SOCCER WORLD CUP ARTICLES

The biggest longshot at the World Cup is Panama. Panama is making its first trip to the World Cup after beating out the United States for the last spot from CONCACAF. No one is expecting much from the Latin American nation in a group that includes England and Belgium, and they are just hoping for a result in their first match against the latter nation on Monday. ... 

Life without Zlatan Ibrahimovic begins now for Sweden. Ibra was the most talented player ever to suit up for Sweden, but he was not recalled after the Swedes surprisingly qualified for the World Cup. Now, this team is going to rely on some of its younger talent at an international competition for the first time in quite some time. ... 

Germany is looking to make history in a number of ways at this World Cup. Only one defending champion has been able to successfully defend its crown and claim consecutive titles. That was Brazil in 1958 and 1962. A German win would make them just the second team to do the trick, and it would also tie the country with Brazil for most all-time World Cup titles. ... 

At any World Cup, Brazil are going to be one of the favorites. Brazil and football are synonymous. The country has won five World Cups, more than any other nation, and they are always one of the teams to beat. Brazil are a massive favorite to win Group E, and they are looking to follow through on the oddsmakers’ promise. ... 

Four years ago, Costa Rica shocked us all. The Ticos were expected to be three and out in the Group of Death, with only the most diehard of fans thinking they would make it out of the group. However, the country was able to surprise the world. Costa Rica finished atop a group that included Uruguay, England, and Italy, and they were able to get to the quarterfinals after beating Greece in the Round of 16. There, they fell to the Netherlands in penalties, but Costa Rica sent a message to the rest of the world. ... 

Peru received some great news earlier this week. The team’s captain and talisman, Paolo Guerrero, was given permission to play at the World Cup in spite of a doping ban. Guerrero was set to miss the event after a 12-month suspension following a positive cocaine test back in October, but the captains of the other three teams in Group C wrote letters to FIFA requesting that he be allowed to participate in the World Cup. FIFA decided to temporarily lift his suspension in order to play at the World Cup, and he will feature when Peru takes on Denmark in their first match on Saturday. ... 

Although Argentina are one of the favorites to win the World Cup, they aren’t quite the favorite to win their group that the other teams are. While the oddsmakers expect France, Germany, Spain, and Brazil to cruise in their groups, the same can’t be said for Argentina. The Argentines are not large favorites to top their group, and there is a sense that this team might be more vulnerable than most in the public think. They will try to dissuade people of that notion when they face Iceland in their opener on Saturday. ... 

France is a heavy favorite to win Group C and one of the favorites to hoist the World Cup when it’s all said and done. This team is loaded with talent across the pitch, and they are looking to win it all after losing the European Championship on their home turf in 2006. However, they are going to need to buck an unfortunate trend. Since winning the World Cup in 1998, they have alternated going out in the Group Stage with a deep run in the tournament. According to that pattern, they are set to crash out yet again in Russia. Anything other than a win in their opener against Australia will only add to those concerns. ... 

The hosts will be opening the World Cup in front of President Vladimir Putin with hundreds of millions of viewers tuning in around the world. No pressure. If Russia can get a win over Saudi Arabia in the opening match, then it will put itself in a good position to advance out of Group A. The Russians are expected to advance to the knockout rounds as the hosts. Only one host country has failed to make it out of the Group Stage, South Africa back in 2010, so anything less would be a disappointment. ... 

Most of the experts are expecting Uruguay to finish atop Group A. That makes sense. They are the only team in this group with any real World Cup experience, and they have made it to the knockout rounds in each of the last two World Cups. ... 

The mixture of politics and sports can lead to some interesting results at the World Cup. That makes the match-up between Iran and Morocco very intriguing. Last month, Morocco cut diplomatic ties with Iran. Morocco accused Iran of backing the Polisario Front, an independence movement in Western Sahara, and the two sides have not re-established relations since then. While it is unlikely this affects anything on the pitch, there may be some uneasiness in the periphery for this one. ... 

Portugal and Spain are the heavy favorites to make it out of Group B. Both teams have recently won a major international competition and each side has an extensive track record of success. Right now, Spain has the third-lowest odds to win the World Cup, while Portugal is considered the team with the seventh best chance of winning of it all. This has the potential to be one of the best matches of the Group Stage due to the quality of the two teams and the rivalry that comes with being neighbors on the Iberian Peninsula. ... 

In a little more than two weeks, the most watched and anticipated sporting event will finally kick off. Billions from around the world will tune in to watch the 2018 World Cup. There is no clear favorite for this year’s tournament, as both Brazil and Germany have a couple crucial injury concerns heading into the event. That could lead to some surprising results as the top teams from six different continents meet to determine who is the best in the world. ... 

Group H is wide-open. This is the one group at the 2018 World Cup that it feels like any team can win. Colombia is the shortest favorite of any team, and it’s worth noting that it is not considered odds-on to win the group.
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Pretty much everyone is predicting both of the European powers to make it out of Group G. Belgium and England are essentially 1A and 1B in this group... 

Germany is out to defend its title and is the favorite entering the 2018 World Cup. The Germans have an abundance of talent at nearly every position. Last year, manager Joachim Low made no effort to hide that he was bringing his ‘B’ team to the Confederations Cup in order to give some of the younger players more experience. They showed that they would be one of the strongest teams in the world too with a dominant performance en route to the title.... 

The country with the most storied history at the World Cup is a massive favorite to win Group E. Brazil has won five World Cups and will be looking for number six after a very disappointing exit in the last World Cup. They were the favorites to win it all as the hosts and the pressure on the Selecao was immense.... 

This is France’s group to lose. Although the other teams in this group aren’t pushovers, France has far more talent than any other team in this group. The French are absolutely loaded at every position on the pitch, while each of the three other teams have some major concerns that threaten to keep them out of the knockout stage.... 

If you’re looking for a group with plenty of excitement and compelling story lines, look no further than Group D. Lionel Messi is looking to finally win a major international tournament for Argentina after finishing as runners-up at the 2014 World Cup, 2015 Copa America and 2016 Copa America. Meanwhile, Croatia is looking to recreate its magical run back in 1998, which is still considered one of the most surprising runs ever. ... 

No one is expecting anyone other than Spain and Portugal to emerge from Group B. The two giants from the Iberian Peninsula have each won a major tournament this decade with Spain winning the 2010 World Cup and Portugal winning the 2016 European Championship.... 

Group A is just one of two groups in which there is no team that is an odds-on favorite to win the group. Many observers believe that Uruguay and Russia are the most likely teams to get out, but Egypt is sitting back as an intriguing dark horse thanks to the play of Mo Salah. Saudi Arabia is seen as the only team without much of a shot, but this side has a good amount of experience and could surprise.... 

European World Cup qualifying has been bizarre over the course of the last year and change. Now, we're down to just two matches left to be played and two tickets left to be punched to the World Cup in Russia. Italy and Sweden will be up first on Monday with the penultimate spot to the World Cup from UEFA on the line, but Ireland and Denmark might be facing the even greater challenge.... 

After 90 minutes of both of the intercontinental playoffs for the 2018 World Cup, there isn't a goal to discuss. All is left to play for in the Australia/Honduras fixture and the Peru/New Zealand fixture, and it's a wonder if either of these matches will be decided in the cruelest of ways in a penalty shootout. There will surely be no shortage of drama on Wednesday night when the last two tickets to the World Cup will be handed out.... 

France has made a mess of its World Cup qualifying campaign. Les Bleus are assured of at least a spot in the European playoffs at this point, but never in their wildest dreams did they imagine having to play out this last match against Belarus to assure winning Group A.... 

Group B of UEFA World Cup qualifying hasn't had a heck of a lot of drama to it over the course of the last year and a half. Portugal and Switzerland have run roughshod over the rest of this group and have the maximum eight wins against the other teams in the home-and-home series. The Swiss were able to beat the Portuguese when these two teams met 368 days ago. Now, Portugal will have to win the rematch on Tuesday if it wants to avoid falling into the home-and-home playoff for Europe's last spots to the world's biggest soccer tournament....