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If you can overlook the unfinished stadia, possible demonstrations over living standards and money spent on the sporting extravaganza, extensive travel and searing heat that will affect some teams more than others, the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil promises much.
As tradition dictates, the hosts kick off proceedings and the billion viewers around the globe will hope they do so in style.
The anticipated lavish opening ceremony that precedes the match (hopefully more in tune with the South African party of 2010 than the Bavarian leder-fest of 2006) will set the month-long carnival in action – provided the hosts do well.
History suggests that the opener is a turgid and cagey affair with eight of the 12 games played since 1966 having witnessed a solitary goal or less.
The last time Brazil hosted the World Cup final in 1950 they set the ball rolling in style with a 4-0 rout of Mexico and are expected to repeat that as they welcome Croatia, opening match debutants. Looking ahead they will hope to finish the tournament as winners, which they failed to do on the only other occasion they hosted.
While many consider the world to be a smaller place – metaphorically and psychologically-speaking – with travel faster and continents more accessible than ever, still no European team has ever won a World Cup in South America – or, indeed, Central or North America.
Latin American teams have twice hosted and hoisted the trophy, Uruguay in 1930 and Argentina in 1978, the last time the best nations visited the region.
Two additional factors are expected to have a massive influence on a team’s ability to succeed late into the tournament; the location of matches and the times at which these are played.
In an attempt to allow as much of Brazil to embrace the tournament as possible, FIFA has allowed the introduction of matches in the tropical heat of the North, which is immune from the winter conditions experienced further south. While distances travelled between matches will be a factor, acclimatisation and the exposure to this draining heat will be crucial as players battle to conserve energy.
Bearing this in mind, kick-off times will have a major impact. In order to maximise European viewing figures, some games have been scheduled to kick-off in the middle of the day.
Group A fares relatively well in this regard, with only Mexico and Cameroon exposed to these highest temperatures and they are two sides that will be relatively familiar with such conditions.
Brazil, as five-time winners and in-form hosts, start as favourites to win the tournament, let alone escape from Group A. Despite years of struggling as a team in spite of possessing some talented individuals, experienced coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has moulded an effective unit. Victory in the 2013 Confederations Cup, overcoming the likes of Spain and Italy, has raised expectations.
Scolari delivered Brazil its last Jules Riquelme Trophy in 2002, after which he raised Portugal to unprecedented heights in reaching the Euro Final (2004) and the World Cup semi-final (2006).
Big Phil has at his disposal a number of players in fine form for their European clubs and a range of styles that will allow him to adapt his tactics as the situation requires. Brazil won the Confederations Cup playing Fred up front in a central position, flanked by Neymar and Hulk.
While still to finalise his squad, behind this triumvirate Scolari can likely choose between the Premiership stars Fernandinho, Paulinho (Lucas or Coutinho), Willian, Ramires and Oscar.
He does face a dilemma at the back. It will be intriguing to see whether he opts for Atletico Madrid’s in-form left back, Felipe Luis who has had great success against the likes of Lionel Messi this year, or Paris St Germain’s Maxwell.
First-game opponents, Croatia, boast stars such as Luka Modric and Mario Mandzukic, although lack squad depth. Having qualified by defeating Iceland in a play-off they will rely heavily on goals from Mandzukic. However, despite having been the leading scorer in Euro 2012 he has struggled for form along with his teammates since Bayern Munich clinched the Bundesliga in record time.
Mexico will be an interesting team to watch. Without any truly global superstars (Chicharito is the closest and he may not start matches due to a lack of game-time at Manchester United) their youngsters brought home Olympic Gold in 2012 with Oribe Peralta a regular goalscorer.
While the opposition may attempt to exploit his lack of pace, Mexicans will hope that their captain, Rafael Marquez, can overcome this through experience and an ability to read the game.
His club colleague, Carlos Pena, with whom they won the Mexican title, is another young player to have become a regular in the national side. He is easy to spot as his hair resembles that of Ruud Gullit in his pomp!
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon were the last nation to be selected for Group A. Samuel Eto’o is their captain and figurehead. The most successful of the African nations has not tasted success since 2002 and are still trying to integrate a younger generation following the retirement of more experienced stars. However, a number of top European clubs are interested in these youngsters, not least defenders Nicolas N’Koulou and the imposing Joel Matip.
While Brazil may have been handed a relatively easy opening group, they will not be looking forward to facing either of the two sides that qualify from Group B.
The outcome of a mouth-watering re-match of the 2010 World Cup Final between winners, Spain, and runners-up, Holland, may decide which of the two face Brazil.
The sauna-like heat of Salvador on June 13 witnesses Vicente del Bosque attempt to find a cutting edge to the passing prowess that comes with having Iniesta, Silva and Fabregas at your disposal. All eyes could be on Atletico Madrid’s Koke and Costa, both of whom will need to avoid the distraction of touted big money transfers in the summer.
Emphasising the strength of his squad, del Bosque has recently dropped Juan Mata and David Villa for recent friendlies although both could be recalled for the final cut after an up-turn in club form.
They will face a Dutch team that also qualified for Brazil undefeated. Robin van Persie has continued to perform to the highest level with the national team despite a dip with Manchester United.
The Oranje will certainly miss the services of Kevin Strootman, a rumoured target for Manchester United should the Dutch coach be confirmed as the new Manchester United manager after the World Cup.
Strootman had formed an excellent relationship with Wesley Schneider and Arjen Robben, who remain threats.
In qualifying, the nearly-men of world football (three-time runners up who have never won), have struggled to find a settled formation at the back and this indecision will need to be rectified.
A cautious early draw against Spain could open up the group.
Both of these two European thoroughbreds will also have to watch Chile who are driven by Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez and the box-to-box Juventus midfielder, Arturo Vidal.
After a patchy start to their qualification campaign, the dismissal of Claudio Borghi saw new coach, fellow Argentinian, Jorge Sampaoli, overhaul the tactics of La Roja.
Qualification culminated with 29 goals scored (the second highest in the competition) yet 25 goals conceded (the highest of the continent’s successful teams). Their games will be worth watching!
The presence of football minnows, Australia, ensures that Group B is not what some pundits suggest a ‘group of death’ with the goals notched against the Socceroos potentially decisive in determining qualification to the next stage.
Abu’s predictions …
Group A qualifiers:
Brazil and Mexico
Group B qualifiers:
Spain and Chile
Previous South American results
Year Hosts Winners
1930 Uruguay Uruguay
1950 Brazil Uruguay
1962 Chile Brazil
1978 Argentina Argentina
