billsportsmaps.com

February 27, 2014

2014 FIFA World Cup teams: England (UEFA), prominent players in 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (theoretical best XI for England, with 8 other player-options listed).

Filed under: England National Team — admin @ 3:44 pm




England national team. UEFA (Europe). Nickname: The Three Lions. Home jersey: white with dark blue trim.
-England is in Group D (with Costa Rica, Italy, and Uruguay), ‘2014 FIFA World Cup Group D‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification: 14th qualification out of 17 tries. [2014 is the 20th FIFA World Cup/ England did not seek qualification n the first three World Cups (1930, 1934, 1938)].
England has qualified for the World Cup in: 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014.

Previous WC finish: 2010, Round of 16 (1-2-1).
Highest WC finish:
1966, Champions (5-1-0).

Population of England: 56.1 million {2012 estimate}. Capital & largest city: London, pop.15.0 million (metro area) {2012 estimate}.

From World Soccer Talk, from 12 May 2014, by Christopher Harris, ‘England Manager Roy Hodgson Names 23-Man Squad For World Cup 2014‘ (worldsoccertalk.com).

England coach, Roy Hodgson. Roy Hodgson.
England squad captain, Liverpool MF & captain Steven Gerrard. Steven Gerrard.

Below, England squad, updated, with players from final 2014 World Cup roster…
Below: Theoretical Best XI for England (with 8 other player-options further below) -
england_2014-fifa-world-cup_squad_best-xi_alternate-options_r-hodgson_may-2014_z2_.gif
Photo and Image credits above -
England 2013-14 home jersey badge from ‘England 150 anniversary badge & Nike font‘ (switchimageproject.blogspot.com).
England 2013-14 home jersey, photo from footballshirtculture.com/13/14-kits/england-2013-nike-home-150th-anniversary-football-shirt.
England/Great Britain within Europe map, by Alphathon at ‘File:England in the UK and Europe.svg’ (en.wikipedia.org).
England map by Nilfanion at ‘File:England relief location map.jpg‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Coach,
Roy Hodgson, photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Goalkeeper,
Joe Hart (Manchester City), photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Defenders,
Glen Johnson (Liverpool), photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe via zimbo.com.
Phil Jagielka (Everton), photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Gary Cahill (Chelsea), photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Leighton Baines (Everton), photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Midfielders,
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain RW/AM (Arsenal), photo by PA via bbc.co.uk/football.
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), photo fromballs.ie/football.
Frank Lampard (Chelsea), photo by Paul Thomas/Getty Images Europe) via zimbio.com.
Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), photo by Matt King/Getty Images AsiaPac via zimbio.com.
Forwards,
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), photo by Getty Images via dailystar.co.uk/sport/football.
Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), photo by Phil Oldham/Colorsport/Corbis via theguardian.com/football/blog.
Other player-options,
Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
James Milner (Manchester City), photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Ross Barkley MF (Everton), photo unattributed at planetpmcsport.blogspot.com.
Adam Lalanna LM/AM/RM (Southampton), photo unattributed at shoot.co.uk.
Raheem Sterling RW/LW (Liverpool), photo unattributed at thesun.co.uk/football.
Phil Jones CB/RB (Manchester United), photo by Laurence Griffith/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Jordan Henderson CM/AM/RM (Liverpool), photo by Clive Brunskill at Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Ricky Lambert FW (Liverpool), photo by Getty Images via metro.co.uk
___
Thanks to the contributors at ‘2014 FIFA World Cup qualification‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Thanks to the contributors at ‘England national football team‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Thanks to http://www.transfermarkt.com/en/, for player-position details.
Thanks to Soccerway.com, for recent squad line-ups, at int.soccerway.com/international/europe/wc-qualifying-europe/2014-brazil/1st-round/r15653/.

February 25, 2014

2014 FIFA World Cup teams: Ecuador (CONMEBOL), prominent players in 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (theoretical best XI for Ecuador, with 2 other player-options listed).

Filed under: Ecuador — admin @ 12:37 pm



Ecuador national team. CONMEBOL (South America). Nickname: La Tri (Tri-color). Home jersey: Yellow, with blue and red trim.
-Ecuador is in Group E (with France, Honduras, and Switzerland), ‘2014 FIFA World Cup Group E‘ (en.wikipedia.org).

2014 FIFA World Cup qualification: 2014 is Ecuador’s 3rd qualification out of a 15 possible qualification attempts [2014 is the 20th World Cup]. Aside from attempting to qualify for the 1950 FIFA World Cup but then withdrawing mid-way, Ecuador did not seek qualification for a FIFA World Cup until the 1962 qualifiers – so counting the 1950 attempt, 2014 is Ecuador’s 3rd qualification out of 15 tries.
Ecuador has qualified for the FIFA World Cup in: 2002, 2006, 2014. Previous WC: 2006, Round of 16 / 2-0-2. Highest WC finish: 2006.

Population of Ecuador: 15.2 million {2011 estimate}. Capital: Quito, pop. 2.5 million (metro area) {2011 figure}. Largest city: Guayaquil, pop. 3.7 million (metro area) {2009 figure}.

Ecuador coach, Reinaldo Rueda. Reinaldo Rueda.
Ecuador squad captain, Manchester United’s MF/Winger Antonio Valencia. Antonio Valencia.

Below: Theoretical Best XI for Ecuador (with 2 other player-options further below) -
ecuador_2014-fifa-world-cup_squad-xi_alternate-options_h.gif
Photo and Image credits -
Ecuador home jersey, photo from socceronsale.com.
Map of Ecuador on globe, by Addicted04 at en.wikipedia.org, ‘File:Ecuador (orthographic projection).svg‘.
Map of Ecuador by NordNordWest at ‘File:Ecuador location map.svg‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Coach,
Ecuador coach, Reinaldo Rueda, photo by El Tiempo via futbolred.com.
Goalkeeper,
Alexander Domínguez (LDU Quito), photo from lahora.com.ec.
Defenders,
Juan Carlos Paredes (SC Barcelona), photo by Universo via marcador.ec/notas.
Frickson Erazo (Flamengo), photo from mengaodecoracao.com.br.
Jorge Guagua (Emelec), photo from benditofutbol.com/futbol-nacional
Walter Ayoví (Pachuca), photo from Mexsport via record.com.mx.
Midfielders,
Antonio Valencia (Manchester United), photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe) via zimbio.com.
Segundo Castillo (Al-Hilal [Saudi Arabia]), video image from video at lared.com.ec/icastillo-marco-en-la-victoria-de-al-hilal.
Christian Noboa (Dynamo Moscow), photo by Epsilon/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Jefferson Montero (Morelia), photo from teradeportes.com/futbol.
Forwards,
Enner Valencia (Pachuca), photo from eluniverso.com/deportes.
Felipe Caicedo (Lokomotiv Moscow), photo by Рыбакова Елена (Rybakou Elena) at ‘File:Felipe Caicedo 2012.jpg‘ (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Felipe_Caicedo).
Other player-options,
Renato Ibarra RW/MF (Vitesse Arnhem), photo by Getty Images at gettyimages.co.uk.
Joao Rojas LW/FW/RW (Cruz Azul), photo by Roberto Maya/Mexsport via deportes.terra.es/futbol.

___
Thanks to the contributors at ‘2014 FIFA World Cup qualification‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Thanks to the contributors at ‘Ecuador national football team‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Thanks to http://www.transfermarkt.com/en/, for player-position details.
Thanks to the contributors at ‘Selección de fútbol de Ecuador‘ (es.wikipedia.org).

February 21, 2014

2014 FIFA World Cup teams: Croatia (UEFA), prominent players in 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (theoretical best XI for Croatia, with 4 other player-options listed).

Filed under: Croatia — admin @ 5:00 pm




Croatia national team. UEFA (Europe). Nickname: Vatreni (the Blazers). Home jersey: red-and-white checkerboard; blue pants.
-Croatia is in Group A (with Brazil, Cameroon, and Mexico), ‘2014 FIFA World Cup Group A‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification: 2014 is Croatia’s 4th qualification out of 5 tries. [1930 to 1990, competed as part of Yugoslavia; 1994, could not enter.]
Croatia has qualified for the World Cup in: 1998, 2002, 2006, 2014.

Previous WC finish: 2006, Group Stage (0-2-1). Highest WC finish: 1998, Third Place (5-0-2).

Population of Croatia: 4.2 million {2011 census}. Capital and largest city: Zagreb, pop. 1.1 million (metro area) {2011 census}.

-Croatia coach, Niko Kovač. Niko Kovač. Besides a long career in the Bundesliga (with Hertha Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburger SV, and Bayern Munich), Kovac had 84 caps as a MF for Croatia, from 1996 to 2008. After retiring as a Red Bull Salzburg player in 2009, Kovac became a coach at that Austrian club’s academy. In January 2013, he and his brother Robert Kovac became dual-coaches of the Croatia U-21 team. Nine months later in October 2013, Niko Kovac (with his brother along as an assistant coach) replaced Igor Štimac as Croatia national team coach. Stimac was sacked after Croatia slouched its way into the World Cup qualifiers’ playoffs, having taken only one point from their last four qualifiers. Croatia then beat Iceland 2-0 aggregate in the playoffs, to give Croatia the much-enviable and rather impressive record of 4 World Cup qualifications in 5 attempts. Impressive, because Croatia is a nation of only about 4.2 million people.
-Croatia squad captain, Darijo Srna. Darijo Srna is a Right Back/Right Midfielder known for his crossing ability and free-kick prowess. Srna, age 31, is the most-capped Croatia player, with 110 appearances. Getting his start with Croatian side Hajduk Split, he has, since 2003, played professionally for the Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, with whom he helped win the 2008-09 UEFA Cup title.

Below: Theoretical Best XI for Croatia (with 4 other player-options listed further below) -
croatia_2014-fifa-world-cup_squad_best-xi_alternate-options_f_.gif
Photo and Image credits -
Croatia home jersey badge, photo from pjwapparel.com/2012-2014-Croatia-Home-Jersey.
Croatia 2012-14 home jersey, photo from pjwapparel.com.
Map of Croatia on globe, by TUBS at ‘File:Croatia on the globe (Europe centered).svg‘ (commons.wikipedia.org) .
Map of Croatia, by NordNordWest at ‘File:Croatia location map.svg‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Coach,,
Niko Kovač, photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Goalkeeper,
Stipe Pletikosa (Rostov), photo from croatiansports.com.
Defenders,
Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images via espnfc.com/blog.
Vedran Ćorluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), photo from alziendoog.tumblr.com.
Dejan Lovren (Southampton), photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe zimbio.com.
Danijel Pranjić (Panathinaikos), photo from pao.gr.
Midfielders,
Ivan Perišić (Wolfsburg), photo by Getty Images via gettyimages.com.
Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), photo by Getty Images via beinsports.tv.
Ivan Rakitić (Sevilla), photo by Gabriel Corbacho at en.wikipedia.org.
Forwards,
Eduardo (Shakhtar Donetsk), photo from shakhtar.com via prosport.tsn.ua.
Mario Mandžukić (Bayern Munich), photo by Getty Images via blogs.gotsoccer.com.
Ivica Olić (Wolfsburg), photo by Getty Images via uefa.com.
Other player-options,,
Mateo Kovačić MF/AMF (Inter), photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Nikica Jelavić FW (Hull City), photo by Getty Images via dailystar.co.uk/sport/football.
Ivan Strinić DF/LB (Dnipro), photo from football24.ua.
Niko Kranjčar AMF/W (Dynamo Kyiv/QPR), photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.

Thanks to the contributors at ‘2014 FIFA World Cup qualification‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Thanks to the contributors at ‘Croatia national football team‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Thanks to http://www.transfermarkt.com/en/, for player-position details.
Thanks to Soccerway.com, for recent squad line-ups (with positions-on-the-field graphics), at int.soccerway.com/international/europe/wc-qualifying-europe/2014-brazil/1st-round/r15653/.

February 16, 2014

MLB: attendance map for 2013 (home/regular season average attendance), including change from 2012 and percent-capacity figures.

Filed under: Baseball,Baseball >paid-attendance — admin @ 6:37 pm

http://billsportsmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/mlb_attendance2013_segment_.gif
MLB: attendance map for 2013 (home/regular season average attendance), including change from 2012 and percent-capacity figures



Please note: to see the most recent MLB paid-attendance map-and-post, click on the following: category: Baseball >paid-attendance.

MLB attendance in 2013 was 30,514 per game as a league total, which was down from 30,895 in 2012 – in other words, crowds last season in the Major Leagues were down -1.2 percent from 2012. Here is an article at USA Today from October 1 2013, ‘MLB attendance drops 1.2 percent this year‘ (usatoday.com/story/sports). Nevertheless, 2013 was the sixth-highest drawing season for MLB (for full seasons/ the MLB league attendance record was set in 1993, the year before the last players’ strike, at 31,337 per game) [you can see year-by-year league-attendance averages, from 1980 to 2013, in the link above].

    Biggest attendance increases and worst attendance drop-offs for 2013 in Major League Baseball

{MLB attendance figures here (espn.go.com)}.

In 2013, the Toronto Blue Jays, owing to pre-season excitement in Ontario, Canada about the Jays’ big signings (that flopped), had the highest increase at the turnstiles, going from 25,921 per game (in 2012) to 31,315 (in 2013) – which was an increase of 5,394 per game or +20.8 percent. The Blue Jays ended up only winning one more game (than in 2012) last season, finishing in last in the AL East at 74-88. But that spike in attendance could see some positives, as this article from the Toronto Star from Sept. 20 2013 by Brendan Kennedy points out, {‘Blue Jays: Boost in attendance could mean payroll increase‘ (thestar.com/sports/bluejays)}.

The only other team with a crowd-size-increase above 10 percent last season was the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won the NL West and drew best in MLB in 2013 at 45,216 per game at Dodger Stadium (an increase of of 4,176 per game or +12.6% from 2012, when the Dodgers drew 41,040 [for 5th-best in MLB in 2012]). So the LA Dodgers, now under new and non-dysfunctional ownership, reclaimed their status as the highest-drawing baseball club on Earth – they last led the Major Leagues in attendance in 2009. Look for the Dodgers to repeat as the top drawing ball club in 2014.

Other success stories in MLB in 2013 with respect to crowd-size increases could be seen at the following ball clubs.
Baltimore Orioles: attendance increase of +9.3% [18th-best attendance in MLB in 2013 at 29,105 per game], which was an increase of +2,495 per game. This on the heels of a playoff-season in 2012 for the O’s; in 2013 they went 85-77.
Washington Nationals: attendance increase of +9.1% [11th-best attendance in MLB in 2013 at 32,745 per game], which was an increase of +2,735 per game. This, like nearby Baltimore, was also on the heels of a playoff-season in 2012 for the Nats; in 2013 they went 86-76.
Cincinnati Reds: attendance increase of +7.9% [15th-best attendance in MLB in 2013 at 31,288 per game], which was an increase of +2,310 per game. Attendance in Cincy continues its gradual rise, as the Reds made the playoffs again in 2013 (and for the 3rd time in 4 years)…in 2013, the Reds drew their best since their move to their then-new ballpark in 2003.
Pittsburgh Pirates: attendance increase of +7.8% [19th-best attendance in MLB in 2013 at 28,210 per game], which was an increase of +2,062 per game. Attendance was of course boosted by the Pirates’ successful playoff run, as Bucs made the playoffs for the first time in 21 seasons (previously in 1992).
Oakland Athletics: attendance increase of + 7.7% [23rd-best attendance in MLB in 2013 at 22,337 per game], which was an increase of +1,609 per game. The A’s, under GM Billy Beane, have written the book (well Michael Lewis did, with Moneyball), on how to exploit market inefficiencies for the last decade-and-a-half. But Oakland has had traditionally poor attendance, and in 2009, 2010, and 2011 had the lowest in the league (in the 17-18K range). But a party-like atmosphere there at the Coliseum and a second straight AL West title saw the A’s inch up to 22.3 K per game in 2013.
Colorado Rockies: attendance increase of +6.2% [10th-best attendance in MLB in 2013 at 34,491 per game], which was an increase of + 2,017 per game. The Rockies were bad once again, finishing in last in the NL West, but they continued to draw well. The Rockies were aided by 5 high-drawing inter-league home games in 2013: three home games versus the Yankees in May, and two home games versus the Red Sox in August…those 5 games averaged over 40,000. {See this article by David Martin at Rockies Review blog from Sept. 12 2012 that accurately predicted this attendance upswing for the Rockies, ‘Colorado Rockies will get great attendance in 2013 regardless of disappointment‘ (rockiesreview.com)}.

Meanwhile the Miami Marlins (at their new instant-White-Elephant of a stadium) had the worst drop-off at the turnstiles, going from 27,400 per game [and 18th-best in 2012] 2 seasons ago, to an abysmal 19,584 per game last season [second-worst in MLB in 2013, better only than their fellow Floridians, the perennially lowest-drawing MLB team, the Tampa Bay Rays]. That was a drop-off of over 7,500 per game for the Marlins compared to 2012. This in a brand-new stadium.

Below is a chart I put together that shows the 8 MLB teams which had the highest average attendance increases in 2013 (Blue Jays, Dodgers, Orioles, Nationals, Reds, Pirates, A’s, and Rockies); and the 8 MLB teams which had the most drastic average attendance decreases in 2013 (Yankees, Cubs, White Sox, Rangers, Brewers, Twins, Phillies, and Marlins).

mlb_2013_average-attendance_best-increases_worst-decreases_versus-2012_c_.gif
Data for chart above from – http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance/_/year/2012.
___
Thanks to ESPN for all MLB teams’ 2012 and 2013 attendance figures (and for Boston Red Sox’ 2013 home percent-capacity figure), at espn.go.com/mlb/attendance.
Thanks to mlb.com/shop for 29 of the MLB teams’ home cap photos.
Thanks to sportsstation1.com for the photo of the Baltimore Orioles’ home cap.

February 12, 2014

2013-14 FA Cup Fifth Round: location-map, with current attendance figures of the clubs.

Filed under: 2013-14 FA Cup — admin @ 8:00 pm

2013-14_fa-cup_5th-round_post_.gif
2013-14 FA Cup Fifth Round: location-map, with current attendance figures of the clubs.



FA Cup – news, fixtures, results (bbc.co.uk/sport/football/fa-cup).

Televised matches: {see this, ‘2013–14 FA Cup/Broadcasting rights‘ (en.wikipedia.org).

___
Thanks to the following sites for average attendance figures -
1st Level/Premier League, soccerway.com/national/england/premier-league.
2nd Level/Football League One, football-league.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance [L2].
3rd Level/Football League One, football-league.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance [L3].

Thanks to the FA site, for the [gold-colored] FA 150th Anniversary crest, from a banner at thefa.com.
Thanks to BBC.co.uk/football/fa cup, for the image of the fixtures list on the map page, bbc.com/sport/football/fa-cup/fixtures.
Thanks to the contributors to the pages at en.wikipedia.org, ‘2013–14 FA Cup‘.
Thanks to Footy-mad sites for London clubs’ postal codes, http://www.footymad.net/premier-league-news/.

February 10, 2014

2014 FIFA World Cup teams: Costa Rica (CONCACAF), prominent players in 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (theoretical best XI for Costa Rica, with 4 other player-options listed including possible replacements for the injured Bryan Oviedo).

Filed under: Costa Rica — admin @ 10:24 pm




Costa Rica national team. CONCACAF (North America & Caribbean). Los Ticos (the Costa Ricans). Home jersey: red with blue and white trim.
-Costa Rica is in Group D, with England, Italy, and Uruguay. ‘2014 FIFA World Cup Group D‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification: 2014 is Costa Rica’s 4th qualification out of a 15 possible qualification attempts.
Costa Rica has qualified for the World Cup in: 1990, 2002, 2006, 2014.
Previous WC: 2006, Group Stage / 0-0-3.
Highest WC finish: 1990, Round of 16 / 2-0-2.

Population of Costa Rica: 4.5 million {2011 census}. Capital and largest city: San José, pop. 2.1 million (metro area) {2011 figure}.

Coach of Costa Rica: Jorge Luis Pinto. Jorge Luis Pinto.
Captain of the Costa Rica squad: Bryan Ruiz, MF/FW (PSV Eindhoven/on loan to Fulham), age 28. Bryan Ruiz.

Below: Theoretical Best XI for Costa Rica (with 4 other player-options listed further below) -
[Note: squad chart below is updated to reflect caps & goals up to Costa Rica's 2nd Group Stage match on 20 June 2014, when they beat Italy 1-0 and advanced to the Round of 16.]
2014/06/costa-rica_2014-fifa-world-cup_squad_best-xi_alternate-options_14b_.gif
Costa Rica home jersey, photo from subsidesports.com.
Map of Costa Rica on globe, by Keepscases at ‘File:Costa Rica (orthographic projection).svg‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Map of Costa Rica by Eric Gaba at ‘File:Costa Rica location map.svg‘.
Coach,
Jorge Luis Pinto, photo by Alonso Tenorio via aldia.cr/futbol.
Goalkeeper,
Keylor Navas (Levante UD), photo from insidespanishfootball.com.
Defenders,
Cristian Gamboa (Rosenborg BK), photo from everardoherrera.com
Giancarlo González (Columbus Crew), photo from therichest.com/sports/soccer-sports/listing-all-the-mls-players-going-to-the-2014-world-cup.
Michael Umaña (Saprissa), photo from diarioextra.com.
Johnny Acosta (Alajuelense), photo from aldia.cr/futbol.
Midfielders,
Christian Bolaños (Copenhagen), photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Yeltsin Tejeda (Saprissa), photo from sportsnewscr.com.
Bryan Oviedo (Everton), photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Forwards/Attacking MFs,
Joel Campbell (Olympiakos), photo from Facebook.com/Joel Campbell via nacion.com/deportes.
Bryan Ruiz (Fulham), photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Celso Borges (AIK Fotball), photo from aikfotboll.se.
Other player-options (replacement for Bryan Oviedo),
Óscar Duarte (Club Brugge), photo by clubbrugge.be/en/news.
Marco Ureña (Kuban Krasnodar), photo by Gregory Sysoev/Ria Novosti News Agency via rsport.ru/football.
José Miguel Cubero MF/DM (CS Herediano), photo from nacion.com/deportes/futbol-costa-rica
Júnior Díaz LB/CB (Mainz), photo from Maxppp via fussballtransfers.com/bundesliga.
___

Thanks to the contributors at ‘2014 FIFA World Cup qualification‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Thanks to the contributors at ‘Costa Rica national football team‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Thanks to http://www.transfermarkt.com/en/, for player-position details.
Thanks to Soccerway.com/CONCACAF 2014 WC qualification, int.soccerway.com/international/nc-america/wc-qualifying-concacaf/2014-brazil/4th-round.

February 7, 2014

2014 FIFA World Cup teams: Colombia (CONMEBOL), prominent players in 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (theoretical best XI for Colombia, with 6 other player-options listed).

Filed under: Colombia — admin @ 12:46 pm




Colombia national team. CONMEBOL (South America). Nickname: Los Cafeteros (the Coffee Growers) / Tricolor.
Colombia is in Group C (with Greece, Ivory Coast, and Japan). ‘2014 FIFA World Cup Group C‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification: 2014 is Colombia’s 5th qualification out of a 17 possible qualification attempts.
Colombia qualified for the World Cup in: 1962, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2014.
Previous WC: 1998, Group Stage / 1-0-2.
Highest WC finish: 1990, Round of 16 / 1-1-2.

-Population of Colombia: 47.0 million {2012 estimate}. Capital and largest city: Bogatá, pop. 10.7 million (metro area) {2013 figure}.

Coach of Colombia: José Pékerman. José Pékerman.
Captain of the Colombia squad: Mario Yepes, DF (Atalanta), age 37. Mario Yepes.

[Note: players below reflect final 2014 WC squad selections & stats are updated to after Colombia's 2nd Group Stage game of 19 June 2014.]
Below: Theoretical Best XI for Colombia (with 6 other player-options further below) -
colombia_2014-fifa-world-cup_squad_best-xi_alternate-options_j-pekerman_e_.gif
Photo and Image credits above -
Colombia home jersey, photo from worldsoccershop.com.
Map of Colombia on globe, by Addicted04 at ‘File:Colombia (orthographic projection).svg‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Map of Colombia by Demis at demis.nl.
Coach,
José Pékerman, photo by Jorge Adorino/Reuters via news.yahoo.com.
Goalkeeper,
David Ospina (OGC Nice), photo from Abaca via purepeople.com.
Defenders,
Santiago Arias (PSV), from Getty Images via diarioadn.co/deportes.
Cristián Zapata (Milan), photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.comzimbio.com.
Mario Yepes (Atalanta), photo by Daniele Buffa/Image Sport via tuttomercatoweb.com.
Pablo Armero (Napoli), photo by Getty Images Europe via dailystar.co.uk/sport/football.
Midfielders,
Fredy Guarín (Inter), photo by Claudio Villa via mirror.co.uk/sport.
Abel Aguilar (Toulouse), photo from nuevoestadio.com.
Carlos Sánchez (Elche), photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Víctor Ibarbo FW/W (Cagliari), photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Forwards,
James Rodríguez (Monaco), photo by Jack Phillips/CameraSport via camerasport.photoshelter.com.
Radamel Falcao (Monaco), photo by Bob Edme/AP via sportsillustrated.cnn.com.
Other player-options, ,
Juan Cuadrado MF/RW (Fiorentina), photo from 1.skysports.com/football/live/match.
Teófilo Gutiérrez FW (River Plate), photo from infobae.com/2014/01/02/teofilo-gutierrez-perdio-el-avion-colombia-y-es-una-incognita-su-presencia-el-primer-entrenamiento-river.
, photo from barcaforum.com/showthread/Juan-Camilo-Zuniga.
Jackson Martinez FW/W (Porto), photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Juan Quintero CM/AM (Porto), photo by Getty Images via espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story.
Alexander Mejía DM/CM/RM (Atlético Nacional), photo unattributed at colombia.com/futbol.

___

Thanks to the contributors at ‘2014 FIFA World Cup qualification‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Thanks to the contributors at ‘Colombia national football team‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Thanks to http://www.transfermarkt.com/en/, for player-position details.

February 3, 2014

2014 FIFA World Cup teams: Chile (CONMEBOL), prominent players in 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (theoretical best XI for Chile, with 4 other player-options).

Filed under: Chile — admin @ 1:25 pm




Chile national team. CONMEBOL (South America). La Roja (the Red One). Home jersey: red.
-Chile is in Group B (with Australia, Netherlands, and Spain). ‘2014 FIFA World Cup/Group B‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification: 2014 is Chile’s 9th qualification out of 20 tries.
Chile has qualified for the World Cup in: 1930, 1950, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1982, 1998, 2010, 2014.
Previous World Cup qualification: 2010, Round of 16 / 2-0-2.
Highest World Cup finish: 1962, Third Place / 4-0-2.

Population of Chile: 17.4 million {2012 estimate}.
Capital and largest city: Santiago, pop. 6.3 million (metro area) {2011 figure}.

Chile coach, Jorge Sampaoli. Jorge Sampaoli.
Chile captain, GK Claudio Bravo. Claudio Bravo.

Here is an analysis of Chile’s style of play under coach Jorge Sampaoli – from The New Libero, from 16 Jan. 2014, by Ian Walker, ‘World Cup Preview: Sampaoli’s Chile‘ (thenewlibero.blogspot.com).

The following link features a short article on the Chile team plus a 20-player photo gallery…from Deportes.Terra.cl, from 27 Aug. 2013, ‘La Roja: el positivo panorama de Sampaoli previo a Venezuela‘ / translated, ‘Reds: positive outlook…‘ (deportes.terra.cl/futbol/).

Below: Theoretical Best XI for Chile (with 4 other player-options further below) -
Note: players below reflect final 2014 WC squad selection.
chile_2014-fifa-world-cup_squad_best-xi_alternate-options_j-sampaoli_e.gif
Photo and Image credits -
Map of Chile on globe, by Addicted04 at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chile_(orthographic_projection).svg.
Map of Chile, by NordNordWest at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chile_location_map.svg.
Chile home jersey, photo from calcioitaliashop.com; http://www.calcioitaliashop.com/images/chile-home-shirt-2012-13.jpg.
Coach,
Jorge Sampaoli photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Goalkeeper,
Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), photo from elsitioderuife.wordpress.com.
Defenders,
Mauricio Isla (Juventus), photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Gary Medel (Cardiff City), photo by Catherine Ivill/AMA via dailymail.co.uk.
José Manuel Rojas (Universidad de Chile), photo from diario.latercera.com.
Eugenio Mena (Santos), photo by Daniel Vorley/Getty Images South America via zimbio.com.
Midfielders,
Arturo Vidal (Juventus), photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Marcelo Díaz (Basel), photo from futchile.cl.
Charles Aránguiz (Internacional), photo from latercera.com/noticia/deportes/2014/02/656-565965-9-charles-aranguiz-anota-gol-de-tiro-libre-en-triunfo-de-internacional-de-porto.shtml.
Forwards,
Alexis Sánchez (Barcelona), photo by David Ramos/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Jorge Valdívia (Palmeiras), photo from Agencia Uno via deportes.terra.cl.
Eduardo Vargas (Napoli/Valencia), photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Mauricio Pinilla FW (Cagliari), photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Other player-options,
Gonzalo Jara RB/DM/RM (Nottingham Forest), photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Mauricio Pinilla (Cagliari), photo
Jean Beausejour (Wigan), photo by Clint Hughes/Getty Images Europe via zimbio.com.
Esteban Paredes (Querétaro), photo from diario.latercera.com.

..

Thanks to the contributors at ‘2014 FIFA World Cup qualification‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Thanks to the contributors at ‘Chile national football team‘ (en.wikipedia.org).
Thanks to http://www.transfermarkt.com/en/, for player-position details.

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