Ladies and Gentlemen, start your printing presses. Now that the World Cup draw is complete, millions of words will be typed in previewing the tournament and thousands of publications will print previews. These are always enjoyable to read but can easily sway your opinion one way or the other. It really is amazing what can happen over time, how a team can go from nobodies to contenders just by certain people talking up their chances. With that in mind, it is important to remember how you feel about these teams today. Things will change, players will get hurt and their form will change, for better or worse, so now is not the time to marry yourself to your picks but it is a very good idea to stick to the majority of what you think today. With that in mind, here are my picks from each group to progress, with a few other predicitions thrown in there too. GROUP A – Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon Initial thoughts on the draw – Brazil will have wanted this kind of group where they can (and will) win it but be challenged and, in Mexico and Croatia, they have teams that will not be cannon fodder. The problem for Brazil is how tough group B is and thats who they will be paired with in the last 16. Most anticipated game – Brazil vs Croatia: Opening game of the World Cup. Pressure is incredible on a host starting a tournament (I am surprised so many hosts want to start the tournament off) but in Croatia, they have an opponent who they can beat. Group Winner – Brazil Runner-up – Mexico GROUP B – Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia Initial thoughts on the draw – I am not a fan of the term Group of Death but if you are looking for the strongest group, this is it – by a mile! Chile were the team no seeded team wanted to face and Spain, much like four years ago, get them again. Throw in the Dutch and you have an absolutely fantastic group. Spain are a wonderful side but their style of winning tight, narrow games could come back and cost them in this very competitive group. Most anticipated game – Spain vs Netherlands: it is the first match and anyone who loses with Chile still to play will be in massive trouble. Spain cannot afford to start slow again and the road back from an opening game loss is even tougher in 2014 than it was in 2010 with Chile playing in South America. Group Winner – Chile Runner-up - Netherlands GROUP C – Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan Initial thoughts on the draw – On paper, this does not look like a group to get excited about but we should see some wonderful football on display in this group, featuring three teams who can be expansive and easy on the eye (sorry Greece). For Colombia, this is a dream group to help them build confidence as they move towards the knock-out rounds. Most Anticipated Game – Ivory Coast vs Greece: The Africans have been harshly treated in each of the last two World Cup draws but now they have a real shot at qualifying. Their final group, up against Greece, will be a stern test to see if they can climb a hurdle theyve never jumped before. Group Winner - Colombia Runner-up - Ivory Coast GROUP D - Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy Initial thoughts on the draw – You will read in the next few months how Uruguay are old and past their prime, finished fifth out of nine in qualifying and can be beaten but this team is built for tournaments like this and they get to play Costa Rica first. England, however, play Costa Rica (which is not an easy game for them either) last and could be out of the tournament by then. Italy need a group where they can be tested early (like 2006, not 2010) and although this is a tough one for them, they are more than good enough to win it. Most anticipated game – England vs Italy in Manaus: The latest kick off in the tournament will help, but the weather will be hot in the Amazon region. Hopefully, it wont be a tense 0-0 with so much to come afterwards but dont bet against it! Group Winner – Italy Runner-up - Uruguay GROUP E – Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras Initial thoughts on the draw – France have been dealt a hand they wanted. Questions around their mental state are warranted but these three games, against teams they can beat, will go along way to helping restore the confidence they need to show their talents. Honduras, ironically, gets the E4 slot that a European team so wanted for climate purposes. Seeds Switzerland get a chance to show why they deserved their ranking. Most anticipated game – Switzerland vs Ecuador: The first match of the group is a true match of confederations that will likely help one team advance over the other. Group Winner – France Runner-up - Ecuador GROUP F – Argentina, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria Initial thoughts on the draw – Lost on all the debates of what the group of Death is, is the fact that Argentina were handed a fantastic path towards the final stages. Not only were they given an easy group they should win, they were paired with second in E for the last 16 and winner of H or second in G for the last 8. They also went on to the opposite half of the draw than the winner of group A, likely arch-rivals Brazil. Most anticipated game – Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Nigeria: Another game of contrasting styles that is likely to be a playoff to make the last 16. Group Winner – Argentina Runner-up - Nigeria GROUP G – Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA Initial thoughts on the draw – Klinsmann vs Germany; Ronaldo vs Ozil, so many storylines in this group but lost in it all will be how Africas strongest nation got a very difficult draw once again (much like Ivory Coast in 2006 and 2010). For the Americans, it is a nightmare draw, placed in G4, forced to play all three games in the heat of northern Brazil, and against three very good nations. Most anticipated game – Germany vs Portugal: Forget the Klinsmann Derby, another opportunity to see Cristiano Ronaldo against the Germans (like in Euro 2012) will be magnificent. Group Winner – Germany Runner-up - Portugal GROUP H – Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic Initial thoughts on the draw – Absolutely perfect for Belgium. Handed H1, they avoid any games in the tropical north and get three opponents that they will be comfortable with. Russia, against Algeria and Korea Republic, will also be happy but dont rule them out for failing to deliver on the biggest stage once again. Most anticipated game – Belgium vs Algeria: Marc Wilmots side are going to get a lot of love between now and the first game. They were already many peoples sleeper pick and that will intensify with this draw and the game against Algeria finally gives the world a chance to see what Belgium do on the big stage. Group Winner – Belgium Runner-up – Korea Republic Chris Owusu Womens Jersey . The French team swept the podium in the event. The Canadian Olympic Committee, along with the Slovenian Olympic Committee, are alleging that French team staffers changed the shaping of the athletes ski pants for better aerodynamics. Jets Jersey . Konradsens 77th-minute header off Morten Gamst Pedersens cross cancelled out Oleg Shatovs opener for Russia in the third minute. Russia could have scored more if not for Norway defender Vegard Forren, who twice cleared off the line with goalkeeper Rune Jarstein beaten. http://www.footballjetsjerseygears.com/authentic-calvin-pryor-jets-jersey/. The Toronto slugger stole second base without a throw with two outs in the ninth inning and scored when Dioner Navarro hit a go-ahead single, lifting the Blue Jays over the New York Yankees 5-4 Sunday for their first series win in the Bronx in nearly two years. Brian Winters Womens Jersey . Bartoli needed only 50 minutes to beat Jarmila Gajdosova, finishing off the match with her 12th ace. "Im sorry I beat her that way but I was just focusing on my own game and not looking at the scoreboard," Bartoli said. Buster Skrine Womens Jersey .Now a 1,000-yard rusher with the Ravens, Forsett knows it would be foolish for Baltimore to take its downtrodden opponent lightly Sunday.SALT LAKE CITY - Gordon Hayward knows the Utah Jazz have their best chance to win when they play together and share the ball. Victories havent come easy for the Jazz during this rebuilding season. "We realize were not there yet individually, where we can just play for ourselves and still win. We need to play as a team," Hayward said. Alec Burks and Hayward each scored 21 points and the Jazz held off the New Orleans Pelicans 100-96 on Friday night to snap a five-game skid. The Jazz had 22 assists on their 33 baskets and several other unselfish passes led to 35 attempts from the free throw line. Burks had 12 of his points in the fourth quarter and Hayward added eight final-period points. The Jazz needed all of it to overcome the reeling Pelicans, who played without Anthony Davis down the stretch due to back spasms. "Alec attacks the rim and hes got to be one of the best in the league at driving to the basket," Hayward said. "He finishes so well that he scores or gets fouls almost every time." Two exceptions occurred in the waning moments — swarming Pelicans forced Burks to travel and then Greg Stiemsma blocked Burks layup. Anthony Morrow, who had a game-high 26 points, hit a 3-pointer to draw New Orleans within 95-93. Hayward made one of two free throws and the Pelicans drew a play that produced a wide-open shot for Darius Miller that rimmed out. "Thats exactly what we wanted. We had Tyreke (Evans) with the ball looking to find a shooter and he found Darius. It was the best look we could ask for, and it just didnt go in," Brian Roberts said. Roberts made another 3 with 1.7 seconds remaining, but Hayward and Burks each made two more free throws to clinch the victory for the Jazz. Burks made all 13 of his free throw attempts. Derrick Favours had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Jazz. He thrived without Davis playing at full strength. "There was more room in the post," Favors said. "We had people move around instead of standing still, so it was a big help." Roberts had 18 points while Davis finished with eight points and six rebounds in 23 minutes as the Pelicans dropped their fourth straight following a five-game win streak. The game waas tight throughout, but the Jazz extended their lead to double digits near the end of the third when Hayward hit a 3 and followed with another jumper to make it 73-63.dddddddddddd But the Pelicans responded despite playing an unusual lineup that was sitting at the end of the bench earlier this season before the team was decimated with injuries. Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson, Jrue Holiday and Jason Smith — a group that averages nearly 60 points a game combined — all are sidelined. New Orleans turned to Morrow, who trimmed the Jazz advantage to 82-79 on a jumper in the lane with 7:16 to play. Morrow also had a dozen points in the fourth quarter on 5-for-5 shooting to give the Pelicans a chance. The guard has scored at least 17 points in five of his past six games. The Jazz again built the lead to 10 points when Hayward made a pair of free throws. The Pelicans then made their last-gasp comeback that fell just short. On one play in the third quarter, Davis blocked Favours shot and then saved the ball from going out of bounds. But as the two big men pursued the ball, Davis was sandwiched between Favours and the fans courtside. Davis gingerly ran back on offence and soon after left the court to be evaluated. The training staff confirmed Davis had back spasms but he returned to play in the fourth quarter, but wasnt on the court when the Pelicans made their final push. "He wanted to play and I just said no. Were not in the playoffs. Every game for me is a championship game, but Ive got to be smart," Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. Davis played only 11 minutes against the Nuggets and his absence was felt as the Pelicans allowed season highs in points (137) and field goal shooting (56.5). After three days rest at home, the Jazz also took advantage with 51.6 per cent shooting. "We talked about being able to finish games and we still have the energy to compete. Its been a long year for these guys and weve been through a lot," Utah coach Ty Corbin said. Notes: Stiemsma got a technical foul for arguing with the officials midway through the third period. ... The Pelicans have lost 12 of 15 on the road. ... After a long slump, Hayward is averaging 21 points a game in his past six. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '
