Charlie Rhodes

Current Dutch national team coach Louis Van Gaal has heaped praise on Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal, thus fueling speculations that the new Manchester United manager might be given the freedom…

Marc Wilmot’s Belgium go into Brazil 2014 as arguably the most interesting side outside of the top five favourites for the tournament. A stunning ‘golden generation’ of sorts has sprung…

Four-time winners Italy are looking strong in the lead-up to Brazil, with Cesare Prandelli’s side brimming with attacking potential, as well as retaining the strength in defence that rather defines…

In what will be their ninth appearance at the World Cup finals, the most of any Asian team, South Korea will be praying that a huge change of emphasis made…

The Indomitable Lions are the most successful African side in terms of World Cup qualification, making it through to the finals on seven different occasions; but ever since their quarter final…

It’s doubtful that the agony of THAT penalty miss against Uruguay four years ago will ever be forgotten. The sight of Luis Suarez dancing a jig on the touchline at…

Iran have only won one single game in a World Cup finals, back in 1998 against the USA. Brazil 2014 will be the fourth time the Iranians have taken part…

French manager Didier Deschamps has finalized his 23-man squad to travel to Brazil for the World Cup finals, where his team are attracting around 20/1 odds to lift the trophy…

The very first side to qualify for Brazil 2014, Japan have had plenty of prep time; and considering the experience of manager Zaccheroni, the peppering of world class operators in…

Nigeria go into their fifth World Cup finals this summer as current African champions, sweeping aside Ethiopia in the qualifiers, and will fancy their chances of making an impression in…

It is worth noting that at certain points over the last two years, two players in the current Ivory Coast team were considered to be, at different times, the very…

Despite being the reigning World and European champions, Spain are not outright favourites to reclaim the trophy they won so dramatically in South Africa in 2010. The likes of Argentina, Germany,…

Holland had a superb tournament of last, finishing second only to Spain in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with a last grasp Andres Iniesta goal finishing off the…

Strong, powerful, determined; three words so often used to classically describe the German national side, but words that do not efficiently sum up Joachim Loew’s squad for the 2014 World Cup….

England fans head towards the 2014 World Cup this summer not only with their trademark sense of national optimism, but also with the general understanding that Roy Hodgson’s squad is not as…