Can the World Cup be the Dawn of a New Era?

The FIFA World Cup begins on June 12 at Rio de Janeiro and the wait cannot be long enough. The warm-up games and final preparations are in full swing and all 32 teams are looking to be in their best shape when the tournament kicks off. Every World Cup in the past has had a fair share of emerging new players and has been a wonderful platform for young talents to come to the fore. Shall we see many more prodigies coming through the ranks in Brazil? Or, taking it a step further, will there be a new nation who emerges as the champion, basking in glory on the grandest stage of them all?
Here we take a look at the possible teams who can be the new entrant to the elite club of ‘World Champions’ :-

NETHERLANDS: When Johann Cruyff and Rinus Michell introduced the world to ‘Total Football’ and Ajax won three back-to-back Champions League trophies from 1971, there was very little doubt that the Oranje were going to be the new kings of world football. Hence the defeat in the 1974 final at the hands of West Germany remains an undigested shock for most Dutch fans till date. That was the closest they have ever been to the Jules Rimet trophy, although they have reached the final twice since, latest being the 2010 World Cup in South Africa where they lost to Spain in extra time. This time, with master tactician Luis van Gaal at the helm, and players of the capability of Arjen Robben,  Wesley Sniejder and Robin van Persie at his disposal, the Netehrlands would definitely want to get on board, and exorcise the ghost from 40 years back.

CHILE: With the South America and Europe battle for World Cup supremacy tied at 9-9, Chile may claim to be new force in the South American contingent vying for top honours. Boasting a hugely talented squad under the ever calm and composed manager in Jorge Sampaoli, Chile are in fine form coming into the tournament, having won both their warm up games. Forwards Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas, both coming off very successful campaigns in the Spanish La Liga, are key players in attack and 27-year old Juventus man Arturo Vidal is the controlling force in the heart of midfield with his inch-perfect passing, no nonsense tackling and the ability to find the back of the net from inside as well as outside the box. Holding midfielder Jean Beausejour and defenders Gary Medel and Gonzalo Jara also need to be in fine form if the South American La Rojas are to challenge for the title.

COTE D’IVOIRE: This is the third World Cup for the Les Elephants and they would like to improve on their previous record where they failed to make the knock-out rounds on both occasions. But this time, the highest ranked African nation is much more equipped to go through and also have a kinder draw, being grouped with Columbia, Japan and Greece. And if they qualify, then no team would like to face Ivory Coast with proven match-winners like Didier Droba and Yaya Toure around. Drogba, on his day, can destroy any defence with his sheer power and shooting prowess. Ivory Coast also boast of perhaps the most complete midfielder in the modern game in Yaya Toure, whose ball control, long distance passing and shooting and the marauding runs with his 6’5” frame can leave even the most battle-hardened defenders helpless. Strikers Gervinho and Wilfried Bony, midfielder Cheick Tiote and veteran defenders Kolo Toure and Didier Zokora are quality players in their own rights and with a slice of luck we may well be in for the first ever African champion of the FIFA World Cup.

PORTUGAL: Ranked number 4 in the world, the Selecao das Quinas are playing only their 6th World Cup in the tournament’s 74 year history. Known for playing an open attractive brand of football, Portugal would desperately want to better their third place finish they achieved in 1966, thanks to the genius named Eusebio. Fast forward to 2014 and the responsibility to atleast emulate, if not overwrite, the feats of Eusebio still lies with a genius. Cristiano Ronaldo knows that he is the man the Portuguese and many of his massive worldwide followers will be looking upon to carry the weight of his nation. Blessed with skills that very few mortals have, along with the penchant for the spectacular, it is not beyond the 2014 FIFA Ballon D’Or winner to fetch his country their first World Cup. Players such as Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, Nani, Joao Moutinho may argue that Os Navegadores are not a one man team, but the truth is if Ronaldo fails to get going, Portugal’s dream for World Cup success may have to wait for a long, long time.

BELGIUM: The unanimous dark horse. Every article published regarding this year’s World Cup has the words ‘Belgium’ and ‘dark horse’ in the same line somewhere. Not far away are the words ‘Eden Hazard’, ‘Thibaut Courtois’, ‘Vincent Kompany’, ‘Marouane Fellaini’, ‘Romelu Lukaku’ and maybe a few more. Coming into the World Cup with a freakishly talented squad, manager Marc Wilmots knows that a lot is expected of die Roten Teufel in this year’s World Cup. Being the highest scorer for his country in the World Cup, Wilmots knows a thing or two about how to perform on the big stage. Qualifying shouldn’t be a problem having being placed in a group with Russia, Algeria and the Korea Republic. And once the incredibly talented players start performing as a team, Belgium will be very hard to stop.

The stage is set. Will the old lions roar again or is it time for the crowning of a new champion, the dawning of a new era?
The World Cup starts in 96 hours.