 |
| (All photos courtesy of photo.elsoar.com) |
If you are new to the World Cup and wondering which countries are in the running this year, here's a guide to help you understand the game a bit better. For those of you who are no stranger to the World Cup, scroll down and enrich yourself with some good old trivia.
In one sentence:
64 matches, 32 Countries, 1 World Cup trophy.
Format of the game
- Group stage: The game is currently at the group stage (June 16). The 32 countries have emerged from the qualifying rounds where around 200 countries compete for a spot in this stage. They are subsequently drawn randomly into 8 groups of 4 teams each. Teams will play in round robin format within the group, and the top 2 of each group will qualify for the best of 16.
- Best of 16: Teams proceed to a knockout format; winner enters the quarterfinals
- Quarterfinals: The winning team proceeds into the semi-finals
- Semi-finals: Well done in making it this far: Just an interesting tidbit: Argentina has never lost in the semi-finals (if they make it)
- Finals: The deciding match where the whole world watches on…
32 Countries that qualified for World Cup 2014 and some interesting trivia.
Group A
 |
| photo.elsoar.com |
Trivia: Being the host country, Brazil
automatically qualifies to the group stage. Not that they need it anyway.
Croatia
Trivia: Performance peaked in 1998 where they accomplished 3rd place.
Trivia: Performance peaked in 1998 where they accomplished 3rd place.
Mexico
Trivia: Soccer is said to be introduced by English miners in the earlier years.
Trivia: Soccer is said to be introduced by English miners in the earlier years.
Cameroon
Trivia: Home country to four-time African player of the year , Samuel Eto.
Trivia: Home country to four-time African player of the year , Samuel Eto.
Group B
 |
| photo.elsoar.com |
Spain
Trivia: Reigning world champions in both the World Cup and Handsome boys cup.
Trivia: Reigning world champions in both the World Cup and Handsome boys cup.
Netherlands
Trivia: Came so close to the trophy 3 times and have never won the Cup.
Trivia: Came so close to the trophy 3 times and have never won the Cup.
Chile
Trivia: Arguably the hottest gir fans at this World Cup are from this
country.
Trivia: Arguably the hottest
Australia
Trivia: Lowest ranked side in this World cup with a FIFA world ranking of 59. Can they perform beyond their ranking?
Trivia: Lowest ranked side in this World cup with a FIFA world ranking of 59. Can they perform beyond their ranking?
Group C
 |
| photo.elsoar.com |
Japan
Trivia: Japan’s Women team won the 2011 Women’s World cup – Can the men repeat the feat?
Trivia: Japan’s Women team won the 2011 Women’s World cup – Can the men repeat the feat?
Colombia
Trivia: They are ranked 5th in the FIFA World Ranking, surprising?
Trivia: They are ranked 5th in the FIFA World Ranking, surprising?
Greece
Trivia: Everyone who watched Euro 2008 will remember how Greece won the cup as the underdog.
Trivia: Everyone who watched Euro 2008 will remember how Greece won the cup as the underdog.
Ivory Coast
Trivia: Have some big names such as Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, but yet to go beyond group stage in history.
Trivia: Have some big names such as Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, but yet to go beyond group stage in history.
Group D
(Why is Group D called the group of Death? Because there are 3 strong countries competing within this group: Uruguay, England and Italy. However apparently, Costa Rica is proving critics wrong…) |
| photo.elsoar.com |
Uruguay
Trivia: Hosted and won the first World cup in 1930.
Trivia: Hosted and won the first World cup in 1930.
Costa Rica
Trivia: Underdog in Group D. But the last time I heard underdogs always find their way up?
Trivia: Underdog in Group D. But the last time I heard underdogs always find their way up?
England
Trivia: Homeground of the English Premier League. Ladies, this country is what’s keeping your boyfriends away from you every Saturday and Sunday night (Singapore time). And since it’s England, I’ll add another trivia – England usually disappoints their fans big time in major tournaments like this.
Trivia: Homeground of the English Premier League. Ladies, this country is what’s keeping your boyfriends away from you every Saturday and Sunday night (Singapore time). And since it’s England, I’ll add another trivia – England usually disappoints their fans big time in major tournaments like this.
Italy
Trivia: Won the World Cup four times but never in South America.
Trivia: Won the World Cup four times but never in South America.
Group E
 |
| photo.elsoar.com |
Switzerland
Trivia: Rank 8th in the FIFA World Ranking, but yet to reach quarterfinals since 1954.
Trivia: Rank 8th in the FIFA World Ranking, but yet to reach quarterfinals since 1954.
Ecuador
Trivia: Lowest scoring among all the South American teams who qualified for this World Cup.
Trivia: Lowest scoring among all the South American teams who qualified for this World Cup.
France
Trivia: They experienced good times (champions, 1998) and bad times (lost all matches/ internal conflicts, 2010). And oh, you might have heard of the legendary headbutt by Zidane – he’s French.
Trivia: They experienced good times (champions, 1998) and bad times (lost all matches/ internal conflicts, 2010). And oh, you might have heard of the legendary headbutt by Zidane – he’s French.
Honduras
Trivia: Honduras only qualified 2 times previously, making their appearance in 1982 and 2010.
Trivia: Honduras only qualified 2 times previously, making their appearance in 1982 and 2010.
Group F
 |
| photo.elsoar.com |
Argentina
Trivia: You should know their very famous soccer prodigies, Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.
Trivia: You should know their very famous soccer prodigies, Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Trivia: Appearing for the first time
in the World Cup since independence in 1995.
Iran
Trivia: Ranked above fellow Asian countries Japan and Korea. Oil production might have more links to soccer than you thought.
Trivia: Ranked above fellow Asian countries Japan and Korea. Oil production might have more links to soccer than you thought.
Nigeria
Trivia: Finished bottom of their group in the last 2 World Cup appearances in 2002 and 2010.
Trivia: Finished bottom of their group in the last 2 World Cup appearances in 2002 and 2010.
Group G
Portugal
Trivia: Closest to a one-man team with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Trivia: Closest to a one-man team with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ghana
Trivia: One of the 3 African nations every to reach the quarter finals, the other 2 being Senegal(2002) and Cameroon(1990).
Trivia: One of the 3 African nations every to reach the quarter finals, the other 2 being Senegal(2002) and Cameroon(1990).
USA
Trivia: Home of the Major League Soccer where David Beckham played in his later years.
Trivia: Home of the Major League Soccer where David Beckham played in his later years.
Group H
 |
| photo.elsoar.com |
Belgium
Trivia: Shares the same nickname as Manchester United, Red Devils. They are also a force to be reckon with like Manchester United.
Trivia: Shares the same nickname as Manchester United, Red Devils. They are also a force to be reckon with like Manchester United.
Algeria
Trivia: Nicknamed desert foxes, their national animal.
Trivia: Nicknamed desert foxes, their national animal.
Russia
Trivia: Though a frequent World Cup visitor, Russia have not qualified in the past 2 World Cups.
Trivia: Though a frequent World Cup visitor, Russia have not qualified in the past 2 World Cups.
South Korea
Trivia: This is their 8th consecutive entry into the World Cup and they are also the Asian country with the most number of entries into the World Cup.
Trivia: This is their 8th consecutive entry into the World Cup and they are also the Asian country with the most number of entries into the World Cup.
Know of something interesting worth sharing? Leave your comments below!
EUFASS
World Cup Trivia(WCT) is a series designed for the current World Cup 2014 to give fans more than one ways to savour the game.
England... they have not lost consecutive 2 matches since 1950. This is rooney's first world cup goal and it took him 29 shots
ReplyDelete