2014 World Cup Preview

On June 12, an event as big as the Olympics is coming to Brazil: the World Cup. An event that only occurs every four years, the world cup has every soccer star around the globe participating in one tournament, where chemistry for each country wins out over individual talent. Teams such as Spain and Brazil have the advantage over stars such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (on Argentina and Portugal, respectively). This special event lasts one month, as it will end on July 13. Here are the eight groups in this year’s World Cup.

  • GROUP A-Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
  • GROUP B-Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
  • GROUP C-Colombia, Greece, Cote d’Ivoire, Japan
  • GROUP D-Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
  • GROUP E-Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
  • GROUP F-Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria
  • GROUP G-Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA
  • GROUP H-Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic

Everybody is saying the United States got unlucky in their group pairing, but look at Group D. There are three unbelievably talented teams in that group that all deserve to be in the final 16. My guess is that England will not advance, and Italy and Uruguay will move on. It will be tough for the United States to advance in their pool, due to the strength and core of Germany and Portugal (we have nobody to stop Ronaldo). There should be a number of surprises this year, just like the surprises in the pairings.