World Cup 2014 Preview!

After a long time on the sidelines, back I come, to keep an eye on the World Cup. Hopefully this blog will become the one it once was, full of ideas, creativity, views!

Where to start? Only one place. Who will win the 2014 World Cup?

(Credit: here)

Well everyone has their own team, their own theory on who will win, and how. The goal? Not just to win the above, but to impress the whole watching world.

Here's my three World Cup sides with a chance. So enjoy, this and the football!

How can any preview not feature Spain. Their time has passed you say? They've won the last two European Championships and the last World Cup. Climate a problem? South Africa 2010.

(Credit: here)

It seems success has transferred to domestic football too. How many all Spanish Champions League clashes do you remember? None, so just this years final? Superb game, wasn't it?

Sevilla winning the Europa League, Real Madrid the Champions League, David Silva the premier league. So what's stopping Spain?
Well, potentially the draw. You have to beat the best to be the best, very much so. But can you fancy Spain beating Germany, Argentina and then maybe Brazil? We all know they can but are you one of their doubters? Can the glory last forever? Well, here's who to keep an eye on.

The Spanish defense tends to be quite hit and miss, but to get in at right back you have to have something about you.Michel Salgado came out and said he was surprised at Dani Carvajal's emission but a superb season from Juanfran might see him nick a starting spot. To replicate Jordi Alba on the other side of the defense would be superb to watch but the reliability has to come from somewhere, perhaps the La Liga winner might be key in a way you won't even notice.

Xavi might be playing his last World Cup, with so many players eager to pounce in the wings. But, if Xavi can dictate as he has done for Spain in recent successes, who knows whether they can do it again. Some might say well why not Iniesta? Well I think Andres is more my type of player, but you know what you will get.

(Credit: here)

I think Xavi's had a poor season, perhaps that's why even Barcelona have been off the pace, but sometimes true class can be under estimated. You have been warned.

Hosting the tournament comes with added pressure, none more so than Brazil. With fans protesting at games, outside grounds and in the favellas, the players must feel like the nation isn't fully behind them. But that didn't stop them in the Confederations Cup, winning the tournament and beating Spain 3-0. Hitting form? 11 friendly wins out of 12 suggests so, but then again, form counts for nothing sometimes. Which Brazil is going to turn up? The one we love, have grown up with, admire, or the one who stutters to results over Serbia?
I think it could be something beautiful, to see the brilliant game at its brilliant best, played by brilliant Brazilians,
but it might take some doing. Where are the superstars of the past? RONALDO, PELE, RONALDINHO?

Well, does Neymar fit into that superstar status? Nowhere, yet.

Messi and Neymar will both be hoping to fire their nations to success. (Credit: here)




Individually perhaps a good season, his first at Barcelona. 13 goals. Despite being injured for part of the season. He could need the biggest stage of all but yet again does the former Santos player, only 22, have what it takes to lead Brazil to glory on their home turf? Well, you can't win anything with kids....

Oscar tends to be given a flexible, creative role in Jose Mourinho's Chelsea but that won't be the case here. Expect him to fill central midfield in a more holding role with Ramires. Possibly the best legs Brazil have to offer in a midfield packed with world class attacking midfielders. The good thing with Brazil is the back up they have, but does the first eleven stand out enough? Not enough to win it I say.

One team I think could stand up to the task is Argentina. How can you stop them? A front three of Higuain, Aguero, Messi?

Messi, Aguero and Higuain have scored 86 goals between them this season. (Credit: here)





Another suspect defense but sometimes you can afford it. The 'we'll score more than you' tactic is always suited to another entertaining World Cup. The forward play could be truly exceptional, The main problem? Meeting someone who starves them of the ball. The defeat to Germany in 2010 was incredible, but sometimes you realise it's your time. Messi needs a World Cup win, fresh from signing a new Barcelona contract. The forward, favorite to be top scorer, only has a one in two strike rate for his country but in a group featuring Nigeria, Iran and Edin Dzeko inspired Bosnia, the forwards might as well be shooting with a loaded rifle, too hot to handle? Probably.

So who's your other Argentinian player to watch? Ricky Alvares has had a great season for an under-performing Inter Milan. There isn't too much raw youth in this squad so to see someone so naturally talented hit the heights is great. Could be the one who goes under the radar to peak in Brazil.

Prediction: Argentina to beat Brazil in the final.

Top scorer: Messi

Top player: Messi

Disagree? Comment below and we'll see how interactive this page can go!

The New England?

A new kit. A new temporary (or not) manager. A few new players.

It was a new look England tonight.



England played in their new white and red kit for the first time.

Credit: here


And for 45 minutes at the very least what we saw was good. England more than matched the Netherlands without producing any efforts on goal before half time, but there was enough to suggest a solid performance, despite the likes of Wayne Rooney missing out.

I don't think anyone can begrudge the quality of Arjen Robben's run and goal for the first; it would be harsh to do so, but, 57 minutes in, the signs of 'Same Old England' were visible for all to see.




Robben scored two goals, including the winner, at Wembley tonight.


Credit; here



It wasn't just that they went behind but the manner of it, from James Milner scuffing a chance on the edge of the Netherland's box, to a mix up between Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling. Mistakes. The same old mistakes.

And barely a minute later, when Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, with six goals in his last four games, headed home, the student vicinity surrounding myself resembled that of a graveyard. Silence apart from the odd person's mutterings.

England has lost its passion, purely because the national team isn't good enough.

Regardless, it was refreshing to see Stuart Pearce giving some of the youngsters, in form youngsters too, a chance at Wembley.

From Chris Smalling to Danny Welbeck, Pearce did what no England manager has yet succeeded, breeding the youngsters through from Under 21 level to the first team, against a very good Holland side.




Welbeck and Smalling played under Pearce for England's U21s, and both started tonight.

Credit; here




Perhaps England has grown too accustomed to the likes of Frank Lampard, John Terry and Rio Ferdinanc dominating the spine of the national side. It hasn't worked, and I'm can only hope that Pearce will continue to try and develop the players for two or three years time.

If they play together often enough, they will gel. It can work.

One thing which might not work is Scott Parker as captain. I know he's many people's choice for the side, given his performances for Spurs this season and the credit is understandable, but tonight, and before tonight, I'm not sure he is a leader.

If I was England manager I'd be looking towards bringing Michael Dawson into the international set up, perhaps alongside Ledley King. It's certainly done the job at Tottenham when called upon, so why would it not work for England?





Michael Dawson has yet to be given a true chance by England. Who knows if that will come.






Credit; here




I'm not here tonight to rant about who I'd have in the England side, but to see people's views on the England we saw tonight. For me, it was promising enough to suggest i'd like to see more of this side, maybe with a bit more belief in their play.

Newcastle v Sunderland

Sunday 4 March, Sports Direct Arena, 12pm.

The Tyne-Wear derby hits our television screens this weekend and ahead of Sunday's mouth-watering clash, Edward Bretherton looks ahead to the game, and at how the sides have fared in recent spats in the North East.

It's barely 16 months since Kevin Nolan's hat-trick gave Toon an emphatic win at the formerly named St James' Park, something Sunderland fans will still be stricken from, despite their recent surge under Martin O'Neill.




Kevin Nolan became the first player to score a hat-trick in the fixture since Peter Beardsley in 1985.


Credit: here


It's safe to say that Sunderland are a different proposition now. They've lost only four of 16 games since O'Neill took to the helm against Blackburn, including all three games when they haven't scored, but recent victories over Arsenal and Stoke showed that the Black Cats are very much on the up. And don't forget, that's very much without a recognised striker, with Nicklas Bendtner warming the bench continually, and Fraizer Campbell having only just returned from injury. It's not O'Neill's team yet, but it has his values; hard working, hard to beat, energetic, passionate.

Passion is something the North East derby never lacks.



Phil Bardsley was sent off earlier in the season as tempers flared. It was Joey Barton's last game for the club.



Credit: here


Two red cards in the last three games, no fewer than sixteen yellow cards. Expect it to be spicy. Tasty. Nasty.

The Newcastle team itself is somewhat different to last years, who recorded their biggest victory against Sunderland since 1956.

Out have gone Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton and Jose Enrique, in have come Davide Santon, Yohann Cabaye, Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse.



All smiles at Newcastle. Ba and Cisse have the potential to form a frightful partnership.


Credit: here



Some turn-around and all credit goes to Alan Pardew for turning Newcastle into a European-pushing side again, despite losing some huge players.

And it's not just Alan Pardew who has a lot to shout about this season.

Demba Ba has been magnificent. 16 goals, half at home, and a free transfer too. Now that is shrewd business.

You do wonder how the Senegal striker will take to the action on Sunday, presumably alongside Cisse, in what will probably be their first action of the Tyne Wear derby, with Ba only making the bench in their victory at the Stadium of Light in August.

I don't think Ba knows what a bench is any more, and he doesn't have to.

I've seen Newcastle in person three times this season, and whilst Ba didn't score in the Carling Cup game at Ewood Park, he certainly showed Rovers a thing or two about finishing at St James' (as it was then called) at the start of the season, when he netted his first goals for the club, a hat trick.

It's not just his finishing that has to be admired. His movement is superb. He has that uncanny ability to make late runs, find space, and produce that clinical effort at the end of it. In that way, he reminds me of Michael Owen, in his prime, when he was scoring goals for fun at Liverpool in arguably a better team.

Not only that, his hold up play, ability to bring others into the game, and footballing brain has to be admired. It didn't happen for Senegal at the African Cup of Nations, but he did score on his return, against Aston Villa.

Alan Pardew seemed to suggest after the draw with Wolves that Demba Ba is vital in nurturing Cisse into the club, but you hope that the former Charlton boss has put his attentions into the right man.

Demba Ba is that good, and Newcastle found a steal, despite medical problems when they tried to sign him.

It's not just him that will cause Sunderland problems on Sunday, with Cisse having scored in both of his Newcastle home appearances so far. Some start to a career as a number nine in those illustrious parts.

Indeed, it's been 22 years, and 25 attempts since the Black Cats kept their neighbours out. Surely there will, again, be goals guaranteed on Sunday. You expect one of the Toon strikers might take their chance, if it comes.

Sunderland have only one win in this fixture in their last fourteen efforts, compared to Newcastle's eight but, take away last weekend's capitulation at West Brom, they haven't been conceding many goals neither.

I just feel that Martin O'Neill hasn't quite settled on their midfield yet, and arguably whether there is a place in the team for former captain Lee Cattermole. It seems a straight choice between him and former Blackpool midfielder David Vaughan at the moment, while Craig Garder's another one on the merry-go-round of playing or sitting on the bench.

One player who isn't is James McClean. I don't think anyone would have singled McClean as one to grace the Premier League at the start of the season, but his pace and direct approach has caused all sorts of problems since he made his full debut against Blackburn at the stadium of Light.



James McClean has made a real impact since being given a chance in the Sunderland first team.



Credit; here

He's certainly won over the fans with his four goals in only fifteen appearances, while Stephane Sessegnon continues to shine in what is a free role given to him by Martin O'Neill.

It seems the Africans are thriving in the Premier League. Who knows, maybe Asamoah Gyan might be welcome back now after a change in management at the side he left on loan. Perhaps he could teach Ba and Cisse a few dances...

Let's hope for an entertaining game, but I'm heading to the SDA thinking Newcastle will grind out a 2-1 win, a nerve wracking win, but one where they'll have the chance to prove themselves after throwing away a two goal lead last weekend. It won't be easy, and Sunderland might sneak a draw. But that's the drama of football.