleek and capable companion device that works with Android smartphones. SmartWatch 2 includes NFC (near-field communication) connectivity for one-touch pairing, stunning premium design and a range of technologies including higher resolution for sharper viewing, better visibility even in sunlight, longer battery stamina and an intuitive interface.

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Its 39-point AF system supports certain acquisition and tracking of the intended subject, and the nine most frequently used focus points at the centre of the

frame utilise cross-type sensors for greater accuracy. the D610 is also equipped with a built-in flash that covers the angle of view of a wide-angle 24mm lens. the Wireless Mobile Adapter enables simple sharing of full-size images exhibiting the superior image quality of the D610 with a smart device.

As a compact system that is easy to manage and use, the D610 is a nikon FXformat model that a broad range of users, not just professional or advanced amateur photographers, will enjoy. nikon range of cameras and nikkor lenses are distributed in the UAe by Grand Stores LLC and available at all leading retailers.

Wear the spirit Max's Soccer Collection 2014 will have you cheering louder than ever

In the spirit of the game, Max launches a bright and sporty collection in an array of colours, tones and shapes portraying a world of nations coming together for the love of the game. Consisting of playing gear similar to what the soccer stars would be wearing in your favourite team colours.

Fashionable jogger shape track pants and hoodies for the young and trendy. Classic polo shirts for the man that just likes to keep it simple. Sublimation t-shirts, motifs and illustrations all to show your support for your team. not forgetting the ladies, Max offers an array of sport-inspired t-shirts, shorts and track suits to get the ladies in the soccer spirit. the young ones also have options including teen boys' soccer gear, memorabilia, accessories, soccer boots, sneakers, tees, shorts and polo shirts at unbeatable value.

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KT Special RepoRT JUNE 11, 2014