THE BRAZUCA STARTS ROLLING

We're almost there, and yet it's so far away. The FIFA World Cup 2014 draw has been concluded and the groups have been defined. Now comes the painful stage where we must wait patiently for half a year for the action to commence.
The draw took place last Friday. The ceremony opened with a tribute to the late Nelson Mandela. As for the draws, I won't complain. We get plenty of action right off the bat and as a neutral, you have to love that.
Group A features Brazil, Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon. While Brazil are favourites to go through, any of the other 3 teams are capable of going through as well. Mexico and Croatia in particular will be fighting hard for the 2nd spot. 
Group B consists of defending champion Spain as well as the runners-up Netherlands and we'll have a repeat of the final of the last WC on the second day. Australia and Chile will have to beat all odds to go through to the knockout stages. What this also means is that if Brazil do go through as group champions from Group A (which they should), and both Spain and Netherlands go through from Group B, as is expected, Brazil might well be facing either Spain or Netherlands. I personally am rooting against Spain. The domination has gone on long enough, gentlemen (and ladies). We need a new champion from the masses.
Colombia, Ivory Coast, Japan and Greece are in Group C. Colombia have been the surprise package over the past footballing calendar and with the deadly Radamel Falcao, they ended up as one of the top seeds in the draw. Their meteoric rise from the wilderness does put some pressure on them but expect them to go through along with either one of Ivory Coast and Japan, barring an upset by the ever cagey Greeks. 

Meanwhile, South American champions Uruguay, Euro 2012 finalists Italy, Costa Rica and England are all lumped into one big melting pot. The real 'Group of Death', for me. Costa Rica -- we can count out. But any of the other three may go through and it is impossible to call this. Gun to my head, I'll go with Italy and England, despite Suarez's unbelievable form of late.
Switzerland, Honduras, Ecuador and France are in Group E. France should be qualifying without too much trouble and there has been a lot of grumbling in some quarters about the French being very lucky with the draw. The whole 'Pot X' scenario certainly favoured the French, who were the lowest unseeded team having just scraped through the qualifiers. Switzerland are favourites to go through, as well. Of course, nothing is set in stone.
Argentina, Nigeria, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina are in Group F. Bosnia-Herzegovina are the only debutants at next year's finals and they will take hope from their remarkable journey. Nigeria and Argentina look favourites to go through, and this particular fixture now seems to be a constant international match. 
Group G is the tournament's other Group of Death, containing Germany, Ghana, United States and Portugal. With Cristiano Ronaldo hell-bent on making the tag 'Best Player in the World' his own with his astounding scoring spree, the Portuguese have in their arsenal a player to single-handedly win them games. I fancy Germany to actually go on and win the whole thing, especially seeing as Bayern did the treble last season and should be high on confidence. I really don't want to see Spain do four-in-a-row. Yes, I am biased. Bite me. 
Belgium, South Korea, Algeria and Russia complete the draw in Group H. With the squad Belgium have come up with, Russia and Belgium look likely to go through to the round of 16 although it would be churlish to count out the Koreans after their heroics back in 2002.
I honestly am happy with the draws. Since I am not really rooting for any of the teams, I am not too sad to see all these so called Group of Deaths. This just adds more drama and excitement from the very start and ensures we don't have a slow start to the competition. As I already mentioned, I fancy Germany to win the damned thing but Brazil are always favourites in any competition (even more so in this one, given they are the hosts and playing football in the Americas is a different ball game altogether) and Netherlands will be desperate to win it. Spain will be heading into the Cup with their heads held high ready to win four major trophies in a row. No team has ever done that but then again, no team has ever done three in a row either before (or after) Spain.