HIS MAJESTY FOOTBALL!

Just a few days remain before the start of one of the most important events in world sport - from 12 June to 13 July the 20th World Soccer Cup will be held in Brazil. Football is said to be the king of sport and 32 countries will be competing for the honour to wear the crown for the next four years. Football has such power that history remembers quarrels and reconciliations between countries over World Cups.  

It was only quite recently in Brazil, where there is a great love of football, that people were happy to be hosting another world cup. But as the start of the tournament approaches the Brazilians do not seem so pleased. A number of soccer veterans believe FIFA's decision to allocate the championship to the homeland of the King of Soccer, Pele, was the wrong one. There are many reasons for this: the stadiums are not up to world standard, the increase in crime, the dissatisfaction of the Brazilians, and the slow progress of the preparations. Just imagine: the stadium which will host the opening of the World Cup will be ready just 36 hours (!!!) before kick-off.

This will be the second time in history that Brazil will host the World Cup. After interruption since 1938 because of the Second World War, in 1950 the World Cup was held in Brazil, which did not suffer from the war. In the final Brazil lost to their neighbours, Uruguay.

Sixty-four years later, Brazil is not welcoming the championship quite so cordially. Protests are being held in the country practically every day. But despite this, the World Cup is bound to attract billions of people to their television screens. At the same time, the events around the championship put even more pressure on the host nation, Brazil. The five-times world champions could prove the significance of staging the World Cup at home by winning their sixth title.  But should they fail, their fans could join in the protest actions in Brazil. 

Group A

Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon

The hosts are favourites to win the group. Statistics show that Brazil has won the group stage in every World Cup since 1978. Although the draw did not show up any particularly strong challengers to Brazil, their rivals cannot be discarded. In 2003 Cameroon beat the Brazilians in the group stage of the Confederations Cup. Mexico can also boast victories over the five-times World Cup winners, the last being in a friendly in 2012. The best Mexico has achieved in 14 World Cups is to reach the quarter finals, but they still light up the tournament. The Mexicans try to take after their famous rivals but their lack of stars has prevented them progressing in previous tournaments. Another challenger in the group is Croatia who, experts believe, will take second place in the group. Although Cameroon has not shown its best form in recent years, as one of the five African representatives in the World Cup they could cause a surprise. Cameroon has the lowest FIFA rating among the finalists. Having appeared in six finals, Cameroon has only once - in 1990 - progressed from the group stage, losing in the quarter finals to England. 

Group B

Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia

Spain is coming to Brazil to defend its title of world champions, having triumphed four years ago. The leader in FIFA's rating, they should win their group. But despite the small number of stars in the squad, "Furia Roja" (Red Fury, as the Spanish team is called) have problems in their squad, mainly due to the lack of a clear striker. Fernando Torres and David Villa are at the peak of their form and their first-choice goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, also looks confident as the last line of defence. This championship promises to be the last for a whole galaxy of players who won the UEFA European Cup in 2008 and 2012, and in 2010 the World Cup for the first time in their history. They include Xavi, Puyol, Villa, Alonso, Torres and Casillas.

Another leading contender to progress from the group, Netherlands have taken part in the final stages of nine World Cups. Despite some solid performances, the "Oranges" have been beaten three times in the final and not once managed to win it, thus earning the title of the "unlucky team".

Group C

Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan

The Colombian mafia have already sent the players a warning that they must put on a good performance. And this threat should be taken seriously.  At the 1994 World Cup, Andres Escobar, who accidentally put through his own goal in the match against the USA, was killed a few days later. The mafia killed two other players because they played poorly.  For that reason foreign coaches pass this country by.

Greece is appearing in its third World Cup finals. In 1994 and 2010 they did not achieve much.

Ivory Coast's most famous player is Didier Droghba. The team failed to qualify from the group stage in 2006 and 2010.

This is the fourth time in a row that Japan has reached the final stages of the World Cup. The four-times winners of Asia could spring a surprise. Although the Japanese hold out no hopes of winning the tournament they will try to go as far as they can. 

Group D

Italy, England, Uruguay, Costa Rica

Italy and England are the favourites. "La Squadra Azzurra" ("Blue Team" - the Italians' nickname) have won the World Cup four times and will be trying to equal the Brazilians' record of titles.

Lovers of statistics and coincidences believe that England will be champions this year. In 1966, when the team from the British Isles won the cup for the only time in its history, the "Eurovision" winner was the representative from Austria, Atletico Madrid won the Spanish championship and Real Madrid the European Cup. All three events happened again in 2014. England only has to win the World Cup to complete the set.

Group E

Switzerland, France, Ecuador, Honduras

The two European countries are the favourites to win through. France, who took the gold medals in the 1998 championships, will be trying to forget the nightmare of 2010 when they failed to qualify from the group.

Group F

Argentina, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Iran, Nigeria

Argentina, twice winners of the World Cup, led by Lionel Messi, are the favourites to win the group. The other teams will be fighting for the runners-up spot in a play-off.

Group G

Portugal, Germany, USA, Ghana

Two of the World Cup favourites - Germany and Portugal - come together in this group. Both teams have come to the finals in top form. Three-times winners Germany have not managed to win the tournament since 1990, although they won medals in the last three tournaments - silver in 2002 and bronze in 2006 and 2010.

Portugal cannot boast a single World Cup title, but are favourites in any World Cup because of their world-class squad.

The prospects of the USA and Ghana are not so rosy.

Group H

Russia, Belgium, Algeria, South Korea

The Russians, led by Italian coach Fabio Capello, have a good chance of qualifying. But Belgium and South Korea could prevent them from doing so. In any case, the winners of the World Cup are unlikely to be found in this group.  Incidentally, our fellow countryman, Aleksandr Samedov, who is included in the Russian squad, will be the first Azerbaijani in history to appear in the final stages.

Fans will not be able to see a whole number of great players at this championship - Ricardo Montolivo, Jesus Navas, Rafael van der Vaart, Fernando Llorente, Alvaro Negredo, Falcao, Samir Nasri, Carlos Tevez, Isco, Mario Gomez, Ashley Cole, Francesco Totti, Kaka, Franck Ribery and others. A number of players will miss the championship through injury, whereas others have not been selected.

The oldest team in the tournament will be Argentina, with an average age of over 28, and the youngest Ghana (25).

Azerbaijani soccer fans will have to fight to stay awake if they want to watch the World Cup this year. Because of the time difference some games will kick off at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning. But most matches will be at 2100 or 2400. In any event, World Cup-2014 will be a real feat for football lovers.

Enjoy the festival of football!

WORLD CUP STATISTICS

Only eight countries have won the 19 World Cups there have been so far. Brazil have won the trophy five times, Italy four, Germany three, Uruguay and Argentina twice and England, France and Spain once each. 

THE "BRAZUCA" BALL

The official football for the World Cup - "Brazuca" - was presented by the Adidas company and was made in Pakistan at the "Forward Sport" factory in Sialkot. Women earning 100 dollars a month were employed in the manufacturing process and the cost of one ball is 160 dollars. Some 100 footballs can be made at the plant in 24 hours.

A NEW ORACLE

In China pandas are to be used to predict the results of matches in the World Cup. They were inspired to do this by the success of Paul, the octopus who correctly guessed the results of all Germany's matches in the 2010 World Cup. At the group stage the pandas in the zoo in Sichuan will be offered three dishes symbolizing win, draw or defeat for any team. At the play-off stage the pandas will climb one of two trees decorated in the flags of the teams involved.

PLAYERS' QUIRKS

A number of teams taking part in the World Cup have expressed individual wishes.

Portugal: Every room in which the players live must have a Playstation. The floor of the hotel in which the Portuguese squad will be staying will be guarded by six guards, of which two will be responsible for the team's leader, Cristiano Ronaldo.

France: The squad wanted two types of soap in their rooms: one for washing and one for taking a shower. The French Football Federation also wanted all the rooms the players were staying in to be of the same colour.

Uruguay: Just one wish: a quiet air-conditioning system in the rooms.

Algeria: Every room must have a Koran.

Ecuador: Each player must be supplied with Ecuadorian bananas.

England: Three restaurants must be provided for the team with different menus where only the players will eat. Other demands: a room with video games and three television sets, as well as a swimming pool, a gym and balconies in the players' rooms.

Honduras: The TV sets in the rooms must be connected to two Honduran and six Spanish channels.

Japan: A Jacuzzi in every room.

Australia: Players must be supplied with coffee machines in their rooms, and they should get world newspapers every day. And all food should be prepared from fresh meat, fish and chicken.

Bosnia-Hercegovina: The restaurant where the team is dining must have good acoustics so that the players' conversations don't intermingle.