Up for Cup: anyone have a spare $50k?

AUSSIES have snapped up the fifth most World Cup tickets of all countries, but a seat at the final in Brazil will set you back a whopping $50,000.

UNPRECEDENTED AUSSIE INTEREST

If the World Cup was decided by ticket sales, the Socceroos would finish fifth.

Statistics published on Canadian news site The Globe and Mail show just how much demand there is for Aussies to see Ange Postecoglou’s side struth their stuff in Brazil.

Only host Brazil, USA, Germany, England and Argentina have sold more tickets than Australia’s 51,138.

Brazil’s 1.5 million tickets sold far exceeds anyone else, and only the host nation has a better percentage of tickets purchased per capita than Australia’s 0.23 per cent.

HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO GO?

There are plenty of people who’d sell an arm and a leg to go to the World Cup final, but that might not even be enough, if scalpers have anything to say about it.

Bloomberg reports that second-hand online sellers have listed two seats at the July 13 final at the Maracana for a staggering $90,000.

Scalping is of course illegal and risky. Imagine splashing that kind of cash only to be denied at the turnstiles.

World Cup tickets are going for ridiculous amounts online. Source: AFP

BRAZILIANS LIVING THE DREAM

What a great time to be a Brazilian. With the World Cup coming, employers are getting into the spirit and will give workers the chance to watch their beloved Seleção.

According to business magazine Valdor, 73 per cent of workers will see their daily schedules altered in order to catch a glimpse of the action.

In addition to this, 39 per cent of companies will permit workers to watch the games live in the office, and 34 per cent will let employees get out early to catch a glimpse of the action.

Furthermore, 52 per cent of HR managers surveyed believe the showpiece event will help increase office morale.

WHO’S YOUR TIP FOR BRAZIL?

With just over 40 days until the tournament kicks off, punters are keen to see where value lies in picking a winner for Brazil 2014.

With no European team ever lifting the cup on South American soil, it’s little surprise Brazil and Argentina are the two favourites, though Germany and Spain aren’t far behind.

Brazil 3-1, Argentina 5-1, Germany 5-1, Spain 6-1, Belgium 16-1, Italy 20-1, Holland 25-1, France 25-1, Colombia 25-1, England 28-1.

WILL MEXICO LIVE DA VIDA LOCA?

Mexico will have extra motivation heading into its tough Group A match with host Brazil, with pop sensation Ricky Martin offering to hold a free concert should the Central Americans conjure an upset in their June 17 clash.

The Puerto Rican tweeted to Mexico coach Miguel Herrera: “IF MEXICO WIN IN BRAZIL I’LL PUT ON A FREE CONCERT IN MEXICO.”

Mexico and Brazil are also teamed up with Croatia and Cameroon in one of the toughest groups of the World Cup.

Ricky Martin says he’ll perform for free if Mexico defeat Brazil. Source: Getty Images

HIGH MAINTAINANCE TEAMS

Brazilian newspaper Lance has uncovered how far some teams will go to ensure the perfect surroundings for their sides during the most important summer of their careers.

Portugal have employed six bodyguards for their 23-man squad, but four of them will be for Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo alone.

Didier Deschamps’ France side have requested that all soap bars are replaced by a liquid wash, perhaps to prevent any slips.

Ecuador, meanwhile, have asked that they receive banana baskets every day throughout the tournament, and Japan want a hot tub installed in each player’s room.

BUTT OUT, KEVIN

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has named five players, including Vincent Kompany and Eden Hazard, as certainties in his World Cup side, while Kevin Mirallas has been urged to keep his opinions to himself.

The five are Manchester City and Belgium captain Vincent Kompany, Chelsea winger Eden Hazard, Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and midfielders Axel Witsel of Zenit St Petersburg and Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium’s top scorer in qualifying who moved to VfL Wolfsburg from Chelsea in January.

Belgium star Kevin Mirallas has been told to keep his opinions to himself. Source: Getty Images

Everton star Mirallas expressed his doubts over Adnan Januzaj after the Manchester United prodigy pledged his allegiance to Belgium. But Wilmots has hit out at the criticism.

“He (Mirallas) also said that if a striker is needed that Jelle Vossen (of Genk) could be likely. That’s not his job. For this, he should be silent,” he said.

“The rules are: you have to talk about yourself, but not the others. On the selection I decide, Kevin may have his opinion, but he should not talk about others, or how new players like Januzaj can affect the group atmosphere?

“Stop talking nonsense.”

RECIFE’S WARM WELCOME

Recife is one of the 12 venues for the World Cup, and the city’s club team – Recife club Sport – have rolled out the welcome mat for three of the teams that will play matches there during the tournament.

Last weekend the team sported a green jersey with red socks in honour of Mexico while the week before it was a yellow shirt – Japan’s second kit.

This weekend players will run out in a white Germany jersey for their match against Internacional.

All the shirts have the respective country’s flags on the front and the word “Welcome” written on the back in their languages.

HATERS ARE GONNA HATE

Controversial Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole says people want him to fail, but his determination to win a place in Roy Hodgson’s squad remains steadfast.

England’s most-capped tournament player accepts he is in a dogfight with Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw when Hodgson unveils his 23 for Brazil in a fortnight.

“There was probably a lot of pressure on me to fight for my England spot,” Cole told beIn SPORTS.

Will England defender Ashley Cole make Roy Hodgson’s squad. Source: AFP

“Maybe not just my starting spot even - just to get on the plane. I think everyone wanted me to fail, to be honest.

“I think real football fans understand what I bring to a team and what I give to a team and if I do make it on the plane hopefully people can see that.

“But ultimately most people wanted me to fail in Madrid last week, for sure.

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