The Story of Brazil 2014 So far (Part 1)

The World Cup effectively reaches the knock out stages this with the places for the knock out stages being decided.  So now would be a good time to look at the state of play in the groups, starting today with groups A – D

Group A

	For	Against	Points
Brazil	3	1	4
Mexico	1	0	4
Croatia	5	3	3
Cameroon	0	5	0

Monday, 17:00 (21:00 BST):

Cameroon V Brazil (Brazilia)

Croatia V Mexico (Recife)

Brazil need a win to qualify for the last 16 against a side they last played in the World Cup 20 years ago.  Brazil’s 3-0 win in San Francisco 20 years ago also saw them qualify for the last 16, but with a game in hand.  Mexico can afford to draw with Croatia in Recife, Croatia need to beat the team they opened their 2002 campaign against and lost to in Niigata.  Mexico have reached the knockout stages in the last two World Cups (losing both times to Argentina), Croatia have not reached the knock out stages since they reached the Semi Finals in 1998.

Group B

Netherlands	8	3	6
Chile	5	1	6
Australia	3	6	0
Spain	1	7	0

Monday, 13:00 (17:00 BST)

Australia V Spain (Curtiba)

Netherlands V Chile (Sao Paolo)

For the holders, all there is, is the ignominy of a dead rubber against Australia.  The rebuilding for Euro 2016 is expected to begin here with Xavi Hernandez expected to be left out.  Instead the Netherlands & Chile will fight it out to see who avoids playing Brazil in the last 16.  This will be the first time these sides have met in the World Cup.

Group C

Columbia	5	1	6
Ivory Coast	3	3	3
Japan	1	2	1
Greece	0	3	1

Tuesday

Greece V Ivory Coast (Fortaleza, 17:00 – 21:00 BST)

Japan V Columbia (Cuiaba, 16:00 – 21:00 BST)

Columbia need a point from their last match to guarantee top spot in this group having already qualified for the last 16 for the first time since 1990.  Japan need to win and hope for a slender Greece win to qualify.  Greece need to win and hope that Japan lose for them to qualify, while Ivory Coast could qualify with a draw if Japan only win 1-0.  Ironically, Columbia could well be in line to play either Uruguay or Italy in Rio on Saturday because…

Group D

Costa Rica	4	1	6
Italy	2	2	3
Uruguay	3	4	3
England	2	4	0

Tuesday, 13:00 (17:00 BST)

Italy V Uruguay (Natal)

Costa Rica V England (Belo Horizonte)

Costa Rica need a point to win Group D.  Their opponents will be an England side that have been eliminated earlier than any other British team since 1954.  England will be bruised & hurt from the experience and will be expecting a consolation win…  forgetting that Costa Rica’s last excursion into the knock out phase included a 1-0 win against Scotland in Genoa.  The Costa Rica game though is a side issue though to the main event in this group.  For the third time in the World Cup, the first two winners of this competition play each other, with the winner qualifying to play in likelihood Columbia. Italy won the last time they met Uruguay, a 2-0 win in the last 16 in 1990 with the two sides drawing in the first meeting in Puebla in 1970.