England, Chile and the U.S. were hurt most in the FIFA World Cup draw. Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Much speculation preceded the FIFA World Cup draw held Friday — specifically, about the makeup of the so-called “death groups”. With the draw now complete, speculation will center on which nations will advance — and what paths they will find themselves on to the Jules Rimet Trophy.
Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Cameroon, Mexico
Brazil are the favorites to win the World Cup, especially since they will have home-field advantage. Having been surrounded by Croatia, Cameroon and Mexico in Group A, it looks like they will effortlessly get out of the first round and into the knockout stage. For Brazil, this will rest on the shoulders of 21-year-old Neymar. So which country will finish in second and advance to play the winner of Group B? Mexico, were they not so unstable of late, would be the favorites and might still be. Croatia could in theory get past the sending off of Mario Mandzukic against Iceland, which will keep him out of at least the first match of the tournament, and advance to the round of 16. Cameroon isn’t expected to do much here.
Prediction: Brazil, Mexico, Croatia, Cameroon
Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
With all the talk before the draw about death groups in the World Cup, this is arguably the most difficult group out of the eight. Spain and the Netherlands are the favorites to advance out of the group and among the favorites to make the final four - having represented the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa where Spain won 0-1. But Chile was arguably the most exciting country in the 2010 World Cup and are a bit more experienced now with Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal in their primes. Australia drew the short end of the stick and will have a short visit in Brazil.
Prediction: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
Round of 16 matches: Spain vs. Mexico and Brazil vs. Netherlands
Group C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
Group C was one of the more favorable groups a country could find itself in for the World Cup. Colombia should run away with it, leaving the second spot open to any of the following three. Didier Drogba is past his prime, but he is still very capable of leading the Ivory Coast to the knockout stage. Japan is an impressive club, and are a dark-horse candidate in this group with their technical style of play. Greece, while very capable of scoring, won’t be able to handle the fast-pace play of their three group mates.
Predictions: Colombia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Greece
Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez could lead Uruguay deep into the tournament, but it won’t be easy, as they’ve been dropped into one of the toughest groups. One advantage for Uruguay: playing in South America. England and Italy both have been given better chances of winning it all than Uruguay, even though the South American country won its group in qualification. Costa Rica could play a spoiler role in this group, but not much more than that. England will need to settle on their final roster, one that could benefit from an insurgence of youth, but it will ultimately come down to how well Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard play together. Italy are led by gaffer Cesare Prandelli; his ability to control his side’s beautiful style of play with tactical precision could lead the team to a knockout stage match against Colombia. However, Mario Balotelli will need to be on top of his game for that to happen.
Predictions: Uruguay, Italy, England, Costa Rica
Round of 16 matches: Uruguay vs. Ivory Coast and Colombia vs. Italy
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
Group E might be the only group in the World Cup that is open to all four countries for the taking. Seeded team Switzerland were the weakest seeded team, boasting the same odds to win it all as countries like the U.S., Croatia and Mexico, but in this group they should be able to advance. While France backed into the World Cup this year, they are the favorites to win this group and face the runners-up of Group F — setting up an easy path past the knockout stage. Ecuador’s weak back line and front line will slow them, but not count them out.
Predictions: France, Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria
Argentina will run away with this group, even if Lionel Messi isn’t in top form. And should Messi be ready to fire on all cylinders, look for pyrotechnics. Bosnia made waves by earning their first-ever berth into the tournament; here they’ve landed an easy group to continue their form. Iran and Nigeria are unlikely to make a difference.
Predictions: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nigeria, Iran
Round of 16 matches: France vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina vs. Switzerland
Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, U.S.
Only Group B (arguably) represents a “deadlier” group. The U.S. has been on the rise of late, reaching the lower-teens on the Soccer Power Index, but it looks as if their chances of advancing out of the group stage ended when they ended up with two top-five countries, as well as the team that has tortured them more than any other country in recent memory: Ghana. Germany are a good bet to win it all and Portugal has arguably the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo. Those two will advance to the knockout stage unless Ronaldo isn’t in top form or isn’t available for selection — Portugal are a thin team after CR7.
Predictions: Germany, Portugal, U.S., Ghana
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea
Belgium and Russia are the easy favorites to advance here, but it isn’t signed, sealed and delivered. South Korea could shock everyone and grab a second seed. If they don’t advance, they will certainly play a role in whether it’s Belgium or Russia that earns the top spot and avoids facing Germany in the knockout stage. Algeria are a much better club than they were four years ago, but they still have no chance of advancing or gaining points.
Predictions: Belgium, Russia, South Korea, Algeria
Round of 16 matches: Germany vs. Russia and Belgium vs. Portugal
