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20

Germany go into this summer’sWorld Cup as serious contenders andit would be no surprise if JoachimLöw’s team went on to win thefamous trophy.

Since Germany’s embarrassment

at Euro 2000 they have gone from

strength to strength on the eld.In 2002 they were beaten nalists,while in 2006 and 2010 they reachedthe semi-nal before being knockedout. The whole naon will be keen toensure that their team doesn’t fall atthe nal hurdle once more.

The one talent that Germany havein abundance is creavity. Playerssuch as Özil, Müller and Götze willgive any team that the German’s playagainst a fright. Furthermore up topthey have the second leading WorldCup goalscorer in history, MiroslavKlose. The 35-year-old is stuck on 14World Cup goals, one behind Brazillianlegend Ronaldo.

Overall Germany have all theingredients to have a real chance ofgoing all the way and winning theirfourth World Cup trophy.

It is impossible to rule out Italy whenit comes to major internaonal

tournaments, especially theWorld Cup.

Whenever they have been ruledout in the past the Azzurri have come

back stronger than ever. The perfectexample of this at Germany ‘06 whenItaly deed the odds and went on towin the famous trophy.

The four-me World Cup winnerswill be looking to add a h trophy to

their collecon.

If Cesare Prandelli’s team are toequal Brazil’s record of ve WorldCup tles they will be looking forinspiraon from their 137 medcapped captain Gianlluigi Buon. TheJuventus shot-stopper has been an

ever present in the Italian team since1997 and has been through the highsand the lows.

Overall, Italy have a good a chanceof winning the World Cup as any otherteam. They came close last me and

will no doubt be in the mix again.

NAME

Manuel Neurer (GK)

René Adler (GK)

Philipp Lahm (DF)

Per Mertesacker (DF)

Jérôme Boateng (DF)

Mats Hummels (DF)

Ben Höwedes (DF)

Marcell Jansen (DF)

Chris Smalling (DF)

Mesut Özil (M)

Thomas Müller (M)

Sami Khedira (M)

Toni Kroos (M)

Marco Reus (M)

Lars Bender (M)

Sven Bender (M)

André Schürrle (M)

Mario Götze (M)

Julian Draxler (M)

Lukas Podulski (F)

Miroslav Klose (F)

Max Kruse (F)

Mario Gomez (F)

MANAGER

Joachim Löw

NAME

Gianluigi Buon (GK)

Salvatore Sirigu (GK)

Andrea Barzagli (DF)

Leonardo Bonucci (DF)

Chrisan Maggio (DF)

Domenico Criscito (DF)

Ignazio Abate (DF)

Angelo Ogbonna (DF)

Andrea Pirlo (M)

Daniele De Rossi (M)

Riccardo Montolivio (M)

Thiago Moa (M)

Andrea Poli (M)

Eman Gianccherini (M)Alex Diaman (M)

Claudio Machisio (M)

Antonio Nocerino (M)

Marco Verra

Alberto Gilardino (F)

Guiseppe Rossi (F)

Mario Balotelli (F)

Pablo Osvaldo (F)

Lorenzo Insigne (F)

MANAGER

Cesare Prandelli

TEAMS

Bayern Munich

Hamburger SV

Bayern Munich

Arsenal

Bayern Munich

Borussia Dortmund

Schalke 04

Hamburger SV

Manchester United

Arsenal

Bayern Munich

Real Madrid

Bayern Munich

Borussia Dortmund

Bayer Leverkusen

Borussia Dortmund

Chelsea

Bayer Leverkusen

Schalke 04

Arsenal

Lazio

Schalke 04

Fiorenna

TEAM

Juventus

Paris Saint-Germain

Juventus

Juventus

Napoli

Zenit

AC Milan

Juventus

Juventus

Roma

AC Milan

Paris Saint-Germain

AC Milan

SunderlandBologna

Juventus

AC Milan

Paris Saint-Germain

Genoa

Fiorenna

AC Milan

Southampton

Napoli

GERMANY

ITALY

   T   H

   E   F   A   V   O   U

   R   I   T   E   S  :   T    h   e

   E   u   r   o   p   e   a   n   C   o

   n   t   e   n    d   e   r   s

GERMANY ITALY ENGLAND BELGIUM

The German team have won the World Cup three mes

The experienced Italians are looking to equal Brazil’s record of ve World Cups

Joachim Low is preparing to head to his third World Cup

Cesare Prandelli the mastermind in charge of Italy

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THE DUGOUT 21

England head to Brazil knowing notmany people expect them to win thetournament but it is impossible torule out England from repeang their

1966 success.It has been 47-years since Sir

Geo Hurst’s famous hat-trick againstWest Germany at Wembley securedEngland’s maiden World Cup Win.

Despite their long wait withoutwinning a trophy it hasn’t diminishedthe countries hunger to win again,and Roy Hodgson’s team has a good achance of winning in Brazil.

There is no doubt that if Englandare to surprise everyone then WayneRooney will have to play a pivotal rolein this. The Manchester United centre-forward has 38 England goals so farand must be condent of breakingSir Bobby Charlton’s all me scoringrecord of 49 goals.

Overall England may not have beena major player on the internaonalscene in the run up to this summers

tournament but the Three Lions haveall the tools to sneak a World Cup winand write themselves into history.

This is the rst me that Belgium will

have appeared at a World Cup sinceJapan and South Korea ‘02, thereforethey will be looking to put on a goodshow for their loyal fans.

Dramac improvements rightthrough to the core of football inBelgium has meant that the naonalteam have managed to produce agroup of players who have a real shotof winning.

If Belgium are to stamp their mark

on the tournament in Brazil thenthe whole naon will be looking for

their captain and centre-back VincentKompany to lead the team using hisvast experience. The Manchester Citydefender has been in dominate formover the past season or two meaning

he will be at the forefront whenBelgium go to bale.

Overall it will be a shock if Belgiumcame in from the internaonaltournament cold and went on towin the whole thing. The fact thatno player has had experience at a

internaonal tournament may notwork in their favour at the crunch end.

NAMEJoe Hart (GK)

Fraser Forster (GK)

John Ruddy (GK)

Glen Johnson (DF)

Ashley Cole (DF)

Chris Smalling (DF)

Phil Jones (DF)

Gary Cahill (DF)

Phil Jagielka (DF)

Leighton Baines (DF)

Kyle Walker (DF)

Alex Chamberlain (M)

Michael Carrick (M)

Tom Cleverley (M)

Steven Gerrard (M)

Frank Lampard (M)

Theo Walco (M)

James Milner (M)

Andros Townsend (M)

Andy Carroll (F)

Danny Welbeck (F)

Daniel Sturridge (F)

Wayne Rooney (F)

MANAGER

Roy Hodgson

NAMEThibaut Courtois (GK)

Simon Mignolet (GK)

Jan Vertonghen (DF)

Thomas Vermaelen (DF)

Toby Alderweireld (DF)

Nicolas Lombaerts (DF)

Daniel Van Buyten (DF)

Vincent Kompany (DF)

Guillaume Gillet (DF)

Moussa Dembélé (M)

Marouane Fellaini (M)

Axel Witsel (M)

Eden Hazard (M)

Steven Defour (M)Nacer Chadli (M)

Kevin De Bruyne (M)

Radji Nainggolan (M)

Kevin Mirallas (F)

Romelu Lukaku (F)

Dries Mertens (F)

Chrisan Benteke (F)

Jelle Vossen (F)

Zakaria Bakkali (F)

MANAGER

Marc Wilmots

TEAMManchester City

Celc

Norwich City

Liverpool

Chelsea

Manchester United

Manchester United

Chelsea

Everton

Everton

Toenham

Arsenal

Manchester United

Manchester United

Liverpool

Chelsea

Arsenal

Manchester City

Toenham

West Ham United

Manchester United

Liverpool

Manchester United

TEAM

Chelsea

Liverpool

Toenham Hotspur

Arsenal

Athleco Madrid

Zenit

Bayern Munich

Manchester City

Paris Saint-Germain

Toenham Hotspur

Manchester United

Zenit

Chelsea

PortoToenham Hotspur

Chelsea

Cagliari

Everton

Chelsea

Napoli

Aston Villa

Racing Genk

PSV

ENGLAND

BELGIUM

 T  H E  F 

 A  V  O U R  I   T 

E  S  :  T  h  eE  u r  o

 p e a n C  o n t   e n d  e r  s 

England are looking for a repeat of their 1966 success

Belgium are yet to win an internaonal tournament

Roy Hodgson leads England to his rst World Cup

Marc Wilmots scored Belgium’s last World Cup goal in ‘02

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