Who will win the 2014 World Cup in Brazil?

1.) Spain
It's hard to predict against Spain, but I don't think they'll repeat. They'll make it to the semis and get upset. The best match of Euro 2012, IMO, was Italy vs. Spain in the group stage. Both teams did exactly what they do best: Spain had its possession and intricate passing game on display, but Italy hustled and created awesome counter attacks. The point I'm driving at is that teams have caught on to how to go toe-to-toe with Spain, and because of that they won't make it to the final.

2.) Italy
So long as Italy have their core players (Pirlo, Buffon, De Rossi) at top notch in 2014, I think they can make it to the final. And then you factor in their younger side (Balotelli, Montolivo, Abate)... I think Italy has a good chance.

3.) Germany
I don't think Germany will make the final partly because of their dismantling by Italy in the Euro and their bad form against Sweden (allowing a four-goal comeback). Italy vs. Germany in the Euro was a good demonstration of how those countries interpret the game differently. Germany relied on tight execution, but Italy was creatively efficient. They were just hustling too much for the Germans to maintain pressure. Allowing 4 goals against Sweden isn't a good start, but maybe they can turn it around.

4.) Brazil
Brazil is capable of making the final, but some underdog is going to burn them in the quarterfinals.

So... I'm going with Italy as 2014 WC Champs.

(but I'm pulling for the U.S.)

The germans lost because they gave away their strengths in wide areas to fail to neutralize Italy's threat up the middle. Now Loew may go full retard again in 2014, n his insistence on playing Kroos as a double pivot points to this not being unexpected, but German didn't lose because they were too focused on execution or got out hustled.

1. Brasil - they are always favorites in any tournament they enter and 2014 is no different especially playing at home. Two more years of developing their young talent and chemistry, Neymar, Oscar, William, Douglas Costa, Lucas Moura, Hulk, Damiao, Pato. Too much talent at their disposal not to be the favorites.

2. Argentina - They have the best player in the world plus they are gelling together with players like di maria, higuain, pastore, arguero they will be a treat.

3. Germany - Always strong and do good at world cups, they are young and talented plus have been together for a few years. Could be the first european team to win the world cup in south america.

4. Colombia - This is one of my surprise teams, with the way falcao is playing and the chemistry they are developing together as a team. I feel they can go really far and surprise during 2014 world cup.

5. Mexico - Just like Spain prior to 2010 Mexico has never been farther than the quarterfinals but the level of their football have gone up immensely. Individual players are not considered the best but as a team they play well together.

6. Ghana - Africa has produced and produces too much damn world class footballers not to have won at least one world cup. I think Ghana is the best out of all the african nations and could win it for africa and become the first african nation to win it. Kevin Prince Boateng, Ayew brothers, Assamoah, Gyan are all world class players that are as good as any other group of players from any other nation.



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First, this is not the current Brazilian team.

This is the current Brazilian team

Diego Alves
Daniel Alves - Thiago Silva - David Luiz - Marcelo
Paulinho - Ramires
Hulk - Oscar - Kaká
Neymar

A good team on paper, three problems tho.

No proven World Star player today but Neymar could rise even more in 2 years and Kaka can regain his form.
No bench, this is by far the worst team of Brazil since 1990, not the starting line-up, but the entire squad.
The pressure here in Brazil can be incredibly hard, here in São Paulo the rejection of this national team and Mano Menezes is almost absurdly high.

Depending on the draw, can reach semi-finals.


IF the WC was today, remember that 2 years a lot can change.

This would be my favourites.

Top Contenders: Spain, Germany and Argentina
Main Contenders who have already won a cup: Brazil, Italy, France
Main Contenders who have not won a cup, have the talent, but this pressure might be to hard: Portugal, Netherlands, Russia
Can surprise in a good day: Colombia, Uruguay, England, Côte d'Ivoire, Belgium.

A Latin American team.

Neymar, Oscar, Lucas Moura, Marcelo, luiz, thiago silva, hulk, pato, all proven world stars....

plus paulinho, kaka, and dani alves wont be in the world cup roster

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Belgium (well they might).

Proven world stars you mean not known in Europe? Because all of these players are stars in Brazil.

The only players that are 100% starters in the team are Marcelo, Neymar and Thiago Silva. All of the other players are fighting for a position on the starting squad. Which means they have depth... again because you don't know them it does not mean they are not good. Do you believe Paulinho came out of nowhere? Oscar? Romulo etc etc.

I think this is why they will lose.. the Brazilian fans will turn on their team way too quickly, especially if they are playing in Rio or Sao Paulo. But if the Nat team plays in the north of the country that crowd will be crazy supportive.

They are currently the favorites to win it. But once knockout stage starts.. it's all up in the air.

I don't see the Argentina squad being a favorite. No defense.
Spain will be 2 years older, let's see how Xavi and Iniesta hold up until then. We know Puyol will likely not be there.
Germany.. will reach semi-finals.. that gives them a pretty good shot at it.
France - WC chokers
Italy - Even when they don't look good they might win.
Portugal - not enough talent, but will be playing against a very favorable crowd
Dutch and Russia - I put them on the list of other teams that might surprise in a good day.

But if Brazil doesn't win, what I really want to see is either the US, Japan or an African Nation win it all.

Fifa rankings are laughable, plus any match Brazil plays doesn't count as much as qualifying matches since they are friendlies. Even if Brazil had won all of them, they would still be dropping on the ranking. Always happens to the Host Nation.

Well, we don't really know Brazil's form as they play only friendlies, before the WC14, which reflects in ratings. But other than Brazil's ratings, I think they portray pretty accurately on medium term ratings.

Ecuador is way too high, Greece being up there is also a joke, we could knit pick but a lot of these are arguable, Portugal? really?

I do agree Argentina has no defence, that's why Sabella is arming them almost with 4 central defenders, Campagnaro and Rojo, the theorical side fedenders can both play very well as Central defenders, to allow Messi free roaming in the field, and Messi, well Messi is Messi.
Portugal is a very underrated team, no bias over here, but the problem is entirely our fault, we tend to choke pretty easy games and qualify in the last breath, but in the main competition we play especially good with overlooked players, João Moutinho for example, fantastic player, underrated. Well at last, we know have 2 prospects for good strikers, Nelson Oliveira and especially Eder. That can really help Ronaldo.

I cant believe that Brazil are not in the TOP 5 for Fifa ranking, that is bullshit.
Today Brazil and Argentina are the best national teams in the world, most people will say Spain but they are getting old and worse, Xavi, Puyol and David Villa are almost finished and Iniesta wont be that good by 2014 WC.
I know that not many will agree but I will put my money on Brazil if they were to vs Spain right now, Brazil is all young and fast with good counter attack, they are getting better and better.

1. Brazil
2. Argentina
3. Spain

Brazil are ranked low because they're not playing any games, but I'd still put them below Spain. In modern football there's no value in having a few superstars randomly running around, Spain are a team as well as a collection of great players. How have Argentina improved from the team that was thumped by Germany two years ago?

I think Spain has had enough luck and preferential calls in the last three cups. I can't see tham doing that again.

Plus history speaks against any country having such a long winning streak. If even Brasil of the 1960s couldn't do it, than odds are pretty low for the least dominant footballing dominating team in history.

Clearly Brazil is favourite, then Germany.

Brazil won two in a row so why not Spain? I don't see why Germany are more likely to win it than them either. Do you really think they're going to decline that fast from the thrashing of Italy a month ago? Anything can happen in a tournament, but Spain are clearly the favourites.

Thrashing of Italy a month ago? The only thing I remember from a month ago was Spain being overrun by a French side, who fully deserved to come out with an away win.

Yes, Spain can win, but their advantage over top nations is so minimal and their wins have been based on preferential ref decisions and luck that it seems unlikely for it to occur in a fourth tournament in a row.

I think the following teams could win, although Spain are the favorites and after Portugal I'd be surprised if any of those teams pulled it off.

Spain

Germany
Italy
Brazil
Argentina
Portugal

The Netherlands
Columbia
Ivory Coast
France
Uruguay

For me its out of Brazil or Argentina... I can just see Messi doing something special to go to the final... 3rd is Germany while 4th is Spain.

I agree. The last time Mexico and Brasil played Mexico won, so Mexico should be ranked higher than them.

from north america

Mexico has beaten Brazil the last 2 times out.

But both times Brazil was playing with their Olympic team =P

Yeah, and Mexico played Copa America with a U-22 minus 8 team........shit happens

We didn't play you guys in the Copa America, and we knew Mexico wasn't going to be a big part of the Copa because they had just Won the Gold Cup.