The World Cup in Brazil will truly be ‘survival of the fittest’ for the world’s best football teams. Depending on the luck of the draw your favorite side could either face a tough challenge, or walkthrough to the final stages of the world’s most watched-event. Unfortunately for ‘The Three Lions’, the odds aren’t looking good…
England may have it easy against minnows Costa Rica, but going up against two-time champions Uruguay and four-time champions Italy will be the real test for the boys in white. Both feature some of the best players in European club football including midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Danielle De Rossi, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and forward Mario Balotelli for Italy, and the strike force of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez for Uruguay.
Suarez has been recovering from a knee injury of late but has reportedly been named in the final team-sheet for Uruguay’s Cup campaign. According to the latest FIFA World Rankings, England rank 10th in the world while Uruguay and Italy rank seventh and ninth respectively.
England has not won a World Cup since 1966. They would be considered outside favorites or even underdogs. However, within their team is an interesting blend of youth and experience managed by the knowledgeable Roy Hodgson. Steven Gerrard commands a team featuring the likes of strikers Wayne Rooney, Rickie Lambert and Daniel Sturridge, defender Luke Shaw and midfielder Jack Wilshere.
Whether England reaches the final or not has yet to be seen but from the looks of their line-up, they’re not going down without a fight. This could be Captain Gerrard’s last tournament so it’s likely he’s looking to go out on a high. And considering how close his Liverpool side came to winning the Barclay’s Premier League title, it’s safe to say he’s aching for the big win!
World Cup Groups (with World Rankings)
Group A – Brazil (3), Cameroon (56), Croatia (18), Mexico (20).
Group B – Australia (62), Chile (14), Netherlands (15), Spain (1).
Group C – Colombia (8), Greece (12), Ivory Coast (23), Japan (46).
Group D – Costa Rica (28), England (10), Italy (9), Uruguay (7).
Group E – Ecuador (26), France (17), Honduras (33), Switzerland (6).
Group F – Argentina (5), Bosnia-Herzegovina (21), Iran (43), Nigeria (44).
Group G – Germany (2), Ghana (37), Portugal (4), USA (13).
Group H – Algeria (22), Belgium (11), Russia (19), South Korea (57).
(Source: BBC Sport)