The World Cup group stage passes again with it usual
splendor, perennial giants seemingly collapsed, new chosen ones in their place,
the stereotypical upsets, referee gaffes, miscellaneous action, and repeated
history. Each group providing its two champions leaves its stamp on the
tournament and its unique tale in the history of the world tournament.
The history of the World Cup provides a beautiful window
into the expectations for gameplay each year. The success of European, South
American, Latin American nations, etc. can be very easily predicted by their
success in previous tournaments. The success of South American nations in these
tournaments in South American venues is very easily compared to the success of
Uruguay, who won the very first World Cup in 1930 (they were hosting, and they
beat Argentina) and then again in 1950 (hosted in Brazil), the first
competition held after the intermission in lieu of World War II. History has
repeated itself several times throughout FIFA's governance of the World Cup and
continues during this year's celebration.
In a competitive Group A, Brazil and Mexico advance over
defeated Cameroonian and Croatian sides. Mexico's ability to earn a point in
all three matches in the group stage reveals an incredible resiliency to this
Mexican squad just months after their 2013 implosion in the CONCACAF
qualifiers. Brazil, although drawing Mexico, personified the true class of
group A scoring seven goals during the group stage, four contributed by
Brazilian chosen one, Neymar Jr. Guillermo Ochoa provided several highlight
reel saves to preserve the Mexican campaign at this year's World Cup.
In a long-winded shocker, Spain, the 2008 and 2012 European
Cup winners and 2010 World Cup victors, failed to advance from their difficult
group including the Netherlands, Chile and Australia. Netherlands would go onto
control the group winning all three group stage matches, including a 5-1
trouncing they delivered to Spain. Strong play by long time Dutch notable,
Arjen Robben, has the Netherlands playing undoubtedly their best football since
their extra time defeat by Spain in 2010. Chile, impressively handled Spain as
well to earn their essential second win in the group, guaranteeing that their
journey continue after the group stage. Although, a minor talking point,
Australian midfielder Tim Cahill turned many heads with a clear shoe-in for goal
of the tournament when he beat Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillesseen with a
cross-body, weak-foot volley.
Next week's matchups pit the teams advancing from groups A
and B against each other, as Mexico faces the Netherlands at 12 p.m. on Sunday,
and Brazil faces Chile in Belo Horizonte on Saturday at 12 p.m.
In Group C, we witnessed history repeat itself in a few
ways. We saw a South American nation advance, Columbia doing so extremely
convincingly, but we also saw Greece advance again in the most difficult
fashion. Yet again, we saw the Greeks earning tough points playing their
defensive catenaccio football style. Columbia, also, becomes a feel-good story,
as the nation, whose heartbeat ties inherently to its national team, returns
strongly to the world scene. The Ivory Coast was unable to advance, ending
Didier Drogba's international career just short of the Knockout Round. Japan's
run ended quite briefly as the team's evident lack of a target front man left
their side with great difficulty going forward.
Group D illustrates the phenomenon of history repeating
itself most evidently. In a group set for the success of two established
European powerhouses, both are exited from the tournament quickly and rather
unceremoniously. Both England and Italy took back seats to Costa Rica and
Uruguay, as England failed to win a single match, and Italy lost a player to a
quick red card, in spite of Suarez' on field antics. Costa Rica, in particular,
was able to perform incredibly well on defense, surrendering only one goal in
three games throughout the group stage, meanwhile they scored four goals
securing first place in the group. In England's defense, they were able to play
a much better brand of football that was free-flowing and played through the
middle, but they were unable to preserve results for the full run time. In the
next round, Costa Rica will play Greece, and Columbia plays Uruguay.
In Group E, France displayed a form that many did not
expect, as they dominated their group with two wins and their third match drawn
against Ecuador. Switzerland's defeat of Ecuador became essential in their
quest for the Knockout Round. Karim Benzema's play was particularly high as he
not only scored three goals for France, but also assisted two goals. Xherdan
Shaqiri, the Swiss midfielder playing for Bayern Munich, has started a strong
World Cup campaign with three goals through the group stage.
Argentina handled business as usual, calmly and assuredly
capturing first in their easier group. The battle for second in Group F, easily
could have fallen to either team left in the group. Bosnia-Herzegovina can
certainly feel claim to second following review of an Edin Dzeko goal
wrongfully disallowed for an offside position against Nigeria. The play
occurred early enough that you cannot say the call determined the game, but it
certainly changes the complexion of the game and group as Nigeria went on to
win the match by a single goal, and eventually, second place in the group over
Bosnia by one point. Next round, France will play Nigeria, while Argentina
plays Switzerland in the next round.
In Group G, the officially designated "Group of
Death," Germany and the United States advance. Germany, as many expected
and predicted, cruised to a first-place finish in the group with two wins and a
surprise draw 2-2 against the Ghanaians. The victory in the third match against
the USA did not eliminate the USA, actually -- as Ronaldo's simultaneous,
late-game athletics against Ghana become heroics for the USA's efforts in the
group table. The USA's advancement from this group becomes a pivotal event in
the growth of the sport in the country, thus the next match itself becomes even
more important. The Germans will look forward to conducting business as usual
in their next match.
Belgium, as expected, dominated their group with three wins
in a row, handling the defensive challenge of Algeria's Feghouli and Russia's
Kokorin and surrendering only one goal throughout the stage. The Belgians did
win close matches, leading by a single goal each game. The Algerians managed to
capture second place in the group by holding a 1-1 draw against Russia in their
final group stage match. In the next round, Belgium will kick off against the
United States, a reminder of the closely, cancelled pre-World Cup friendly, and
Germany will play Algeria.
As the World Cup goes forward look for the continued success
of the South American Nations at Brazil, the winning streaks of the Netherlands
and Belgium, definitely, the continued success of the USMNT and as many goals
as we have seen so far in Brazil, a happy departure from the precious commodity
they were in South Africa. The games resume Saturday at noon.
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