Player #61 Ramires (Brazil)

Name: Ramires
Age: 26
National Team:  Brazil
Team: Chelsea
Position: Midfielder

Description of his Game:  Ramires is an real beast at midfield.  With his speed and his spin moves he almost looks fake, as if he's straight of a FIFA video game.  He vision for passing is tremendous.  He's relentless, attacking with a focus ferocity that wins a great deal of loose balls.

Ramires' Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OueOQheUfZo

Career News: He won a bronze medal in Beijing 2008.  In South Africa 2010, Brazil's quarterfinal loss to Holland was viewed by some to be partially as a result of Ramires' absence, as he was serving a suspension.  At the age of 26, he figures to get a golden opportunity to take Brazil all the way in 2014.  

Interesting Personal Facts:  His attacking and defensive mentality have led to comparisons to Chelsea teammate Michael Essien. 

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Brazil's National Team, First Round Games in Brazil 2014

June 12th - Croatia

June 17th - Mexico
June 23rd - Cameroon

Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/team=43960/index.html

Chelsea  (English Premier League)

January 19th - Manchester United

January 26th -Stoke City
Schedule: https://www2.tickets-aufschalke.de/Spieltage.aspx?spielserie=S04+13%2f14

Player #62 David Villa (Spain)

Name: David Villa
Age: 32
National Team:  Spain
Team: Atletico Madrid
Position: Striker

Description of his Game:  His highlight reel below says it all.  Villa can score from any angle and demonstrates an incredible ability to gauge his kicks, often timing his kicks to where they float just beyond the goalie's reach but still managing to dive into the net when angles seem impossible.  No doubt he can score, but he's more than that.  An incredible play maker with speed and perfect field vision.

David Villa 's Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G6M6wrO1P8

Career News: Help Spain win its first World Cup in South Africa and has had one of the most prestigious runs in Spanish history. 

Interesting Personal Facts:  When he was 4 he broke his leg. His father trained him to kick with his left leg, becoming ambidextrous in the process.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Spain's National Team, First Round Games in Brazil 2014

June 13th - Holland

June 18th - Chile
June 23rd - Australia

Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/team=43969/index.html

Atletico Madrid  (Spanish League, La Liga)

January 14th -Valencia

January 19th -Sevilla
Schedule: http://www.clubatleticodemadrid.com/entradas

Player #63 Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Holland)

Name: Klaas Jan Huntelaar
Age: 30
National Team:  Holland
Team: Schalke 04
Position: Striker

Description of his Game:  I don't find Huntelaar to be particularly dazzling.  More so, he seems to have a knack for positioning himself well in the penalty box and then giving the ball the necessary touch for a goal.  He's effective, and his success speaks to his world class statistics on the field.  He seems a bit inferior when compared with other top scorers around the world, but there's a chance that maybe he just makes it all look too easy.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar 's Highlights:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPrDljrslh8

Career News: He's played for some of the greatest teams in the world, including Milan, Real Madrid and the Dutch national team.  In 2012, he became the first Dutch player to earn top scorer in the Bundesliga.

Interesting Personal Facts:  Began playing soccer at the age of five, along with two of his brothers.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Holland's National Team, First Round Games in Brazil 2014

June 13th - Spain

June 18th - Australia
June 23rd - Chile

Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/team=43960/index.html

Schalke 04  (German League, Bundesliga)
Schedule: https://www2.tickets-aufschalke.de/Spieltage.aspx?spielserie=S04+13%2f14

Player #64 Nemanja Vidic (Serbia)

Name: Nemanja Vidic
Age: 32
National Team:  England
Team: Manchester United
Position:Centre-back

Description of his Game:  The only way to describe Vidic's approach to defense is to equate it to that of a warrior.  He's relentless.  His long legs allow him to sweep the ball away from his opponents while his fearless jumping ability makes him just as vicious when defending against aerial attacks.  

Nemanja Vidic's Highlights:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUq-szFBcjw

Career News: Vidic has amassed a vast array of honors for his long tenure with Manchester United, a team he's been with since 2006.  Whether demonstrating his talent within the premier league or against international club teams, Vidic is a world class centre-back.

Interesting Personal Facts:  The Yugoslav wars broke out during his early teenage years, during which his family lived under constant fear of being bombed.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Serbia's National Team, First Round Games in Brazil 2014

Unfortunately we won't be seeing Serbia in Brazil, though his play is still accessible by watching him play for the Manchester United.

Manchester United  (English Premier League)
January 11th - Swansea
January 19th - Chelsea
Schedule: http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-And-Results.aspx

Player #65 Joe Hart (England)

Name: Joe Hart
Age: 26
National Team:  England
Team: Manchester City
Position: Goalkeeper

Description of his Game:  Joe Hart is flatout fearless, exhibiting a cool confidence reminiscent of Ryan Gosling.  Not only his a fast on his feet, he has incredible presence of mind.  His fearlessness has seen him block powerful shots by stretching out his body in a way that completely exposes his torso and his head.  With this type of wreckless but seemingly measured abandon, he's inadvertently blocked shots with his face after having the ball defected by defenders.  One gets the sense that Hart gives his position 100% on every single shot at goal.

Joe Hart's Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYn9uRWh9sU

Career News:  At only 26 years of age, Joe Hart has a very bright career ahead of him.  Already, he's appeared with the English National team in South Africa in 2010, adding to the international experience he gained as an underage player.  At this rate, he could end up being the most capped player in England history, assuming he plays another 12 to 15 years.  Hart has also managed to rack up quite a few awards at the English Premier level, including the Premier League Golden Glove award during each of the past three years.

Interesting Personal Facts:  As a youth, Hart was also a highly successful cricket player, helping his national team win international tournaments.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

England's National Team, First Round Games in Brazil 2014

June 14th - Italy

June 19th - Uruguay
June 24th - Croatia

Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/team=43942/index.html

Manchester City  (English Premier League)
January 8th - West Ham
January 12th - Newcastle United
January 15th - Rovers 
Schedule: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/Fixtures

Player #66 Arjen Robben (Holland)

Name: Arjen Robben
Age: 29
National Team:  Holland
Team: Bayern Munich
Position: Forward Right Winger

Description of his Game: Arjen is known for attacking from the wing and going to his left as he attacks.  In fact, he does this move so much that everyone knows this!  And yet, he consistently jukes defenders on his way towards the goal.  Arjen is a great passer.  His selfless play is a major reason why the Orange Machine has enjoyed success in recent years.

Arjen Robben's Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haqgTTpjtt8

Career News:  Arjen has a wealth of experience on the global stage.  He's played for great teams in England (Chelsea), Spain (Real Madrid) and Germany (Bayern Munich).  He has appeared at Euro 2004, the 2006 World Cup, Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and the Euro 2012.  In South Africa 2010, he was nominated for the World Cup Golden Ball, which ultimately went to Diego Forlan. 

Interesting Personal Facts:  Robben speaks fluent Dutch, German, English and Spanish.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Holland's National Team, First Round Games in Brazil 2014

June 13th - Spain

June 18th - Australia
June 23rd - Chile

Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/team=43960/index.html

Bayern Munich  (German League, Bundesliga)
January 24th - Borussia M'gladbach
January 29th - VfB Stuttgart
Schedule: http://www.fcbayern.de/en/matches/fixtures-results/bundesliga/

Player #68 Mario Balotelli (Italy)

Name: Mario Balotelli
Age: 23
National Team:  Italy 
Team: Milan
Position: Striker

Description of his Game: Mario is like a hybrid striker and midfielder.  He's a double scoring threat in the sense that he's able to score from anywhere while also being equally capable at putting others in a position to score.  His footwork is fantastic, perhaps as fancy as it gets when it comes to finding teammates from unimaginable angles.  If his disciplinarian problems are held under control, Mario seems ready to shine in Brazil.

Mario Balotelli's Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3lF1BQDdwI

Career News: Nicknamed Super Mario,he earned his first cap for the Italian national team on 10 August 2010, after previously having been called up by the Ghanian national team.

Interesting Personal Facts: Balotelli was born in Palermo to immigrants from Ghana and raised as a foster kid from the age of three by the daughter of a Holocaust survivors and her husband.  Unfortunately, his off-the-field activities have gained him almost as much attention as his play on the field.  Off-field activities involving Balotelli have included driving into a women's prison in Italy to "have a look round"

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Italy's National Team, First Round Games in Brazil 2014
June 14th - England
June 20th - Costa Rica
June 24th - Uruguay
Schedule: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/team=43954/index.html

Milan  (Italian League)
January 6th -Atalanta
January 12th - Sassuolo
Schedule: http://www.acmilan.com/en/season/serie_a