So that’s that. The international break is over. Millions over the world will be breathing a huge sigh of relief on the return of club football, without a doubt the more popular form of the game. We at Football Paradise however linger on just a little while more to focus on what all turned heads this time around.

England are still a Quarter-Final team : A thumping victory over San Marino at home and a hard-fought draw away at Poland. The former was merely a formality. When you host a team that has conceded more than 100 goals in their last 25 odd games, you know it’s time to rack up the stats. Credit to Hodgson’s men for being ruthless and scoring five past the hapless San Marino team. Poland were always going to be a challenge, and so they were. What turned out was a spirited show by the Polish team and some listless stuff from their English counterparts. Rooney has found his hunger back but lacks the panache to make a difference consistently. The central-midfield puzzle is still to be solved. Gerrard and Lampard are experienced and accomplished players whereas Carrick and Cleverley bring a certain freshness and bite to the team. Who does Roy choose for the starting line-up? Who can add that little extra from the bench? Ashley Young and Jack Wilshere return to full-fitness soon. Once that happens, Roy has a lot of decisions to make. England can take heart from the number of youngsters making the cut, but Roy needs to find the right combination soon. Else it’ll be another under-prepared England team at a World Cup.

Brazil need Kaká : Neymar, Ganso, Lucas Moura, Romulo, Oscar, Hulk, Damiao. That’s quite a talent pool to play around with, and a young one at that. Where does a 30-year-old, ex-World Player of The Year fit-in? Right at the heart of the team. Friendlies against Iraq and Japan might not give a good perspective at the strength of a team, but it sure did tell us how improved Brazil are, once Kaka steps onto the field. Mano Menezes may or may not stay till the World Cup in 2014. On account of these two friendlies, Kaká surely is. Neymar was suddenly not having to worry about picking up the ball from midfield. Oscar had someone to share the play-making load with. Ramires and Paulinho had more than just Oscar to combine with. Suddenly, Brazil looked so much deadlier. You could term Iraq as minnows, but not Japan. They way Kaká and Oscar linked up with Neymar and went about destroying the opponents , Menezes would’ve chuckled to himself in raw admiration of the talent he has it his disposal. He’d be foolish to leave Kaká out from his plans unless injuries show up.