2014 World Cup - Destination: Brazil - ProSoccerTalk

Tournament
Despite protests around the country, FIFA is ready to put on an $11 billion show as the 20th World Cup gets under way across 12 cities. Brazil has struggled with a race against time to get themselves ready for the tournament, and a few things such as stadiums and infrastructure could potentially go unfinished, but the show must go on, and that it will as Spain looks to defend its crown.

Format

31 teams have qualified from across the world, and they join host nation Brazil. The teams have been split into eight groups of four, and the top two from each group will qualify for the knockout round. From there, the 16 teams will battle for world supremacy.

Team and Group Previews

With the World Cup upon us, ProSoccerTalk has you covered from kickoff to the final whistle. First, you can see our team previews by clicking on any of the team’s picture down below, as well as our overall group previews by clicking on the group headings.

As we work to give you all the tools to prepare for the World Cup, the pictures on the table below will become clickable to show you what is available. Anything seen below but not yet linked to a story is coming soon! Make sure to check back often to stay up to date on all of our content, as we will update this page furiously as we inch closer and closer to the main event and more becomes available.

To see all final 23-man rosters for each of the 32 teams, click here

Group A	Group B	Group C	Group D

Group E	Group F	Group G	Group H

USMNT previews:

Defining and explaining the successful – and new – formation against Nigeria
With 23-man set, how does the USMNT line up?
The USMNT and the Changing of the Guard
USA’s hopes of advancing past Group G likely hinges on German domination
Where should Geoff Cameron play for the USMNT?
Cut US players: Did Klinsmann already know final 23 before camp?
VOTE: Should Landon Donovan be going to the World Cup with the USA?

USMNT World Cup send-off friendlies:

United States 2, Azerbaijan 0
United States 2, Turkey 1
United States 2, Nigeria 1

Groups and Schedules: All times Eastern

Group A

Pos.	Team	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	Diff.	Points
1	Brazil	3	2	0	1	7	2	+5	7
2	Mexico	3	2	0	1	4	1	+3	7
3	Croatia	3	1	2	0	6	6	0	3
4	Cameroon	3	0	3	0	1	9	-8	0

Schedule and Results
June 12/13:
Brazil 3, Croatia 1
Mexico 1, Cameroon 0
June 17/18:
Brazil 0, Mexico 0
Croatia 4, Cameroon 0
June 23:
Brazil 4, Cameroon 1
Mexico 3, Croatia 1

Group B

Pos.	Team	GP	W	L	GF	GA	Diff.	Points
1	Netherlands	3	3	0	10	3	+7	9
2	Chile	3	2	1	5	3	+2	6
3	Spain	3	1	2	4	7	-3	3
4	Australia	3	0	3	3	9	-6	0

Schedule and Results
June 13:
Netherlands 5, Spain 1
Chile 3, Australia 1
June 18:
Netherlands 3, Australia 2
Chile 2, Spain 0
June 23:
Spain 3, Australia 0
Netherlands 2, Chile 0

Group C

Pos.	Team	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	Diff.	Points
1	Colombia	3	3	0	0	9	2	+7	9
2	Greece	3	1	1	1	2	4	-2	4
3	Ivory Coast	3	1	2	0	4	5	-1	3
4	Japan	3	0	2	1	2	6	-4	1

Schedule and Results
June 14:
Colombia 3, Greece 0
Ivory Coast 2, Japan 1
June 19:
Colombia 2, Ivory Coast 1
Japan 0, Greece 0
June 24:
Colombia 4, Japan 1
Greece 2, Ivory Coast 1

Group D

Pos.	Team	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	Diff.	Points
1	Costa Rica	3	2	0	1	4	1	+3	7
2	Uruguay	3	2	1	0	4	4	0	6
3	Italy	3	1	2	0	2	3	-1	3
4	England	3	0	2	1	2	4	-2	1

Schedule and Results
June 14:
Costa Rica 3, Uruguay 1
Italy 2, England 1
June 19/20:
Uruguay 2, England 1
Costa Rica 1, Italy 0
June 24:
Uruguay 1, Italy 0
Costa Rica 0, Italy 0

Group E

Pos.	Team	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	Diff.	Points
1	France	3	2	0	1	8	2	+6	7
2	Switzerland	3	2	1	0	7	6	+1	6
3	Ecuador	3	1	1	1	3	3	0	4
4	Honduras	3	0	3	0	1	8	-7	0

Schedule and Results
June 15:
Switzerland 2, Ecuador 1
France 3, Honduras 0
June 20:
France 5, Switzerland 2
Ecuador 2, Honduras 1
June 25:
Switzerland 3, Honduras 0
France 0, Ecuador 0

Group F

Pos.	Team	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	Diff.	Points
1	Argentina	3	3	0	0	6	3	+3	9
2	Nigeria	3	1	1	1	3	3	0	4
3	Bosnia & Herzegovina	3	1	2	0	4	4	0	3
4	Iran	3	0	2	1	1	4	-3	1

Schedule and Results
June 15/16:
Argentina 2, Bosnia & Herzegovina 1
Iran 0, Nigeria 0
June 21:
Argentina 1, Iran 0
Nigeria 1, Bosnia & Herzegovina, 0
June 25:
Argentina 3, Nigeria 2
Bosnia & Herzegovina 3, Iran 1

Group G

Pos.	Team	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	Diff.	Points
1	Germany	3	2	0	1	7	2	+5	7
2	United States	3	1	1	1	4	4	0	4
3	Portugal	3	1	1	1	4	7	-3	4
4	Ghana	3	0	2	1	4	6	-2	1

Schedule and Results
June 16:
Germany 4, Portugal 0
United States 2, Ghana 1
June 21/22:
Germany 2, Ghana 2
United States 2, Portugal 2
June 26:
Germany 2, United States 1
Portugal 2, Ghana 1

Group H

Pos.	Team	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	Diff.	Points
1	Belgium	3	3	0	0	4	1	+3	9
2	Algeria	3	1	1	1	6	5	+1	4
3	Russia	3	0	1	2	2	3	-1	2
4	South Korea	3	0	2	1	3	6	-3	1

Schedule and Results
June 17:
Belgium 2, Algeria 1
Russia 1, South Korea 1
June 22:
Belgium 1, Russia 0
Algeria 4, South Korea 2
June 26:
Belgium 1, South Korea 0
Algeria 1, Russia 1

Round of 16:

June 28: Brazil 1, Chile 1 (Brazil 3-2 on penalties)
June 28: Colombia 2, Uruguay 0
June 29: Netherlands 2, Mexico 1
June 29: Costa Rica 1, Greece 1 (Costa Rica 5-3 on penalties)
June 30: France 2, Nigeria 0
June 30: Germany 2, Algeria 1 (extra time)
July 1: Argentina 1, Switzerland 0 (extra time)
July 1: Belgium 2, United States 1 (extra time)

Quarterfinals:

July 4: Brazil vs. Colombia Fortaleza (Match 57)
July 4: Germany 1, France 0
July 5: Netherlands vs. Costa Rica Salvador (Match 59)
July 5: Argentina vs. Belgium Brasília (Match 60)

Semifinals:

July 8: Winner, Match 57 vs. Germany Belo Horizonte
July 9: Winner, Match 59 vs. Winner, Match 60 São Paulo

Third Place match:

July 12 Brasília

Final:

July 13 Rio de Janeiro