Thursday, June 5, 2014

World Cup Group Stage Winners

Let me start off this post with the teams in the World Cup and their respective groups

       Group A         Group B                   Group C          Group D

       Brazil               Australia                   Colombia        Costa Rica

      Cameroon           Chile                        Greece              England

       Croatia           Netherlands               Ivory Coast            Italy

       Mexico               Spain                         Japan               Uruguay

         
     Group E              Group F                Group G              Group H

       Ecuador            Argentina                 Germany                 Algeria

        France      Bosnia- Herzegovina       Ghana                     Belgium

    Honduras             Iran                          Portugal                   Russia 

   Switzerland           Nigeria                  United States             South Korea

   
In pretty much a week, all these teams, their fans, and the television sets throughout their nations will all be focused on Brazil for the 2014 World Cup. This is the one time that the entire world will be on the same time for another 4 more years. I'm going to show you which teams will make it through the group stage and onto the knockout round this year. 

From Group A:

Brazil
  
      This year's home team doesn't have a very difficult group to get through. Brazil will nab the top spot in their group without difficulty behind Neymar, Oscar, and David Luiz.

Mexico

     Mexico has seriously struggled against its fellow CONCACAF qualifying opponents, especially the US. Mexico isn't a lock to get to the round of 16, but i think they squeak by with the second spot in Group A. 

From Group B:

Spain

      Spain's roster looks more like an all-world team than an international one. Spain could have trouble with the Netherlands, but they still get the top spot.

Netherlands

      Robin. Van. Persie. He and the Netherlands will have no problem reaching the knockout round, and they could give Spain a run for the top spot in group B. I just don't see them actually grabbing the top spot. They move on second in the group. 

From Group C:

Ivory Coast

      With Drogba now playing post-prime, this could be a great time for Drogba and Gervinho to make a solid run into the knockout. Ivory Coast gets the top seed, not without playing good soccer though.

Colombia

      Falcao wasn't quite ready to come back from his injury, which led to being left off the 23-man roster. Colombia snags the second spot in Group C, but doesn't make it far in the knockout. 

From Group D:

Italy

      Possibly the toughest group in the World Cup, Italy will make it through to the next round in the top spot of group D

Uruguay

      Suarez leads this team into the knockout round, but just barely beats out England to get to the 16. 

From Group E:

France

      With Ribery and Benzema playing on the same team, it will be hard to keep these guys from easily grabbing the top spot. Not much to say here but they move on.

Ecuador

      I'll be completely honest, i don't know a whole lot about this Ecuador team. I know that they will not beat France, no one in the group will, but i think Ecuador makes it to the second spot in group E.

From Group F:

Argentina

      Messi might not even have to play to reach the knockout round out of this year's group. There is no one that threatens Argentina for the top spot. 

Bosnia

      This group might be the overall weakest one in the tournament. I don't think Bosnia makes it out of any other group, but they do this one. They grab the second spot and proudly march into the knockout round. 

From Group G:

Germany

       Germany will grab the top spot in this group, but will get hard fought games, from Ghana, Portugal and the U.S.. But in the end, the Germans are too much for the rest of the group. 

Portugal

        As much as i would like to say the U.S. will take the second spot, i just can't logically with good conscience do that. Portugal is an extremely good team, solid all around, and Ronaldo will just be too much to handle for Ghana and the U.S.. If Ronaldo ends up not being healthy for the World Cup, then watch for Ghana OR the U.S. to sneak into the last spot. 

From Group H:

Belgium

       With Kompany in the back and Hazard in the front, i don't see Belgium losing, much less not making it to the round of 16. But look to Algeria to possibly give the Belgians some trouble. 

Russia

        Another team i don't have a whole lot of knowledge about, but i think Russia still makes it through because of the other competition. 
       

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