The World Cup, possibly the most popular international sporting event, starts today in Brazil. The world is abuzz as many of soccer’s best players, representing 32 countries, seek to dethrone Spain, the reigning champion.
So, we have come up with 10 interesting facts about this year's WORLD CUP!
This year Shakira has also come up with a new WC song.
The value represents a 17 per cent increase in the prize money handed to Spain for winning the 2010 tournament in South Africa, reports Xinhua.
FIFA will award the second placed side $25 million while the third will receive $22 million.
Each of the tournament’s 32 teams will receive $1.5 million before the tournament begins to help cover their preparation costs.
Another $70 million have been set aside for indemnity payments to clubs who will be without their players during the month-long tournament.
In addition, FIFA has pledged $100 million to a legacy fund for the Brazilian government.
World Cup prize money:
Winners — $35 million
Second — $25 million
Third — $22 million
Fourth — $20 million
Quarterfinals — $14 million
Round of 16 — $9 million
Group phase — $8 million (Source:The Hindu)
So, we have come up with 10 interesting facts about this year's WORLD CUP!
1. OFFICIAL MATCH BALL - BRAZUCA
Earlier when football matches were telecasted on black and white television, the ball manufacturers were forced to make the ball black and white. But now the advanced technology has gifted us with FIFA World CUp 2014's Official Match Ball - Brazuca!
Adidas has been developing the ball for over 2 years,and had worked with many teams and players to ensure the ball was acceptable. The ball has appeared in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, DFB-Pokal (German Cup) final as well as disguised as the Adidas Cafusa in international friendly matches.
This time around, Brazil 2014 will witness just a single new nation at the finals, with Bosnia-Herzegovina ready to feature at their first major tournament.
They won the UEFA zone Group G to take their place in Brazil this year.
Here is the list of the Injured players who will be missing the World Cup this year-
1. Marco Reus - Germany
2. Franck Ribery - France
3.Radamel Falcao - Colombia
4.Victor Valdes - Spain
Also, Cristiano Ronaldo is slightly injured and couldn't play the practice match against Greece but has steadily recovered.
Reports say that Rob Van Persie - Netherlands was injured while coming back from a beach. Hilarious!
Neymar, Danny Welbeck, Luis Suarez, Theo Walcott and Pepe are reported to be slightly injured.
2. A DEBUTANT NATION
Bosnia- Herzegovina did not exist as a country until 1992 when they declared their independence from the former Yugoslavia. A month after independence, a brutal, ethnic-cleansing, civil war erupted between Serbs, Croats, and Bosnian Muslims. The war devastated the nation, and even when truce was called in late 1995, the tormented country knew things would never be the same.This time around, Brazil 2014 will witness just a single new nation at the finals, with Bosnia-Herzegovina ready to feature at their first major tournament.
They won the UEFA zone Group G to take their place in Brazil this year.
3. NEW JERSEYS AND SHOES
Nike has come up with a new Dri-Fit Technology to make the players feel comfortable. A combination of mesh panel and laser-cut ventilation will help the players to perform at their best.
It has been reported that the Italian team's jersey has a special tape which are called the massage strips; these will maximise the muscle power of these players and help them recover from exertion.
Also, the best (and maybe also the worst for some pessimists) part of this is that all these Nike World Cup Kits are made out of recycled plastic! Great isn't it?
FIFA has been learning from their ghosts of the past and has finally introduced the Goal Line Technology.
It was first introduced in the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2012 and since then it has been all praise for the technology.
The main intention is to make correct decisions and also reduce the time in making such decisions.
In addition to the Goal Line Technology, FIFA has also adopted the vanishing spray which the referees can use to mark the exact position of the wall/freekick ensuring the player does not move the ball further and making sure the wall stays atleast 10 yards away. Also the spray is eco-friendly and vanishes in minutes.It has been reported that the Italian team's jersey has a special tape which are called the massage strips; these will maximise the muscle power of these players and help them recover from exertion.
Also, the best (and maybe also the worst for some pessimists) part of this is that all these Nike World Cup Kits are made out of recycled plastic! Great isn't it?
4. GOAL LINE TECHNOLOGY
It was first introduced in the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2012 and since then it has been all praise for the technology.
The main intention is to make correct decisions and also reduce the time in making such decisions.
5.VANISHING SPRAY
6. INJURED STARS
With the World Cup starting there are many star players injured which is a sad news for their fans.Here is the list of the Injured players who will be missing the World Cup this year-
1. Marco Reus - Germany
2. Franck Ribery - France
3.Radamel Falcao - Colombia
4.Victor Valdes - Spain
Also, Cristiano Ronaldo is slightly injured and couldn't play the practice match against Greece but has steadily recovered.
Reports say that Rob Van Persie - Netherlands was injured while coming back from a beach. Hilarious!
Neymar, Danny Welbeck, Luis Suarez, Theo Walcott and Pepe are reported to be slightly injured.
7. TIME FOR A NEW OFFICIAL WORLD CUP SONG!
Last year's official WC song was Waka Waka by Shakira. This year Pitbull has stepped up to deliver the Official WC song.
This year Shakira has also come up with a new WC song.
8. SUCCEEDING PAUL THE OCTOPUS
Check out the successor of Paul the Octopus here>>>> http://ironytech.blogspot.in/2014/06/brazils-answer-to-paul-octopus.html
This year's Offical Mascot is Fuleco- a Brazilian three-banded armadillo wearing a white T-shirt reading, "Brasil 2014." The Brazilian three-banded armadillo is found only in Brazil and is classified as a vulnerable species, and the selection of Fuleco brings attention to Brazil's great biodiversity. The name Fuleco is a portmanteau of the words "Futebol" ("Football") and "Ecologia" ("Ecology").9. OFFICIAL MASCOTS
10. THE JACKPOT
The 2014 World Cup champions will receive $35 million in prize money, world football’s governing body FIFA announced in Salvador on Thursday.The value represents a 17 per cent increase in the prize money handed to Spain for winning the 2010 tournament in South Africa, reports Xinhua.
FIFA will award the second placed side $25 million while the third will receive $22 million.
Each of the tournament’s 32 teams will receive $1.5 million before the tournament begins to help cover their preparation costs.
Another $70 million have been set aside for indemnity payments to clubs who will be without their players during the month-long tournament.
In addition, FIFA has pledged $100 million to a legacy fund for the Brazilian government.
World Cup prize money:
Winners — $35 million
Second — $25 million
Third — $22 million
Fourth — $20 million
Quarterfinals — $14 million
Round of 16 — $9 million
Group phase — $8 million (Source:The Hindu)
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