General info:

Host country - Brazil
Dates - 12 June – 13 July
Teams - 32 (from 5 confederations)
Venue(s) - 12 (in 12 host cities)

Group stage:

Group A - Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
Group B - Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
Group C - Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast(Côte d'Ivoire), Japan
Group D - Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
Group E - Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
Group F - Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria
Group G - Germany, Portugal, Ghana, United States
Group H - Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea

The first round, or group stage, will see the thirty-two teams divided into eight groups of four teams. Each group will compete in a round-robin of six games, where each team will play one match against each of the other teams in the same group. Teams will be awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and none for a defeat. The teams finishing first and second in each group will progress to the Round of 16.

Since it's a very big feast in the world of real life soccer, I'd like to start a topic for discussion. :) The draw for group stage is now available, and the tournament is approaching really close!

What is your favorite team? Which country will you root for? Who do you think would be the winner/runner-up?

1- Spain
2- Brazil
3- Argentina

I want to see underdogs :D

Also what will Belgium do

Hot favourites would be:

Spain,Brazil,Argentina,Germany

As underdogs who could suprise i see Uruguay,Croatia,Ivory Coast and maybe Bosnia and Herzegovina

There are plenty of teams who are very very strong but not considered top favurites,also couldn't say they are underdogs either such as England,Portugal,Holland etc etc

It will be an interesting tournament for sure

Germany or Brasil wil win!

England, Nigeria, Belgium...

I am confident France will come 3rd place after losing their semi-final match. Notable underdogs are: Belgium. France, Uruguay, and Ghana. England will not make it out of the group stage. Holland are also strong contenders and will look for redemption against Spain.

1- Spain
2- Brazil
3- Germany

Other teams have a chance, but these favorites.

as a surprise :

1- France
2- Portugal
3- Uruguay

I don't know why someone call Uruguay an underdogs. They finished 4th in the last WC and 4th in Confederations cup. By FIFA ranking they are 6th and playing in South America gives them even more chance.

Group stage (my opinion):
Group A - Croatia, Brazil
Group B - Spain, Netherlands
Group C - Colombia, Greece or Ivory Coast
Group D - Uruguay, Italy
Group E - Switzerland, France
Group F - Argentina, Nigeria
Group G - Germany, Portugal or Ghana
Group H - Belgium, Russia,

I don't see Brazil in semifinal. Sorry, but to me there are far more better teams. I don't even belive that they'll beat Croatia in opening. They are better than us, but the pressure will take them down. In my book this will be 1-1 or 0-1.

@EroSt

Teacher to come out of Croatia in the group as a powerful tool in mexico :)

I think that more chance have Camerun vs us then Mexico. If you take a look in their squad they are not very strong, at least I think so...

And hope so :)

Croatia's chances a bit high. But Mexico vs Croatia match will be very competitive :)

Brasil is gonna win!
I couldn't get tickets, but I will celebrate outside the stadium! hhaahh
And poor Eros... thinks that Brasil is not gonna beat Croatia :P

@gandula

Brazil in this tournament so strong, but I would not like to chance :)