There are mixed feelings and thoughts going through my mind before the starting moment of this year’s biggest event — yes, it’s World Cup 2014 in Brazil. As always I've prepared myself a week in advance in supporting my favorite football teams, Portugal and Brazil, and by preparation I mean posters and articles posted on Facebook that could flood my friends’ feed. For Brazil, I have a solid belief that the team, having Neymar as the inspiration, are going to deliver a great showing this year. History shows that the host nation has never lost the champion cups to anyone while in their motherland. So then my anticipation of an ultimate win for Brazil sounds much more convincing.

But if I were to pick another potential winner that I’m truly fond of, my choice would go to Portugal. The squad of my golden players — C.Ronaldo, Figo, Deco, Gomes, Ricardo, Maniche and Carvalho —, though most of them are no longer in the team, has remained the number 1 team in my heart. Ronaldo is my bias of all and I count on him for the major improvement in Portugal’s attacking play. He is currently seen as one of the most successful forwards in football history, though I believe he would make an extraordinary player at any roles — I love him most when he was a rookie yet sharp left-winger in his first big show, Euro 2004. His football drills were what fascinated me then and have since kept me a big fan for 10 years and, I’m sure, even more.

Now to the 2014 tournament, the opening game of the group of death — group G — is between Portugal and the great enemy Germany. It is predicted that Germany will top the group and Portugal will come second, though fighting against the rising star USA and the dark horse Ghana is by no means easy tasks. Now why I am not in an up-in-the-sky mood for the winning chance of Portugal. Reality gets in: there seems to be a single-man squad that relies heavily on Ronaldo, who, — we all know — is having a knee injury and looking for his fitness just right on the eve of the tournament. I’m not so sure about the current Portugal’s goalkeepers, the defenders and even the midfielders except for Pepe — but only if he doesn't get himself in a scuffle and loses his cool. That Portugal just thrashed Ireland in final warm-up game before World Cup has made fans feel much relieved yet there exists a threat we don’t want to think about. A draw against Germany would make a fantastic start, then the rest games would be just easier to tackle. If Portugal to advance to round of 16, they might be facing Russia — provided they would top group H — , and this, in my opinion, wouldn't be much a dreaded clash and somehow less stressful to them. Anyway, let’s see how it’s going.

Can’t wait to June 16! Go Portugal!

And tonight, fire it on, Brazil!