Everybody get your dance moves ready. It's World Cup time!

Players to Know: #2 Lionel Messi

Forward, Argentina

Here’s a stat for you. In the 2011-12 campaign for Spain’s La Liga, Lionel Messi tallied 50 goals in 36 games for Barcelona; in doing so he outscored 13 of the league’s 20 teams by himself. On March 16 of this year, Messi became FC Barcelona's all-time scoring leader with 371 goals breaking a record that had held since 1927. He was only 26 years old on that day. Messi scores goals in many shapes and sizes, and they come so frequently it's as if he were playing FIFA '14 on easy mode. How is this possible?

Players to Know: #3 Luis Suarez

Forward, Uruguay

Luis Suarez kind of looks like the infamous "Most Interesting Man In The World". While he probably can't speak fluent French in Russian, Suarez may indeed be the most interesting footballer in the world. He will undoubtedly be one of the best players to get off a plane in Brazil, but the Luis Suarez story starts with his baggage.

Players to Know: #4 Neymar

Forward, Brazil

Meet Brazil's new golden boy, the player tasked with leading El Selecao to glory on home turf this summer. Neymar da Silva Santos Junior has assumed the mantle from a long line of Brazilian greats such as Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka and, of course, Pele. These are heavy expectations to place on the shoulder of a 22-year-old, and it's an open question whether Neymar is up to the task. One thing I can say confidently though, is that whether he succeeds or fails, Neymar will do it in some style.

The Diamond Is Rough: Win over Turkey doesn't mask defensive issues for U.S.

We'll get to the offense later because it was pretty good, but U.S. fans have to be concerned by the team's defensive showing in Sunday's friendly against Turkey. The final scoreboard said 2-1 in favor of the Americans, but that scoreline was flattering to a U.S. defense that was at sixes and sevens for much of the match. The performance begs a simple yet foundational question: Does the U.S. need to consider changing its formation only two weeks before their opening game?

Azerbaiwho? Grading the U.S.'s lackluster win in first game of Send-Off Series

Once the World Cup starts, a win is a win is a win, but a different standard is used to judge World Cup tune-up games. Yes, the U.S. finished with a comfortable 2-0 victory last night, but Ghana will not be shaking in their boots watching the U.S. performance against Azerbaijan.

Players to Know: #5 Andres Iniesta

Midfielder, Spain

The man is known fondly in his native Spain as El Ilusionista. Maybe he has a second job as a children's entertainer, but much more likely this is because Andres Iniesta is the best dribbler in the world.

U.S. 23-Man Roster and Five Thoughts

Landon Donovan, USA

U.S. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann released Thursday the 23-man roster he will take to Brazil this summer. Here it is:

Top 10 Shocking Matches (of my lifetime): Part III of III

After Part I and Part II, we're down to the best of the best, four matches that will withstand the test of time. Let's go.

Top 10 Players Who Should Be At The 2014 World Cup

As an Arsenal fan, Aaron Ramsey's sublime match-winner in the FA Cup Final this past Saturday was reason to celebrate, but the goal brought a twinge of sadness as well. Ramsey, a player who has emerged this season as a world-class talent, will not grace soccer's biggest stage this summer, and this is not his fault. It's geography's fault; Ramsey was born in Wales who have a terrible national team. Every four years, there are players in Ramsey's situation, and you feel for them. You feel for yourself too because you're deprived of seeing these players. Here's who will be missed most in Brazil.

Players to Know: #6 Clint Dempsey

Forward, USA

I'm sorry Landon Donovan. You should know that you're my all-time favorite U.S. player and that it hurts me to say the following... If you're to know but one player on the 2014 U.S. squad, it has to be Clint Dempsey.

Tickets Out Please: Who Will Board the U.S. Plane to Brazil?

On Monday, U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann selected his preliminary 30-man World Cup roster. These players begin arriving today in Palo Alto, CA for the team's training camp, and Klinsmann has until June 2 to select the final 23 who'll travel to Brazil. That leaves almost three weeks to speculate who those players will be.

Then There Were 30: Jurgen Klinsmann Names His Preliminary Roster

USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann named his preliminary roster Monday for the 2014 World Cup. The players will begin reporting to Palo Alto, CA on Wednesday for training camp, and Klinsmann has until June 2 to select the 23-man squad that boards the plane for Brazil. Here are the 30 players vying for those seats:

Top 10 Shocking Matches (of my lifetime): Part II of III

In Part I, we saw Italy stop a German march, Nigeria turn a Spanish World Cup on its head, and Sweden knock out a tournament favorite in the first round. What's in store for Part II? Let's get back to the countdown.

Top 10 Shocking Matches (of my lifetime): Part I of III

To say that the level of emotion surrounding a World Cup game is high would be an understatement. For starters, people care about their national teams to the point that it can be irrational. Players who lead their teams to glory become national heroes while disappointment is inevitably heaped upon a scapegoat or two (1998 David Beckham, I'm looking at you England fans). Combine this with the fact that the World Cup happens only once every 4 years, and hopes/anxieties/expectations have come to a boil by the time the tournament starts. It's part of what makes the World Cup great although it won't feel that way if your team is on the wrong end of a match like one of these 10 shockers.

Players to Know: #7 Arjen Robben

Midfielder, Netherlands

In youth leagues, there's that unstoppable player who could kick the ball past opponents and out-run them to score. There's that basketball player who always crossed over and drove to his right. Their coaches would tell them, "Son, if you ever want to make it in the big leagues, you're going to have develop another move." Arjen Robben, if he's so inclined, could look these people in the eye and laugh.

Top 10 World Cup Goals (of my lifetime)

 

The players who compete in the World Cup are of the highest caliber, and the presence of exceptional players brings the possibility of extraordinary goals. I selected the goals for this list on two criteria: 1) the quality of the goal and 2) the context in which it was scored. If you notice a lack of goals from the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, that is in part because it’s more difficult for World Cup moments to resonate when one is 3 and 7 years old. As for the list, are the 10 goals worthy of their spot?

Nike's World Cup Commerical

Nike and its stars are ready for the World Cup, and this spot is reminiscent of Nike's outstanding 2002 commercial. Which one do you like better?

Players to Know: #8 Andrea Pirlo

Midfielder, Italy

Conductor. Technician. Maestro. High praise but also apt descriptors for Italy's deep-lying playmaker Andrea Pirlo. Watching Pirlo orchestrate his team is an understated and engrossing experience. Sitting between the back-four defenders and the more advanced midfielders, Pirlo is the fulcrum from which the Italian team's movements extend. He collects passes from all directions and rechannels as he sees fit.

Although this ability is impressive, there are other players who can perform this role for their teams - Xavi, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Yaya Toure - so perhaps what most defines Pirlo is the manner in which he performs this role.

2010 USA Recap (Knockout Stages): The Road Not Taken

Heading into the Round of 16, USA fans were giddy with excitement as the team's tournament had been flipped right side up. In the span of a few minutes, the USA had gone from a disappointing group-stage exit to topping their group (full details in Part I). Furthermore, the knockout bracket setup could hardly have been kinder to the USA.

2010 USA Recap (Group Stage): One Shining Moment

The United States' performance in South Africa 2010 was different parts encouraging, stressful, joyful and disappointing. Going into the tournament, hopes were high. The USA was spurred on by a surprising run in the 2009 Confederations Cup that saw the team advance further than ever before in a FIFA tournament. After beating Egypt 3-0 in their final group game to make the knockout rounds, the USA shocked #1-ranked Spain in the semi-finals and led 2-0 at halftime in the final against Brazil before falling 3-2. And unlike 2014, the 2010 World Cup draw was favorable to the USA placing them in a group with England, Slovenia and Algeria; the English press also felt this was a workable group.