The official ball for the 2014 World Cup. Unlike the Jabulani in 2010, the latest effort from Adidas has received positive feedback from players so far.
Mike Egerton
Mike Egerton
C is for… Caxirola
Remember the hum of Vuvuzelas in South Africa four years ago? Well Brazilian instrument Caxirola is hoping to have the same impact this time around. God help us all.
Apart that elite group of favourites to win the competition, you will hear people tipping several outsiders to make an impact. Belgium’s talented group have been heavily backed while the likes Colombia and Chile are also popular each way bets.
Press Association Images
Press Association Images
E is for… Expectation
The hopes of a nation weigh heavily on the Brazilian team and its poster boy Neymar despite Luiz Filipe Scolari’s attempts to play down their chances of a sixth World Cup.
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
It has also been touted as the ideal time for Lionel Messi to cement his name alongside Pele and Maradona as one of the all-time greats by leading Argentina to victory.
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
F is for… Fans
Prepare yourself for TV cameras turning to shots of the crowd every opportunity they get.
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
G is for… Golden Boot
Ronaldo, Miroslav Klose and Thomas Mueller (below) have won the top goalscorer award in the last three tournaments. Who will earn the prize this time around?
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
H is for… Haircuts
In the past, we’ve had classics like Valderrama’s afro, Ronaldo’s ‘take it all off but the fringe’ and Rudi Völler’s perm.
This summer, you can look forward to:
Kyle Beckerman (USA)
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AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Isaac Vorsah (Ghana)
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Gabriel Paletta (Italy)
PA Archive / Press Association Images
PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
I is for… Injured
We’ve already lost the likes of Radamel Falcao, Christian Benteke and Thiago Alcantara due to various fitness problems, while there remains question marks over whether Luis Suarez and Diego Costa will be ready.
Luis Suarez. EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
J is for… Just Fontaine
The Frenchman still holds the record for most goals in a single tournament after scoring 13 in 1958.
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
K is for… Kits
The good, the bad, and the ones that look like an ice pop. Check them all out here.
Reigning European and world champions, can Spain go one better and win back-to-back World Cups?
Aubrey Kgakatsi
Aubrey Kgakatsi
M is for… Maracanã
The Rio de Janeiro stadium, reopened last year and with a capacity of 79,000, will host four matches at the finals — including the final itself on 13 July.
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
N is for… Newcomers
Bosnia-Herzegovina are the only nation of the 32 making their debut at the World Cup.
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
O is for… Olinga
Cameroon and Malaga forward Fabrice Olinga, nicknamed ‘Happy Feet’, is the youngest player at the competition at 18 years and 24 days old.
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
P is for… Protests
We saw them at last year’s Confederations Cup and we’re bound to see them again over the next month.
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Q is for… Queiroz
Former Manchester United assistant and Portugal boss Carlos Quieroz is these days in charge of Iran, who are in Group F with Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Nigeria.
Ryan Wilkisky
Ryan Wilkisky
R is for… Ronaldo
Two Ronaldos, even. The original, Brazilian Ronnie, is the competition’s all-time record goalscorer on 15. Cristiano, meanwhile, is hoping to lead his native Portugal to glory.
Pedro Rocha
Pedro Rocha
S is for… Sweepstakes
If one thing can make the World Cup even more exciting, it’s the office sweepstakes… unless you get Australia, that is.
For the vast majority of us, Brazil 2014 will be experienced from the comfort of our couch or local establishment.
The question is, will you tune into RTÉ, ITV or BBC?
Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
U is for… Upsets
We all enjoy a good David and Goliath-style story. Who will be this year’s Senegal v France 2002?
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
V is for… Vines
We’ve grown to love the Vine as a handy platform for sharing goals and incidents instantly. You will be seeing a whole lot of them over the next five weeks.
https://vine.co/v/MpLrh7KFg27
W is for… Worldies
As in spectacular goals. There have been plenty down through the years and we’re expecting many more. Remember this in the opening game at the 2010 finals?
From Après Match to Zidane: The A-Z of the World Cup
A is for… Après Match
The lads are back this summer. And we couldn’t be happier.
B is for… Brazuca
The official ball for the 2014 World Cup. Unlike the Jabulani in 2010, the latest effort from Adidas has received positive feedback from players so far.
C is for… Caxirola
Remember the hum of Vuvuzelas in South Africa four years ago? Well Brazilian instrument Caxirola is hoping to have the same impact this time around. God help us all.
D is for… Dark horses
Apart that elite group of favourites to win the competition, you will hear people tipping several outsiders to make an impact. Belgium’s talented group have been heavily backed while the likes Colombia and Chile are also popular each way bets.
E is for… Expectation
The hopes of a nation weigh heavily on the Brazilian team and its poster boy Neymar despite Luiz Filipe Scolari’s attempts to play down their chances of a sixth World Cup.
It has also been touted as the ideal time for Lionel Messi to cement his name alongside Pele and Maradona as one of the all-time greats by leading Argentina to victory.
F is for… Fans
Prepare yourself for TV cameras turning to shots of the crowd every opportunity they get.
G is for… Golden Boot
Ronaldo, Miroslav Klose and Thomas Mueller (below) have won the top goalscorer award in the last three tournaments. Who will earn the prize this time around?
H is for… Haircuts
In the past, we’ve had classics like Valderrama’s afro, Ronaldo’s ‘take it all off but the fringe’ and Rudi Völler’s perm.
This summer, you can look forward to:
Kyle Beckerman (USA)
Isaac Vorsah (Ghana)
Gabriel Paletta (Italy)
I is for… Injured
We’ve already lost the likes of Radamel Falcao, Christian Benteke and Thiago Alcantara due to various fitness problems, while there remains question marks over whether Luis Suarez and Diego Costa will be ready.
J is for… Just Fontaine
The Frenchman still holds the record for most goals in a single tournament after scoring 13 in 1958.
K is for… Kits
The good, the bad, and the ones that look like an ice pop. Check them all out here.
L is for… La Roja
Reigning European and world champions, can Spain go one better and win back-to-back World Cups?
M is for… Maracanã
The Rio de Janeiro stadium, reopened last year and with a capacity of 79,000, will host four matches at the finals — including the final itself on 13 July.
N is for… Newcomers
Bosnia-Herzegovina are the only nation of the 32 making their debut at the World Cup.
O is for… Olinga
Cameroon and Malaga forward Fabrice Olinga, nicknamed ‘Happy Feet’, is the youngest player at the competition at 18 years and 24 days old.
P is for… Protests
We saw them at last year’s Confederations Cup and we’re bound to see them again over the next month.
Q is for… Queiroz
Former Manchester United assistant and Portugal boss Carlos Quieroz is these days in charge of Iran, who are in Group F with Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Nigeria.
R is for… Ronaldo
Two Ronaldos, even. The original, Brazilian Ronnie, is the competition’s all-time record goalscorer on 15. Cristiano, meanwhile, is hoping to lead his native Portugal to glory.
S is for… Sweepstakes
If one thing can make the World Cup even more exciting, it’s the office sweepstakes… unless you get Australia, that is.
For a downloadable version, click here
T is for… TV
For the vast majority of us, Brazil 2014 will be experienced from the comfort of our couch or local establishment.
The question is, will you tune into RTÉ, ITV or BBC?
U is for… Upsets
We all enjoy a good David and Goliath-style story. Who will be this year’s Senegal v France 2002?
V is for… Vines
We’ve grown to love the Vine as a handy platform for sharing goals and incidents instantly. You will be seeing a whole lot of them over the next five weeks.
https://vine.co/v/MpLrh7KFg27
W is for… Worldies
As in spectacular goals. There have been plenty down through the years and we’re expecting many more. Remember this in the opening game at the 2010 finals?
X is for… Xavi
At 34, has the Spanish captain still got it in him to be the team’s creative fulcrum?
Y is for… Yaya
Arguably the best midfielder in the Premier League last year, Yaya Toure has replaced Didier Drogba as the Ivory Coast’s talisman.
Z is for… Zizou
Simply because he was one of the greatest… even if his final World Cup moment wasn’t his finest.
- Originally posted 14.30, updated 15.00.
Download your TheScore.ie office sweepstakes kit here, World Cup fans
Here’s your essential World Cup glossary of things players do with a football
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