World Cup Schedule 2014: Ultimate Guide to Group Play
The 2014 World Cup schedule includes 32 football clubs, but odds suggest it's Brazil against the world.
Odds Shark lists Brazil—led by Neymar, Oscar, Dani Alves and Julio Cesar—a 3-1 favorite to win the globe's most-anticipated tournament.
A Selecao are loaded with talent. It has home-field advantage. No nation has won the FIFA trophy more.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
But it wouldn't be the most-anticipated tournament if it was already decided. Here's when and where to watch each match of the group stage according to FIFA's official website.
| Thu., June 12 | Brazil vs. Croatia | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Fri., June 13 | Mexico vs. Cameroon | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Fri., June 13 | Spain vs. Netherlands | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Fri., June 13 | Chile vs. Australia | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sat., June 14 | Colombia vs. Greece | 11:30 a.m. | ABC |
| Sat., June 14 | Uruguay vs. Costa Rica | 2:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Sat., June 14 | England vs. Italy | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sat., June 14 | Ivory Coast vs. Japan | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sun. June 15 | Switzerland vs. Ecuador | 11:30 a.m. | ABC |
| Sun. June 15 | France vs. Honduras | 2:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Sun. June 15 | Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Mon., June 16 | Germany vs. Portugal | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN |
| Mon., June 16 | Iran vs. Nigeria | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Mon., June 16 | Ghana vs. United States | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Tue., June 17 | Belgium vs. Algeria | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN |
| Tue., June 17 | Brazil vs. Mexico | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Tue., June 17 | Russia vs. South Korea | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Wed., June 18 | Australia vs. Netherlands | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN |
| Wed., June 18 | Spain vs. Chile | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Wed., June 18 | Cameroon vs. Croatia | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thu., June 19 | Colombia vs. Ivory Coast | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN |
| Thu., June 19 | Uruguay vs. England | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thu., June 19 | Japan vs. Greece | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Fri., June 20 | Italy vs. Costa Rica | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN |
| Fri., June 20 | Switzerland vs. France | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Fri., June 20 | Honduras vs. Ecuador | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sat., June 21 | Argentina vs. Iran | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN |
| Sat., June 21 | Germany vs. Ghana | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sat., June 21 | Nigeria vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sun., June 22 | Belgium vs. Russia | 11:30 a.m. | ABC |
| Sun., June 22 | South Korea vs. Algeria | 2:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Sun., June 22 | United States vs. Portugal | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Mon., June 23 | Netherlands vs. Chile | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN |
| Mon., June 23 | Australia vs. Spain | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Mon., June 23 | Croatia vs. Mexico | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Mon., June 23 | Cameroon vs. Brazil | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Tue., June 24 | Italy vs. Uruguay | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN |
| Tue., June 24 | Costa Rica vs. England | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Tue., June 24 | Japan vs. Colombia | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Tue., June 24 | Greece vs. Ivory Coast | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Wed., June 25 | Nigeria vs. Argentina | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN |
| Wed., June 25 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Wed., June 25 | Ecuador vs. France | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Wed., June 25 | Honduras vs. Switzerland | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Thu., June 26 | United States vs. Germany | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN |
| Thu., June 26 | Portugal vs. Ghana | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Thu., June 26 | South Korea vs. Belgium | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thu., June 26 | Algeria vs. Russia | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
Not only is Brazil the favorite to win the World Cup, but no club has higher odds to win its group. It has an 81.2 percent, or 2-9, chance to finish on top of Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon. Not far behind, though, is Argentina with 1-4 odds.
It has at least one advantage over Brazil, the best footballer on the planet: Lionel Messi. The world record holder for most goals in a year scored 29 times for Barcelona this past La Liga season. In the 2010 World Cup, he helped lead Argentina to the quarterfinals, but they were overpowered by Germany 4-0.
Germany is also favored to win its group, but not nearly as easily as Brazil and Argentina. Die Mannschaft landed in the Group of Death with Portugal, USA and Ghana. Despite the fact that Germany could realistically place second in its own group, it has the third highest odds to win it all.
Other top contenders include Spain—the defending champs—Belgium, France, Italy and Uruguay. Portugal's challenging group draw makes it a major sleeper, though. Despite being No. 3 in the FIFA World Ranking, oddsmakers only give the Portuguese the 12th highest odds, 28-1, to win the World Cup.
Here's how the 32 teams will be divided in the eight groups.
| A | Brazil | Croatia | Mexico | Cameroon |
| B | Spain | Netherlands | Chile | Australia |
| C | Colombia | Greece | Ivory Coast | Japan |
| D | Uruguay | Costa Rica | England | Italy |
| E | Switzerland | Ecuador | France | Honduras |
| F | Argentina | Bosnia-Herzegovina | Iran | Nigeria |
| G | Germany | Portugal | Ghana | United States |
| H | Belgium | Algeria | Russia | South Korea |
David Daniels is a columnist at Bleacher Report and editor at Wade-O Radio.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
