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FIFA WORLDCUP 2014

World Cup 2014: Germany are ready to rule the roost for years to come

Depth of talent is such that, in ominous warning to their rivals, the ambition of also winning Euro 2016 title is already being openly discussed and planned for.

 Simply the best: Mario Götze celebrates scoring the winner against Argentina Photo: GETTY 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/germany/10967307/World-Cup-2014-Germany-are-ready-to-rule-the-roost-for-years-to-come.html

World Cup 2014: 5 Reasons Spain Lost So Miserably In The Group Stage

By IBTimes Staff Reporter
on June 18 2014 5:45 PM 

 

As the defending World Cup and back-to-back European Champions, Spain entered the 2014 World Cup with lofty expectations to repeat, as many experts considered Vicente del Bosque’s squad to be among the greatest national teams in history.
What followed in the group stage sent shockwaves through world soccer. Spain not only lost both games, but were outscored 7-1 by the Netherlands and Chile.
What could possibly have prompted such a flame out? How does such a talented team lose so early in the group stage?
Here are five reasons why Spain couldn’t reach the knockout phase:


Tough Competition
While Spain boast a world-class roster, they faced two very good squads. The Netherlands have an excellent attack, and entered the match with a chip on their shoulder after losing to Spain in the 2010 final in South Africa. Many experts were quick to point out that Chile boast several quality players, including Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sanchez, Eduardo Vargas, Mauricio Isla, and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. As a South American team, they had a strong contingent of supporters in attendance in Rio de Janeiro.
Predictable Strategy
With the exception of striker Diego Costa, the 2014 roster looked rather similar to the 2010 roster. When a starting XI has a familiar look, it is not difficult for the opposing head coach to game plan. Spain probably needed a shakeup with young players like Jese, Asier Illaramendi, and Alvaro Morata to throw off the competition.

 Poor Goalkeeping
While Iker Casillas is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world, he has been criticized by some for lackadaisical play. His former Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho, even benched Casillas in favor of backup Diego Lopez in 2013. Spain could have received a better effort from their man in the net against the Netherlands and Chile. Pepe Reina would probably have been a better choice.
Resting On Laurels
Spain failed to play like Spain, and it seemed as though the squad was expecting to cruise through group play. The overconfidence looked apparent in their passing, which seemed erratic compared to how they played in Euro 2012 and the 2010 World Cup. Their opponents looked one step ahead of them. It was a rude awakening in the second half against the Netherlands, when Spain surrendered four goals in 45 minutes.

 

Gunning For Goliath
After so much success, Spain may have had “success fatigue.” It’s difficult to maintain such great play for so long, as Brazil proved since Pele’s retirement (Brazil won just two World Cups since 1970). Spain also seemed to be a much different team without their star center back and unsung hero Carles Puyol, whose absence appeared to be too much to overcome. The Netherlands and Chile seemed to relish the opportunity to take down a somewhat vulnerable Spain squad and knew that the champions' reign couldn't last.
In some ways, Spain's downfall should have been expected. Three of the last four world champions couldn’t get out of the first round. Spain had a major challenge in defending their title, and their impressive run in recent years had to end some time.
 http://www.ibtimes.com/world-cup-2014-5-reasons-spain-lost-so-miserably-group-stage-1605344

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Student Commits Suicide After Losing $3000 USD In World Cup Gamble

He gambled with money borrowed from loan sharks and committed suicide after losing it to World Cup bets

• Published: 26.06.2014
• Kukogho Iruesiri Samson

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Failed gambling led him to suicide

A second-year college student has died after jumping from the 7th story of  high rise building in his school  following heavy losses in World Cup gambling.

The student who, simply identified his surname Lin in news reports, committed suicide after losing a big bet, reportedly over$3000 USD.

A Debt And A Death

A witness who spoke with Information Times said the student might have committed suicide after pressure from loan sharks.

"I heard him say 'do not force me' and 'give me two more days and I'll return you the money'

"He talked on the phone for more than 10 minutes. I saw him hang up and stand up and then all in a sudden he just disappeared," Information Times reported the witness as saying.

An online media quoting a classmate and friend of the deceased student reports that Lin had gambled nearly $7,000 US dollars on several students.

“We heard that he borrowed quite a lot of money and the interest rate was rather high,” another student quoted in the report said.

Deadly China Betting

Lin is now the second Chinese to die in World Cup related circumstances after a 51-year-old former footballer, Li Mingqiang, died of 'over-excitement' while watching the Spain-Netherlands match which ended 5-1 in favor of the Orange boys.

China has become the World's gambling capital and just last week, police in Hong  busted an illegal World Cup betting ring which raked in an astonishing $600 million USD in one week - an all-time record.

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Chinese fan dies after staying up too late to watch the World Cup

• Chinese fan found dead in his home after Holland 5-1 win over Spain
• Sleep deprivation from staying up to watch World Cup believed to be cause
• Parts of Brazil are 11 hours behind China, with games airing there in the middle of the night

By JOHN DRAYTON

A Chinese fan has reportedly died after after staying up for too many nights in a row to watch the World Cup. 

A 25-year-old man was found in his home in Suzhou, an area near Shanghai, sat infront of a TV set just hours after Holland's 5-1 thumping of Spain on Friday.

Salvador, the Brazilian city where the game took place on Friday, is 11 hours behind Shanghai, meaning fans in China have to stay up all through the night to follow the tournament.

With the game kicking off at 4pm local time, it did not finish in China until around 5 in the morning, and doctors believe his death could have been caused by the sleep deprivation.

Medical experts have now warned football fans in China about the dangers should they sacrifice sleep during the tournament.

It's not the first time a Chinese football fan has died after staying awake to watch the game.

During Euro 2012 one supporter spent 11 sleepless nights watching every game of the tournament and died from exhaustion.

Chinese hospitals also saw a surge in patients admitted with symptoms of exhaustion during the World Cups in 2006 and 2010.

Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben both scored twice as Oranje ran riot against the current world champions.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2658967/Chinese-fan-dies-staying-late-watch-World-Cup.html#ixzz35zWGTJVU