Thursday marks the start of the world's greatest sporting event as the World Cup begins in Brazil with 32 countries looking to win what is the most prized trophy in world sports. For Canadians who love hockey and like to poke fun of football/soccer the World Cup is a time to break out those same stupid jokes that have been floating around the internet for nearly 15 years now about how it is a sport for wussies and how players dive and fake injuries, ignoring the constant diving and faking of injuries in the Stanley Cup to do so.
However for the rest of the world the World Cup stops everything and becomes the biggest event since well, the last World Cup and this year's tournament should be a historic one. Despite FIFA's corruption along with the Brazil government ignoring the poverty of a large number of its citizens to host the event and the protests that have stemmed from it, the on-pitch quality of this tournament should once again be top class. From Brazil and Argentina trying to outdo each other for South American bragging rights to the European powerhouses trying to end their South American curses there will be high drama this month that sports fans will all likely eventually cave in to watching regardless of their feelings towards the sport. Whether you think football is a religion or you think it is "boring and for wusses" here is what you need to know about each group in the 2014 World Cup.
Group A
Brazil
Croatia
Mexico
Cameroon
A group that would be extremely interesting if many didn't feel Brazil automatically has one of the two knockout round spots in the bag should produce some great matchups from countries all around the globe as Group A has representatives from South America, North America, Europe and Africa's top countries.
Outside of the hosts, Croatia, Mexico or Cameroon all could realistically make the knockout stages as all three have world class talent along with good results in the lead up to the World Cup during the many exhibition "friendlies" that have served as a preseason of sorts.
Croatia will be the favorites to advance thanks to star Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, but missing top striker Mario Mandzukic for the start of the tournament thanks to a red card in their final qualifier and playing Brazil first will put them behind a potential winner of Mexico/Cameroon on points. This group will likely come down to results other than in the Brazil matches, but if any of the three underdogs can upset Brazil it should push them through to the knockout rounds.
Prediction: Brazil/Mexico advance
Group B
Spain
Netherlands
Chile
Australia
2010's finalists in Spain and Holland will square off on Friday in what is a weird draw that pits the two best nations from the last World Cup in the same group. Spain actually have the most difficult draw in Group B as they will play the Netherlands in the WC 2010 Final rematch before taking on South American sleepers Chile who finished qualifying on a 5-0-1 streak while their main competition in the group get to face punching bag Australia. If Spain fail to get points against either two countries in their first matches there is a chance the defending World Cup champions don't even see the knockout stages, a crazy but possible thought.
Prediction: Netherlands/Chile advance
Group C
Colombia
Greece
Ivory Coast
Japan
Another stacked group that could go many ways pits four countries that have tasted success in the modern era but have never been able to do so at a World Cup. Colombia famously bottoming out in 1994, Greece winning the 2002 Euro Cup and both Ivory Coast/Japan having "Golden Generations" who haven't got over the hump in the big stage.
In a group where anything can happen, look for the Greeks to be a tough out as their reputation for being able to prevent opponents from scoring will be tough to handle if not leading to some boring matches.
Prediction: Ivory Coast/Greece advance
Group D
Uruguay
Italy
England
Costa Rica
A group that ensures one historical European powerhouse or a South American favorite bow out early could fall down to the health of Liverpool strike Luis Suarez, who is Uruguay's star player coming off a knee cartilage surgery. With England already drawing Ecuador and Honduras in friendlies, a slowed down Suarez provides their only hope of not being sent home early from Brazil.
Predictions: Italy/England advance
Group E
Switzerland
France
Ecuador
Honduras
France are heavy favorites to make quick work of what many consider to be a weaker group, but Ecuador and Honduras showed England that they will not be intimidated under climates that suit both countries that are used to the type of heat that will be experienced in Brazil. Something that might foil a Swiss side that is long on quality from the German Bundesliga, but could fall victims to the elements against underrated Ecuador/Honduras teams.
In Group E, Honduras could be the Wild Card as their willingness to do whatever it takes to win could frustrate opponents enough to steal the final knockout spot.
Prediction: France/Honduras advance
Group F
Argentina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Iran
Nigeria
Argentina are a lock to get out of a group that luckily enough might be the weakest of all, while Bosnia should take the second knockout round spot quite easily on the back of Manchester City strike Edin Dzeko.
Predictions: Argen-tina/B&H advance
Group G
Germany
Portugal
Ghana
USA
The toughest group to predict pits four countries who likely wish they could have landed in Group F or Group G as the "Group of Death" label has been split by this group and Group D for quite some time based on the loaded quality in the group.
Despite battling injuries to some star players, Germany are Europe's best hope of a World Cup winner in Brazil and should advance, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, African giants Ghana and the always scrappy Americans to fight for the other knockout round spot. Nothing is a guarantee in this group and getting a draw out of Germany might be the decider of fates in a group where many will feel it is a shame any country had to be eliminated early.
Prediction: Germany/USA advance.
Group H
Belgium
Russia
Algeria
South Korea
Belgium are the potential darlings of the World Cup and should show why in a group that should present little challenge for them, but an injury to Russia's Shirokov has opened the door for both Algeria and South Korea to steal the second spot in what is to be quite honest a boring group.
Prediction: Belgium/South Korea advance
