Top 5 World Cup Games To Watch This Week

Four years ago Spain won its first World Cup. Who is set for glory in 2014?

After four years of waiting, the 2014 FIFA World Cup finally arrives today.

Hundreds of millions of people around the globe are expected to tune in for the tournament which, over the next 32 days, will decide which nation earns the right to the title of world’s best for the next four years.

In preparation for the big event, BettingSports.com has cast its discerning eye over the schedule through the first week of action, picking out the five games you’ll want to tune in for.

If you’re new to the game, this quick piece from FayObserver.com sums everything up nicely.

If you’re wondering which players will be taking to the field, The Guardian has comprehensive squad lists for all 32 teams taking part in the 2014 World Cup.

Or if you just want to impress your friends with your knowledge, read our 50 Facts About the FIFA World Cup.

Now, here are the top five World Cup games coming to your TV screens this week, starting with Thursday’s tournament opener.

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5-time World Cup winners, Brazil is the favorite to emerge as champions.

Brazil vs. Croatia

Thursday, June 12, 5:00 p.m. ET (Arena de São Paulo, São Paulo)

Following what is bound to be the most colorful opening ceremony in World Cup history, the real action will begin with the host nation taking on Eastern European side Croatia.

Brazil begins the tournament as the 3/1 favorite to lift the cup on July 13. With the likes of Neymar, Thiago Silva, Dani Alves, Hulk and the Chelsea quartet of Ramires, Willian, David Luiz and Oscar featuring in the squad, Brazil is star-studded and will be looking for a statement win early on.

Croatia – a 150/1 long shot to win the tournament – won’t be expected to get much out of this fixture or the tournament as a whole, but the side showed just how resilient it can be when it unpredictably finished third in the 1998 tournament. Don’t expect Croatia to roll over, and don’t expect Brazil to take the Croatians too lightly.

FACT : No host nation has ever lost its opening fixture. 14 hosts have picked up the win, while six have finished with a draw.

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Spain vs. Netherlands

Friday, June 13, 3:00 p.m. ET (Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador)

In what will be just the third game of the tournament, the scheduling powers that be have given us a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final, as Spain and the Netherlands meet in Salvador.

The Spanish side earned a 1-0 extra time win four years ago to take home a first ever World Cup. Three times beaten finalists, the Dutch would give anything to lift the trophy themselves.

The two European sides will be favored to advance past the preliminary group stages, but with Chile also featured in Group B, they’ll each want to get maximum points from this game just to be certain.

FACT : This will be just the fourth time in history that the two finalists from the previous World Cup have met in the subsequent tournament, and the first time since Argentina and West Germany contested back-to-back finals in 1986 and 1990.

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Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is making a record-tying fifth trip to the World Cup.

England vs. Italy

Saturday, June 14, 6:00 p.m. ET (Arena Amazônia, Manaus)

Two sides that have tasted World Cup glory meet in Manaus on Saturday as four-time champions square off against the 1966 champions England.

Italy, a team that has played in the final six times, brings a talent-rich squad to South America, and will expect to go far in the competition. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will become just the third player in history to make five visits to the World Cup tournament.

England arrives with a young squad that’s mostly untested at this level. Stalwarts like Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney – if a 28-year-old can be considered a stalwart – have all been here before, and know the bitter taste of defeat all too well.

Both England and Italy have been assigned 22/1 odds to win the World Cup, although Italy initially looks the better of the two sides. With Uruguay also featuring in Group D, this very much looks like the toughest group to get out of, which makes picking up points in this one crucial.

FACT : England and Italy have met just once in the World Cup, with Italy earning a 2-1 victory in the third-place playoff in 1990.

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Germany vs. Portugal

Monday, June 16, 12:00 p.m. ET (Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador)

No team has performed as consistently well at the World Cup as Germany. Three-time champions, six-time finalists, 12-time semifinalists, and 16-time quarterfinalists, the German side is the benchmark for dependability and, with a roster loaded with talent, looks to be in for another deep run this year.

The side’s opening matchup with Portugal represents its toughest of the preliminary group stage. Portugal, currently at No. 4 in the FIFA World Rankings, has had better teams play in the World Cup, but still has the talent – and temperament – to succeed in Brazil. Much of the team’s success could hinge on the performances of Cristiano Ronaldo, the reigning World Player of the Year. Ronaldo – who has scored 177 goals in 165 games for Real Madrid since 2009 – has missed much of the build-up to the tournament with a knee injury, but is expected to play against Germany on Monday.

FACT : Portugal’s best World Cup finish came in 1966 when world-renowned forward Eusébio led the side to a third-place finish.

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Clint Dempsey and the United States will look to upset the oddsmakers.

Ghana vs. United States

Monday, June 16, 6:00 p.m. ET (Arena das Dunas, Natal)

Four years ago in South Africa, the United States unexpectedly topped its group to advance to the Round of 16, where the team came up on the wrong end of a 2-1 extra time score line. The opponent that day? Ghana.

Jürgen Klinsmann’s arrival in 2011 brought with it success as the Americans topped their qualifying group and booked a trip to Brazil. Now the side will look to avenge that loss and begin what it hopes to be a long stay in South America.

That long stay might be a pipe dream though. With Germany and Portugal also featuring in Group G, the United States faces a very tough assignment, with Ghana representing the easiest matchup, a matchup that is by no means easy. Clint Dempsey and Co. will in all likelihood need to win all three points in this one if they’re to realistically have a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Ghana meanwhile will enjoy an underdog role for as long as it’s in the tournament. Over the last 25 years or so, African teams have gone on to delight World Cup audiences. Cameroon did it in 1990; Nigeria in 1998; Senegal in 2002; and Ghana in both 2006 and 2010. We could be seeing more of the same here. With many of its team playing professionally in Europe’s top leagues, this is a team that will be tough to beat, despite only ranking 23rd in the bookmakers’ eyes.

FACT : Since returning to the World Cup mix in 1990, the United States has won just one of its opening matches, a stunning 3-2 defeat of Portugal in 2002. The side has drawn two and lost three during the six-game span.

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