England National Football Team arrived and start warm up in Stadium / Fun Flag Wig !

England youngsters Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, left, and Jack Rodwell, right, train with Frank Lampard in Brazil's Maracanã Stadium.

The Brazil coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, believes England's young players can help rescue their World Cup dreams. Scolari said England were "struggling" to qualify for the tournament in Brazil next year, but believes the arrival of players such as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Phil Jones in Roy Hodgson's squad could prove crucial.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's friendly at the Maracanã, Scolari said: "England beat us in London, but they are struggling to get to the World Cup, so it is an important game. The English team have good players and, although they have not been winning, they have a renewed team and good technical players. In the past 10 to 15 years, England has improved a lot technically and I think we will see a good game – not long balls.

"This coach has put many young players in his team and maybe now the national team for England is better than before, even if other teams are still ahead: Spain, Germany … maybe even Brazil … "

Scolari has opted for youth in his own selection and admitted he was relieved that his concerns about Neymar's move to Barcelona being a distraction had proved unfounded. "Everything is now decided and he just has to play, and I think it will be very good for him."

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Boateng brothers prepared for another meet in Brazil World Cup 2014 / Have a Fun Flag Wig !

It is by no means a new phenomenon for brothers to play alongside each other at a FIFA World Cup™, with Argentinians Mario and Juan Evaristo as well as Mexicans Manuel and Felipe Rosas and Rafael and Francisco Gutierrez all making the trip to the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay in 1930. Over the years they have been followed by Fritz and Ottmar Walter, who propelled Germany to victory in Switzerland in 1954, Bobby and Jack Charlton, who won the competition with England in 1966, and Robert and Niko Kovac, who both represented Croatia at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ tournament before taking on the role of national team coaches ahead of this summer’s showpiece in Brazil.

However, it is much more unusual for two brothers to play for different national teams. The Scottish siblings John and Archie Goodall rewrote the record books when they became the first brothers to don the colours of different countries. Neither pulled on the navy blue jersey of Scotland, though, with John electing to represent England and Archie pledging his loyalty to Northern Ireland. Other examples include Massimiliano (Australia) and Christian Vieri (Italy) as well as Paul Pogba (France) and his two brothers Florentin and Mathias (Guinea). But none of the above have ever lined up on opposing sides at a World Cup finals.

Kevin-Prince and Jerome Boateng hit the headlines for this very reason when they faced each other on 23 June 2010 in South Africa. Jerome took to the field wearing the white of the German national team, while Kevin-Prince featured for the Black Stars. The match, which the European side won 1-0, marked another first in world football. 

Second showdown in Brazil
History is set to repeat itself at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ this summer, with Germany and Ghana locking horns once again when their Group G clash gets underway in Fortaleza on 21 June. The brothers, who are both currently with their respective national teams as they prepare to take part in their second World Cup tournament, took some time out to speak to FIFA.com about the prospect of another family affair.

“I’m really looking forward to the match and the fact that both Boateng brothers will be on the same pitch,” said the 27-year-old Kevin-Prince. “Of course, it’s a special experience to face your own brother at the World Cup and it's not the first time either. There's always a lot of excitement surrounding a World Cup, but this will be a particularly special moment for us both,” added Jerome.

The pair share the same father, who hails from Ghana, but have different mothers. They both grew up together in the German capital Berlin, where they progressed through the youth and amateur ranks at Hertha BSC.

And 25-year-old Jerome still has fond memories of those early years: “I will never forget when we played alongside each other at tournaments or when we became German champions together. And whenever one of us was fouled, the other would always come running in ready to protect him.”

The brothers both went their separate ways after their time in Berlin. Kevin-Prince, who normally sits in the hole behind the strikers but can also fill in at centre-forward, played for a range of clubs including Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan before making the move to the Bundesliga with Schalke 04. Jerome, who prefers to play in central defence but is equally at home on the right or left, enjoyed spells at Hamburg and Manchester City before Bayern Munich eventually came calling. Operating at the heart of defence, he helped the Bavarians to a treble in 2013.

Mixed feelings in the family
The pair, who have often locked horns at club level, are now set for their second showdown on the international stage. And with Kevin-Prince playing in attack and Jerome lining up in defence, it is more than likely that they will come up against each other directly in their Group G clash. No wonder the fixture is a source of mixed feelings in the family.
Their father is adopting a neutral stance and has his fingers crossed for the pair of them, while both mothers are supporting their respective sons, as Jerome explains. However, the family motto remains “may the best team win, just as it was in South Africa”.

Kevin-Prince confirmed this and added: “Ultimately, it’s not important for our parents who wins. What counts for them is that we give our absolute best, remain injury-free and look back on our own personal performances with nothing but satisfaction.”

Younger brother Jerome may be more content with his own performances in family fixtures to date, having often emerged victorious over Kevin-Prince when the two have clashed. They do not just compete on the pitch though; their rivalry extends to a whole host of disciplines. When asked in which of these disciplines he still has the upper hand over his elder sibling, a smile emerges on the face of the 2013 and 2014 Bundesliga champion: “There are a few things actually. Basketball, table tennis and tennis all come quite naturally to me now. And I can still beat him on the PlayStation too.”
The two-footed defensive linchpin believes his brother will play a key role at the global showpiece in Brazil and is full of praise: “He isn't scared of anything and is very confident on the pitch. He always keeps going, even when things aren't going his way. And he quickly adopts a positive attitude after negative experiences." It is these characteristics which he demonstrated four years ago that make Kevin-Prince – alongside Michael Essien – one of Ghana's danger men in his brother’s eyes.
Jerome believes the Black Stars have a “dangerous team” and feels they will have a good World Cup. These words are music to the ears of Kevin-Prince, who is convinced his team is stronger than in 2010 and “could progress far”.

A great deal of mutual respect
Similarly, Kevin-Prince has a lot of respect and praise for his brother’s team.
“I also think that the German national team can go far as this tournament. It’s always a pleasure to watch Germany. They have top players with outstanding quality in every single position.” Jerome is also convinced by his side and his team-mates’ abilities. With such a “super team”, they just need to ensure that they “put in the best possible performances on the pitch” and then they would have “huge potential".

Bouyed by the confidence he has acquired through his success with Bayern Munich in recent times, Jerome is approaching the World Cup in Brazil with high expectations: “I hope we can make it into the final and then manage to win it.”

Undoubtedly the brothers will both be entirely focused on the task at hand on 21 June though, with Kevin-Prince revealing to FIFA.com back in 2010: “I promise every team that Ghana faces that I will do everything in my power to win – no matter whether I’m lining up against my own brother, my father or my mother."

But despite the rivalry they are still family and hope for the best for each other, as Kevin-Prince went on to emphasise: “Of course, I'd be absolutely delighted if both teams could go a long way.”

And no matter how far the two teams progress and how many matches they play at the 2014 World Cup, one thing is for sure: their second group game will live long in their memory.

by FIFA / www.FlagWigs.com

Muslera, Uruguay Goal Keeper / Have a Fun Flag Wig !

“Some goals are bigger to fill than others” is a popular saying in football, one that refers not to their physical size but to the responsibility that comes with the task of defending them, a factor determined by the history and stature of the team in question.

As an heir to the likes of Roque Maspoli and Ladislao Mazurkiewicz, 27-year-old Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera can certainly relate to that little nugget of wisdom.

A dependable mainstay of the side that achieved a memorable fourth place at South Africa 2010 and went on to win the Copa America the following year, Nando has been Uruguay’s No1 for the last five years, a fact that says everything about his importance to the Celeste cause.
Currently preparing for his second consecutive FIFA World Cup™ as his country’s first-choice keeper, which begins with Saturday’s Group D opener against Costa Rica, the Galatasaray custodian sat down for an exclusive interview with FIFA.com and assessed his side’s chances at Brazil 2014.

FIFA.com: On a scale of one to ten, how excited are you about the opening game against Costa Rica?
Fernando Muslera: 11! What happened four years ago doesn’t come into it. Though everything was new for me then and though I’m going into this with a slightly different mindset, playing in a World Cup is the biggest thing you can experience as a player. You get almost as excited as you did the first time.
When you read about players picking up late injuries, are you scared it might happen to you?
No, not scared. That would be like thinking you’re going to have a crash every time you get in a car. You have to play without thinking about it, even if the risk is there and I hope no one gets injured. The only thing you can do is just focus being ready.

In which way do you think you’ve changed the most compared to four years ago?
I’m more mature, both on and off the pitch. I’ve learned to control certain emotions that used to get the better of me. I feel more composed now, though that’s also something to do with the team, which has got plenty of experience. There aren’t many people in the side who are making their World Cup debuts.

Do you think Uruguay need to go out and repeat what they did in 2010 to prove it wasn’t a fluke?
No. Because of that fourth place and the Copa America title that followed, Uruguay have generated a lot of expectation around the world, and we ourselves know it wasn’t a fluke. We can’t go to Brazil thinking we have to improve on that and reach the Final. The fans might feel we need to kick on and become world champions, but our first objective must be getting past the group phase.
Would you like to predict who Uruguay might face on the road to the Final?
I honestly wouldn’t. I’m not going to do that. If you stop to think about that, it stops you enjoying the moment. To be champions you have to beat everyone you come across and that’s no joke. I just don’t see any reason for doing it.

Does it annoy you that Uruguay are not regarded as one of the favourites for the title?
Not at all. Uruguay have never been favourites. I prefer to go to the tournament just like we did at South Africa, when we were the last side to qualify and few people gave us a chance of going through. This squad has always had a low profile.

Four years ago you faced South Africa, Mexico and France, and now you’re up against England, Italy and Costa Rica. On paper, was that group tougher than this one?
Though it was my first World Cup and I saw things differently, you have to say that this is a tougher group. Though there are no easy teams any more, which has been the case for a while, this group’s tougher than the other one because of the reputation and experience of the teams. When the draw was made, the first thing people said was: ‘We never have it easy’.

Even so, Uruguay always seem to thrive on adversity.
That’s true. There’s a little bit of that in Uruguayan people. When things get tough, we usually get going and rise to the occasion. There was a bit of that in South Africa, and I hope it happens again.

Everyone always says that the first game at the World Cup is crucial. Is that a myth or a fact?
It’s not a myth, I can tell you! The first game is vital, though it’s true to say that it’s not decisive. Costa Rica are not the underdogs in the group. They’ve got players in Europe, they’ve really come on and they’ve been a tough nut for us to crack in the last few years. They almost stopped us from getting to South Africa (Uruguay narrowly beat Costa Rica in the intercontinental play-off for the 2010 world finals).

Which of the three goalkeepers you will face in the first round do you admire the most?
You have to admire [Gianluigi] Buffon. This is his fifth World Cup! He’s 36 but he’s keeping goal like he’s 24. I’ve played against him and he’s brilliant between the posts and a great guy too. I’d love to play for that long for my country.

Is it your ambition to be Uruguay’s greatest keeper of all time?
(pauses) I work hard so I can give my very best. After that, it’s just a question of results and then the headlines that come with them: you can be the greatest, one of the best. I don’t work so that people can say nice things about me. I work so I can make my contribution to the national team.

by FIFA / www.FlagWigs.com

Germany Striker Marco Reus sadly leave the World Cup because of ankle injury.

 

This should be a sad news for all German Fans. Germany 6-1 win against Armenia after suffering suspected ankle ligament damage. The Borussia Dortmund went down after he tussled for the ball with opposing midfielder Artur Yedigaryan.Reus was left on the ground in pain and had to receive medical treatment before being carried off just before half-time.

Ribery Miss the Final 23 on Brazil World Cup because of injury

The countdown is in full swing and the 32 countries that qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ are gearing up for action. Fans all over the globe are anxiously awaiting the beginning of the greatest show on earth.

At the same time, some of the star players on the planet are gearing up for the big event. Make the most of the best players, as lady luck has ruled out a number of star names, including France winger and FIFA Ballon d'Or finalist Franck Ribery and Russian captain Roman Shirokov. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, so here at FIFA.com we want to pay tribute to the slew of top-class performers who, whether through injury or because their countries failed to qualify, will be missing out on the trip to Brazil.

Unqualified greats
Two of the most prominent names on the absentee list are there because their countries were unable to get the job done on the pitch. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gareth Bale, two European heavyweights who had a superb season and played a key role in leading their respective clubs to glory, will both have to watch Brazil 2014 from afar. Their vast talents and colossal contribution for their national teams were ultimately not enough, leaving the Swedish striker, his pride dented, to ruefully remark that "A World Cup without me is nothing to watch".

The attacking pair are almost definitely the highest-profile figures missing out because their teams did not manage to book a ticket to the tournament, but there are also several players who had their bags packed for Brazil, only to see their hopes cruelly dashed by an untimely misfortune.

Heartbreak hotel
Colombian forward Radamel Falcao certainly has a claim to one of the toughest hard-luck stories, as he was preparing for the first FIFA World Cup of his career. Destiny, though, had other plans. On 23 January the Monaco man sustained a serious knee injury and despite toiling away for months in order to miraculously make it back for the tournament, in the end he fell at the last hurdle. "It's a tough blow, but now I'll have to support the team from afar," the marksman stated on departing the Colombia camp, going on to put an uplifting spin on events on Twitter, where he wrote: "All I can do today is smile, because I kept trying to the end."
The Colombian goal machine wasn't the only star laid low by the dreaded knee ligament curse. Two other players at the peak of their powers will have to cheer on their countrymen from a distance after breaking down unchallenged. They are Arsenal winger Theo Walcott and ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, for whom a botched lunge and a mistimed jump respectively was all it took to end their dreams of going to Brazil.

Almost every team at this summer's showpiece have had to alter their plans owing to injury issues. Germany will have to field a rejigged midfield and defence without the presence of tenacious enforcer Ilkay Gundogan and centre-half Holger Badstuber; Christian Benteke will be absent for Belgium; France will be deprived of Ribery, Steve Mandanda, and Clement Grenier ; the Netherlands are without Kevin Strootman and Rafael van der Vaart, while Spain will be missing starlet Thiago Alcantara.

Italy, meanwhile, were shaken by the horrific double leg fracture suffered by Riccardo Montolivo, who looked primed to play a pivotal role in coach Cesare Prandelli's plans.

That same day, Luis Montes, one of Mexico's form players, succumbed to the same terrible injury just two minutes after opening the scoring in the friendly against Ecuador. Just a few hours later, the midfielder was already taking the setback in his stride, tweeting "By the way, that was some goal I scored" – a post that was retweeted more than 38,500 times.

Croatia were dealt a triple blow, with coach Niko Kovac having to do without Ivan Strinic, Ivo Ilicevic and Niko Kranjcar. Colombia are missing Amaranto Perea and Edwin Valencia in addition to Falcao, while Chile have been left ruing Matias Fernandez's ankle problems.

A global pandemic
The African teams have by no means been immune to these woes, with Cameroon deprived of the talents of powerful forward Pierre Webo, Côte d'Ivoire shorn of Lacina Traore and Ghana unable to call on Jerry Akaminko.

Costa Rica have been the hardest hit of the CONCACAF representatives following injuries to Alvaro Saborio, who broke his foot, and Rodney Wallace. On top of that, Bryan Oviedo lost his fitness battle after breaking his leg in two places in January. Mexico, meanwhile, are also without Juan Carlos Medina.

Asia has escaped relatively unscathed from the injury plague, although Australia will have to get by without their hero from qualifying, Josh Kennedy, and Korea Republic full-back Kim Jinsu will also miss out on the tournament.

Carles Puyol, the former rock at the heart of the Spain defence, has been ruled out following a spate of physical problems forcing him to announce his international retirement. Puyol finished with 100 caps and lifted the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.

Almost all of the world's finest players will be strutting their stuff in Brazil, but it is worth sparing a thought for the unlucky bunch who will not be able to grace the summer showpiece. They will be sorely missed, as they would surely have further lit up what promises to be an unforgettable tournament.

by FIFA / www.FlagWigs.com

 

FIFA Football World Ranking in June, Top two remain Spain and Germany unchanged. Brazil up to the third / Have a Fun Flag Wig !

FIFA Football World Ranking in June, Top two remain Spain and Germany unchanged. Brazil up to the third. Ranking rise up team also include Argentina (+2), Switzerland (+2), England (+1), Belgium (+1) and USA (+1). The best Ranking amount Asia Team is Iran, which rank 43.

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Chile Team, the first South American neighbour arrives in Brazil for World Cup / Have a Fun Flag Wig !

Chile, or La Roja as they are known by their devoted fans, have arrived on Brazilian soil. After two victories in friendly matches against Egypt and Northern Ireland, Chile arrived in Belo Horizonte on Thursday where they will make their final preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, confident and excited to surprise fans during the tournament .

Chile’s accommodation for the duration of the World Cup – Tocada Raposa II – was ready to receive La Roja with welcome messages to the team led by Jorge Sampaoli. While the whole training centre of Cruzeiro is adorned in colours of the flag of the South American country.
Chile has a difficult task of going through the first phase in Group B of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, grouped with Spain, Netherlands and Australia. The team’s opening match will be on 13 June against the Australians in Cuiaba.

from FIFA / www.FlagWigs.com