Posted on 05/30/2014 12:57:10 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
England's remarkably serene build-up to the World Cup includes agreeing player bonuses for Brazil with the minimum of fuss well in advance of the big kick-off.
The squad are understood to be on around £350,000 each for winning the tournament, with the deal heavily incentivised for progressing through the group stage.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
In a 67-page preview of the tournament, based on a stochastic analysis of competitive international football fixtures since 1960, the investment bank predicts the host nation will triumph 3-1 in the final.
Stephen Hawking breaks down England's World Cup odds
Famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking has mulled over some of the greatest mysteries in the universe, but now he’s being faced with the greatest challenge of his professional career: figuring out how England can actually win the World Cup.
England plays better while wearing red.
The No. 10, of course, represents the playmaker -- usually the most important player on the team. The number worn in bygone years by Pele, Diego Maradona, Michel Platini. Today, by Lionel Messi.
For the USA, in the most recent World Cups, the No. 10 was worn by Landon Donovan, Claudio Reyna and Tab Ramos. It became available last week when Jurgen Klinsmann cut Donovan.
Roy Hodgson's side fly to Miami for a training camp the day after facing the South Americans and will not play in front of their own fans again until a Euro 2016 qualifier against San Marino on October 9.
By then the World Cup will be long gone, but two weeks ahead of England's opening match against Italy in the Brazilian city of Manaus on June 14, there is all to play for.
Wayne Rooney unveils World Cup playlist
Wayne Rooney has unveiled his personal World Cup playlist on Spotify.
You may think that he'd choose some upbeat, inspirational bangers to get him in the zone while training in Rio. Well, not quite.
Bizarrely, he has chosen some downright mellow tracks, including the sobfest that is 'Goodbye My Lover' by James Blunt
The Manchester United legend claimed his former team-mate had been in decline for the last two years.
1. Go to Scandinavia and celebrate Midsummer
None of the Scandinavian countries even qualified, so chances are they’re probably about as fussed about keeping track as you are.
He also elaborated on remarks last week in which he said he was "ashamed" of the delays in preparing for the tournament, which kicks off June 12.
"My shame is for the people, who were hoping for major investments, that's the great legacy of the Cup for us. They were expecting a lot and they're the ones most hurt by the situation," he said.
You could offer them any amount of money, but they won’t do very well, cuz they’re not very good. In fact they might be one of the poorest England teams ever to go to the World Cup, they don’t have to play anyone decent to qualify and they hardly even got past Montenegro, a definite second-tier team. I think they have to play Uruguay in the first round — game over.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-30/world-cup-racism-undercuts-brazil-we-are-equal-campaign.htmlThe Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Song We Are One (Ole Ola)
You could offer them any amount of money, but they won’t do very well, cuz they’re not very good. In fact they might be one of the poorest England teams ever to go to the World Cup, they don’t have to play anyone decent to qualify and they hardly even got past Montenegro, a definite second-tier team. I think they have to play Uruguay in the first round — game over.Steven Gerrard: 'Stupid, naive to say England will win World Cup'
Muller: I want Golden Boot again
Germany international Thomas Muller has set his sights on winning the Golden Boot again at this summer's World Cup in Brazil.
The Bayern Munich attacker scored five goals and gave three assists to pip David Villa, Wesley Sneijder and Diego Forlan to the individual award at the 2010 tournament in South Africa and he's keen to become the first player in history to win the trophy twice in a row.
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