Player 38 Fernandinho (Brazil)

Name: Fernandinho
Age: 28
National Team:  Brazil
Team: Manchester City
Position:  Central Midfielder

Description of his Game:  With incredible speed, Fernandinho is fearless in his defense.  He has a great read of the game, allowing him to anticipate the passing game with accuracy. 

Fernandinho's Highlights:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt_H0z6CxLc

 Career Highlights:  One of the best foreign players to ever play in the Ukrainian Premier League, having won 6 league titles, 4 Ukrainian Cups and 1 UEFA Cup.   

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

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

June 12th - Brazil vs. Croatia

June 17th - Brazil vs. Mexico

June 23rd -Brazil vs. Cameroon

Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/team=43924/matches.html

Manchester City  (English Premier League)
Schedule: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/

Player 39 Javier Mascherano (Argentina)

Name: Javier Mascherano
Age: 29
National Team:  Argentina
Team: Barcelona
Position: Centre Back/Defensive Midfielder

Description of his Game:   Mascherano has an amazing slide tackling ability, powerfully going after defenders as if his foot was magnetically attracted to the ball. 

Javier Mascherano's Highlights:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o9uTOqAWlI

Interesting Personal Facts:  Mascherano's two most used nicknames (in Argentina) are Masche and El Jefecito (The little chief).

Career Highlights:  He won olympic gold medals in Athens and Beijing, the first male footballer to do this since 1968.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

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

June 15th - Bosnia and Herzagovina

June 21st - Iran

June 25th -Nigeria

Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/team=43922/matches.html

Barcelona (La Liga)
Schedule: http://www.fcbarcelona.com/

Player 40 Gareth Bale (Wales)

Name: Gareth Bale
Age: 24
National Team:  Wales
Team: Tottenham
Position: Defender

Description of his Game:   Bale is noted for this physical fitness such as his pace, stamina and agility.  He is a complete player is still very young.  He may be the best player in the world that won't be participating in this year's world cup.  Wales has only gone to the world cup once in 1958.

Gareth Bale's Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69js4-6wgEs

Interesting Personal Facts: He is the nephew of former Cardiff City footballer Chris Pike.

Career Highlights:  During the 2012-13 season he was awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year, the PFA Player's Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year awards.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Wales' National Team, First Round Games in Brazil 2014

Wales did not qualify for Brazil 2014.

Tottenham (English Premier League)

Player 41 Javier Zanetti (Argentina)

Name: Javier Zanetti
Age: 40
National Team:  Argentina
Team: Internazionale
Position: Defender/Midfielder

Description of his Game:   Now in his 40's, a combination of intelligence, poise, and strength have extended his career beyond most players.  He may not be as fast as before, but watching him play you get the sense he can outsmart his opponents. 

Javier Zanetti's Highlights:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAqZITINdRA

Interesting Personal Facts:  Zanetti, a devout Catholic, is a close friend of Dutch footballer Wesley Sneijder, whom he inspired to convert to Catholicism.  Zanetti is FIFA ambassador for the SOS Children's Villages project in Argentina,and has declared his support for the Mexican Zapatista rebels.

Career Highlights:  Internationally, he holds the record of the most capped player in the history of the Argentine national team. 

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

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

June 15th - Bosnia and Herzagovina

June 21st - Iran

June 25th -Nigeria

Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/team=43922/matches.html

Internazionale (Italian League)
Schedule: http://www.inter.it/