Brazil shapes up as Spain eye World Cup Glory
Two of the top contenders in the football world cup are busy shaping up their plans for the event, as the event draws ever closer.
Five time champions Brazil displayed their might as they thumped lowly Tanzania 5-1 in Dar Es Salaam on Monday, the match was their final warm up match ahead of the World Cup.
It was a clinical display from the masters of the game, who announced their plans in no uncertain terms against a team that was not expected to trouble them much from the outset.
The South Americans look set for another serious challenge and their third world cup in sixteen years, after winning in 1994 and 2002.
The forwards were at their best as they tore apart the African’s defence with a bewitching display of football.
Robinho got the South Americans going with two first half goals while Ramires was the star of the show after the break with a brace. The twin strikes were his first ever goals for his country.
Star player Kaka was the other scorer for the winners while Jabir Aziz gave the crowd something to smile about, netting a consolation goal for Tanzania as the game approached full time.
Meanwhile Spanish Iker Casillas has roared back at the critics over the cash bonus each player would be paid if the European champions win the World Cup in South Africa.
Reports in the Spanish media indicate that each member of the squad taking part in the world cup will get 600,000 euros ($716,400) for delivering Spain's first World Cup trophy.
The incentive for the European champions is the largest win bonus among major contenders.
A spokeswoman for the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) declined to confirm the amount.
Reports suggest that the deal was negotiated with the federation by goalkeeper Casillas and the two other squad captains, midfielder Xavi and defender Carles Puyol.
"It's an issue that always comes up," Casillas said at a news conference as his team prepared for their final warm-up match against Poland in Murcia on Tuesday.
"Everyone is going through difficult moments, even I, because I have family, friends, cousins, people who are suffering the consequences of the crisis," the goalkeeper added.
The coach of the team also shrugged of the criticism claiming that money was secondary to him Vicente Del Bosque said: "I don't know how much money I earn, but it doesn't match reality. Anyway, I am not going to try to persuade anyone about it."
One of the leading papers in the country Marca sports daily reported last week that Spain's bonus was more than the 510,000 euros each, compared to the incentive offered to two time former champions Argentina if they complete a hat-trick of World cup wins.
According to Marca other bonuses included 475,000 euros for England, 390,000 for France and 180,000 for Brazil. Meanwhile Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta was also asked about the bonus at Tuesday's news conference and he deflected the question to his captain, the mid-fielder was keener on commenting on his team’s chance in the tournament where many rate them as favourites.
"The team is in great shape and we are looking forward to be there, we want the World Cup to start and to play the matches.
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