Spain proven as team to beat in Brazil

June 12 marks an exciting day for soccer fanatics and more casual sports fans alike: Beginning that day, the top footballers in the world play for the pride of their nation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup championship, held in Brazil.

The monthlong tournament features the top 32 national men’s teams in the world. Teams are broken up into eight four-team groups (labeled groups A-H). Teams will play each team in their respective group, in round-robin fashion, with the top two teams (based on results and goal differential) moving on to the next round (round of 16). All of the remaining games are single-elimination.

Groups A and B are highlighted by my World Cup favorites: host Brazil and the 2010 World Cup champions, Spain.

Group G will be the group to watch here, as the United States battles Ghana, Portugal, and Germany for a spot in the second round.

The U.S. will look for revenge against Ghana, who knocked them out of the last World Cup in the Round of 16. Portugal will be an interesting match-up for the Americans; they are a hot-and-cold team, but whenever superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is lacing up for a club, anything can happen. Germany will be the toughest match-up for the U.S. in Group G.

Team USA kicks off against Ghana on June 16, with the games against Portugal and Germany coming on the 22nd and 26th.

I see the improved U.S. team getting passed both Ghana and Portugal. The game against Germany will really show what Team USA is capable of in the World Cup. With wins over Ghana and Portugal, the U.S. could advance to the next round even without a win against Germany.

If the Americans are runner-up in Group G, they would play the winner of Group H (Russia, South Korea, Algeria, or Belgium) – all teams that they can beat.

It’s the quarterfinal round that worries me. If the games go as I envision, Team USA would have to face off against Lionel Messi and Argentina. Beating Argentina might be too big of a task, which has me pegging a quarterfinal exit for the American side.

I’m standing firm on the belief that Brazil or Spain takes the World Cup trophy, in the final to be played in Rio de Janeiro on July 13.

Brazil, led by star forward Neymar and a strong defensive unit, had the upper hand over Spain in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, winning 3-0. Spain will look to avenge the Confederations Cup loss with its intriguing style of ball-control play, known as “Tiki-Taka.” This style of play means possession over anything. Short passing and patience is the key when it comes to “Tiki-Taka.”

Of the two, I think Spain has the best chance at winning the World Cup. Spain’s skill individually and as a unit makes them the team to beat.