By an easy comparison of today and yesteryear, it appears we are going to witness most memorable and fantastic games, and a lot of lessons to learn in the Brazil event which kicks off tomorrow, Thursday, June 12, 2014.
Indeed if what we have heard about the football fans travelling on a six-day journey by road from Santiago, the capital of Chile in a convoy of buses and cars to Rio de Janairo, the Brazilian old capital for this World Cup is a reality, then I can predict that some wonderful things will happen this year.
Already, a lot have been said about what will make the event tick, with all the beautiful celebrities trooping there from all over the world. But a convoy of over 3000 people including ordinary curious fans, cheer leaders with their drums and gong-gongs, qualified doctors, nutritionists, "Zoom Lion" cleaners carrying various foodstuff and water on that six-day journey, must be truly remarkable.
Other nearby South American countries that have qualified to be there including Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador have already concluded their arrangements and their plots to deprive Brazil of their bragging rights of hosting and winning the amazing event, reminding them of what happened in 1950. And you can imagine how they have also rehearsed their various dances and fancy dresses before, during and after the World Cup.
Down here, I know the soccer-crazy citizens of the Central and Western Region who are noted for their long-pole fancy dressing and dancing would do their own thing, and the soccer festival in this Coast of Gold will witness a boom if the Black Stars reach the height they have contemplated.
The Nigerians, Algerians, Cameroonians and Ivorians will as well do their usual display of flags and brass bands dances back home as their Super Eagles, Indomitable Lions and the Elephants progress in their Groups and go near their dream levels.
It is intriguing how the selected Black Stars supporters are gearing up towards the event. However, definitely, the long journey to Brazil cannot come closer by comparison to nearby lands like Mexico, Costa Rico, Honduras and the United Stares of America.
I can see ahead an impressive array of national colours dominating tomorrow's opening match between the home team Brazil and their Croatia counterparts.
That is a match which will attract every visitor for the tournament, and my prayer is that it will go in favour of Brazil to assuage the agenda of the protestors who have for the past two years felt uncomfortable with the hosting which is costing Brazil a huge fortune.
Victory for Brazil will be highly welcomed, and expectantly, all the 200 million citizens will celebrate with sounds and samba dances that will vindicate FIFA President Sepp Blatter's vision of a successful tournament.
The ever-smiling Brazil President Dilma Rousseff will be the happiest person in the world when the first game kicks off and ends with countrymen jubilating over a sweet victory against Croatia. As for the second match between Cameroon and Mexico, the result will matter very little as none of them is under pressure like we find in Brazil and Croatia.
One of the most interesting matches that will attract attention will be the last World Cup finalists, and that is Spain, the current holder of the Cup and Netherlands, the last runners-up, both in Group "B".
The two countries have been dreaming of staging another show of superiority. Spain in particular look like favourites in that Group, looking at the crop of players they have, and for the fact that in the last European club championships, the two clubs from Spain went to rare finals, talking about Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. It will be a battle of Titans.
We all saw the character and ability of Netherlands when they played the Black Stars in a recent trial match and won by a lone goal, scored by Robin Van Persie, and supported by experienced and strong Ian Robben.
The two partners will give Spain a big problem, but talented Xavi Alonso, David Villa and Inesta, backed by goalkeeper Iker Casilas will be hard to beat. Chile and Australia in the same Group seem likely to pull some surprises, and that is what Spain and Netherlands must watch out.
Another Group that will make bookmakers look for another Octopus Paul, the last wonder "seer" is Group "D". That danger Group consists of England, Uruguay and Italy with Costa Rica playing a second fiddle. They start the battle royal on Saturday, June 14, and viewers at home will be keen in that fray.
As fate might have it, Nigeria are meeting their nemesis, Argentina, again in their Group F which commences on July 15. It was Argentina who beat Nigeria 1 - 0 in the last Group B in the South African tournament to prevent the Super Eagles from advancing to play in the Round of Sixteen.
But I can assure you that Nigeria have a team of youth set like Michael Babatunde, Ogenyi, Victor Moses, Peter Odewinge, Austin Edije, Shola Amoebi, backed by experienced Joseph Yono, John Obi Mikel, Emmanuel Amunike and others with great Vincent Enyiama in the posts.
A lot has been said about Group G, the Group of Death. Apart from Portugal, the Black Stars have had dates with strong Germany and USA. The show which begins on June 16 with two old rivals, the Black Stars and USA seem to have no underdogs.
Each one has the capacity to face the challenge, and for obvious reasons it will be a do-and-die dog fight.The two masters that will emerge from that Group will be a threat to all opposition in the tournament.
The Black Stars have a strong squad with a lot of confidence. And this is a tournament that will determine the depth of experience after two previous events that came in 2006 and 2010 after 36 years of trials and failures, when a country like Cameroon had tasted their ability on the scene on five previous Mundials.
As predicted by reliable sources, the arrival of the Black Stars will make all the difference and this is another opportunity. I believe the time has come for the Black Stars to break the semi-final jinx which has eluded Africa since the 1970 finals which allowed the continent to have one slot.
The atmosphere looks congenial and there must be a whole monumental difference in this great tournament which will go down as the most memorable in history. Good luck!
