The curtains may have closed on the Premier League season but football fanatics still have the sumptuous prospect of a Brazilian summer to look forward to.
Football fans with allegiances to United and City will be watching intently as their club heroes battle it out on the international stage and with holders Spain leading the World Cup odds.
The world and European champions on Tuesday released their 30-man squad that has high hopes of retaining the greatest prize in football.
The La Furia Roja squad is littered with talented superstars that currently call Manchester home – those gifted individuals include David De Gea, Juan Mata, David Silva, Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo.
All five of Manchester’s Spanish contingent have claimed a spot in the preliminary squad and will now have to fight it out for one of the final 23 seats on the plane.
Spain’s veteran tactician Vicente del Bosque has an abundance of talent to choose from which is one of the main factors why his side are tipped to retain their World Cup crown.
On Monday Roy Hodgson named a youthful and exciting 23-man World Cup squad which included Manchester talents Joe Hart, James Milner, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney.
Just missing out on a trip to Brazil were the Michael Carrick and the much-maligned Tom Cleverley who have been placed on the injury reserve list.
As well as England’s squad announcement Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni announced his 23-man World Cup squad on Monday, picking Manchester United playmaker Shinji Kagawa – who has failed to take the Premier League by storm since his move from Dortmund.
Kagawa, who failed to score in any of his 30 appearances, has revealed United’s turbulent campaign nearly broke his spirits.
“This year the manager changed and it has been a really hard year in many ways,” he told Kyodo News in Japan.
“There have been times when I thought my spirit would break and I just thought I have to believe in myself.
“In the end it has been a really disappointing season, what with not scoring a single goal, but I never slacked off in training or matches.”
Joining his club mates in Brazil is Manchester United poacher Javier Hernandez who has also been named in Mexico’s World Cup squad.
Main image courtesy of Trans World Sport via YouTube, with thanks.
