National Teams Make Preparations for The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil
Training sessions and friendly matches around the world
With the domestic leagues and continental competitions out of the way, all eyes are on the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals in Brazil which kicks off on June 12. National team players who have been selected have come home to participate in training sessions and international friendly matches.
The Spanish national team, who will be coming into the World Cup as defending champions, is already deep in training at the Soccer City sports camp in Las Rozas de Madrid which is normally used by newly crowned UEFA Champions League winners, Real Madrid. Injured striker Diego Costa of losing Champions League finalists, Atlético Madrid will need to spend the time available to recover and gain his strength back after suffering a hamstring injury in the closing stages of the season. He will be elbowing for a spot against "La Furia Roja" veterans Fernando Torres and David Villa.
Meanwhile, Tunisia was hosted by South Korea on May 28 for a friendly warm-up match at Seoul's World Cup stadium ahead of the send-off for both teams. Tunisia won the match 1-0.
2006 World Cup Champions, Italy are also deep in training in the Italian countryside with their chosen venue being the Coverciano Training Centre in Florence.
South American teams are always heavily favoured when the cup is played in their continent and aside from Brazil, Argentina is a heavy conteder. FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi has rejoined his teammates and are now training under National Coach Alejandro Sabella in Buenos Aires. Messi is joined by Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain and Manchester City's Sergio Aguero.
Belgian players find themselves in Stockolm, Sweden where they are holding their training sessions before jetting off to the other side of the globe. France has chosen Clairefontaine, near Paris to be the venue for their World Cup preparations.
While others are still in training, Colombia and Japan have already completed their send-off ceremonies for their respective teams where fans got the chance to see their national team and bid them good luck and farewell before starting their campaign for the world's biggest football competition.
See complete match schedules at the Official FIFA World Cup Web site.