All against Brazil. The World Cup begins with the hosts facing Croatia (without Mandzukic, who is suspended) and above all defying the predictions of half the world. In fact, there have been many who indicate the green-and-gold as winners: from the supporters of the "home" World Cup, which already brought good luck to Italy, Germany, Argentina and France but who here instead remember with the terrible Maracanazo (or Maracanaço, in the local version ) of 1950, to the press ready to crown Neymar as the new Pele, and even to financial analysts and public opinion itself.
According to a survey by New York Times in fact, conducted in 20 of the 32 countries participating in the World Cup, in all but three countries they take Brazil's victory for granted, seeing their national team reach the final at most. The opposing bastians are the reigning champions of Spain, now accustomed to winning and reluctant to indicate others as favourites, the United States, which from the top of their winning mentality in every field really believe they can also bring home the World Cup, and then of course Argentina's all-time rivals, who dream of the coup.
Although in fact the Maracanaço was not their work but of Uruguay (not consulted by the NY Times), the ones from whom the Brazilians would never want to lose are the Argentines: this is confirmed by the ranking, also drawn up by the US newspaper, of the "gufate", according to which while the people from Rio Plateau believe in their team but recognize (39%) that the green-and-gold cousins play the best football, the latter indicate Albiceleste as the first team to kick their feet. More than one out of three Brazilians says so, 34%, while even 6% rank among the "world-skeptics" and own their national team.
And so, while instead in Buenos Aires and its surroundings the most hated team remains England (the curious choice of some, including the Italians, to indicate for obvious political reasons the USA and Iran, and other oddities such as the Portuguese who gufano France and not Spain, the English Russia and not Germany or Argentina and the Germans who wish the worst fate to none other than Honduras!), in Curitiba, in southern Brazil, it happens that during the Argentina matches a local will offer a beer for each goal conceded by hermanos and in case of defeat of the Argentines there will be a buy 1 get 3 promotion.
But now, between beers, celebrations and owls, it's time to let the field speak. Indeed, the New York Times has also tried to predict, always asking the fans, who will play the best game: and precisely in the land of football, which hosts a World Cup and is convinced of winning it, the Spanish tiki-taka remains in fashion, perhaps excessively underestimated in the latest starting grids drawn up in the old continent. The feeling that the Roja cycle is closed, at least from the point of view of the game, is at this point an all-European impression: even in Costa Rica and Japan they vote for Sergio Ramos and his companions.
The challenge, however, is not only between Brazil, Argentina and Spain. Many indicate Uruguay, perhaps more for the romantic (and sadistic) re-enactment of 1950 than for real technical expectations (a lot depends on Suarez's recovery), and then there are always – although some argue that for climatic reasons it will be the South American – the usual European, with Germany in pole position and Italy as outsiders. However, it will hardly be the World Cup of the "first time": the national teams that have won so far are 8, and broadly speaking those 8 should play it again this time. There would be the eternal second Holland, but this expedition doesn't seem to be among the most competitive, it could surprise Belgium while for Africans and Asians it still seems too soon. Certainly however, in Brazil it will be the first time for Pjanic and Dzeko's Bosnia: a country of less than 4 million inhabitants, independent since 1992, makes its debut among the greats.
