Here is a brief Group D preview for the World Cup. I will give my full tournament predictions on Wednesday and give a more in-depth preview of every World Cup match throughout the tournament.

Teams: Costa Rica, England, Italy, Uruguay

Group Overview:  This group can be determined by the health of Uruguay’s Luis Suarez. The striker is recovering from a knee injury and status is uncertain for the first game of the tournament. Suarez is Uruguay’s most important player and scored 31 goals in 33 English Premier League games for Liverpool. Italy will look to bounce back from a terrible performance in 2010. England is bringing a younger team that should play a more attacking style of soccer. Costa Rica is back in the World Cup after missing out in 2010.

Players to watch: Joel Campbell (Costa Rica), Daniel Sturridge (England), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Luis Suarez (Uruguay)

Prediction (win-draw-loss): 

1. Uruguay 2-0-1

2. Italy 1-2-0

3. England 0-2-1

4. Costa Rica 0-2-1

 Photo by Jimmy Baikovicius 

Here is a brief Group C preview for the World Cup. I will give my full tournament predictions on Wednesday and give a more in-depth preview of every World Cup match throughout the tournament.

Teams: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan

Group Overview: Colombia went on an extraordinary run in World Cup qualifying thanks to striker Radamel Falcao. Unfortunately Falcao suffered a knee injury in January and will miss the tournament. Ivory Coast and Japan are the best bets to finish second in the group but you can never count out Greece in any soccer tournament.

Players to watch: James Rodriquez (Colombia), Giorgos Karagounis (Greece), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast), Keisuke Honda (Japan)

Prediction (win-draw-loss): 

1. Colombia 2-1-0

2. Ivory Coast 1-2-0

3. Japan 1-1-1

4. Greece 0-0-3

Photo by Jimmy Baikovicius 

Here is a brief Group B preview for the World Cup. I will give my full tournament predictions on Wednesday and give a more in-depth preview of every World Cup match throughout the tournament.

Teams: Australia, Chile, Netherlands, Spain

Group Overview:  The second day of the World Cup will feature a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final between Spain and Netherlands. Spain has won three straight major tournaments (Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012). The Netherlands are talented but have lacked chemistry in the past including an embarrassing showing at Euro 2012. Chile could be a tournament dark horse playing in their continent. Australia was given a cruel draw and might not get a point.

Players to watch: Tim Cahill (Australia), Arturo Vidal (Chile), Arjen Robben (Netherlands), Diego Costa (Spain)

Prediction (win-draw-loss): 

1. Spain 2-1-0

2. Chile 1-2-0

3. Netherlands 1-1-1

4. Australia 0-0-3

Photo by Gordon Dionne 

Here is a brief Group A preview for the World Cup. I will give my full tournament predictions on Wednesday and give a more in-depth preview of every World Cup match throughout the tournament.

Teams: Brazil, Cameroon, Croatia, Mexico

Group Overview: This group is headlined by host country and tournament favorite Brazil. Mexico and Croatia will likely battle for second in the group. The two countries will meet in the last match of the group stage. Cameroon hopes to do better than losing all three games as they did at the 2010 World Cup.

Players to watch: Neymar (Brazil), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Luka Modric (Croatia), Giovani dos Santos (Mexico)

Prediction (win-draw-loss): 

1. Brazil 3-0-0

2. Croatia 1-1-1

3. Mexico 0-2-1

4. Cameroon 0-1-2

Photo by Amil Delic