World Cup Cheat-Sheet: Ladies Edition (Group A: Mexico, Croatia & Cameroon)

So in my initial post we talked about Brazil. Now let's move on to the rest of the contenders in Group A; Mexico, Cameroon & Croatia

As I said before, every week I'll give you WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW which will consist of 1) the team's playing style, 2) my opinion on their chances of moving forward at the World Cup, 3) some team stats, 4) top plays, 5) names of vital players, 6)stories from the frontline, and most importantly, I'll showcase each team's most "valuable" player(s). Please feel free to add to the conversation in the comments section

So let's continue with Group A: Brazil, Mexico, Cameroon & Croatia

Mexico:
A football loving nation where wrestling masks & football jerseys are seen as a complete stadium ensemble, Mexico definitely has talent in their 23 man squad but how will they get the best out of this turbulent crew?

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The team's nickname: "El Tri" for the tri-color of their flag
- They won the 2012 Olympic Gold medal against Brazil!
- Playing style: Always fiery, tenacious and fast-paced at best
- Players to watch: Oribe! & Rafa (at 35, It'll be interesting to see what Rafa can physically offer to the team)
- How far can they go: On South American soil? maybe to the r16/QF but only if Croatia doesn't bring a SUPER hydrated A game (Mexico did beat CROA at the 2002 WC)
- Lastly, here are a few of Mexico's most 'valuable' players for reference purposes ;)

Alfredo Talavera & Miguel Layún

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Cameroon:
The African nation with the most World Cup qualifications (7) and the African team that has gotten the farthest in the WC (1990 QF loss to England)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The team's nickname: Indomitable Lions/Les Lions Indomptables
- Sad but important note: midfielder Marc-Vivien Foé died on the pitch, in the 72nd minute of the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final between Cameroon and Colombia, live on camera. RIP :(
- Playing style: used to be fun & determined, these days it's just unorganized but hopefully german coaching & focus will help them show their best
- Players to watch: captain Samuel Eto’o (he's still got it!)
- How far can they go: Between the infighting, arrests and pure turmoil within the Cameroon football assoc (now being run by a fifa appointed committee) and constant unwarranted criticism of German coach Volker Finke, not to mention all the other issues, I'm afraid they won't get past the group stage this time even with the fabulous Eto’o at the helm
- Lastly, here is Cameroon's undeniably all-around most valuable player, for reference purposes ;)

Eto'o

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Croatia:
The land where Marco Polo was born, land of beautiful coastlines, roman ruins and several Nobel Prize winners, is the no-nonsense footballing team of Group A. Rumor has it the team is not drinking a drop of happy juice during the competition to stay focused & play football, period.


WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The team's nickname: In brazil they will be deemed the underdogs because they are truly the dark horse of the competition so they will definitely be fun to watch!
- Players to watch: captain Darijo, Luka & Mario
- Playing style: Currently, nothing concrete but the new coach is basing the team around 3 versatile playmakers (Luka, Ivan and Kovacic) which is a good idea but what about defense?
- How far can they go: Well, They've got great young players but with a coach whose only prior coaching experience was 4 Euro U-21 matches, the answer is far from simple. If they can make it out of the first match without a totally embarrassing loss (because they will lose the first match to Brazil especially since their top scorer, Mario, will miss the match due to suspension), if they play better than Cameroon in the Amazonian heat (iffy), and get into a groove against Mexico, they will definitely make it to the R16. Easy, right?!
- Lastly, here is one of Croatia's most 'valuable' players for reference purposes ;)

Mario

World Cup Cheat-Sheet: Ladies Edition (Group A: BRAZIL)

Football just isn't on the average woman’s radar. Sure, some women will watch a few world cup matches but outside of those games, the idea of watching football, for most women, is equivalent to watching paint dry.

So what better way to get in to the spirit of international football than by exposing the muscle behind the sport (along with some pertinent info, of course!). Ladies, consider this your official World Cup cheat-sheet. Use it wisely, talent scouts!

Every week I'll give you WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW which will consist of 1) the team's playing style, 2) my opinion on their chances of moving forward at the World Cup, 3) some team stats, 4) top plays, 5) names of vital players, 6)stories from the frontline, and most importantly, I'll showcase each team's most "valuable" player(s). Please feel free to add to the conversation in the comments section

So let's get things started with Group A

NOTE: The first round, or group stage, sees thirty-two teams divided into eight groups of four teams (groups A through H). Each team plays against every team in their group (ex: brazil will play 1 match vs MEX/CRO/CAM). Teams are awarded 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 for a defeat. The teams finishing first and second in each group go on to qualify for the Round of 16. With this info, try & see if you can predict the final 2 teams!

Group A: Brazil, Mexico, Cameroon & Croatia
The opening match on June 12 will see the hosts, Brazil, play against Croatia in Sao Paulo

BRAZIL:
What can you say about Brazil?! A land of beautiful landscapes, people, music and for most Brazilians, a need to feed on the national sport: Futebol. There's definitely more to Brazil than these few things but this is about the World Cup so lets stick to the beautiful game

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Top world cup winners (5 times. the national jersey has 5 stars above the chest patch)
- The only team to succeed in qualifying for every World Cup.
- Playing style: skillful, creative, free-flowing, fast-paced (exception: 2010 World Cup; a new pragmatic, defensive style saw them get kicked out of the quarter finals after a sad loss to the Dutch. Obrigado Dunga! luckily they've reverted back to the sexy samba style they're known for)
- Players to watch: Brazil has some of the best players in the world but for this cheat sheet stick to: Thiago, Oscar and of course Neymar, the Golden Child. Pele sees Neymar as the next "greatest player in the world"
-How far can they go: all the way to the final but surely at least to the Semis especially since they're playing at home with the fantastic Julio Cesar as their goalkeeper
- Lastly, here are a few of Brazil's most 'valuable' players for reference purposes ;)

Hulk (Givanildo), Julio Cesar & Dante