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Football alphabet

From Après Match to Zidane: The A-Z of the World Cup

We run down through the finals — letter-by-letter.

A is for… Après Match

The lads are back this summer. And we couldn’t be happier.

RTÉ - Ireland's National Television and Radio Broadcaster / YouTube

B is for… Brazuca

The official ball for the 2014 World Cup. Unlike the Jabulani in 2010, the latest effort from Adidas has received positive feedback from players so far.

Soccer - World Cup 2014 - Miami Training Camp - England v Ecuador - England Training Session - Sun Life Stadium Mike Egerton Mike Egerton

C is for… Caxirola

Remember the hum of Vuvuzelas in South Africa four years ago? Well Brazilian instrument Caxirola is hoping to have the same impact this time around. God help us all.

Caxirola World Cup YouTube YouTube

D is for… Dark horses

Apart that elite group of favourites to win the competition, you will hear people tipping several outsiders to make an impact. Belgium’s talented group have been heavily backed while the likes Colombia and Chile are also popular each way bets.

Soccer - International Friendly - Sweden v Belgium -  Friends Arena Press Association Images Press Association Images

E is for… Expectation

The hopes of a nation weigh heavily on the Brazilian team and its poster boy Neymar despite Luiz Filipe Scolari’s attempts to play down their chances of a sixth World Cup.

Brazil WCup Soccer AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

It has also been touted as the ideal time for Lionel Messi to cement his name alongside Pele and Maradona as one of the all-time greats by leading Argentina to victory.

Argentina Trinidad and Tobago WCup Soccer AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

F is for… Fans

Prepare yourself for TV cameras turning to shots of the crowd every opportunity they get.

Soccer - 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany - Quarter Final - Brazil v France - Commerzbank Arena EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

G is for… Golden Boot

Ronaldo, Miroslav Klose and Thomas Mueller (below) have won the top goalscorer award in the last three tournaments. Who will earn the prize this time around?

Germany Soccer Fifa World Cup Award AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

H is for… Haircuts

In the past, we’ve had classics like Valderrama’s afro, Ronaldo’s ‘take it all off but the fringe’ and Rudi Völler’s perm.

This summer, you can look forward to:

Kyle Beckerman (USA)

Turkey US Soccer AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

 Isaac Vorsah (Ghana) 

South Africa African Cup Soccer AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Gabriel Paletta (Italy) 

Soccer - International Friendly - Republic of Ireland v Italy - Craven Cottage PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

I is for… Injured

We’ve already lost the likes of Radamel Falcao, Christian Benteke and Thiago Alcantara due to various fitness problems, while there remains question marks over whether Luis Suarez and Diego Costa will be ready.

Soccer - International Friendly - Austria v Uruguay - Worthersee Stadion Luis Suarez. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

J is for… Just Fontaine

The Frenchman still holds the record for most goals in a single tournament after scoring 13 in 1958.

Soccer - World Cup Italia 90 EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

K is for… Kits

The good, the bad, and the ones that look like an ice pop. Check them all out here.

USA away Nike Soccer Nike Soccer

L is for… La Roja

Reigning European and world champions, can Spain go one better and win back-to-back World Cups?

Football - International Friendly - South Africa v Spain - FNB Stadium Aubrey Kgakatsi Aubrey Kgakatsi

M is for… Maracanã

The Rio de Janeiro stadium, reopened last year and with a capacity of 79,000, will host four matches at the finals — including the final itself on 13 July.

World Cup Count Down Photo Gallery AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

N is for… Newcomers

Bosnia-Herzegovina are the only nation of the 32 making their debut at the World Cup.

Bosnia Ivory Coast Soccer AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

O is for… Olinga

Cameroon and Malaga forward Fabrice Olinga, nicknamed ‘Happy Feet’, is the youngest player at the competition at 18 years and 24 days old.

Cameroon Mazedonia Wcup AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

P is for… Protests

We saw them at last year’s Confederations Cup and we’re bound to see them again over the next month.

Brazil WCup Protests AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Q is for… Queiroz

Former Manchester United assistant and Portugal boss Carlos Quieroz is these days in charge of Iran, who are in Group F with Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Nigeria.

Soccer - 2010 FIFA World Cup - Round 16 - Spain v Portugal - Portugal Training - Athlone Stadium Ryan Wilkisky Ryan Wilkisky

R is for… Ronaldo

Two Ronaldos, even. The original, Brazilian Ronnie, is the competition’s all-time record goalscorer on 15. Cristiano, meanwhile, is hoping to lead his native Portugal to glory.

Soccer - 2014 FIFA World Cup - Portugese Team Departure - Portugal Pedro Rocha Pedro Rocha

S is for… Sweepstakes

If one thing can make the World Cup even more exciting, it’s the office sweepstakes… unless you get Australia, that is.

Sweepstakes

For a downloadable version, click here

T is for… TV

For the vast majority of us, Brazil 2014 will be experienced from the comfort of our couch or local establishment.

The question is, will you tune into RTÉ, ITV or BBC?

Bill O'Herlihy alongside John Giles and Eamon Dunphy Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

U is for… Upsets

We all enjoy a good David and Goliath-style story. Who will be this year’s Senegal v France 2002?

Soccer - FIFA World Cup 2002 - Group A - France v Senegal EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

V is for… Vines

We’ve grown to love the Vine as a handy platform for sharing goals and incidents instantly. You will be seeing a whole lot of them over the next five weeks.
https://vine.co/v/MpLrh7KFg27

W is for… Worldies

As in spectacular goals. There have been plenty down through the years and we’re expecting many more. Remember this in the opening game at the 2010 finals?

MaorMizrahi / YouTube

X is for… Xavi

At 34, has the Spanish captain still got it in him to be the team’s creative fulcrum?

Soccer - International Friendly - Spain v Bolivia - Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan AITANA AITANA

Y is for… Yaya

Arguably the best midfielder in the Premier League last year, Yaya Toure has replaced Didier Drogba as the Ivory Coast’s talisman.

Soccer - International Friendly - Belgium v Ivory Coast - Stade Roi Baudouin EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Z is for… Zizou

Simply because he was one of the greatest… even if his final World Cup moment wasn’t his finest.

Soccer - 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany - Final - Italy v France - Olympiastadion - Berlin EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

- Originally posted 14.30, updated 15.00.

Download your TheScore.ie office sweepstakes kit here, World Cup fans

Here’s your essential World Cup glossary of things players do with a football

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