Promotion/Relegation Matches

I think the promotion/relegation matches are the most exciting matches of the year. For the clubs, it might be a chance to reach the top competition for the first time in years. On the other hand, some teams will have to compete in a lower division the next season. This year I started following the matches because one of my favorite teams had a chance to promote to the Eredivisie. FC Dordrecht had been leading the Jupiler League, Holland's second division, for the whole year, but only a few matches before the end of the season, Willem II captured the first place and they didn't give it away. Fortunately, the second place gave a good starting position for the playoffs. 

First, FC Dordrecht had to beat VVV in a double match. This didn't cause much problems for the "Schapenkoppen". The second and last round was another double matche against Sparta Rotterdam. I expected Dordrecht to beat them easily, because Sparta had finished at the sixteenth place in the Jupiler League. Nevertheless, the first match in Rotterdam ended 2-2. The match in Dordrecht had to decide who would be in the Eredivisie. Unfortunately, I couldn't get tickets. I'd have loved to see the match in the stadium. After only five minutes, Funso Ojo scored the lucky first goal: the keeper couldn't see the ball coming, so he misjudged the place it would come. At the end of the first half, Paul Gladon headed for the 2-0. Gladon was contracted by Sparta, but loaned to FC Dordrecht for the whole season. He was one of the surprising stars that lead FC Dordt to the second place. Ten minutes in the second half, Mimoun Machi gave Sparta new hope: he scored 2-1. In the last minute of the match, all Sparta players were in the box of FC Dordrecht for a corner. A defender managed to head the ball away to Giovanni Korte. After a long run to Sparta's half, he scored the decisive goal. All FC Dordrecht fans in the stadium, me too, went crazy. The celebrations afterwards were great to see. FC Dordrecht definitely deserves the promotion.

World Cup 2014 Brazil Group H

Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic

The Belgian team is currently a golden generation. The "Rode Duivels" were absent the last two World Cups, but this time, they are stronger than ever before. Youngsters Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard (both Chelsea), Romelu Lukaku (Everton) and Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United) are some very talented and young, none of them is over 23 years old, midfielders and forwards. With a steady and experienced defense with ie bodybuilder look-a-like Vincent Kompany, Belgium might be as succesful as they were in 1986, when they reached the semifinals in Mexico.

At the three World Cups Algeria managed to qualify for, they never reached the round of sixteen and I don't think they will now. Valencia midfielder Sofiane Feghouli is probably the best player of the team. He reached the semifinal of the Europa League with Valencia, but Feghouli has been in a bad form for most of the season. He wont help "The Fennec Foxes" to the round of sixteen.

Russia is said to have a great team spirit. Although one has to be careful with any Russian information, I think it's right, because all players of the squad play in the Russian Premier League. Russia doesn't have word class players, but attacking midfielder Alan Dzagoev is only 22 years old and very talented. The average age is one of the highest in the World Cup, so "Sbornaya" won't lack experience. Overall, I think Russia will reach the round of sixteen.

South Korea is so far the only Asian team to have reached the semi finals at a World Cup, but there's pretty much no chance this will happen again. "The Red Warriors" mostly rely on forward Son Heung-Min (Bayer Leverkussen), Park Chu-Young (Arsenal) and Ji Dong-Won (Borrusia Dortmund). Their midfield and defense, however, isn't World Cup worthy. If the strikers manage to do a great job, South Korea will have to compete with Russia for the second place in the group.

My expectation:

1. Belgium

2. Russia

3. South Korea

4. Algeria