the winner in my opinion will be the most well rounded in terms of team work and number of positions which an individual can play in.
Out of the possibilities i say it is between:
Argentina
Germany
Spain
England faithful here:
23 man squad(assuming 2 years of growth)
GK: Joe Hart , John Ruddy , Fraser Forster
RB: Jack Robinson, Kyle Walker , Martin Kelly (can play anywhere in defence)
LB: Leighton Baines , Kieran Gibbs
CB: Chris Smalling , Joleon Lescott , Gary Cahill ,Michael Mancienne
RM/W: Raheem Sterling , Alex Oxlade-Chamerlain
LM/W: Thomas Ince, Adam Johnson
CM: Steven Gerrard ,Frank Lampard , Jack Wilshere , Jordan Henderson
ST/CF: Daniel Sturridge , Wilfred Zaha ,Theo Walcott
Wayne Rooney is overrated...
It's because "faithfuls" like you and trashy selections, that England never manage anything.
Ghana all the way:yayy::yayy:
They are far from the qualifying positions in their group in any case. Personally, I don't think they'll make it to Brazil.
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As for the thread, it's too early to talk about 2014 when no teams, besides Japan, have qualified yet (obviously, excluding the hosts).
Many strong teams like France, England, Portugal, Uruguay, Sweden, Poland ect... might well make it to the play-offs only (even that's not secured for some).
But in any case, if I go by the current form and make some fantasy prediction, then...
I'd say Germany and Netherlands are the hottest teams right now, for a clash-down at Marecana. Germany got a wonderful squad and after years of choking themselves so close to glory, they might finally make the extra step given how Dortmund/Bayern's CL run in 2013 happened. Netherlands are back with a vengeance. Only team, right now who've won all their matches. After Euro 2012's disillusion, Van Gaal have brought some wonderful grit to the Holland team yet again and gradually, they are rising as top-contenders behind the Germans imo.
Argentina are probably 3rd favorites right now. Like England, they've got a history of ill-performing despite a great squad. However, they are going way way better than England right now. With the motivation to lift the WC on rival's soil, 2014 may finally be their year.
I'd rank Spain, 4th favorite. They haven't been at their sparkling best but in any case, that was the same issue for most of Euro 2012, yet by upping their game in only one game (the final), they ended up champions. That shows their power and come 2014, they'll still be up to make a historic (Euro-WC-Euro-WC) back-to-back wins.
Brazil got a favorite status automatically, with their slew of young prospects and them being the hosts. That being said, in-field chemistry has been the hallmark of most greats Brazilian sides and this is not showing in the current one right now. I'd say they are massively overrated right now but then again, they are Brazil!
Speaking of young prospects, Belgian got way better chemistry than Brazil right now. They got a truly Golden Generation in every possible sense. Personally, I can really foresee them among Semi-finalists but their lack of experience may cost them for now.
Italy and France are two teams in reconstruction and gradually, are getting to a top-level. They have a great chance and given how they'll be neither underdogs nor heavy favorites by 2014, they may spring up a surprise.
England, as I said, are like Argentina - clubs who misplay and misfires - despite relatively strong squad. But, unlike Argentina, they need to progress more right now. But who knows, football is a sport of miracle though I doubt for next year.
I don't see Portugal, Sweden & Poland; 3 teams auto-dependant on their star players - CR7, Zlatan, Lewandowski - making it very far. Neither 3 are even sure to qualify.
Expect Russian, Japan, Mexico and Columbia to be the underdogs that can spring more than one surprise in Brazil next year...
So, I guess, these are my Top 16; that is the my top-half of the 32 teams that'll feature in Brazil. And frankly, I think the 8 teams who'll make it to the Quarters are surely among those 16 teams.
