2014 Fifa World Cup finals draw

Well, the Final Draw certainly gave us some intriguing groups, but which is worthy of the so-called 'Group of Death'? Stay tuned to FIFA.com over the next few hours and days for the best reaction to the events today in Costa do Sauipe - and also for the best in terms the build-up to Brazil 2014. Who will wrest the Trophy from Spain's grasp?

GROUP H HEAD-TO-HEAD

Belgium and Korea Republic both have previous World Cup experience of each other, with Belgium winning the first encounter before a draw in 1998. Both coaches Marc Wilmots and Hong Myung-Bo were in the sides for their 1-1 draw in group climax Paris, which will be repeated in Sao Paulo this time.

Belgium have also faced Russia four times in the finals, with the first two games going the way of the then-USSR, and the latter going to Belgium. They met at their last World Cup in 2002 as well, with a 2-0 win for the Red Devils.

Algeria have faced all three of their opponents in friendlies over the years, earning a draw against Russia and Belgium, but also suffering defeats to the latter and Korea Republic.18:07

GROUP G HEAD-TO-HEAD
Germany have faced Portugal 17 times, five of those meetings have been at a World Cup. At Germany 2006, the hosts bested Portugal 3-1 in the match for third place.

Ghana beat USA in the two most recent World Cups. The Black Stars bested the Stars and Stripes 2-1 in the final group stage match of Group E at Germany 2006 and again beat the Americans in the Round of 16 at South Africa 2010 when Asamoah Gyan fired Ghana through to the quarter-finals with a 93rd-minute extra-time goal.

Germany and Ghana met in the 2010 World Cup, where half-brothers Kevin-Prince and Jerome Boateng battled against each other in the first time family members played against one another at a World Cup.

USA and Portugal met at Korea/Japan 2002 where the Americans pulled off a shock 3-2 defeat of the European side. USA met Germany in the quarter-finals of the same tournament where Germany edged the Americans 1-0.

Portugal and Ghana have never faced each other.18:07

GROUP F HEAD-TO-HEAD
Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina have met twice before, most recently in St.Louis, USA this past November when Argentina won 2-0 in a friendly. Iran and Nigeria have met just once before in Hong Kong in 1998 where the Super Eagles came out on top 1-0. 

Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran have met five times before and the Iranians have got the better of the Brazil 2014 newcomers by winning four and drawing once. 

Argentina and Nigeria have faced off in six matches, including the 2010 World Cup, when Argentina won 1-0 at in Johannesburg. In total, Argentina have won five and drawn once. 18:00

GROUP E HEAD-TO-HEAD

Two matches will happen for the first time at the 2014 World Cup, Switzerland have never faced Ecuador before, and France have not played Honduras at senior level.

France and Switzerland on the other hand, have played each other 36 times, once at the World Cup, a goalless draw in the 2006 group stages.

Honduras and Ecuador have met each other 13 times - all friendly matches, with eight draws. Honduras have faced Switzerland once, at the 2010 World Cup, which ended in a goalless draw. Ecuador and France's only meeting came in a 2-0 friendly win for Le Bleus.17:58

GROUP D HEAD-TO-HEADEngland have faced Italy 24 times, with a 2-1 win for Gli Azzurri at Italy 1990. Their most recent meeting came in EURO 2012, with the Italians putting England out on penalties. The Three Lions have faced Uruguay twice at the World Cup, a win for La Celeste in 1954 and a goalless draw in 1966, when the hosts went on to secure their only World Cup to date. England have never before faced Costa Rica, who in turn have only met Italy once - a friendly win for the Azzurri in 1994.

Italy and Uruguay have faced off twice at the World Cup before, a draw at 1970 and a 2-0 win for the hosts at Italy 1990.

Uruguay and Costa Rica have met eight times, with the latter never having won. La Celeste saw off Costa Rica in the 2010 World Cup qualifiying play-off - 2-1 on aggregate.17:49

GROUP C HEAD-TO-HEAD
Colombia  and Greece have met once before, a friendly win for the Colombians in 1994. 

Côte d'Ivoire and Japan will face off for the first time in a competitive match on 14 June, with Japan winning two out of their previous three friendly meetings. Côte d'Ivoire have never before faced Colombia or Greece. 

Japan beat Greece in their only ever meeting, at the 2005 Confederations Cup.

Japan have not beaten Colombia in their two meetings to date, a 2003 Confederations Cup win for the South Americans and a goalless friendly draw in 2007.

GROUP B HEAD-TO-HEAD
Spain and Netherlands open their World Cup campaigns after playing their most recent World Cup fixture against one another - the 2010 Final. That has been their only World Cup game in ten meetings. Australia and Chile have met four times, once at the 1974 World Cup, which ended in a goalless draw. The holders have met Chileten times before and twice at the World Cup (both wins for La Roja, 2-0 in 1950 and 2-1 in 2010).

The Netherlands have failed to beat Australia in their three friendly meetings, drawing twice and losing in 2008. The Socceroos have never faced La Roja and theNetherlands have faced Chile just once - a 2-2 draw in the 1928 Olympic Football Tournament.

GROUP A HEAD-TO-HEAD

Brazil have faced Mexico a remarkable 38 times at senior level, three times at a World Cup finals (1950, 1954 & 1962), with Brazil victorious on all three occasions. The hosts have played Croatia twice before, one friendly draw and a victory over the Croats in the group stages of the 2006 World Cup. A Selecao beat Cameroon in the 1994 World Cup, but lost in their most recent meeting - at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Mexico and Cameroon have met just once before, a win for El Tri in a 1993 friendly match. Mexico have played Croatia three times before, winning their only World Cup meeting in 2002. Cameroon and Croatia will meet for the first time on 18 June in Manaus.

GROUP A

• Brazil
• Croatia
• Mexico
• Cameroon

GROUP B

• Spain
• Netherlands
• Chile
• Australia

GROUP C

• Colombia
• Greece
• Côte d'Ivoire
• Japan

GROUP D

• Uruguay
• Costa Rica
• England
• Italy

GROUP E

• Switzerland
• Ecuador
• France
• Honduras

GROUP F

• Argentina
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Iran
• Nigeria

GROUP G

• Germany
• Portugal
• Ghana
• USA

GROUP H

• Belgium
• Algeria
• Russia
• Korea Republic

Avoiding Impulse Spending

Answer these questions truthfully:

1.) Does your spouse or partner complain that you spend too much money?

2.) Are you surprised each month when your credit card bill arrives at how much more you charged than you thought you had?

3.) Do you have more shoes and clothes in your closet than you could ever possibly wear?

4.) Do you own every new gadget before it has time to collect dust on a retailer’s shelf?

5.) Do you buy things you didn’t know you wanted until you saw them on display in a store?

If you answered “yes” to any two of the above questions, you are an impulse spender and indulge yourself in retail therapy.

This is not a good thing. It will prevent you from saving for the important things like a house, a new car, a vacation or retirement. You must set some financial goals and resist spending money on items that really don’t matter in the long run.

Impulse spending will not only put a strain on your finances but your relationships, as well. To overcome the problem, the first thing to do is learn to separate your needs from your wants.

Advertisers blitz us hawking their products at us 24/7. The trick is to give yourself a cooling-off period before you buy anything that you have not planned for.

When you go shopping, make a list and take only enough cash to pay for what you have planned to buy. Leave your credit cards at home.

If you see something you think you really need, give yourself two weeks to decide if it is really something you need or something you can easily do without. By following this simple solution, you will mend your financial fences and your relationships.

Why Should I Make a Budget?

You say you know where your money goes and you don’t need it all written down to keep up with it? I issue you this challenge. Keep track of every penny you spend for one month and I do mean every penny.

You will be shocked at what the itty-bitty expenses add up to. Take the total you spent on just one unnecessary item for the month, multiply it by 12 for months in a year and multiply the result by 5 to represent 5 years.

That is how much you could have saved AND drawn interest on in just five years. That, my friend, is the very reason all of us need a budget.

If we can get control of the small expenses that really don’t matter to the overall scheme of our lives, we can enjoy financial success.

The little things really do count. Cutting what you spend on lunch from five dollars a day to three dollars a day on every work day in a five day work week saves $10 a week… $40 a month… $480 a year… $2400 in five years….plus interest.

See what I mean… it really IS the little things and you still eat lunch everyday AND that was only one place to save money in your daily living without doing without one thing you really need. There are a lot of places to cut expenses if you look for them.  

Set some specific long term and short term goals. There are no wrong answers here. If it’s important to you, then it’s important period.

If you want to be able to make a down payment on a house, start a college fund for your kids, buy a sports car, take a vacation to Aruba… anything… then that is your goal and your reason to get a handle on your financial situation now.

The Budget – The Ultimate Financial Management Tool

A carpenter uses a set of house plans to build a house. If he didn’t the bathroom might get overlooked altogether.

Rocket Scientists would never begin construction on a new booster rocket without a detailed set of design specifications. Yet most of us go blindly out into the world without an inkling of an idea about finances and without any plan at all.

Not very smart of us, is it?

A money plan is called a budget and it is crucial to get us to our desired financial goals.

Without a plan we will drift without direction and end up marooned on a distant financial reef.

If you have a spouse or a significant other, you should make this budget together. Sit down and figure out what your joint financial goals are…long term and short term.

Then plan your route to get to those goals. Every journey begins with one step and the first step to attaining your goals is to make a realistic budget that both of you can live with.

A budget should never be a financial starvation diet. That won’t work for the long haul. Make reasonable allocations for food, clothing, shelter, utilities and insurance and set aside a reasonable amount for entertainment and the occasional luxury item. Savings should always come first before any spending.

Even a small amount saved will help you reach your long term and short term financial goals. You can find many budget forms on the internet. Just use any search engine you choose and type in “free budget forms”.

You’ll get lots of hits. Print one out and work on it with your spouse or significant other. Both of you will need to be happy with the final result and feel like it’s something you can stick to.

Spend Wisely to Save Money

Have you ever noticed that the things you buy every week at the grocery and hardware stores go up a few cents between shopping trips? Not by much…just by a little each week but they continue to creep up and up.

All it takes for the price to jump up by a lot is a little hiccup in the world wide market, note the price of gasoline as it relates to world affairs.

There is a way that we can keep these price increases from impacting our personal finances so much and that is by buying in quantity and finding the best possible prices for the things we use and will continue to use everyday… things that will keep just as well on the shelves in our homes as it does on the shelves at the grocery store or hardware store.

For instance, dog food and cat food costs about 10% less when bought by the case than it does when bought at the single can price and if you wait for close out prices you save a lot more than that.

Set aside some space in your home and make a list of things that you use regularly which will not spoil. Any grain or grain products will need to be stored in airtight containers that rats can’t get into so keep that in mind.

Then set out to find the best prices you can get on quantity purchases of such things as bathroom items and dry and canned food.

You will be surprised at how much you can save by buying a twenty pound bag of rice as opposed to a one pound bag but don’t forget that it must be kept in a rat proof container.

You can buy some clothing items such as men’s socks and underwear because those styles don’t change, avoid buying children’s and women’s clothing, those styles change and sizes change too drastically.

Try to acquire and keep a two year supply of these items and you can save hundreds of dollars.

Rebates – Reward or Rip Off?

Rebates have become increasingly popular in the last few years on a lot of items and certainly on electronic items and computers. Rebates of $20, $50 or $100 are not uncommon.

I’ve even seen items advertised as “free after rebate”. Do these rebates come under the heading of “too good to be true”? Some of them do and there are “catches” to watch out for but if you are careful, rebates can help you get some really good deals.

The way a rebate works is that you pay the listed price for an item then mail in a form and the bar code to the manufacturer and they send you a refund thus reducing the price of what you paid for the item except with a time delay of several weeks.


Rule #1. Rebates from reputable companies are usually just fine.

You can be pretty sure you will get the promised rebate from Best Buy, Amazon or Dell but you should probably not count on getting one from a company you’ve never heard of. If you really want the product and are OK with paying the price listed then buy it but don’t count on actually getting the refund.


Rule #2. Check rebate expiration dates.

Many times products will stay on the shelf of a retailer after the date for sending in the rebate offer has expired so check that date carefully.


Rule #3. Be sure you have all the forms required to file for the rebate before you leave the store.

Rebates will almost always require a form to be filled out, a receipt for the purchase and a bar code.

Rule #4. Back up your rebate claim.

Make copies of everything you send in to get your rebate including the bar code. Stuff gets lost in the mail all the time and if the rebate is for $50 it’s worth the trouble to back up your claim.

Helpful Home Decorating Tips

When making plans for a home decorating project, it is important to sit down and write down your ideas and goals. Without a plan the experience may become confusing and frustrating. There are many details to work out when planning to decorate your home such as theme, materials and intentions for the space being decorated. It is pointless to get up one morning thinking I’ll decorate my dining room today. It would be a nice thought but without previous planning, doubtfully the project would amount to much. Home decorating tips such as this are helpful.

After jotting down ideas and goals for your home decorating project, the next phase might be to consider your budget, how much can you afford to spend on redecorating. Materials and accessories could be costly depending on what your decorating plans are. If desiring to make changes to your entire home, you should have access to a sufficient amount of money. Helpful home decorating tips should always make your budget a priority. There are hidden costs when making huge improvements in your home. Once the home decorating begins, little expenses seem to jump out of the woodwork. Planning a home decorating project that fits your budget is a helpful home decorating tip.

Once you are all straightened out regarding the financial situation, you will want to choose a style or them for your home decorating project. There are many to choose from and the decision should be made based on your likes and interests. Country decorating provides a sense of warmth and coziness, while a modern theme might be loud and alive. Remember when planning to decorate, this theme may be around for awhile. For this reason another good home decorating tip is, choose a theme or a style you can live with.

After making a final decision about your decorating theme, a helpful home decorating tip might be to sit down and sketch your plan on paper. Using a pencil and paper, sketch a diagram of the area you are about to decorate. Considering the size, spend some time arranging and rearranging, through drawing, the items to go in this space. Using a mental visualization and the sketch, you should be certain of your goal before the actual work begins. Another helpful home decorating tip at this stage of the game is aiming to highlight

Your imagination, your creativity – these are two great assets in home decorating. Perhaps one of the most helpful home decorating tips is to make use of your own creative abilities. When your project begins, if an idea pops in your head or you discover you’d like to try orange instead of beige, go for it. Often times it’s those off the wall ideas that make a space look astonishing. It’s your home, your idea, use your judgement.

There are many helpful home decorating tips. They can be found in home decorating magazines, books, on programs or on the Internet. If having concerns and inhibitions about starting a decorating project in your home, you could certainly get some helpful home decorating tips from these sources. Decorating your home is meant to be an exciting and joyous occasion. The number one tip for home decorating is have fun.

Country Home Decorating

When choosing a theme or style for decorating your home, there are many to choose from. One of the most popular decorating themes today is country home decorating. Perhaps it is the most popular because it provides an inviting atmosphere and overall friendly feeling. Country home decorating, because of its warm environment, is enjoyed by the people who live there as well as all those who visit.

As with any home decorating project, a homeowner must first decide where they want to use country home decorating. Some people choose to use this theme throughout their entire home while other decide to use country home decorating focusing on just one or two rooms, for example the kitchen and the living room. Because this style is meant for people who enjoy simplicity and the nature, some homeowners may decide to carry the country decorating theme through the entire living space.

Country home decorating combines colors which are clean and bright with country furniture and accessories. When choosing colors for country home decorating, light to medium shades of white, yellow, pink, green or brown are good choices. Colors should reflect a rustic feeling. To add to the painted walls, a homeowner or decorator may decide to use stencils with country character such as flowers or plants, fruits or vegetables. Wallpaper boarders are also often used in country home decorating. It is fine to use these additions but the rule of thumb is – to make sure the patterns do not clash.

In keeping with a rustic and simple theme, country home decorating uses wood – natural wood. When deciding on a material for a country floor, natural wood is a nice choice. Of course using natural wood throughout a large area can be costly. If looking for a less-expensive way to give floors a country look, a light shade of carpet might be considered or laminate flooring. These options would also work well with the country home decorating theme. Other suggestions for country floors are flagstone or tile. Some homeowners, if they’re really creative, decorate their floors with stencils and create patterns. Another great way to jazz up a space is to use area rugs. In keeping with the country home decorating theme, those with an authentic look create a warm and cozy feeling. Hooked, quilted and braided rugs make beautiful additions to a country floor.

When choosing furniture to compliment country home decorating, light wood or wicker is suggested. Again, these materials reflect the beauty of nature. If a homeowner or decorator decides fabric would accent their furniture, such as cushions or slip covers, floral patterns or checkered fabrics add to the authentic look.

Accessorizing a space always adds to its beauty. When buying accessories to fit in with a country home decorating theme, it is good to keep in mind the type of atmosphere you are trying to create, a warm and inviting space. Simplicity goes a long way in country home decorating. It is recommended to never use too many decorations and choose accessories that family and friends will enjoy. Photos in simple wooden frames, plain mirrors, plants and scented candles dress up country home decorating. Window treatments should also be simple. Lace or shutters give a cozy country feel. Country home decorating can be interesting and fun. Perhaps the main detail to keep in mind is simplicity. Try not to over-decorate, remember too many patterns will clash. Too many decorations will eliminate the amount of space in a room. Country home decorating creates a relaxing and friendly environment, meant to be warm and cozy.

Christmas Home Decorating

Christmas is the one time of year that most people pull out all the stops when it comes to decorating. There is no such thing in the eyes of many as excess and the one who gets started last is the one who often finishes last. Each year the displays, lights, and sounds grow larger and more complex. The problem is that most people cannot keep up with the newest, latest, and greatest in Christmas decorations. For these people there should be no worry. Christmas is a celebration of good will and not a competition to have the grandest display (at least that is what it should be).

Hopefully, the ideas below will help you enjoy decorating your home for Christmas once again as a passion for the holiday rather than a competition. The most important thing is that you choose Christmas decorations that have meaning to you rather than the decorations you feel your friends and family will like. Christmas is very personal and different to every person that celebrates the holiday. Not everyone that celebrates this particular holiday will celebrate in precisely the same way.

If the nativity scene is central to your Christmas celebration then by all means be sure to include it. You should not, however, feel compelled to include it if you have a more secular than religious view of the holiday. Angels are the same way though there are many who have little religious use for angels that still hold them in high regards as decorations around Christmas each year. Go with your preferences and convictions and you might find that the process is a joy rather than a chore.

I am a fan of Christmas decorations I love the blinking lights and the beauty of the greenery mixed with bright shades of red and gold. I love the fact that 200 houses can be decorated for Christmas inside and out and it is very unlikely that any two will look the same. I love the fact that for one month out of the year children are looking out their windows in awe at the bright lights and the cheery characters that light up the cold wintry rooftops all around.

If you are lost when it comes to decorating ideas of your own, my biggest suggestion is to pick what you like most about Christmas and choose your home decorating style around that one thing. As the years go by, inspiration strikes, and you find more things to like or dislike about Christmas your decorations can change accordingly. Perhaps the greatest thing about decorating your home for Christmas is that nothing is set in stone. If it worked last year, that doesn't mean it will work for this Christmas and there is no reason you should feel compelled to do it.

Some great ideas or themes for Christmas home decorating include the following: snow globes, cherubs, angels, Santa Clauses, snowmen, birds, candles, wreathes, and stockings. While this is by no means an exhaustive list of Christmas decorations it is a good place to start when ideas are needed. Favorites of my children include cartoon characters, gingerbread men, gingerbread houses, balls, grape clusters, and ribbons.

If you want to create a truly special style of home decorating for Christmas try a homemade Christmas. This means that all the ornaments, centerpieces, wreaths, garlands, and decorations are made by hand rather than purchased whole. It will certainly make an impression on visitors and you and your family can enjoy the process of creating your very own Christmas decorations for the holiday season.

There are so many wonderful ideas, tips, and tricks when it comes to decorating your home for Christmas that it is incredibly difficult to point to one specific idea and say 'this is it'. However, finding a theme that speaks to your heart is what Christmas is all about. Well that and spending time with those who mean the most to you in the world.

Choosing Home Decorating Fabric

An important aspect of home decorating is choosing home decorating fabric. When picking a theme such as Victorian, Modern or Oriental, the choice of fabric makes a difference to the overall theme. There are many kinds of home decorating fabric. If you are looking for fabric that compliments a particular theme, perhaps doing a little research regarding the theme would be helpful. This sort of information can be found in home decorating magazines, books and also the Internet on home decorating websites.

If you decide to use a Victorian theme for your decorating project, whether you do one room or the entire house, it is essential to remember that Victorian decorating is quite elaborate and tend to be very feminine. Choosing home decorating fabric for a Victorian theme, you should strive to pick those which resemble those used during the Victorian period. Home decorating fabric for bedding and curtains should be made from heavy materials. Choices such as velvet and brocade are popular for Victorian home decorating fabric. To accessorize the fabric, ribbons and bows, face and beads can be used as trim.

Choosing a modern theme would suggest the use home decorating fabric which is bold and vibrant. Modern home decorating is usually based on an open concept with big spacious rooms. The large space is intended to draw your attention to the various details in the room which would include home decorating fabric. These bold and vibrant fabrics, used in curtains, slip covers or throw pillows, will certainly stand out in a modern, spacious room with light to cool colors used on the walls. In this situation, the home decorating fabric would definitely be noticed and appreciated.

Oriental home decorating seems to be popular nowadays. Its unique design with accessories such as Chinese dragons, elephants, fans and screens, make a room interesting and a great topic of conversation. Home decorating fabric or an oriental theme usually includes coral, red, ivory and jade colors. The most popular fabric used in oriental home decorating is silk. Using silk in colors like coral or red would definitely stand out and compliment the rich dark wood furniture recommended for oriental decorating.

Home decorating fabric is sort of like icing on the cake. You add great pieces of furniture to a space with walls painted in beautiful colors. Then to accent the furniture or a window, you choose home decorating fabric. A window, because it provides access to the outside, is always a focal point in any room. Using fabrics made from materials suited to the theme, your window treatments would definitely draw attention to the window.

If you are wondering where to find home decorating fabric, there are several places to shop. You may want to buy slip covers, cushions or curtains that are already made. Department stores have a great selection. There are also stores that specialize in home décor. These would certainly provide a selection of home decorating fabric. If you are a crafty individual, you may choose to make your own decorative items for your home. Again, department stores usually stock a big variety of fabric. There are fabric stores in most areas as well. If undecided regarding what you should use or would like to use in home decorating fabric, the Internet will surely be able to provide links taking you to all the right places.