Just hours are left for the start of the 20th edition of the Football World Cup, which begins in Sao Paulo, Brazil later tonight. The much-awaited month-long tournament will begin with an opening ceremony at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo that will feature live performances from some of the biggest stars of the world.
The ceremony will take place around a glowing spherical centerpiece symbolizing a soccer ball. Made of 90,000 light clusters, the ball will have a total luminance of 7,000 Lux. Around 600 artists, including acrobatic gymnasts, martial arts-style performers and stilt walkers will also take part in the event.
The tournament opener, a Pool-A fixture between hosts Brazil and Croatia, will follow the opening ceremony. The match will be played at 1:30 am, Indian Time.
Thirty two teams have been divided into 8 groups. The opening or the group stage will be a round-robin competition, and top two teams of each group will advance to the knock-out stage.
Our correspondent taking a look at some of the young kids on the block says even though the names of Messi, Ronaldo, Lahm, Iniesta and Pirlo are doing the rounds, young guns will play an important role in this World Cup in Brazil, as stamina is what you need in South American conditions. Neymar and Oscar, the Brazilian sensations, will have a lot of responsibility on their young shoulders, with the hosts desperately wanting to regain the coveted Gold Cup.
As Germany has been hit by an injury plague, a lot would rely on Bayern Munich's Mario Goetze. With Xavi and Iniesta in the Spanish squad, it will be interesting how Koke would play. England, even though, are not the favourites, has a pair of young legs, Raheem Sterling.
Young Frenchmen, Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane, can also cut through any strategy with their ability to dictate play.
With Belgium emerging as a dark horse, Lukaku, Courtoise, and Januzaj would leave no stone unturned to take their team past the quarters. Besides, there are players like Swiss Ricardo Rodriguez, Columbia's James Rodriguez and Ivory Coast's Serge Aurier who could make headlines this time round.
