The FIFA World Cup 2014 is now less than 50 days away. Germany and Spain may be the favorites to start off with but a lot of eyes will be on two talismanic players who are right now at the peak of their powers; Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. It remains to be seen which one of these makes this World Cup their own with their performances.
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The grandest stage in world football will be upon us very soon. The biggest prize in the football is up for grabs with 32 nations competing for the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy. The eyes of the football fraternity will be on Brazil who will undoubtedly hope to put up a spectacular show for the world to watch. While the European giants Germany and Spain will once again be favorites to lift the trophy, we take a look at a couple of players from other countries, who could very well make this stage, their own.
Two contrasting personalities, two contrasting playing styles and two contrasting seasons; Rooney and Ronaldo have had unique build ups to the FIFA World Cup proper. Ronaldo has gone from strength to strength, scoring goals, winning the Balon dai??i??Or, winning the Copa del Rey, in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League and in the hunt for the La Liga title too. Rooney on the other hand has seen his form hit an upper note but his club have gone nowhere this past season. Let us take a look at what lies in store for them in the FIFA World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo ai??i?? on the brink of Megastardom
He may have been the worldai??i??s best while at Real Madrid and won a host of trophies and awards so far but the one trophy apart from the European championship that continues to elude the Portuguese superstar is the FIFA World Cup. He is probably the complete footballer that one would look for but he would undoubtedly be looking at the FIFA World Cup trophy to add that tag to his name.
The fans would want to believe that the spectacular play-off show down with Zlatan Ibrahimovic was just a teaser trailer of what awaits the world in the tournament proper. Captain of the side, penalty and free kick taker and owning the majority of the goal scoring responsibility; Cristiano Ronaldo does all with consummate ease. What will be interesting to see is whether he is able to convert his superb league form with Real Madrid onto the national stage at the FIFA World Cup. A lot will depend not only on him but how he forges partnerships with his not-so illustrious team mates.
Wayne Rooney ai??i?? on the road to Redemption
England may not be one of the odds on favorite and may also be in the ai???group of deathai??? alongside heavyweights like Italy and Uruguay, but that will not deter the spirit of a certain individual who goes by the name of Wayne Rooney. He has the heart of a lion and the spirit of a warrior but often that side of his game fails to show up in its full bloom at the biggest events in international football. Add to that, the frustrations of having a wretched and disastrous season with Manchester United and missing out on European football next season. Although, this could very well be the impetus and the push that he needs to break the shackles and be the talisman that England will so badly need at the FIFA World Cup.
We all know that on his day, Wayne Rooney can be unstoppable but he will need to bring out this A game of his in this tournament. At this age when he is at the peak of his powers as a footballer, he would want to end a terrible season with a glimmering trophy for his country which would be much more than just redemption.
Both players will have memories of a disappointing campaign in 2010 in South Africa and will want to replace it with fond memories of this year. Of Rooney and Ronaldo, neither may end up with the FIFA World Cup trophy but, on the grandest stage of them all, both still have their work-in-progress legacies to play for.
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