World Cup Schedule 2014: Full List of Dates and Picks for Group Stage

There are 21 days before the first group match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup kicks off. That's when host nation Brazil begin their bid to capture a sixth World Cup trophy.

But Brazil won't be the only fancied nation hoping to meet expectations and ascend to the summit of their respective groups. Nations such as Argentina, Spain, Germany and Italy will be under pressure to meet that minimum requirement.

Here's a reminder of how each group looks ahead of the big tournament:

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With the tournament fast approaching and anticipation building, here is a breakdown of every group, including the date for each game, the predicted winners and a projection of the final standings.

How the Groups Will Play out

Date	Match	Winner	Final Standings
June 12	Brazil vs. Croatia	Draw	Brazil
June 13	Mexico vs. Cameroon	Mexico	Croatia
June 17	Brazil vs. Mexico	Brazil	Mexico
June 18	Cameroon vs. Croatia	Croatia	Cameroon
June 23	Cameroon vs. Brazil	Brazil
June 23	Croatia vs. Mexico	Draw

Group A will be tougher than many expect for favorites Brazil. Croatia will pose more than a few problems, thanks to a deceptively talented squad, brimming with creativity in midfield and power up front.

Part of their threat in the middle will come from Luka Modric. Writing for USA Today Sports blog thebiglead.com, Mike Cardillo correctly dubs Modric "one of the world's most complete midfielders."

But despite Croatia's quality, a nervy Brazil will eventually outlast the competition. They will notably brush aside Cameroon, who will sadly play the role of group whipping boys.

Date	Match	Winner	Final Standings
June 13	Spain vs. Nethelands	Spain	Spain
June 13	Chile vs. Australia	Chile	Netherlands
June 18	Spain vs. Chile	Spain	Chile
June 18	Australia vs. Netherlands	Netherlands	Australia
June 23	Australia vs. Spain	Spain
June 23	Netherlands vs. Chile	Netherlands

Group B will belong to current World Cup holders, Spain. Not as fancied as in previous tournaments, Vicente del Bosque's squad will send out an emphatic early reminder of their ample quality.

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The Netherlands won't wow their fans immediately but will steadily build up to some stylish football. Meanwhile, Chile will suffer from being placed in the same group as a pair of international heavyweights.

Date	Match	Winner	Final Standings
June 14	Colombia vs. Greece	Colombia	Colombia
June 14	Ivory Coast vs. Japan	Draw	Ivory Coast
June 19	Colombia vs. Ivory Coast	Draw	Japan
June 19	Japan vs. Greece	Draw	Greece
June 24	Japan vs. Colombia	Colombia
June 24	Greece vs. Ivory Coast	Ivory Coast

Group C will be defined by its stalemates. There isn't much to separate the squads after Colombia, who should be group leaders by virtue of their firepower up front.

Japan and Greece will be plucky but won't match the quality of an Ivory Coast squad, featuring English Premier League stars like Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony.

Date	Match	Winner	Final Standings
June 14	Uruguay vs. Costa Rica	Uruguay	Uruguay
June 14	England vs. Italy	Draw	Italy
June 19	Uruguay vs. England	Uruguay	England
June 20	Italy vs. Costa Rica	Italy	Costa Rica
June 24	Italy vs. Uruguay	Draw
June 24	Costa Rica vs. England	England

Group D will belong to an impressive Uruguay team that will let star striker Edinson Cavani run riot. BBC Sport South American football writer Tim Vickery highlights how the attack will need to carry Uruguay in Brazil:

"

The defensive unit and the holding midfielders have been together since the Copa America of 2007. There are some ageing limbs in there, owned by players now too slow to be caught in open space.

This, though, does not apply to the front pair. If Diego Forlan has declined to the point where he is now an option on the bench, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani are bang in the middle of their footballing prime.

"

But as good as they will be, the South Americans will need some luck to get past a resilient, but limited England squad.

Italy will follow a time-honored pattern of doing just enough to navigate the group stages, while saving their best for the later rounds.

Date	Match	Winner	Final Standings
June 15	Switzerland vs. Ecuador	Switzerland	France
June 15	France vs. Honduras	France	Switzerland
June 20	Switzerland vs. France	Draw	Honduras
June 20	Honduras vs. Ecuador	Draw	Ecuador
June 25	Honduras vs. Switzerland	Draw
June 25	Ecuador vs. France	France

This group will be the home of a few surprise packages. Players such as France schemer Clement Grenier will raise a few eyebrows, as will Switzerland striker Josip Drmic.

Ultimately, those nations will be too strong for Ecuador and a game Honduras squad. France will have just enough to see off Switzerland in the group's marquee tie.

Date	Match	Winner	Final Standings
June 15	Argentina vs. Bosnia And Herzegovina	Argentina	Argentina
June 16	Iran vs. Nigeria	Nigeria	Nigeria
June 21	Argentina vs. Iran	Argentina	Bosnia And Herzegovina
June 21	Nigeria vs. Bosnia And Herzegovina	Draw	Iran
June 25	Nigeria vs. Argentina	Argentina
June 25	Bosnia And Herzegovina vs. Iran	Draw

Perhaps predictably, Argentina will dominate Group F. The South American nation just has too much talent in attack.

Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Nigeria simply won't be able to corral Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain. Argentina have flattered to deceive in recent tournaments, but while a comfortable group won't necessarily change that, it will help build momentum before the knockout phase.

Date	Match	Winner	Final Standings
June 16	Germany vs. Portugal	Germany	Germany
June 16	Ghana vs. United States	Ghana	Portugal
June 21	Germany vs. Ghana	Germany	Ghana
June 22	United States vs. Portugal	Portugal	United States
June 26	United States vs. Germany	Germany
June 26	Portugal vs. Ghana	Draw

Germany will roar in front early in the so-called "Group of Death." Despite tough opposition, the Germans still have enough quality in midfield and attack to overwhelm.

Players such as Mesut Ozil, Marco Reus and Thomas Mueller will punish any defensive lapses. Being able to also call on midfielders as talented as Toni Kroos and Julian Draxler is a boost most squads can only dream of.

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

Portugal will edge Ghana on tiebreakers, while the United States will suffer from deterioration among former key stars like Landon Donovan.

Date	Match	Winner	Final Standings
June 17	Belgium vs. Algeria	Belgium	Belgium
June 17	Russia vs. Korea Republic	Russia	Russia
June 22	Belgium vs. Russia	Draw	Korea Republic
June 22	Korea Republic vs. Algeria	Korea Republic	Algeria
June 26	Korea Republic vs. Belgium	Belgium
June 26	Algeria vs. Russia	Russia

Belgium won't quite be the force they are considered in many circles. Many of their players have name recognition without the actual talent to match it: centre-backs Thomas Vermaelen and Jan Vertonghen are prime examples.

However, the Belgians will still have enough to just shave the group lead ahead of an exciting Russia squad. The Russians will offer plenty in attack but suffer from a fragility in defence.