Player 8 - Andrea Pirlo (Italy)

Name: Andrea Pirlo

Age: 35

National Team:  Italy

Team: Juventus

Position: Midfielder Description of his Game:   He may not be the most physical or notable defensive or tackler, but Pirlo demonstrates superb touch, technique, control, dribbling, vision, and improvisational skills.  He's also an expert at set pieces.  At the age of 35, he is still one of the top 10 players in the world.

Andrea Pirlo's Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfe6fisAMTE

Interesting Personal Facts:  Pirlo's father founded a metal trading company, he has a brother playing professional football and also owns his own vineyard.

Career Highlights:  Pirlo is the fifth-most capped player in the history of the Italian national team with 107 caps.   His list of accolades is just far too lengthy too include here.  Suffice it to say, Pirlo has almost nothing else to prove to the game.

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

Player 9 - Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)

Name: Yaya Toure

Age: 31

National Team:  Ivory Coast

Team: Manchester City

Position: Midfielder Description of his Game:  Yaya's game is based on speed, power and a tremendously strong striking foot.  He ability to bend the ball and take shots at goal from long distance make him a constant threat from all angles and from any distance.  His a midfielder but often looks like a striker.

Yaya Toure's Highlights:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJlU61Q7rzg

Career News: He was voted African Football of the Year for 2011, 2012 and 2013. Interesting Personal Facts:   His is the younger brother of Kolo Toure, who also plays for the Ivory Coast and was also his teammate while playing for Liverpool. Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

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

June 14th - Ivory Coast vs. Japan

June 19th - Ivory Coast vs. Colombia
June 24th -Ivory Coast vs. Greece

Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/team=43854/matches.html

Player 10 - Edinson Cavani (Uruguay)

Name:  Edinson Cavani

Age: 27 

Nationality: Uruguay

Team: Paris Saint-Germaine

Position: Forward

Description of his Game: Cavani is not only highly skilled as a forward, he has incredible strength, allowing him to impose his will when on the attack.

Edinson Cavani' Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUGwXoyW1DI

Career News:  He has since participated in two major tournaments, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2011 Copa America. He scored once at the 2010 World Cup, to help Uruguay to fourth place in the tournament, and in 2011 was part of the Uruguay squad, that won a record 15th Copa América title.

Interesting Personal Facts: Cavani is a devout Evangelical Christian.  Both his older and younger brothers are also footballers.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Uruguay’s National Team, First Round Games in Brazil 2014

June 14th – Costa Rica

June 19th - England

June 24th - Italy

Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/team=43930/matches.html

Player 11 - Sergio Aguero (Argentina)

Name: Sergio Aguero

Age: 25

National Team:  Argentina

Team: Manchester City

Position: Striker Description of his Game:   The main thing I can tell about Aguero is his intensity.  He's relentless when on the attack, and his strength plays a major role in helping beat defenders when running down the field. 

Sergio Aguero's Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbHP4_x53fk

Interesting Personal Facts:  Aguero was married to one of football legend Maradona's daughers. Career Highlights:  On 5 July 2003, he became the youngest player to debut in the Argentine Primera Division at 15 years and 35 days, breaking the record previously established by Maradona in 1976. 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

Player 12 - Iker Casillas (Spain)

Name: Iker Casillas

Age: 32

National Team:  Spain

Team: Real Madrid

Position: Goalkeeper Description of his Game:  Casillas goalkeeping speaks for itself, as he is the man behind the Spanish national team during its golden era of the past 10 years.  He is the most capped goalkeeper of all time.

Iker Casillas' Highlights:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpx3MxbgEo8

Career Highlights:  Considered to be one of the finest goalkeepers of all time,Casillas was nominated for the European Football of the Year award in 2008, ranking fourth overall.At the end of 2012 he was voted into the UEFA Team of the Year for the sixth consecutive time.

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

Player 13 - Neymar (Brazil)

Name: Neymar

Age: 22

National Team:  Brazil

Team: Chelsea

Position: Winger Description of his Game:  The first two things you notice about Neymar are his speed and his footwork.  When running down the field while in possession of the ball, he's as dangerous as anyone in the game. There's a long list of former legendary players and current ones who think that Neymar will become the best player in the world. 

Neymar's Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3in9BW7k9fg

Career Highlights:  What Neymar has accomplished at a young age is the stuff of legends. 
At the age of 19, he won the 2011 South American Footballer of the Year award, after coming third in 2010. And to think, he's still only 22 years old.

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

Player 14 - Sergio Busquets (Spain)

Name: Sergio Busquets 

Age: 25

National Team:  Spain

Team: Barcelona

Position: Defensive Midfielder Description of his Game:  Busquets is an amazing passer, and his ability to change direction and fool opponents is among the best the game.  If there is such a thing as an unsung hero on the Spanish team, it may be Busquets.  Though not very imposing physically, his tremendous skill more than makes up for it.

Sergio Busquets' Highlights:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7xnvfz74H4

Interesting Personal Facts:  His father played as a goalkeeper for Barcelona in the 1990's, though almost exclusively as a backup. Career Highlights:  Still young at 25, Busquets helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup and the Euro 2012 tournaments.

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

Barcelona  (La Liga)

Schedule: http://www.fcbarcelona.com/