World Cup Schedule 2014: Breaking Down Matchups You Won't Want to Miss

No, folks, it isn't too soon to start budgeting your time for June and ensuring you'll be free during some of the most intriguing matchups that the group stage has to offer.

As those ESPN commercials like to remind us: "It's not crazy. It's sports."

And this isn't just sports, it's the World Cup.

So if you already have your planner out and are preparing to schedule a few "sick days" during the World Cup, start your planning here with the full tournament schedule. There's nothing more important than a little early planning, right?

Match	Date and Time (ET)	Venue	Game
1	June 12 at 4 p.m.	Sao Paulo	Brazil vs. Croatia
2	June 13 at noon	Natal	Mexico vs. Cameroon
17	June 17 at 3 p.m.	Fortaleza	Brazil vs. Mexico
18	June 18 at 3 p.m.	Manaus	Cameroon vs. Croatia
33	June 23 at 4 p.m.	Brasilia	Cameroon vs. Brazil
34	June 23 at 4 p.m.	Recife	Croatia vs. Mexico

 

Match	Date and Time (ET)	Venue	Game
3	June 13 at 3 p.m.	Salvador	Spain vs. Netherlands
4	June 13 at 6 p.m.	Cuiaba	Chile vs. Australia
19	June 18 at 6 p.m.	Rio de Janeiro	Spain vs. Chile
20	June 18 at noon	Porto Alegre	Australia vs. Netherlands
35	June 23 at noon	Curitiba	Australia vs. Spain
36	June 23 at noon	Sao Paulo	Netherlands vs. Chile

Without question, the trio of Spain, Chile and the Netherlands makes this one of the most intriguing groups in the entire World Cup and you won't want to miss a single match between the three.

While Spain will be expected to win this group, the major battle will be between the Dutch and Chileans. Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben lead a talented Holland squad, albeit one in a bit of a transitional phase to the younger talents available, while Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez headline a Chile squad that is far more talented than they're often given credit for.

And, of course, you won't want to miss the rematch of the 2010 World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands. This group is going to be a lot of fun.

Match	Date and Time (ET)	Venue	Game
5	June 14 at noon	Belo Horizonte	Colombia vs. Greece
6	June 14 at 6 p.m.	Recife	Ivory Coast vs. Japan
21	June 19 at noon	Brasilia	Colombia vs. Ivory Coast
22	June 19 at 6 p.m.	Natal	Japan vs. Greece
37	June 24 at 4 p.m.	Cuiaba	Japan vs. Colombia
38	June 24 at 4 p.m.	Fortaleza	Greece vs. Ivory Coast

 

Match	Date and Time (ET)	Venue	Game
7	June 14 at 3 p.m.	Fortaleza	Uruguay vs. Costa Rica
8	June 14 at 9 p.m.	Manaus	England vs. Italy
23	June 19 at 3 p.m.	Sao Paulo	Uruguay vs. England
24	June 20 at noon	Recife	Costa Rica vs. Italy
39	June 24 at noon	Natal	Italy vs. Uruguay
40	June 24 at noon	Belo Horizonte	Costa Rica vs. England

Few groups are more unpredictable than Group D. Uruguay are probably the slight favorites thanks to a talented attack force led by Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, but they run hot and cold, and are unpredictable.

Italy are the most experienced and decorated of the bunch, but they lack a serious offensive punch when Mario Balotelli isn't on top of his game or keeping his cool. And then there is England, with just enough talent to advance out of this group and just enough of a history of disappointing to make you temper your expectations for them. 

Any one of these three teams could win this group and the games between the trio will be truly hard to predict. You won't want to miss any Group D action.

Match	Date and Time (ET)	Venue	Game
9	June 15 at noon	Brasilia	Switzerland vs. Ecuador
10	June 15 at 3 p.m.	Porto Alegre	France vs. Honduras
25	June 20 at 3 p.m.	Salvador	Switzerland vs. France
26	June 20 at 6 p.m.	Curitiba	Honduras vs. Ecuador
41	June 25 at 4 p.m.	Manaus	Honduras vs. Switzerland
42	June 25 at 4 p.m.	Rio de Janeiro	Ecuador vs. France

 

Match	Date and Time (ET)	Venue	Game
11	June 15 at 6 p.m.	Rio de Janeiro	Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
12	June 16 at 3 p.m.	Curitiba	Iran vs. Nigeria
27	June 21 at noon	Belo Horizonte	Argentina vs. Iran
28	June 21 at 6 p.m.	Cuiaba	Nigeria vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
43	June 25 at noon	Porto Alegre	Nigeria vs. Argentina
44	June 25 at noon	Salvador	Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Iran

 

Match	Date and Time (ET)	Venue	Game
13	June 16 at noon	Salvador	Germany vs. Portugal
14	June 16 at 6 p.m.	Natal	Ghana vs. United States
29	June 21 at 3 p.m.	Fortaleza	Germany vs. Ghana
30	June 22 at 3 p.m.	Manaus	United States vs. Portugal
45	June 26 at noon	Recife	United States vs. Germany
46	June 26 at noon	Brasilia	Portugal vs. Ghana

 

Truly, there won't be a bad game in Group G, as both the United States and Ghana are solid teams. But the real point of excitement in this group will be the matchup between Germany and Portugal. 

The Germans are insanely deep and talented, led by Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller, Mario Gotze, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm amongst others. They are one of the favorites to win this tournament, as their disciplined, counter-attacking style and big, strong athletes across the pitch make them truly formidable.

But Portugal have Cristiano Ronaldo, who is more than capable of beating any opponent on his own. Joao Moutinho is a boss in the midfield and Nani has just enough potential brilliance in him to give opponents reason for pause. 

Like Germany, Portugal are solid defensively and make you work to move the ball through the midfield. Their problem, of course, has traditionally been finding someone other than Ronaldo to score goals. But when CR7 gets going, it doesn't really matter.

Can Ronaldo take down the mighty Germans? Oh man, it's going to be fun to find out.

Match	Date and Time (ET)	Venue	Game
15	June 17 at noon	Belo Horizonte	Belgium vs. Algeria
16	June 17 at 6 p.m.	Cuiaba	Russia vs. Korea Republic
31	June 22 at 6 p.m.	Rio de Janeiro	Belgium vs. Russia
32	June 22 at noon	Porto Alegre	Korea Republic vs. Algeria
47	June 26 at 4 p.m.	Sao Paulo	Korea Republic vs. Belgium
48	June 26 at 4 p.m.	Curitiba	Algeria vs. Russia

 

Match	Date and Time (ET)	Venue	Game
49	June 28 at noon	Belo Horizonte	1A vs. 2B
50	June 28 at 4 p.m.	Rio de Janeiro	1C vs. 2D
51	June 29 at noon	Fortaleza	1B vs. 2A
52	June 29 at 4 p.m.	Recife	1D vs. 2C
53	June 30 at noon	Brasilia	1E vs. 2F
54	June 30 at 4 p.m.	Porto Alegre	1G vs. 2H
55	July 1 at noon	Sao Paulo	1F vs. 2E
56	July 1 at 4 p.m.	Salvador	1H vs. 2G

 

Match	Date and Time (ET)	Venue	Game
57	July 4 at 4 p.m.	Fortaleza	W49 vs. W50
58	July 4 at noon	Rio de Janeiro	W53 vs. W54
59	July 5 at 4 p.m.	Salvador	W51 vs. W52
60	July 5 at noon	Brasilia	W55 vs. W56

 

Match	Date and Time (ET)	Venue	Game
61	July 8 at 4 p.m.	Belo Horizonte	W57 vs. W58
62	July 9 at 4 p.m.	Sao Paulo	W59 vs. W60
64	July 13 at 3 p.m.	Rio de Janeiro	W61 vs. W62