SOCCER WORLD CUP ARTICLES

Unless something totally bonkers happens, either Switzerland or Serbia will make it to the knockout rounds. That was expected heading into the World Cup as the teams had roughly even odds to make it out of Group E. ... 

Most analysts predicted Iceland and Nigeria to be the two teams that failed to make it out of Group D at the start of the World Cup. They were seen as a clear tier behind Croatia and Argentina, but one of the two is in a decent position heading into this match. Iceland picked up a draw against Argentina and now they have a chance of making it into the knockout rounds. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s chances rely on picking up a win here, so they will be pressing to grab the three points. ... 

There is a lot of pressure on Brazil to not just win, but win big, in their match against Costa Rica on Friday. Brazil was an overwhelming favorite to win Group E before the World Cup kicked off. They were expected to dominate this group and were the favorite to win the whole enchilada as well. However, they are in a precarious position after a draw against Switzerland in the opener and need a win. That has made Brazil a slightly bigger favorite than they normally would be given the circumstances. ... 

Argentina were supposed to have no problem topping Group D. The Argentines were the favorite to win this group coming into the World Cup, but they were underwhelming in their draw with Iceland. With a couple of breaks, Iceland could have won the game and put Argentina in a real tough position. ... 

Denmark is looking to make it to the knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time since 2002. The Danes are in a good position following their first match of the tournament. They were able to best Peru and put themselves in the driver’s seat with the win. Now, a win over Australia in this match would all but guarantee them a spot in the Round of 16. The Socceroos showed that they were more than ready for the challenge in their match against France though. ... 

Peru finds itself in an unenviable position heading into its match against Group C favorite France. The Incas failed to get a result against Denmark in their opener and now need to find a way to get at least a draw in this match. A loss would likely eliminate them from the World Cup, while France is looking to essentially punch its ticket to the knockout round with a win. That should make this match a very fun one to watch. ... 

With Vladimir Putin looking on from the presidential box, Russia got its World Cup off to a dream start on Thursday. The hosts poured it on against Saudi Arabia, crushing the outmatched country 5-0. The victory puts Russia in a fantastic spot in Group A, as they are likely to win any tiebreaker now with such a big win. That will put the onus on Egypt in this match. Egypt is an underdog in its opening match against Uruguay, and a draw or a loss versus Russia will likely spell doom to its World Cup hopes. ... 

Uruguay has to be excited about its match with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Following Saudi Arabia’s lackluster display in its opener against Russia, Uruguay fully expects to grab three points and a comfortable win. If they can pick up a win against Egypt on Friday and couple that with a win in this match, Uruguay could very well be the first team to qualify for the Round of 16. However, crazier things have happened at the World Cup, and Saudi Arabia is looking to pull off what would be a monumental stunner with a result of any sort. ... 

This match might end up being a must win for Portugal if things don’t go right in their opener. Portugal faces its Iberian Peninsula rival, Spain, in its first World Cup game. Those two teams are roundly expected to be the two that make it out of Group B. However, a loss for Portugal would put a lot of pressure on them to beat Morocco here. A draw could put them in the unenviable position of needing a big win against Iran in the finale to advance and hope that Spain doesn’t settle for a draw against this side. That nightmare scenario would lead to Portugal failing to make it to the knockout round. ... 

Iran has an uphill battle as it looks to get to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in the country’s history. Team Melli has only managed to get one win in four previous appearances at the World Cup, and they are massive underdogs to make it out of Group B. ... 

Group H is the most wide-open group of them all, and both Senegal and Poland are looking to capitalize on being placed in a group without a clear favorite. This is just Senegal’s second trip to the World Cup, and they are looking to recreate their magical run in 2002. Then, the Lions of Teranga made it all the way to the Quarterfinals before bowing out. Meanwhile, Poland is looking to make it to the knockout rounds for the first time in 32 years. The country is experiencing a soccer renaissance and they are looking to capitalize. ... 

It will be a little bit of déjà vu when Colombia and Japan meet in the first Group H match on Tuesday. These two sides were paired together in the Group Stage at the 2014 World Cup, with Colombia securing a 4-1 victory on their way to topping the group with a 3-0 mark. ... 

England have had their fair share of disappointment at the World Cup. The Three Lions have been unable to make it to the semifinals since 1990, and they failed to get out of the Group Stage in Brazil, coming in dead last. The English are big favorites to come out of Group G this time though. England and Belgium are seen as the two powers in this group, while Tunisia and Panama are seen as the also-rans. Tunisia will look to prove that isn’t the case when they take on England in the last match on Monday. ... 

The biggest longshot at the World Cup is Panama. Panama is making its first trip to the World Cup after beating out the United States for the last spot from CONCACAF. No one is expecting much from the Latin American nation in a group that includes England and Belgium, and they are just hoping for a result in their first match against the latter nation on Monday. ... 

Life without Zlatan Ibrahimovic begins now for Sweden. Ibra was the most talented player ever to suit up for Sweden, but he was not recalled after the Swedes surprisingly qualified for the World Cup. Now, this team is going to rely on some of its younger talent at an international competition for the first time in quite some time. ... 

Germany is looking to make history in a number of ways at this World Cup. Only one defending champion has been able to successfully defend its crown and claim consecutive titles. That was Brazil in 1958 and 1962. A German win would make them just the second team to do the trick, and it would also tie the country with Brazil for most all-time World Cup titles. ... 

At any World Cup, Brazil are going to be one of the favorites. Brazil and football are synonymous. The country has won five World Cups, more than any other nation, and they are always one of the teams to beat. Brazil are a massive favorite to win Group E, and they are looking to follow through on the oddsmakers’ promise. ... 

Four years ago, Costa Rica shocked us all. The Ticos were expected to be three and out in the Group of Death, with only the most diehard of fans thinking they would make it out of the group. However, the country was able to surprise the world. Costa Rica finished atop a group that included Uruguay, England, and Italy, and they were able to get to the quarterfinals after beating Greece in the Round of 16. There, they fell to the Netherlands in penalties, but Costa Rica sent a message to the rest of the world. ... 

Peru received some great news earlier this week. The team’s captain and talisman, Paolo Guerrero, was given permission to play at the World Cup in spite of a doping ban. Guerrero was set to miss the event after a 12-month suspension following a positive cocaine test back in October, but the captains of the other three teams in Group C wrote letters to FIFA requesting that he be allowed to participate in the World Cup. FIFA decided to temporarily lift his suspension in order to play at the World Cup, and he will feature when Peru takes on Denmark in their first match on Saturday. ... 

Although Argentina are one of the favorites to win the World Cup, they aren’t quite the favorite to win their group that the other teams are. While the oddsmakers expect France, Germany, Spain, and Brazil to cruise in their groups, the same can’t be said for Argentina. The Argentines are not large favorites to top their group, and there is a sense that this team might be more vulnerable than most in the public think. They will try to dissuade people of that notion when they face Iceland in their opener on Saturday. ... 

France is a heavy favorite to win Group C and one of the favorites to hoist the World Cup when it’s all said and done. This team is loaded with talent across the pitch, and they are looking to win it all after losing the European Championship on their home turf in 2006. However, they are going to need to buck an unfortunate trend. Since winning the World Cup in 1998, they have alternated going out in the Group Stage with a deep run in the tournament. According to that pattern, they are set to crash out yet again in Russia. Anything other than a win in their opener against Australia will only add to those concerns. ... 

The hosts will be opening the World Cup in front of President Vladimir Putin with hundreds of millions of viewers tuning in around the world. No pressure. If Russia can get a win over Saudi Arabia in the opening match, then it will put itself in a good position to advance out of Group A. The Russians are expected to advance to the knockout rounds as the hosts. Only one host country has failed to make it out of the Group Stage, South Africa back in 2010, so anything less would be a disappointment. ... 

Most of the experts are expecting Uruguay to finish atop Group A. That makes sense. They are the only team in this group with any real World Cup experience, and they have made it to the knockout rounds in each of the last two World Cups. ... 

The mixture of politics and sports can lead to some interesting results at the World Cup. That makes the match-up between Iran and Morocco very intriguing. Last month, Morocco cut diplomatic ties with Iran. Morocco accused Iran of backing the Polisario Front, an independence movement in Western Sahara, and the two sides have not re-established relations since then. While it is unlikely this affects anything on the pitch, there may be some uneasiness in the periphery for this one. ... 

Portugal and Spain are the heavy favorites to make it out of Group B. Both teams have recently won a major international competition and each side has an extensive track record of success. Right now, Spain has the third-lowest odds to win the World Cup, while Portugal is considered the team with the seventh best chance of winning of it all. This has the potential to be one of the best matches of the Group Stage due to the quality of the two teams and the rivalry that comes with being neighbors on the Iberian Peninsula. ...