Top 15 Intriguing World Cup Group Stage Matchups

When the World Cup draw occurred last December, there were many great matchups that were given to us.

From matches pitting former parent countries against former colonies to matches between bordering countries to battles between countries with longstanding rivalries.

Also, there are matchups between non-rivals that could prove who will advance from a certain group. With this in mind, here are the 15 most intriguing matchups of the World Cup group stage.

June 11: South Africa vs. Mexico

Group: A

Venue: Soccer City (Johannesburg)

Normally this would not be a matchup that screams to us as exciting, but this is the World Cup opener, and it our chance to see what the host nation, South Africa, could do.

Of course, no host nation has failed to advance from the group stage, but this year there is a great possibility, as South Africa finds itself 81st in the world, and has had no World Cup success in its history.

Meanwhile for Mexico, this is the sixth time that its team has been in the opening match of the World Cup (Mexico also was in the openers of the 1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, and 1970 World Cups, all of which they lost).

But a win in Soccer City will be extremely important if the Mexicans are to advance from this group, which will be a really tricky group for anyone to advance from.

June 12: Argentina vs. Nigeria

Group: B

Venue: Ellis Park Stadium (Johannesburg)

A rematch of the Gold Medal match at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Argentina will be playing its first World Cup match under legend Diego Maradona, and this is a great challenge.

Meanwhile for Nigeria, this is a matchup in which to show the world that it is a side to truly be reckoned with in this World Cup, as it is one of the strongest African nations (if not the strongest) in this World Cup.

Also, this is the first World Cup match in the legendary Ellis Park Stadium, which was the final site for the 1995 Rugby World Cup in which South Africa beat New Zealand, 15-12 in extra time.

June 12: England vs. United States

Group: C

Venue: Royal Bafokeng Stadium (Rustenburg)

A rematch of the famous 1950 World Cup match in which the USA stunned England 1-0. England can finally get revenge in each country's first match.

For England, this is one of the best squads ever assembled for a World Cup, and despite the John Terry sex scandal, it is expected that Wayne Rooney and company will make a run at least into the semifinals, if not further.

The United States also has high hopes after its Confederations Cup run last June (which started in Rustenburg with a 3-0 win over Egypt).

June 13: Serbia vs. Ghana

Group: D

Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Pretoria)

A match between two of the primary contenders to advance from Group D in the nation's capital.

For Serbia, this will be its first World Cup match since the split of the Serbia and Montenegro national team after the 2006 World Cup. And with players such as Nemanja Vidić and Dejan Stanković, this certainly will be a side to be reckoned with.

For Ghana, this is its second World Cup and once again it is in a Group of Death.

In 2006, Ghana was able to advance from its group after a 2-1 win over the USA, and Ghana could once again be able to advance if it gets off to a strong start.

June 14: Netherlands vs. Denmark

Group: E

Venue: Soccer City (Johannesburg)

The first match for both European nations will tell us exactly how good these sides are.

Could this finally be the year the Netherlands breaks out and wins a World Cup title? The team is clearly talented enough, but it always has hit a major bump in the road somewhere.

Will Denmark be the surprise team to watch? The Danes were able to top their qualifying group with the likes of Portugal and Sweden in it, but will that success move to the bottom of the globe in the World Cup?

June 14: Italy vs. Paraguay

Group: F

Venue: Cape Town Stadium (Cape Town)

Easily the premier matchup in Group F, Italy and Paraguay will meet up in the first match, which will probably decide the group's winner.

Will the Italians be able to repeat as World Cup champions after winning in 2006? This match will go a long way in determining if they are still a dominant side.

This match will determine if Paraguay will be a surprise side to watch, as the team succeeded greatly in COMMEBOL qualifying and has a squad that is capable of making a deep run.

June 15: Ivory Coast vs. Portugal

Group: G

Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Port Elizabeth)

A match that most likely will tell us who will advance from Group G, it is a matchup of sides that are capable of at least making the quarterfinals.

The Ivory Coast is the African nation most favored to make a deep run and/or win the World Cup, and with players such as Didier Drogba and Kolo Touré, this will be the match that will determine how strong the team actually is.

Portugal was able to make the semifinals in 2006, but this is a completely different squad. However, Portugal still has Cristiano Ronaldo on its side, and also is very capable of making a deep run.

June 17: Mexico vs. France

Group: A

Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium (Polokwane)

This is the matchup that will most likely decide who will advance from Group A, as both France and Mexico are more than capable.

This will be the match that determines if France is capable of truly being an elite international team after the retirement of Zinedine Zidane following the 2006 World Cup.

This also will determine if Mexico will be able to advance from the group stage as it always does in the World Cup. But will the Mexicans finish first or second?

June 20: Brazil vs. Ivory Coast

Group: G

Venue: Soccer City (Johannesburg)

Another great matchup in Group G, this matchup is good enough for a World Cup final and ironically enough, it is in the venue for the July 11 final.

For Brazil, this is its first chance to show the world that this squad is up to the par set up by the great Brazilian sides that were able to win the World Cup, as it faces a really strong Ivory Coast side.

And for the Ivory Coast, this truly is a must-win game: A loss in the opener would eliminate it from the World Cup before its matchup with North Korea.

June 19: Cameroon vs. Denmark

Group: E

Venue: Cape Town Stadium (Cape Town)

The final match of Group E, this will certainly determine who will advance to the Round of 16, as the Netherlands will most likely finish first in Group E.

Cameroon has legitimate expectations to advance, as this is "Africa's World Cup," but it will face a Danish side that is expected to be the surprise side in this World Cup.

Denmark will need to win if it is going to live up to that.

June 22: Nigeria vs. South Korea

Group: B

Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban)

The final match of Group B, Nigeria and South Korea will most likely meet on June 22 in what will be a winner-take-all match, as these sides will most likely be two and three in the table for Group B.

Nigeria is one of the strongest African squads in the World Cup, and this matchup will be key for the Super Eagles if they are to make it deep in the World Cup.

For South Korea, this match will be key if it is to show that 2002 was no fluke at all, and that they could make a deep run.

June 23: United States vs. Algeria

Group: C

Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Pretoria)

This match, which in all likelihood will determine who will be the follow-up seed behind England in Group C, also will determine how truly talented these sides are.

This match will be humongous for the United States as the Americans look to prove that the Confederations Cup last year was fluke, and they are more than capable of making a deep run.

But the United States also lost at Loftus Versfeld Stadium twice last summer, and hopefully for the Americans, history does not repeat itself.

Algeria was able to sneak by Egypt to get in, and with this being its first World Cup in 24 years, it will want to leave a lasting impact and advance at the expense of the Americans.

June 23: Ghana vs. Germany

Group: D

Venue: Soccer City (Johannesburg)

The final match of Group D, at the venue of the World Cup final, should be a memorable matchup.

For Ghana, this match will probably determine if it will advance from an extremely difficult group. Ghana did it before, so who's to say that it will not happen again?

For Germany, this must-win match will probably determine if it will finish first or second in Group D, as long as it does not suffer any major injuries.

June 25: Brazil vs. Portugal

Group: G

Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban)

A very heated matchup between a former parent country and its colony, there may be even more on the line as Brazil could keep Portugal from moving on to the next round.

For Brazil, this would be a moment that could mean as much as winning the World Cup, by beating out a Portuguese squad that has several Brazilians (so a loss to those players would be a major embarrassment).

Portugal's World Cup dream will probably rest on this match against an always-strong Brazilian squad.

June 25: Chile vs. Spain

Group: H

Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Pretoria)

Yet another major matchup between a former parent country and a colony. A win will mean the world to both Spain and Chile, and nothing else will be expected by either side.

Chile's their entire chance to advance from Group H will ride on this match, as it will have an always difficult Swiss side that most likely will be in its way.

In order to be the best football nation in this World Cup, Spain needs to win matchups such as these, so it too will only expect victory in the nation's capital.