2014 World Cup Preview Group D

Group D is absolutely loaded with the weight of international expectations. Three of the eight nations that have hoisted the World Cup reside in Group D, accounting for 7 of the 19 champions in the history of the event. Expectations are high for Italy after their runs in Euro 2012 and the 2013 Confederations Cup and Uruguay after their Copa America championship in 2011. Expectations are always high for the English team who have never performed up to the expectations of their rabid fanbase.

I've teamed up with Pat (follow him on Twitter @The_Incline) to preview the 32 teams in the tournament.

Join my World Cup Bracket Predictor Group! (ESPN account required, but it's free to sign up if you don't have one.)

World Cup Appearances: 18

Best Result: Champions (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)

How they Qualified: Won UEFA Qualification Group

FIFA Ranking: 9

The 2006 Champions suffered a shocking fate in South Africa in 2010, bowing out in the first round after thoroughly embarassing themselves with draws against Paraguay and New Zealand and losing to Slovakia. That was the first time since 1974 the Italians had failed to advance out of the Group Stage. Since then, the Azzurri have fared much better on the international stage, finishing 2nd at Euro 2012 and third in the 2013 Confederations Cup. They breezed through qualification without a defeat (6 wins, 4 draws) and appear to be peaking at the right time with a mix of experience in Keeper Gianluigi Buffon and dynamic midfielder Andrea Pirlo who both have over 100 caps. On the front line, the polarizing 23-year-old scoring sensation Mario Balotelli will carry the weight of the nation on his shoulders after scoring 3 times at Euro 2012, twice in the Confederations Cup and 5 times in World Cup Qualifiers. All in all, the Italians have the experience and skill at all three levels to make a deep run in this tournament.

Pat's Players to Watch

• Mario Balotelli: Look, Mario Balotelli is one of those players you watch just to see what he does when he scores. He’s like the Chad Johnson/Ochocinco of the Azzurri. With 30 goals in 54 appearances the past two seasons with AC Milan, Balotelli certainly has talent, but it’s unfortunately his antics that outshine his skill. 
• Andrea Pirlo: The ageless maestro of the Italian orchestra. The man Juventus fans have dubbed “Mozart” possesses spectacular vision and a diabolic right foot from set pieces. Pirlo’s durability going into the World Cup may be an issue, but if Italy are awarded a set piece anywhere near the opposing box, tune in to watch Pirlo’s magic. It is a sight to behold and likely the final bow in a wonderful international career. 

World Cup Appearances: 12

Best Result: Champions (1930, 1950)

How they Qualified: Finished 5th in CONMEBOL qualification, defeated Jordan in Intercontinental Play-off

FIFA Ranking: 6

It's a bit crazy to think that the 6th ranked team in the World almost didn't qualify for the World Cup, but the Uruguyians lived dangerously in qualification, finishing with a net zero goal differential. Aside from their struggles in qualification, where they had just 2 wins, 1 draw and 5 losses away from home, Uruguay has been at the top of their game in international competition. After finishing 4th in the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, they won the Copa America 2011 tournament and finished 4th in the Confederations Cup in 2013. La Celeste boasts one of the best front lines in the world in Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan. The nation is collectively holding their breath as Luis Suarez will attempt to return to the pitch after having his knee scoped just a few weeks before the World Cup begins. His current targeted return is for the opening match, and he will be needed after pacing the field with 11 goals in CONMEBOL qualification. The experienced Forlan has the most caps (108) in national team history. There will be some familiarity in this group as Uruguay and Italy faced off in the third place match of the Confederations Cup with Italy emerging victorious on penalties.

Pat's Players to Watch

• Luis Suarez: The lethal, and infamous, Liverpool striker (you might notice a trend - but I am not a Liverpool supporter) will be the focal point for the Uruguayan squad. In his Liverpool career, Suarez has tallied 82 goals in 133 appearances (and at least one bite victim). Suarez’s hand allowed Uruguay to advance in South Africa. This year, he’ll have to do it with his feet.
• Diego Lugano: The 33 year-old captain will be tasked with manning a suspect back line for the Uruguayans. Lugano spent much of his career at Paris Saint-Germain and Malaga, recently finished a season-long stint at West Bromwich Albion. After scoring one goal for the Baggies in nine appearances, Lugano was released by the club. Someone will have to play defense for Uruguay, and if Lugano and company cannot, it will be up to Suarez, Forlan, and Cavani to outscore opponents. 

World Cup Appearances: 14

Best Result: Champions (1966)

How they Qualified: Won UEFA Qualification Group

FIFA Ranking: 11

England won their qualification group without suffering a defeat, but they drew four of their ten matches, including both against second-place Ukraine. England has long been marked by their big stars failing to show up on the international stage. Steven Gerrard captained the side at Euro 2012 and was named to the All Tournament Team despite failing to appear on the score sheet. Gerrard has 109 caps, the most of any member of the Three Lions' 2014 squad, but only has 21 goals in international competition. In the 20 non-friendly international games he has played since 2010, he has scored just three times. Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge are two dangerous players at the front of the English attack, and this team is good enough to reach the knockout stage, but they have a difficult task ahead of them with Italy and Uruguay in their group.

Pat's Players to Watch

• Raheem Sterling: Is it possible that England is relying on the 19 year-old Sterling to be a spark plug for a squad that is a mix of young and old? The winger provided 9 goals and 7 assists for Liverpool this past season. He was not relied upon to score for his club. That job went to Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge. With England, he’ll have more responsibly attacking, especially without Theo Walcott and Andros Townsend. A little much to ask for a teenager, possibly. 
• Daniel Sturridge: Another young Liverpool forward will carry more weight than expected for England. Wayne Rooney is out of form and Sturridge is expected to be the first choice striker in Brazil. Sturridge scored 24 goals in the 2o14 campaign for the Reds. With Sturridge being the target man, Rooney will likely drop back to a playmaking midfielder rather than a forward. 

World Cup Appearances: 4

Best Result: Round of 16 (1990)

How they Qualified: Finished second in the CONCACAF Hexagonal Qualification Group

FIFA Ranking: 34

In a group with 3 of the top 11 teams in the world, Costa Rica are the clear underdogs. However, this is a team that has had modest success on the international level, finishing second in the qualification group behind the United States and reaching the Gold Cup Quarterfinals in 2011 and 2013. Costa Rica has some of the traits of a team that could pull an upset at this stage - a stingy defense and a talented striker in Alvaro Saborio. In the 10 games of the hexagonal, Costa Rica allowed just 7 goals, the fewest of any team. Their most memorable moment came in a qualification match against the United States in Denver when the pitch was blanketed with snow.

Unfortunately, the announcers spent most of the game wondering why the teams couldn't play with an orange ball that would be easier to see.

As they proved in qualifying, Costa Rica can play the shut-down defensive game that tends to dominate in the early stages of international tournaments. However, it is hard to see this team amassing enough points against the three powerhouses in their group to advance.

Pat's Players to Watch

• Brian Ruiz: The attacking midfielder plays the role of Jekyll and Hyde for Los Ticos. The Fulham man (currently on loan at PSV Eindhoven) is given the license of a playmaker on the right side of the attacking formation. If Costa Rica have any chance of advancing from a strong group, Ruiz will be the man who orchestrates the escape.
• Keylor Navas: You know a squad may be outmatched when a goalkeeper is highlighted as a player to watch. Heck, most don’t even consider goalkeepers to be ‘actual’ players. The Levante keeper is considered one of the best in Spain and due for a move to a bigger club. Again, Navas will have to be spectacular for Los Ticos to advance to the knockout rounds.

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2014 World Cup Preview: Group C

Group C is wide open. While Colombia is the favorites to win the group, their advancement is anything but a sure thing with their star player attempting to return from injury. Both Colombia and Cote d'Ivoire are exciting offensive sides while Greece is a defensive juggernaut and Japan has been sneaky good in international play.

I've teamed up with Pat (follow him on Twitter @The_Incline) to preview the 32 teams in the tournament.

Join my World Cup Bracket Predictor Group! (ESPN account required, but it's free to sign up if you don't have one.)

World Cup Appearances: 5

Best Result: Round of 16 (1990)

How they Qualified: Finished second in CONMEBOL Group Qualification

FIFA Ranking: 5

Colombia is making their first World Cup Apperance since 1998 and has gone on a meteoric rise through the World Rankings from 54th in June of 2011 to 3rd in July of 2013. Their two biggest moves on the World stage came in July of 2011 after they reached the quarterfinals of the Copa America tournament thanks to draws with Argentina and the United States and in September 2012 when they scored victories over Uruguay and Chile in World Cup qualification matches. Colombia has been in the Top 10 in the World since October 2012 and been ranked in the Top 5 since July 2013. Despite the lofty ranking, Colombia's ability to advance in this tournament is uncertain. Striker Radamel Falcao, who scored 9 goals on CONMEBOL qualification, underwent ACL surgery in January and was left off Colombia's World Cup roster as he was deemed not to be healthy enough for competition. With a healthy Falcao, Colombia would've had one of the best offensive attacks of any team in the tournament, but without him, Colombia's ability to possess and attack will be hindered. Their attacking style masked their weaknesses on defense in CONMEBOL qualification, surrendering the fewest goals of any team in the tournament.

Pat's Players to Watch

• Falcao: The Colombians will be without the services of the ever-dangerous striker who will miss the World Cup due to the effects of a torn ACL suffered at AS Monaco. Colombian coaches and staff delayed the release of their roster to the longest possible point in hopes that Falcao would recover to an acceptable point. However, even though some reports said Colombia would take the striker at 60% health, the risk must have been too great. Falcao, who once scored 70 goals in two years at Atletico Madrid will be sorely missed.
• James Rodriguez: There is an AS Monaco theme with the Columbian squad. The Monaco winger is, like Falcao, a product of the Porto academy and is widely considered to be on the most talented and dangerous young players in the world. If Falcao is not at 100%, the 22 year-old Rodriguez will carry be tasked with carrying the load.

World Cup Apperances: 3

Best Result: First Round (1994, 2010)

How they Qualified: Defeated Romania in UEFA Playoff

FIFA Ranking: 10

Greece boasts an incredibly boring, defensive style of soccer that has carried them to their second consecutive World Cup appearance. In the first round of UEFA qualification, they surrendered only 4 goals, the fewest allowed by every nation except Spain. As part of their defensive style, Greece is rarely offensively aggressive, as was shown by their netting only 12 goals in the group stage of UEFA qualification. With offensively aggressive teams like Colombia and Cote d'Ivoire in this group, Greece will need to be on top of their defensive game. If their strategy is successful, they will need timely goals from their lone striker Konstantinos Mitroglou who accounted for 5 of their 12 goals in the group qualification stage and 3 of their 4 against Romania in the playoff leg. The Greeks will sit back and wait for their opponents to make a mistake in order to capitalize on the counter-attack. While this isn't the most exciting brand of soccer in the world, the Greeks have ridden it to success - winning Euro 2004 and reaching the quarterfinals in Euro 2012.

Pat's Players to Watch

• Kostas Mitroglou: The Fulham striker signed a massive deal with Fulham in January 2014, yet failed to score in only three appearances for the Cottagers. For a side that is known for their defensive nature, Mitroglou will be the lone hope up front for the Greeks. For their sake, hopefully his fortunes are better than they were with Fulham.
• Sokratis Papastathopoulos: The Greeks stunningly won Euro 2004 behind a valiant and smothering defensive effort. If they are to advance from this group, expect a lot of 1-0 results and Papastathopoulos to play a large role in their success. He is a center back for the supremely talented German side Borussia Dortmund. 

World Cup Apperances: 3

Best Result: First Round (2006, 2010)

How they Qualified: Defeated Senegal in CAF Playoff

FIFA Ranking: 21

Could this finally be the year that Cote d'Ivoire rises on the World Stage? The Elephants have long been dubbed as "Africa's Best Team" and were rewarded by being drawn into the "Group of Death" in the two previous World Cups. This year, they have a relatively easy group and a roster full of international experience. Up front, they have strikers that are perfectly capable of finding the back of the net in Didier Drogba, Wilfried Bony, Salomon Kalou and Yaya Toure. Ivory Coast will need to press the opposition on the offensive end as their defense is clearly the weakest part of the team. That said, they are capable of scoring with anyone in the world and scored a 2-2 draw against Belgium in the latest friendly. The Elephants have the advantage of starting their World Cup trek against Japan, one of the lowest ranking teams in the tournament, and could capture the hearts of the world if they reach the knockout stage.

Pat's Players to Watch

• Didier Drogba: The aging forward is famous for his time at Chelsea where he scored 157 goals between 2004 and 2012. After a brief stint in China, the 36 year-old Drogba now plays in Turkey for Galatasaray where he netter 14 goals this season. Drogba is no longer the dominant poacher from his days in the London’s west side, but he is still the most recognizable player for a national side that failed to live up to expectations in the last World Cup.
• Yaya Toure: Great name and a great player. The Manchester City central midfielder plays a crucial role for his club side and just helped them win their second Barclays Premier League title in three years. Toure is known for his box-to-box ability and for his timely goals. He has also been named African Footballer of the Year for the past three years.

World Cup Appearances: 5

Best Result: Round of 16 (2002, 2010)

How they Qualified: Won AFC Group

FIFA Ranking: 47

Japan is a team capable of playing above their world ranking, which has suffered due to a lack of quality competition in their Confederation. The Japanese ran through the qualification stages, suffering only one defeat (a 2-1 loss at Jordan). They return veteran international players in Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki. Japan has surprised on the world stage before, as they did in the 2010 World Cup when they scored a 3-1 victory over Denmark to advance out of the group stage. In last summer's Confederations Cup, they played Italy to a 4-3 defeat and did not concede the winning goal until the 89th minute. Japan has a talented group of attacking forwards and in a wide open group like this, it would not be a surprise to see them emerge from the group stage for the third time in the last 4 World Cups.

Pat's Players to Watch

• Keisuke Honda: Honda, an attacking midfielder, transferred from CSKA Moscow to AC Milan in 2014. After a breakout 2010 World Cup with enormous goals against Cameroon and Denmark, Honda will not be the surprise commodity he was four years ago. The pressure and spotlight will firmly be Honda to impress in Brazil.
• Shinji Kagawa: David Moyes’ reign at Manchester United was not kind to Moyes, or Kagawa. The talented playmaker who transferred into Old Trafford in 2012 from Borussia Dortmund saw only 18 appearances under Moyes in 2013-14 with zero goals. Compared to Kagawa’s final season in Germany (31 appearances, 17 goals), Kagawa’s production dropped significantly. If Japan are to pull of the surprise again, Kagawa will have to find his form.

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2014 World Cup Preview: Group B

Group B has three talented teams that have seen success on the international stage in recent years. However, the biggest looming black cloud for Group B is that the runner-up will have to play the first place team from Group A in the Round of 16. If Spain is held to a draw or two, this could set up a Brazil-Spain match in the Round of 16.

I've teamed up with Pat (follow him on Twitter @The_Incline) to preview the 32 teams in the tournament.

Join my World Cup Bracket Predictor Group! (ESPN account required, but it's free to sign up if you don't have one.)

World Cup Appearances: 14

Best Result: Champions (2010)

How they Qualified: Won Qualifying Group

FIFA Ranking: 1

Spain is looking to become the first nation to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil completed the feat in 1958 and 1962. This Spanish squad has had incredible success at the international level, winning Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. They also reached the finals of the Confederations Cup last summer where they fell to Brazil. The Spanish lineup is loaded with players at the top of their games on the club level and boast the most solid Top XI in the world. La Roja's tactical discipline and ball-control tactics are unrivaled (though sometimes incredibly boring to watch). Spain is a team that will press their advantage when they have it, but is also not afraid to spend most of the match passing the ball around the perimeter waiting for an opening to exploit.

Pat's Players to Watch

• Andres Iniesta: The maestro of the midfield and Spanish attack, is neither a goalscorer for his club or country. However, Iniesta scored the winner in the 2010 final. At 30, Iniesta is getting older, but his effectiveness will dictate how successful La Furia Roja are in 2014.
• Diego Costa: The Atletico Madrid striker led his club team to this year’s Champions League Final. Costa, Brazilian born but chose to play for Spain, was one of the premier strikers in Europe after tallying 36 goals in all competitions. Spain, who usually play with one dedicated striker (if any at all), might rely on some of Costa’s magic this summer.

World Cup Appearances: 10

Best Result: Second Place (1974, 1978, 2010)

How they Qualified: Won Qualifying Group

FIFA Ranking: 15

The Dutch will start the 2014 World Cup right where they left off in 2010, with a match against Spain. of course, their 2010 match was in the Championship Game and this iteration will be the first of Group Play. Holland rebounded from their disastrous appearance in Euro 2012 (where they lost all 3 of their Group Stage matches) to go 9-1-0 in qualification. Their only draw came against Estonia and the Netherlands posted a UEFA-best +29 goal differential in qualifying, led by Robin van Persie's 11 goals. After the disaster at Euro 2012, the Dutch hired a new manager and retooled their roster, adding young depth to some of the established veterans. This will be an incredibly difficult group to emerge from, and the second place finisher will have a likely date with Brazil in the Round of 16, so expectations should be tempered for the Oranje.

Pat's Players to Watch

• Arjen Robben: The gifted winger with the magical left foot is the lynchpin of familiar Dutch attacking lineup. Robben will pair with Robin Van Persie (and Wesley Sneijder to an extent) to form a formidable attacking front. Robben, rumored to be joining Manchester United, netted 21 goals with European power Bayern Munich this season.
• Louis Van Gaal: Yes, I’ve picked a manager. But Van Gaal is taking the reigns from the sacked David Moyes at Manchester United. Van Gaal will have to focus on his Dutch side that have many weaknesses, including an inexperienced defense and a possible formation change (5-3-2, anyone?). 

World Cup Appearances: 9

Best Result: 3rd Place (1962)

How they Qualified: Finished third in CONMEBOL Qualification

FIFA Ranking: 13

Chile reached the Round of 16 in 2010 where they fell to Brazil - a fate that could repeat itself this year. Chile held the distinction as one of just 2 teams to score against Spain in the 2010 tournament after they fell 2-1 in the final match of the Group Stage. Chile's high-intensity attack could give the European teams problems in the heat of the Brazilian summer, and this side is being pegged by many as a potential sleeper to emerge from Group B. The World Cup is typically a defensive-minded tournament, but Chile's 3-4-3 structure has the potential to dominate the attack or be totally exploited on the back end. This was evident in the qualification round as Chile scored 29 goals - the second most in CONMEBOL - but allowed 25 (the most of any South American team that qualified for the World Cup).

Pat's Players to Watch

• Alexis Sanchez: The Barcelona forward, who possesses the dribbling and pace that makes defenders weak at the knees, will be the man to take away for opponents. Sanchez Scored one of the goals of the year for Barca in their final La Liga match of the season against Atletico Madrid.
• Arturo Vidal: The Juventus midfielder, “King Arturo”, is a rising star in Europe and one of the world’s best midfielders. After three years at Colo Colo, he embarked on a rising career in Europe, first with Bayer Leverkusen and now Juventus. He has defensive skills, is a good header, lays on goals and has scored eight for Chile. Vidal will be Chile’s force in the midfield. 

World Cup Appearances: 4

Best Result: Round of 16 (2006)

How they Qualified: Finished second in AFC Group Qualification

FIFA Ranking: 59

Australia has qualified for the third consecutive World Cup and this has all the makings of a disastrous outing for the Socceroos. Australia won just once away from home in qualification (a 2-1 victory over Iraq). For the most part, Austrailia drew their way to the World Cup. The side had back-to-back 6-0 shellackings at the hands of Brazil and France in late 2013 which led to the firing of their manager, but things haven't exactly turned around as they blew a 3-0 halftime lead in a friendly against Ecuador in March of 2014. Up front, Australia is led by their all-time leading scorer Tim Cahill, but this team just doesn't have the talent around him to emerge from this group and will likely have a quick exit.

Pat's Players to Watch

• Tim Cahill: The New York Red Bulls midfielder is aging (34), but is still an aerial threat. Honestly, Australia will be lucky to get a point in this group. If they do, Cahill, the man who scored Australia’s first World Cup goal, will be one of the reasons. In likely his last World Cup, expect Tim to go down fighting. Cahill netted three goals in qualifying and scored 13 last season for NYRB.
• Mile Jedinak: Look, I’m not going to pretend to know a lot about the central midfielder for Crystal Palace, but the 29 year old will likely captain the Socceroos and is one of the only Aussies playing regularly in an elite league. 

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2014 World Cup Preview: Group A

The World Cup is set to kick off in just over a week. The biggest sporting event on the globe will feature 19 of the top 20 teams on the planet, with 17th-ranked Ukraine being the highest ranked team not to qualify. 2014 marks the 20th iteration of the World Cup since the first official tournament was played in 1930. In that time, only 8 nations have emerged victorious. Hosts Brazil have had the most success with 5 championships and the pressure of national expectations will be squarely on their shoulders.

I've teamed up with Pat (follow him on Twitter @The_Incline) to preview the 32 teams in the tournament. Today we get started with Group A and hosts Brazil.

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World Cup Appearances: 20

Best result: Champions (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)

How they Qualified: Automatic qualification as the host nation

FIFA Ranking: 4

Brazil is the only nation to appear in every World Cup and is hosting for the second time. As the host nation, they did not compete in the CONMEBOL qualification. They flexed their muscles in the Confederations Cup last summer, being the first team to defeat Spain in the knockout portion of an international tournament since the semi-finals of the 2009 Confederations Cup. Amazingly, Brazil has not advanced past the quarterfinals since 2002 when they won their 5th World Cup. There is tremendous pressure on the Brazilian team to hoist their 6th World Cup trophy on home soil, and they are fielding an atypical roster of young but inexperienced players.

Will the Brazilians suffer the same fate as the Russian Olympic Hockey Team that failed to even medal in Sochi? Neymar is one of the most exciting players on the planet and for Brazilian soccer (actually, Brazilian anything) it's about dominating and looking good doing it. The attack-attack-attack Brazilian style has struggled on the international stage when they have run into collapsing defensive teams (hey, this sounds familiar to Pittsburgh Penguins fans). While Brazil should dominate down the sides, their weakness is in the middle of the field and will need their forwards to control the play.

The World Cup figures to be one giant party in Brazil, and a run to the championship by the Brazilians would send an already raucous nation onto a bender that might last until the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Pat's Players to Watch:

• Neymar: Gone are Ronaldinho, Kaka, and Robinho. It is time for the Barcelona wonder kid to carry the weight of the host nation’s hopes on his shoulders. It might seem a bit much for the 22 year old forward, but based on his performance in last summer’s Confederations Cup and for his club, Neymar could be the next legendary #10 for the Seleção. 
• Paulinho: Between Neymar, Hulk, Fred, and Oscar there will be no shortage of offensive firepower for the hosts. However, someone within the midfield will have to hold possession and provide a link between offense and defense. Venture too far forward and Brazil could be in trouble, find a right mix of both, and Brazil will be even more dangerous. The Tottenham midfielder can also contribute goals, with six coming this season in a Spurs kit. 
• Marcelo: The Real Madrid left-back will bookend an extremely dangerous back end with Dani Alves. Marcelo was not chosen for South Africa 2010 by then manager Dunga, but has no shortage of big time experience on the international stage. He featured in the UEFA Champions League final (aka the Madrid derby). Brazil’s ability to attack from the wings begins with both Alves and Marcelo. They’ll be worth watching. 

World Cup Apperances: 15

Best Result: Quarterfinals (1970, 1986)

How they Qualified: Defeated New Zealand in CONCACAF-OFC Playoff

FIFA Ranking: 19

The Mexicans reached their 6th consecutive World Cup by the skin of their teeth. On the last day of the hexagonal CONCACAF qualification, Mexico fell to Costa Rica, putting their qualification in jeopardy. Just two hours later things looked bleak with Panama leading the United States 2-1 in the 90th minute, but goals by Americans Graham Zusi at 90+2 and Aron Johannsson at 90+3 stunned Panama and prevented them from forcing a tie with Mexico, sending the Mexicans to the Intercontinental Playoff. El Tri disposed of New Zealand on a 9-3 aggregate to secure their place in the field of 32, but problems abound for this squad. A team typically known for playing an attacking style mustered just 7 goals in the 10 qualification matches of the hexagonal and El Tri promptly sacked their manager.

The Mexicans soccer team is like the Dallas Cowboys. On paper you think they are loaded with talent, but they consistently under-perform on the big stage. The only times El Tri has made it past the Round of 16 in the knockout stage were in the two tournaments they hosted. They have been eliminated in the Round of 16 in each of the past 5 World Cups. This is a team with some scoring talent in Javier Hernandez, and their match against Brazil should be a wide open affair between two attacking squads.

Pat's Players to Watch:

• Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez: The Manchester United striker struggled under the now-sacked David Moyes. The Little Pea’s form has suffered internationally due to injuries and lack of playing time in England. If Mexico are to advance from this group, Hernandez will have to revert back to his 2012-13 level. 
• Rafa Marquez: The stalwart defender is 35 years old. Yes, I said 35. A lack of experience on the back line will most likely force Marquez into a starting role with El Tri. The fact that Marquez is playing a significant role for Mexico may be a sign of vulnerability on the defensive side. It could be ugly when Brazil counters against an older and less-experienced back line.
• Miguel Herrera: Yes, I’ve selected the manager. However, Herrera is credited with rescuing El Tri from a near disastrous qualifying campaign. Anytime you have to beat New Zealand in a playoff to qualify, something went wrong. Herrera is Mexico’s fourth manager in the last two years. Even with the near disaster, supporters of El Tri will expect to advance from the group. 

World Cup Appearances: 4

Best Result: 3rd place (1998)

How they Qualified: Defeated Iceland in UEFA Playoff

FIFA Ranking: 20

You know that tablecloth that your mom only brought out to throw over the porch table in the summer? Croatia liked the design so much they made jerseys out of it. They backed into a second place finish in their qualification group and eeked out a 1-point advantage over Denmark for the last spot in the Second Round. After going 1-3 (including 2 losses to Scotland) in their last 4 group play matches, Croatia drew the weakest team in the playoff round in Iceland. After a draw in the first leg of the aggregate, Croatia won the second leg 2-0 to secure their place in the World Cup. This is a team that plays a technically sound game and on paper has talented players. They will push Mexico for the second qualification spot from Group A, but the way they have played down to lesser opponents over the last year is certainly a cause for concern.

Pat's Players to Watch:

• Luka Modric: The Real Madrid midfielder has played a role in getting his club side to the Champions League Final. Modric will be the man who controls Croatia’s midfield. The Balkan nation usually punches above it’s weight, but if hopes to advance out of the group, Modric will likely be the reason. 
• Mario Mandzukic: The talented striker who plays his club football at Bayern Munich is suspended for the opening game against Brazil due to FIFA’s archaic yellow card policy. However, Croatia will need Mandzukic’s prowess around the goal for crucial games against Mexico and Cameroon. Mandzukic scored 18 goals for Bayern this season in all competitions. 
• Ivan Rakitic: The midfielder is a defensive yin to Modric’s offensive yang. The central midfielder has enjoyed an outstanding season with Sevilla in La Liga, scoring over 10 goals and assisting on more than 10 others. He led Sevilla to the 2013-14 Europa League title.

World Cup Apperances: 7

Best Result: Quarterfinals (1990)

How they Qualified: Defeated Tunisia in CAF Playoff

FIFA Ranking: 50

In the World Cup, one goal can change the course of the tournament for a team, and with veteran captain Samuel Eto'o at the helm. They have a tall task ahead of them to get out of the group stage for only the second time in their history. They are not a superb offensive squad like previous iterations of the Cameroonian National Team and there are holes on their back line that make them an easy candidate to be the team that suffers an 8-0 defeat (probably to Brazil) in the first round of this year's tournament. However, if Mexico and Croatia (sides that also have struggled to find their offensive games at times in qualification) come out flat, Cameroon could seize the opportunity to take second in this group.

Pat's Players to Watch:

• Samuel Eto’o: The striker who plays his club football for Chelsea (for now at least) is probably the most high profile player on the Cameroon roster. Eto’o is known for his goal scoring and his winning. He’s won with nearly every club he has played for, including Barcelona and Inter Milan. Eto’o ventured into the Russian unknown in 2011 to join the uber-wealthy Anzhi Makhachkala. If Cameroon are to advance, which is unlikely, it will likely be because of Eto’o. It will be Eto’o’s fourth World Cup appearance. 
• Joel Matip: The 22-year old currently plays for Germany side Schalke, for whom he has already made 121 appearances. The imposing Matip can’t be missed in the defense, and his aerial prowess is both a defensive asset and an attacking weapon. Many European teams have shown interest in the German-born defender, and with his contract due to run out shortly, larger clubs may make Shalke an offer they cannot refuse. 

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