It's time for the Group C preview, featuring Columbia!
COLUMBIA
Manager: Jose Pekerman
Team Overview: It's Columbia's first World Cup finals appearance in 16 years, and their fans could not be more proud. However, it wouldn't be a true World Cup without drama, and an injury to star striker Radamel Falcao will be just that.
X-Factor: Leadership. With Falcao questionable, it'll be up to somebody else to step up and take charge. There are several players who could lead on this team, including attacking midfielders Juan Cuadrado and James Rodriguez. Whether or not one of these players or possibly somebody else steps up will be key for the Columbians.
Where they'll finish: Lukily for Columbia, they drew a pretty easy group. If Falcao can play, this team could be a surprise quarter or semi finalist. If not, they still should be able to get out of this group. Anything else is nothing short of a disappointment.
GREECE
Manager: Fernando Santos
Team Overview: Fernando Santos will be stepping down after Brasil, so it will be interesting to see how his team responds. Greece has been a solid defensive, well coached team, and that shouldn't change. Greece has veteran leadership, but no real star player.
X-Factor: Goal scoring. I haven't really seen any evidence this team can score goals, and that will be a problem. They performed well in Euro 2012, but that was against the European teams. They don't have a single European team in their group, so they'll be facing radically different styles. If they can't adjust, then they don't have a chance.
Where they'll finish: If Santos can get his team to adjust and be a bit more fluid, then that'll definitely help Greece out. Getting out of the group stage will be tough as they play against a solid Ivory Coast team and a hungry Japanese team.
COTE D'IVORIE
Manager: Sabri Lamouchi
Team Overview: Cote d'Ivorie, or Ivory Coast, have a young manager in Sabri Lamouchi, and older leaders like Didier Drogba. This team has a lot of young talent and leadership, and are a real wild card in Brasil. Simply put, Ivory Coast can make a difference in how this group, and World Cup as a whole, can play out.
X-Factor: The football god, Didier Drogba. What condition the striker will be in in Brasil will help or hurt Ivory Coast's chances. When Drogba is on his game, I haven't seen an international player that could beat. But at 35, his time is basically up.Will that be a motivation or a setback?
Where they'll finish: I believe that this team has the potential to not just get out of the group, but finish top. With Columbia missing Falcao, Drogba will get the opportunity that he lead his team this one last time before he hangs up the boots.
JAPAN
Manager: Alberto Zaccheroni
Team Overview: Despite the attacking power this team possesses, I feel like Japan and Greece will end up battling to avoid the wooden spoon at the bottom of this group. Yes, I know they have a ton of potential, and the ability to score lots of goals, but I don't believe they're ready to take the next step yet.
X-Factor: Just like Columbia, this team has a lack of leadership potential. Keisuke Honda may be the closest to a leader this team has other than Zaccheroni on the sidelines. Other than that, this is a team with a lot of young players with little to no international experience.
Where they'll finish: Potential ability is the best way to describe this team. For them to be able to get out of this group, they're going to need a lot of luck, or else they can just wait four more years, when their younger players have gained some much-needed experience.
LIKELY TO ADVANCE: Columbia, Cote d'Ivorie
COLUMBIA
Manager: Jose Pekerman
Team Overview: It's Columbia's first World Cup finals appearance in 16 years, and their fans could not be more proud. However, it wouldn't be a true World Cup without drama, and an injury to star striker Radamel Falcao will be just that.
X-Factor: Leadership. With Falcao questionable, it'll be up to somebody else to step up and take charge. There are several players who could lead on this team, including attacking midfielders Juan Cuadrado and James Rodriguez. Whether or not one of these players or possibly somebody else steps up will be key for the Columbians.
Where they'll finish: Lukily for Columbia, they drew a pretty easy group. If Falcao can play, this team could be a surprise quarter or semi finalist. If not, they still should be able to get out of this group. Anything else is nothing short of a disappointment.
GREECE
Manager: Fernando Santos
Team Overview: Fernando Santos will be stepping down after Brasil, so it will be interesting to see how his team responds. Greece has been a solid defensive, well coached team, and that shouldn't change. Greece has veteran leadership, but no real star player.
X-Factor: Goal scoring. I haven't really seen any evidence this team can score goals, and that will be a problem. They performed well in Euro 2012, but that was against the European teams. They don't have a single European team in their group, so they'll be facing radically different styles. If they can't adjust, then they don't have a chance.
Where they'll finish: If Santos can get his team to adjust and be a bit more fluid, then that'll definitely help Greece out. Getting out of the group stage will be tough as they play against a solid Ivory Coast team and a hungry Japanese team.
COTE D'IVORIE
Manager: Sabri Lamouchi
Team Overview: Cote d'Ivorie, or Ivory Coast, have a young manager in Sabri Lamouchi, and older leaders like Didier Drogba. This team has a lot of young talent and leadership, and are a real wild card in Brasil. Simply put, Ivory Coast can make a difference in how this group, and World Cup as a whole, can play out.
X-Factor: The football god, Didier Drogba. What condition the striker will be in in Brasil will help or hurt Ivory Coast's chances. When Drogba is on his game, I haven't seen an international player that could beat. But at 35, his time is basically up.Will that be a motivation or a setback?
Where they'll finish: I believe that this team has the potential to not just get out of the group, but finish top. With Columbia missing Falcao, Drogba will get the opportunity that he lead his team this one last time before he hangs up the boots.
JAPAN
Manager: Alberto Zaccheroni
Team Overview: Despite the attacking power this team possesses, I feel like Japan and Greece will end up battling to avoid the wooden spoon at the bottom of this group. Yes, I know they have a ton of potential, and the ability to score lots of goals, but I don't believe they're ready to take the next step yet.
X-Factor: Just like Columbia, this team has a lack of leadership potential. Keisuke Honda may be the closest to a leader this team has other than Zaccheroni on the sidelines. Other than that, this is a team with a lot of young players with little to no international experience.
Where they'll finish: Potential ability is the best way to describe this team. For them to be able to get out of this group, they're going to need a lot of luck, or else they can just wait four more years, when their younger players have gained some much-needed experience.
LIKELY TO ADVANCE: Columbia, Cote d'Ivorie
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