The Selecao is always treated as favourites, so we’re aware of our responsibility, and the goal is always to enter every competition to win, and the World Cup is no different.
After the World Cup, I feel more mature, more confident.
Any game in the World Cup is a tough game. The atmosphere brings a lot out of both teams.
I tried golf for a while, but I wasn’t very good at it, so I didn’t play a lot of golf. I enjoy all sports, not just football. I like basketball, baseball, and I got into the World Cup. So really, sports in general are my life, and football specifically.
With respect to Qatar as a country that wants to grow, you can’t have a World Cup in a country that doesn’t have football.
This country just has a different set of priorities. It’s the same thing with soccer as with volleyball. If soccer is going to struggle to have a pro league after the most successful World Cup in history, it’s even more of a struggle for other sports.
There was a tremendous amount of disappointment in missing the World Cup finals in 1998, so they’re getting excited about this one and I really think we could do well in the Far East.
Everybody in Argentina can remember ‘the hand of God’ in the England match in the 1986 World Cup. Now, in my country, the ‘hand of God’ has brought us an Argentinian pope.
Every team going to Brazil 2014 will be there to win, and it’s going to be a fiercely contested World Cup.
The whole kiss-and-tell thing is a negative approach that often happens in a World Cup. We will see negative stories about the players and it can affect their confidence and the overall performance of the national team on the pitch, let alone the bid to actually stage the competition.
When you win the World Cup, you start to become a legend – for the people around the world, you are different.
I still can’t believe I’m going to a World Cup.
A lot of things have to come together to win a World Cup.
I still have many goals left, especially the Overall World Cup standings.
Growing up, playing in a World Cup, scoring in a World Cup, is what you dream about.
It’s like a rugby team. If you’re picking for the World Cup final, you’re picking experience with youth. Everything is better off having that balance and that mix. I think that, especially, goes for the monarchy as well.
Just in a matter of eight months to win the U-19 World Cup as captain and then make the Test team is quite unreal.
God helped me crown my football career with a participation in the World Cup.
I won the title three times with Ajax; I played in the Champions League final and won the league title with Atletico. I have also played in the World Cup.
Getting the opportunity to play in your national team jersey and playing the World Cup at home is something wonderful.
The World Cup is a unique event. When you see a blue shirt in a bar or in a pub, you immediately think of Italy. Scoring for your nation was a wonderful experience.
The only ones who would be happy if Messi doesn’t go to the World Cup would be Maradona fans because, that way, they can keep saying that he’s the best.
The first one is your first World Cup, so you go into it with a lot of pressure, trying to take it all in, but you are just so focused.
Nobody is offered a World Cup.
When I think back to the 2006 World Cup on home soil, we came close but nobody really expected us to get very far. We simply lost to a better team and Italy went on to win it.
I played my first World Cup game against South Africa where I scored 97 runs before being run-out by Jonty Rhodes.
It is very hard to win the World Cup twice in a row.
In 1999, we went into the World Cup with a string of victories behind us but we could not handle the pressure and ended up letting ourselves down.
The World Cup is the biggest party in football and it’s a party for the world, it’s incredible. It goes for a month and there is a huge amount of interest. It’s the greatest thing you can do and it’s beautiful.
Winning the World Cup is definitely the highlight of my career. I thought the gold medal at the Olympics would peak it, but winning the World Cup, the reception… it’s what we all dreamed of when we were little.
Leading my country out at the World Cup was something I’ll never forget.
For me, ever since the South Africa World Cup, the French team is part of the past.
The best thing to do is to find the type of play to make Italy win the World Cup, and maybe Baggio be the best player.
The first important thing is representing the country. That feeling will always be there, be it World Cup or any other tournament.
I think every national team has the same possibilities to win the World Cup.
To represent a country, qualify for the World Cup, and get a team to perform at the right moment in time would be great honour for me.
I was on a high after the Under-17 World Cup, with the manager talking about me a bit.
Something you look at when you go into a World Cup is your depth and your players that change the game.
I have always wanted to play in the World Cup.
Of course Lothar Matthaus is always going to be associated with the 1990 World Cup. But does everyone immediately remember what titles Gunter Netzer, Johan Cruyff or Luis Figo won? Or do they also think about how those players played their football and how they led their teams?
I love watching the game, and I loved watching the World Cup.
If you are playing in any team or even if you represent your country, some pressure is there. This is a World Cup so all the eyes are on you.
Having the opportunity to join the FOX family as a soccer analyst in their Moscow studio for what will be my third World Cup is amazing.
You think about past World Cups – in 2006, it was a fantastic Brazil team, but we did not do so well that year. In 2010, the same: it did not go far, either – only the quarter-finals. But in ’94 and 2002, Brazil did not play the best football but won the World Cup; they found a way to win.
It is a childhood dream to be in the World Cup.
I have played the World Cup qualifiers on the left wing, and that position suits me fine.
The goal is to win the World Cup for India but my personal goal is representing India in Tests.
Our journey has taken 21 players but our goal is still the same, to win the World Cup.
To actually play a game, where you are in the World Cup, there is significance to it, the point differential matters, all these things kind of add up.
Being part of the World Cup team is definitely very special for any cricketer.
It would be a dream to go to my first World Cup.
Everyone wants to be a part of the World Cup and to play for the country.
Klinsmann was the shining hero of the 2006 World Cup when Bayern took him on.
Winning the World Cup was a dream come true after so many years of wanting something so bad. After that final whistle, I dropped to the ground on my knees and got emotional.
We get to play every team before the World Cup, touring in different conditions besides a few series at home. It gives a lot of opportunities to the youngsters. As we play more, we get to see who a quality player is and what plans and strategies would work for the team.
Once the World Cup preparations begin there will hardly be an opportunity to do so, since we’ll have to put all our energy into the team. We coaches have a list of priorities and dealing with the media isn’t in the top five.
All I can focus on is playing as many games as I can at the highest level. If that leads me to the World Cup, then brilliant. It’s certainly a target of mine.
We South Africans are also crazy about football, so the World Cup can be nothing but successful.
Coming off the back of the World Cup, it is important you get that rest.
It’s going to be a massive honour to represent your country, if selected, for the World Cup.
I will be a World Cup winner.
Scoring a goal in a World Cup was my dream as a little girl. I didn’t really dream of being in ‘Maxim’ when I was 5.
Honestly, during the 2018 World Cup itself, I was saying T20 World Cup was going to be my last.
Even before the World Cup in 2010 I had said that there were no world champions who aim to stifle the opposition’s play and somehow hope to win. These teams do not go far.
I have reasons to believe that I could win the World Cup, but I take it one race at a time.
The shot of Kapil Dev kissing the World Cup and hordes of Indian fans all over at Lord’s is etched in my memory. Every Indian is proud of that victory, and every Indian player who has played the World Cup after that ’83 win wants to bring the Cup home.
The Qualifier is a different standard to what we will face in the World Cup in England. The conditions will be different, the pressure is different, double or treble what we faced here. This will give a base for all the young players rather than go into World Cup raw.
First, you have to play good football so that you get to play for a good team. Then, hopefully, you achieve such a level that you are invited to play for your national side, in time for a World Cup if possible. Then, obviously, play a good World Cup. That’s my dream.
Ultimately it’s your club form that decides whether you play at a World Cup because there aren’t many England games throughout the season.
