Snipers, top-earning coaches and players to watch

While the several million viewers were focused on the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening ceremonies in Brazil, a sniper from the country’s elite Special Rescue Group requested permission to permanently neutralize an unidentified person near Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, United Nation Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

Officers inside the control room recognized the intruder as a policeman who had strayed into the wrong area, thus saving the life of their colleague and averting an opening day tragedy.

***

The World Cup’s top 3 highest paid coaches failed to bring their respective teams to the round of 16.  Fabio Capello of Russia, Roy Hodgson of England and Cesare Prandelli of Italy respectively receive from their football federation an annual take of  $7.5, $3.5 and $2.9 million.

Meanwhile, some of the tournament’s lowest paid brought their countries to the next level.  Compare Mexico’s Miguel Herrera ($140,000), Nigeria’s Stephen Kishi ($260,000) and Costa Rica’s Jorge Luis Pinto ($290,000) to the millionaire coaches.

***

Starting at midnight tonight, check out these players to carry the load for their countries.  Switzerland, ranked #6 in the world will depend on Gokhan Inler, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Xherdan Shaqiri.  They will go up against #5 Argentina and Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel di Maria.  Argentina won the FIFA World Cup in 1978 and 1986.  2014 could be their year.

Tomorrow’s 4am match will be #13 ranked USA with Tom Howard, Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley against #11 ranked Belgium manned by Eden Hazard, Romelo Lukaku and Vincent Kompany.  Belgium’s highest finish in the World Cup was in 1986 when they finished at 4th place.  The last time the US had a podium finish was in 1930 where they placed 3rd.

***

Wednesday could be Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s date with history if he scores another goal.  He has tied Brazil’s Ronaldo with the most goals scored in FIFA World Cups at 15.  Scoring one or two goals makes Klose the WC’s highest goal scorer.