Italy, Argentina, Germany, Spain and Brazil. Top Five Favorites to Win the World Cup Brazil 2014

5. Italy
The 2006 World Champions will be looking to repeat the feat they miraculously succeeded with almost a decade ago. Italian head coach Cesare Prandelli will be hoping the experience of Gianlouigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo, and Daniele De Rossi will lead The Azzuri to another World Cup Title. The squad boasts quality and experience in all areas of the pitch. However, there are huge question marks whether the experienced Italian players will be able to cope with the relatively tough conditions in Brazil. There are also question marks over Mario Balotelli\'s and Giuseppe Rossi\'s form heading into the competition. Italy has all the proper ingredients; however, injuries and lack of fitness and form may be a major hindrance for this experienced but rather old outfit. Andrea Pirlo and Buffon will have to play to their best in a hostile Brazil for any hope for the Italians to get through to the latter stages.

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4. Argentina
Arguably hosting the strongest attack in World Football, Argentina can see themselves as strong contenders for the title. An attack that includes the likes of Aguero, Lavezzi, Higuain, Di Maria, and none other then Messi himself is truly one to behold and to reckon with. It will be enough to carry them through their own group. However the true test is reserved for the defensive part of the Argentina squad. Coach Alejandro Sabella does not have a defense that matches that of his offense, and question marks have been raised for not calling up the likes of Willy Caballero, who again had a fantastic season with his Spanish club Malaga. Sabella will surely look to his offense to carry the day. However, whether or not he will able to avoid a repeat of the 4-0 drubbing suffered at the hands of Joachim Loew\'s Germany in the 2010 World Cup will be the hardest challenge to overcome. Argentina can be encouraged however that they are playing in the familiar territory and climate, which will certainly aid their world class front against tired defenses. The squad also finished at the top of their South American World Cup Qualifying group, which featured the likes of Falcao\'s Colombia and Vidal\'s Chile, so they will be going into the competition with supreme confidence. They can do it, but Sabella\'s tactics will be as crucial as Lionel Messi and his surrounding offense.

3. Germany
Once again Joachem Loew\'s side will be considered one of the hot favorites going into an international tournament. Germany has a side that is considered one of the finest from top to bottom. The team will surely combine a mixture of mostly players from Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, the two German club sides that represented the Champions League Final in the 2012/2013 season. The side combines an energetic and talented line of Toni Kroos, Mesut Oezil, Mario Goetze, Thomas Mueller, and Marco Reus with the experience of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Phillip Lahm and Manuel Neuer. However, question marks will rise whether or not the German side will have the mentality strong enough to conquer the harsh Brazilian climate while playing against the inevitable tougher sides in the tournament. They already face a handy test in their own group, which features a strong Ghana, a Cristiano Ronaldo - led Portugal, and the unpredictable USA. They are favorites against these sides, however the true test will be against their European Rivals Spain and Italy, as well as South American powerhouses Argentina and Brazil. They have already faced a stern test against Chile earlier this year, while the 4-4 collapses against Zlatan Ibrahimovic\'s Sweden in the World Cup Qualifying stages will surely be an episode they would be eager to forget. There will also be concerns about Joachim Loew\'s tactical changes, which were vastly exposed against Italy in the 2010 European Championship. Germany has the squad to compete with the best, but do they have the mental capacity to match with their quality?

2. Spain
The European and World Champions will be looking for an unprecedented back-to-back World Cup triumph in Brazil. The Spain squad is the most complete in the world, with a plethora of talent in Xavi, Iniesta, David Silva, Diego Costa, Javi Martinez, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, and much, much more. They also will have the swagger as reigning champions with as much as belief as anyone else they can go all the way in the tournament. Apart from that, three out of the four Clubs that played in the major European competitions were from La Liga, the Spanish league. On paper, they have no weakness. They have a seasoned goalkeeper in Casillas with a world-class center back pairing in front of him with Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos. The midfield is rich with talent, having the infamous duo in Xavi and Iniesta, as well as maestros in David Silva and Juan Mata. The attack is now joined by an inform Diego Costa (however there are injury concerns) that will give the champions an extra dimension in their play. However, like every other European nation, there are concerns whether the Spain squad can deal with the humid climate in Brazil as the tournament wears on. Spain should be able to deal with this aspect the best however, since Del Bosque has the deepest squad in World football. The biggest concern is whether or not Spain is able to diversify their possession gameplay. After all, they were exposed ruthlessly against Hosts Brazil in the 2013 Confederations Final, where Brazil executed a perfect counter-attacking strategy, humiliating the European contingent 3-0. Possession Football has been exposed at a much more regular basis in Club football as well. Spain will have to utilize the diverse quality and adopt different strategies or they will have to pull off a perfect game plan of possession football if they want to achieve a back-to-back World title.

1. Brazil
The hosts will be seen as the team to beat for World Cup 2014. They might not have the star - studded attack or the complete squads of Germany and Spain, but they have a mental and psychological edge over the rest of the contenders. There is certainly enough believe within head coach Scolari\'s camp that they can go all the way, especially with their performances in the 2013 Brazil Confederations Cup when they soundly beat Italy and Spain. The Brazilian crowds will certainly act as their 12th man, as they are desperate to land another major International Trophy in where else then their own country. Phillip Scolari will surely look to none other than Neymar, whom many mark to be the long time successor to Brazilian Legend Pele. Besides the Brazilian #10, Brazil has a fantastic and sturdy foundation of Thiago Silva and David Luiz to build on. Their midfield is physical as it is talented, with the likes of Luiz Gustavo, Paulinho, and Fernandinho able to hold their own as well as be very combative against any topside in the World. The Brazil squad may not be as talented as past squads, but they have the personnel, quality, and belief to make the entire trip to the final. They will be able to cope with the rather tough climate the best out of any other major contender, and they are heartened by the fact that they have already tested their mettle against Europe\'s finest in last year\'s competition. Brazil has the best chance of finally ending Spain\'s dominance.

Michael Skok
Football Editor
for www.Poland.us