FIFA World Cup: 11 Reasons Why Brazil 2014 Will Be the Best Ever

The 2014 FIFA World Cup creeps ever closer, with final plans being drawn up and squads being mulled over—even ahead of regular domestic campaigns still ongoing.

Held just once every four years, the World Cup is a major tournament of stunning atmosphere, excitement and anticipation, with the game's biggest prize at the end of it.

Germany and South Africa both put on exemplary, fantastic showpiece events, but this is Brazil. With 50 days to the big kick-off, here's why this one could be the best ever.

                  

Where else would you want to be part of a major football tournament but Brazil?!

It might not be the original home of the game, but it's certainly the fatherland of much of the world's fascination with the sport.

Brazil has not hosted a World Cup since 1950. Now, 64 years later, a far more modern and expanded version comes to the country...and we're all very excited about it.

                 

Brazil go into most major tournaments as one of the favourites to win, and that isn't going to come down any—nor will the pressure or expectancy on the team to perform—with it being on home soil.

OK, so Spain might be most bookmakers' favourites, but Brazil will lead the way with others.

Either way, we're in for a footballing treat from the yellow shirts.

                    

The hopes of the nation rest upon the shoulders of Barcelona forward Neymar, who plays a left-sided attacking role for the national team and whom the fans will look to for quality, goals and creativity.

Then-manager Dunga deemed him not ready for the 2010 World Cup as an 18-year-old—but Neymar will be the main man now, at 22, in his own country.

Can he provide the necessary resilience and consistency to win the tournament?

                         

Everywhere you look in the group stages, major nations rear their heads.

Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, England, Italy, Portugal, USA, Colombia, Uruguay...the historical, the great and the exciting, all of them are there this time.

There were no dramatic failures from top nations, and plenty of resurgent ones made it through this time around.

                          

The world's best two players, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, will be on show in Brazil.

Aged 26 and 29, respectively, both are heading to the 2014 World Cup in their prime ages, having shown immaculate form over the past two or three seasons.

Ronaldo has had the edge this season, but will that result in international honours for Portugal?

                    

It could happen!

Argentina have a great squad and will be hopeful of going far in the tournament. Should both they and Brazil win their groups, the two South American heavyweights could meet in the final.

One finishing as runner-up would mean a potential meeting at the semi-final stage.           

Brazil will be hopeful of tasting success in the tournament, on and off the field.

The Confederations Cup of 2013 showed that, on a smaller scale, the nation was ready to handle the pressures of hosting the tournament, while the team itself proved they had what it took to deliver the goods.

This will be a big step up for both, and a time to shine.

                   

Bosnia and Herzegovina will make their debut appearance at the World Cup finals, having progressed from their UEFA qualifying zone after topping Group G.

With their rise from a fledgling nation to World Cup qualifier now complete, they've taken five attempts to negotiate the qualification stage and reach the finals proper.

Considering their population of less than four million, that's an impressive upward trajectory which sees the likes of Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic now heading to Brazil.

                  

Football and drinking aside, there is of course plenty to do in Brazil.

From Sugarloaf Mountain and the Christ the Redeemer statue to Iguazu Falls, the sights and cultural intake that the nation can offer is beyond impressive.

For every type of traveller, there is an enormous amount to get through in the country which perhaps even the month-long visitor—for the entire World Cup, of course—wouldn't get around to seeing all of.

               

And then there are the beaches.

Copacabana Beach likely doesn't need an introduction, but the regions of Bahia, Sao Paulo and Rio all boast their own stretches of sand and sea to admire.

Of course, Brazil also has stretches of islands to visit just off the coast.