Raft of friendlies mark start of World Cup countdown

The countdown to the 2014 World Cup begins in earnest this week as a raft of international friendlies signals the final phase of preparations for nations heading to Brazil. 1966 champions England, who head to Brazil with all-time low expectations, play the first of three pre-tournament friendlies against Peru on Friday at Wembley before heading to Miami for subsequent warm-up matches against Ecuador and Honduras. Captain Steven Gerrard acknowledged these final few weeks leading up to the tournament would be crucial ahead of their June 14 opener against Group D rivals Italy. "This is the important part, the preparation making sure you get into peak condition and try to find your form ready for that very important game against Italy. "What's important is we try to put on a good show in the three friendly matches and try to gain some early belief and confidence. Hopefully that has a snowball effect going into the tournament," said the Liverpool midfielder. Meanwhile, 1998 world champions France will emerge from their secluded Clairefontaine training camp to face Norway in Paris on Tuesday. Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane won't join the team until Wednesday after helping Real Madrid win the Champions League last weekend, while goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and winger Franck Ribery will be rested against the Norwegians. France's dramatic World Cup play-off victory over Ukraine in November, when they overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit with a 3-0 success at the Stade de France, remains fresh in the memory and Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko hopes to keep the momentum going. "We want to continue along the same lines and try to win all of these games. "These are three important matches to us in the build-up to the World Cup," said Sissoko. Title-holders Spain host Bolivia on Friday, a final chance for fringe players to impress with coach Vicente del Bosque expected to finalise his 23-man squad the following day. Del Bosque on Sunday unveiled a list of 19 players for the friendly, leaving out players from both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid for the time being to monitor their fitness. Germany, losing semi-finalists in the last two World Cups, play African hopefuls Cameroon in Moenchengladbach on Sunday. The Germans have been in Italy for a 10-day training camp with notable first-team regulars Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger still nursing their way back to fitness. "The players are working very well and as it stands now I am very satisfied. "Some are still injured and cannot fully train with the team but they are all training individually and I am very confident that it will work out," Germany boss Joachim Loew told reporters in the Italian Alps. The Netherlands, 2010 runners-up, host another Brazil-bound side Ghana on Saturday in Rotterdam as Dutch coach Louis van Gaal prepares for one last hurrah before departing to take over the reins at Manchester United after the World Cup. Four-time winners Italy, whose coach Cesare Prandelli still has his final cuts to make from a provisional 30-man squad, have an exhibition match lined up against the Republic of Ireland in London on Friday. Dark horses Belgium, a country brimming with youthful talent but making its first appearance at the global showcase in 12 years, face Sweden in Stockholm on Sunday. As for Brazil, the hosts will play two friendlies next week against Panama and Serbia prior to opening the World Cup against Croatia on June 12 in Sao Paulo. Argentina's players convened for a training camp just outside Buenos Aires on Monday. Lionel Messi and his teammates have friendlies scheduled against Trinidad and Tobago (June 5) and Honduras (June 7). Uruguay, who are sweating over the fitness of Luis Suarez after the striker underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last week, play Northern Ireland in Montevideo on Saturday. Source: AFP