2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

[Ben Herbert]

Still 17 days to go...Next Up Côte d'Ivoire/Ivory Coast

Côte d'Ivoire squad:
Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry, Sayouba Mande, Sylvain Gbohouo, Ali Badra Sangare.

Defenders: Kolo Toure, Arthur Boka, Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, Serge Aurier, Ousmane Viera Diarrassouba, Didier Zokora, Constant Djakpa, Brice Dja Djedje, Benjamin Angoua Brou, Bamba Souleymane.

Midfielders: Ismael Diomande, Max Gradel, Yaya Toure, Cheick Tiote, Geoffroy Serey Die, Didier Ya Konan.

Forwards: Didier Drogba, Gervinho, Salomon Kalou, Wilfried Bony, Giovanni Sio, Mathis Bolly, Seydou Doumbia, Lacina Traore.

Coach - Sabri Lamouchi

The key players
Ivory Coast boast 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.

Best Finish - Group Stage (2006,2010)
They kick off with Japan first.

 

[mystaaRS]

I see you want to finish the team guides before the first match

 

[Ben Herbert]

I see you want to finish the team guides before the first match

That is the plan, Thats why Im trying to catch up today.

 

[Ben Herbert]

Yes 17 days to go...Up next Japan

Japan squad
Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liege/BEL), Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Reds), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)

Defenders: Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka), Masahiko Inoha (Jubilo Iwata), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan/ITA), Masato Morishige (FC Tokyo), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke/GER), Maya Yoshida (Southampton/ENG), Hiroki Sakai (Hannover 96/GER), Gotoku Sakai (Stuttgart/GER)

Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Makoto Hasebe (Nuremberg/GER), Toshihiro Aoyama (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka), Keisuke Honda (AC Milan/ITA), Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United/ENG)

Forwards: Yoshito Okubo (Kawasaki Frontale), Shinji Okazaki (Mainz/GER), Hiroshi Kiyotake (Nurnberg/GER), Yoichiro Kakitani (Cerezo Osaka), Manabu Saito (Yokohama F-Marinos), Yuya Osako (1860 Munich/GER)

Coach: Alberto Zaccheroni
The key players
Having excelled during the last FIFA World Cup and the recent AFC Asian Cup, CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda has quickly established his place as the team's new leader, filling the void left by Hidetoshi Nakata and Shunsuke Nakamura.
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 central field alongside Honda is set-piece specialist Yasuhito Endo while Schalke 04 defender Atsuto Uchida is the key man at the rearguard.

Best Finish - Round of 16(2002,2010)
Group C Done

 

[Ben Herbert]

17 days to go!...Next Up Uruguay

Uruguay Sqaud
Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martín Silva (Vasco Da Gama), Rodrigo Muñoz (Libertad); Diego Lugano (West Bromwich), Diego Godin, José María Giménez (both Atlético Madrid), Martin Cáceres (Juventus), Maximiliano Pereira (Benfical), Jorge Fucile (Porto), Sebastián Coates (Liverpool); Egidio Arevalo-Rios (Morelia), Walter Gargano (Parma), Diego Pérez (Bologna), Sebastián Eguren (Palmeiras), Álvaro González (Lazio), Alejandro Silva (Lanus), Álvaro Pereira (São Paulo), Cristian Rodríguez (Atlético Madrid), Gastón Ramírez (Southampton), Nicolás Lodeiro (Botafogo); Edinson Cavani (PSG), Luis Suárez (Liverpool), Diego Forlán (Cerezo Osaka), Abel Hernández (Palermo), Cristian Stuani (Espanyol).

Coach - Oscar Washington Tabarez
The key players
Strikers Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani have become the standard bearers for Uruguayan football and the national team over the last couple of 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. Even so, after an often-troubled qualifying campaign El Maestro Tabarez will no doubt be looking to shuffle his pack and build up some momentum ahead of Brazil 2014.

World cup Winners(1930,50)
They Play Costa Rica first

 

[Ben Herbert]

Guess what? 17 days to go...Up Next Costa Rica

Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas (Levante), Patrick Pemberton (Alajuelense) Daniel Cambronero (Herediano), Esteban Alvarado (AZ Alkmaar).

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 (Red Bulls), Kendall Waston (Saprissa).

Midfielders: Celso Borges (AIK), Christian Bolanos (Copenhagen), Esteban Granados (Herediano), Michael Barrantes (AAlesund), Yeltsin Tejeda (Saprissa), Diego Calvo (Valerenga), Jose Miguel Cubero (Herediano) Carlos Hernandez (Wellington Phoenix), Ariel Rodriguez (Alajuelense), Hansell Arauz (Saprissa).

Forwards: Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake), Bryan Ruiz (PSV Eindhoven), Joel Campbell (Olympiacos), Randall Brenes (Cartagines), Marco Urena (FC Kuban Krasnodar), Jairo Arrieta (Columbus Crew).

Coach - Jorge Luis Pinto

Key players
Costa Rica’s fortunes lie at the skillful 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 tried-and-trusted performers like Alvaro Saborio, Cristian Bolanos and outstanding goalkeeper Keilor Navas.The dribbling skills and all-around attacking play of the young Joel Campbell have made him another of Los Ticos’ most valuable assets.

Best Finish - Round of 16(1990)
Up first Uruguay

 

[mystaaRS]

Couldn't you upload the FIFA World Cup YouTube profile for each country, instead of random qualification matches?

 

[Ben Herbert]

Couldn't you upload the FIFA World Cup YouTube profile for each country, instead of random qualification matches?

No because FIFA ban there videos begin used on other site & forums.
Id rather show you how they Qualified.

 

[mystaaRS]

No because FIFA ban there videos begin used on other site & forums.
Id rather show you how they Qualified.

OK I just remembered that, as you changed the video for one of the teams so that it works. No problem in that case , but by putting one match, we don't see a lot of their qualifying in my opinion (this only is on a few teams's profiles anyway)

 

[Ben Herbert]

OK I just remembered that, as you changed the video for one of the teams so that it works. No problem in that case , but by putting one match, we don't see a lot of their qualifying in my opinion (this only is on a few teams's profiles anyway)

You clearly haven't watched many of the videos then, as they show all of them(expect Ivory coast).

 

[mystaaRS]

You clearly haven't watched many of the videos then, as they show all of them(expect Ivory coast).

I just said "(this only is on a few teams's profiles anyway)" didn't you see that? And I HAVE watched them, but they are not exactly 'perfect', they are just put-together qualification videos, but still, I never criticised your posts, even if it looked like that, so keep going

 

[Ben Herbert]

 

[Ben Herbert]

17 blah blah day to go...Up Next England

England Squad
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic FC), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion FC), Joe Hart (Manchester City FC).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton FC), Gary Cahill (Chelsea FC), Phil Jagielka (Everton FC), Glen Johnson (Liverpool FC), Phil Jones (Manchester United FC), Luke Shaw (Southampton FC), Chris Smalling (Manchester United FC).

Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton FC), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool FC), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool FC), Adam Lallana (Southampton FC), Frank Lampard (Chelsea FC), James Milner (Manchester City FC), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Ars*nal FC), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool FC), Jack Wilshere (Ars*nal FC).

Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Southampton FC), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United FC), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool FC), Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United FC).

Coach - Roy Hodgson

The 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 go on to 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 Roy Hodgson's attacking options for Brazil.

World Cup Winners(1966)
Italy are first

 

[Ben Herbert]

17 days to go(one more update after this and the we're up to date)
Next Up..Italy

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain)

Defenders: Ignazio Abate (Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gabriel Paletta (Parma), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter)

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Romulo (Hellas Verona), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Mattia Destro (Roma), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina)

Coach: Cesare Prandelli

The key players
Captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi 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. Up front, the transition from old to new has been even more dramatic thanks to the emergence of Stephan El Shaarawy and Giuseppe Rossi's return to the fore. Also with a vital role to play are the maverick duo of Mario Balotelli and Pablo Osvaldo.

World Cup Winners(1934,38,82,2006)
England are first
That's Group D

 

[Ben Herbert]

17 days to go...Up Next Switzerland

Switzerland Squad
Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg/GER), Roman Buerki (Grasshopper), Yann Sommer (Basel)

Defenders: Johan Djourou (Hamburg/GER), Michael Lang (Grasshopper), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus/ITA), Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg), Fabian Schaer (Basel), Philippe Senderos (Valencia/ESP), Steve von Bergen (Young Boys), Reto Ziegler (Sassuolo/ITA)

Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Valon Behrami (Napoli), Blerim Dzemaili (Napoli), Gelson Fernandes (Freiburg/GER), Goekhan Inler (Napoli, )Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich/GER), Valentin Stocker (Basel)

Forwards: Josip Drmic (Nuremberg/GER), Mario Gavranovic (Zurich), Admir Mehmedi (Freiburg), Haris Seferovic (Real Sociedad/ESP), Granit Xhaka (Borussia Moenchengladbach/GER)

Coach - Ottmar Hitzfeld

The 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.

Best Finish - Quarter Finals(1934,38,54)
They will play Ecuador first.

A Longer video for your enjoyment.

 

[Ben Herbert]

16 days to go...Next Up Ecuador

Ecuador Squad
Goalkeepers: Maximo Banguera (Barcelona, Ecuador), Adrian Bone (El Nacional), Alexander Dominguez (Liga de Quito).

Defenders: Gabriel Achilier (Emelec), Walter Ayovi (Pachuca), Oscar Bagui (Emelec), Frickson Erazo (Flamengo), Jorge Guagua (Emelec), Juan Carlos Paredes (Barcelona, Ecuador), Cristian Ramirez (Fortuna Dusseldorf).

Midfielders: Segundo Castillo (Al Hilal), Carlos Gruezo (Stuttgart), Renato Ibarra (Vitesse Arnhem), Fidel Martinez (Tijuana), Cristian Noboa (Dynamo Moscow), Pedro Quinonez (Emelec), Luis Saritama (Barcelona, Ecuador), Antonio Valencia (Manchester Utd).

Forwards: Jaime Ayovi (Tijuana), Felipe Caicedo (Al-Jazira), Jefferson Montero (Morelia), Joao Rojas (Cruz Azul), Enner Valencia (Pachuca), Armando Wila (Universidad Catolica)

Coach - Reinaldo Rueda

The 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.

Best Finish - Round of 16(2006)
They Play Switzerland First.
Not had much looking for a road to brazil for Ecuador, so here's a team profile instead.

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

I am slowly catching the world cup fever. Only a few weeks left to go, bring it on!

 

[Ben Herbert]

15 Days to go..Up Next France

France Squad
Goalkeepers: Mickaël Landreau (SC Bastia), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Steve Mandanda (Olympique de Marseille).

Defenders: Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle United FC), Lucas Digne (Paris Saint-Germain), Patrice Evra (Manchester United FC), Laurent Koscielny (Ars*nal FC), Eliaquim Mangala (FC Porto), Bacary Sagna (Ars*nal FC), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool FC), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid CF).

Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Paris Saint-Germain), Clément Grenier (Olympique Lyonnais), Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain), Rio Mavuba (LOSC Lille), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United FC), Mathieu Valbuena (Olympique de Marseille).

Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid CF), Olivier Giroud (Ars*nal FC), Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad de Fútbol), Loïc Rémy (Newcastle United FC), Franck Ribéry (FC Bayern München).

Coach: Didier Deschamps

The key players
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. Further forward, Franck Ribery can produce moments of magic, while Karim Benzema and Olivier Giroud both possess a keen eye for goal.

World Cup Winners 1998
They do play Honduras first

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

I think France can be considered one of the outsiders. If they can put their ego's aside and form a firm group again that is.

So much talent in this team.

 

[mystaaRS]

Steve Mandanda is now injured, so he won't be playing in the World Cup, so the report is slightly inaccurate, still good stuff though