FOOTY FAIR

Preview of All 2015 Copa America Participants

2015-06-11T16:00:00.000-04:00

12 teams, including 2 invitees Mexico and Jamaica will participate in the 2015 Copa America which kicks-off tonight in Chile. Before you dive in and watch one of the greatest football tournaments in the world, here is a quick breakdown of all the participating nations.

Group A:

Chile (Hosts)

FIFA Rank: 19th
Manager: Jorge Sampaoli (Arg)
Youngest Player: Ángelo Henríquez - Manchester United (21 yrs old)
Oldest Player: David Pizarro - Fiorentina (35 yrs old)
Predominant Club Representation: Juventus, Colo-Colo & Univeridad de Chile (2 players each)
Best Copa America Result: Runner-Up (1955, 1956, 1979, 1987)

Hosts Chile are quite confident that they can go on a run which will bring them their first ever Copa America title. The "golden generation" has been quite successful for the Chileans and on home soil there is a good chance the hosts can succeed with the likes of stars Arturo Vidal, Alexi Sanchez and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

Mexico

FIFA Rank: 23rd
Manager: Miguel Herrera
Youngest Player: Carlos Salcedo - CD Guadalajara (21 yrs old)
Oldest Player: Rafael Márquez - Verona (36 yrs old)
Predominant Club Representation: Cruz Azul (3 players)
Best Copa America Result: (8 appearances) Runner-Up (1993, 2001)

Invitees Mexico will be making their ninth Copa America appearance, although this year the team elected to bring an experimental squad to South America as the rest of the team is in preparation for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup. Without their star players Mexico will likely be no match for the Chileans, but could potentially make it out of the group in 2nd or one of the two 3rd placed teams.

Ecuador

FIFA Rank: 31st
Manager: Gustavo Quinteros (Bol)
Youngest Player: Mario Pineida - Independiente del Valle (22 yrs old)
Oldest Player: Walter Ayoví - Pachuca (35 yrs old)
Predominant Club Representation: Club Sport Emelec (7 players)
Best Copa America Result: 4th place (1959, 1993)

Missing Michael Arroyo and Antonio Valencia due to injuries will be a big blow for the Ecuadorians. Having never placed better than 4th place in the tournament it is unlikely they could do better this year. That said, the inconsistency of the Mexican and Bolivian squads could at least help Ecuador to reach the next round if EPL based players such as West Ham's Enner Valencia and Swansea's Jefferson Montero can put together a few good performances.

Bolivia

FIFA Rank: 92nd
Manager: Mauricio Soria
Youngest Player: Sebastián Gamarra - AC Milan (18 yrs old)
Oldest Player: Pablo Escobar - The Strongest (36 yrs old)
Predominant Club Representation: Club Bolívar (5 players)
Best Copa America Result: Champions (1963)

By far the least favorite squad to come out of group A, Bolivia enjoyed one win in this tournament back in 1963. Since then however, the team hasn't done well in most capacities. This year should be no different to recent tournament results as the squad is made up of mostly domestic league players from the Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano. That said, there is one name that is worth watching on the squad (if he gets any playing time) and that is 18 year old Sebastián Gamarra who had recently signed his first senior contract, that with Italian giants AC Milan.

Group B:

Argentina

FIFA Rank: 3rd
Manager: Gerardo Martino
Youngest Player: Érik Lamela - Tottenham (23 yrs old)
Oldest Player: Martín Demichelis - Manchester City (34 yrs old)
Predominant Club Representation: Manchester City (3 players)
Best Copa America Result: Champions (14 times, most recently in 1993)

For many Argentina represents the favorites to win the whole thing. Obviously with the likes of Messi, Aguero, Di Maria, Tevez and others their chances are indeed pretty good. But while to some this may seem as the easiest group, Uruguay will not be a walk in the park for the Argentines, even without star striker Luis Suarez. Nonetheless, Argentina should qualify for the next round with certain ease if everything goes to plan.

Uruguay (Defending Champions)

FIFA Rank: 8th
Manager: Óscar Tabárez
Youngest Player: José Giménez - Atlético de Madrid (20 yrs old)
Oldest Player: Egidio Arévalo Ríos - UANL (33 yrs old)
Predominant Club Representation: Atlético de Madrid (3 players)
Best Copa America Result: Champions (15 times, most recently 2011)

Everyone is wondering how Uruguay will cope without star forward Luis Suarez who will miss the tournament as a result of his suspension for biting at the FIFA World Cup last summer. But Uruguay are stars in this particular tournament having won it with far less superior rosters a record 15 previous times. Hull City's Abel Hernandez will get a bigger opportunity than usual with Suarez's absence, a chance the 24 year old will have to take with everything he's got.

Paraguay

FIFA Rank: 81st
Manager: Ramón Díaz (Arg)
Youngest Player: Derlis González - FC Basel (21 yrs old)
Oldest Player: Justo Villar - Colo-Colo (37 yrs old)
Predominant Club Representation: Toluca (3 players)
Best Copa America Result: Champions (1953, 1979)

Paraguay hasn't won the tournament since 1973 and it sure does not look like they would be able to contend for this year's trophy either. With an ageing squad and not much star power the Paraguayan's will have to depend on precise teamwork and of course as they always do great defending. Unless they are able to put together a few surprises the likeliest scenario for Ramon Diaz's side is one of the two best 3rd place spots.

Jamaica

FIFA Rank: 65th
Manager: Winfried Schäfer (Ger)
Youngest Player: Allan Ottey - Montego Bay United (22 yrs old)
Oldest Player: Jobi McAnuff - Leyton Orient (33 yrs old)
Predominant Club Representation: Montego Bay United, Houston Dynamo & Reading (2 players each)
Best Copa America Result: First appearance

First time participants and invitees Jamaica look like an odd team competing in this tournament. Chances for the Reggae Boys to impress are limited by the simple fact that they are competing with Argentina and Uruguay in the same group. Even facing Paraguay could be prove a difficult task for the Jamaicans, who at this point are probably just "happy to be there".

Group C:

Brazil

FIFA Rank: 5th
Manager: Dunga
Youngest Player: Marquinhos - Paris Saint-Germain (21 yrs old)
Oldest Player: Dani Alves - FC Barcelona (32 yrs old)
Predominant Club Representation: Paris Saint-Germain (3 players)
Best Copa America Result: Champions (8 times, most recently in 2007)

This is Brazil's first real opportunity to regain any sort of dignity after the horrific scenes of their last two matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup which they hosted. Head coach Dunga elected to bring a star-studded roster to Chile, something Brazil hasn't always done in previous Copa America tournaments. With Colombia being their only big challenge in the group stage we should definitely see Brazil in the next round and very likely competing for the very trophy in the final match.

Colombia

FIFA Rank: 4th
Manager: José Pékerman (Arg)
Youngest Player: Cristian Bonilla - La Equidad (22 yrs old)
Oldest Player: Edwin Valencia - Santos (30 yrs old)
Predominant Club Representation: Monterrey (2 players)
Best Copa America Result: Champions (2001)

After missing the 2014 World Cup and then having a miserable season at Manchester United it is now Radamel Falcao's time to shine. Together with Real Madrid youngster James Rodriguez and wing-man Juan Cuadrado the Colombians are looking very good and are in a good position to challenge for just their 2nd Copa America title.

Peru

FIFA Rank: 63rd
Manager: Ricardo Gareca (Arg)
Youngest Player: Yordy Reyna - Leipzig (21 yrs old)
Oldest Player: Claudio Pizarro - Bayern Munich (36 yrs old)
Predominant Club Representation: Juan Aurich, Sporting Cristal & Universidad César Vallejo (3 players each)
Best Copa America Result: Champions (1939, 1975)

With Brazil and Colombia in the group Peru will likely look forward to their match-up with Venezuela to try to snatch a best of three 3rd place spot. Otherwise, the squad does not seem to posses any sort of firepower than may propel them past the group stages.

Venezuela

FIFA Rank: 69th
Manager: Noel Sanvicente
Youngest Player: Wuilker Faríñez - Caracas FC (17 yrs old)
Oldest Player: Juan Arango - Tijuana (35 yrs old)
Predominant Club Representation: Montego Bay United, Houston Dynamo & Reading (2 players each)
Best Copa America Result: First appearance

Unlike Peru, Venezuela seems to have come a long way in their football development and although results haven't been exactly stellar La Vinotinto seems to have a special spark about them in the last few years. Zenit St. Petersburgh striker Salomón Rondón and Genoa midfielder Tomás Rincón would have to produce a few magical performances if the team was to advance to the next round, nonetheless, a gut feeling is telling me that Venezuela will be ahead of Peru and potentially past the group stages as a best of three 3rd place team.

5 Matches to Watch this Weekend

2014-12-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

With some Champions League and Europa League matches behind us we look forward to the weekend which brings us some very juicy matches from England, Portugal and Italy. Here are the 5 we will be keeping a close eye on.

Arsenal vs. Newcastle United (England - Saturday)

If last weekend's Newcastle versus Chelsea match was any indication, another meeting for The Magpies with a London club should be a cracker. Newcastle is facing an injury crisis with many of their regulars including two goalkeepers out due to various knocks and some due to suspension. Nonetheless, the club from the North East managed to hand Chelsea their first loss of the season last weekend and will look to recreate what Stoke City did to The Gunners last week, as Arsenal went 3-2 down to The Potters. Nonetheless, Arsenal is favorite to win and the fixture should produce an excellent match-up for the neutral viewer.

Juventus vs. Sampdoria (Italy - Sunday)

Juventus now find themselves 3 points at the summit of Serie A but the challang this weekend comes in the form of 4th placed Sampdoria who has had a very good start to the season so far. Sitting 10 points behind the league leaders Sampdoria will surely look to this match to cut the lead to 7. Juve has lost just once this season in 14 matches, so Sampdoria's task won't be easy.

Genoa vs. Roma (Italy - Sunday)

Another enticing fixture in Serie A comes via a meeting between 2nd placed Roma travelling to surprise 3rd place Genoa. The Griffins are sitting just 6 points behind the club from the capital with a great start to the year thanks in large to the performances of goalkeeper Mattia Perin and on loan AC Milan forward Alessandro Matri. Roma on the other hand are having a great season themselves, sitting just 3 points back of league leaders Juventus Having suffered just two losses all year, a feat shared with this weekend's rivals Genoa.

FC Porto vs. Benfica (Portugal - Sunday)

It's that time again; the biggest derby in Portugal is set to take place this Sunday and as the case is during many of their meetings the two clubs are occupying the first two places in the league. League leaders SL Benfica are three points ahead of Porto, but unlike the hosts have lost once this year. Porto on the other hand are still holding on to an undefeated record this season and will look to go even with the leaders this weekend.

Manchester United vs. Liverpool (England - Sunday)

It doesn't really matter what place the two are in; hell, it wouldn't even matter if the two clubs were playing in -non-league football. Meetings between Manchester United and Liverpool are always something to look forward to. After a slow start to the year Manchester United are well on their way into a nice winning run, while Liverpool has been struggling since the get go. Brendan Rodgers will surely look to this rivalry meeting to change his side's season around, while van Gaal will not be content with anything but a victory on home ground.

5 Matches to Watch This Weekend

2014-12-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

This weekend we will be watching an assortment of matches, and unlike on most occasions this time around some of our recommendations come from "parts less known"; a great weekend to follow fixtures you wouldn't usually.

Orlando Pirates vs. Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa - Soweto Derby - Saturday)

The Soweto Derby is one of the most highly contested rivalries in Africa and the two clubs absolutely can't stand each other. That and the fact the the Kaizer Chiefs are currently having a great season sitting in first place in the league makes this match an intriguing one to watch.

Braga vs. Vitoria de Guimaraes (Portugal - Minho Derby - Sunday)

When it comes to Portuguese football it's almost always about the big three clubs in Benfica, Porto and Sporting. But this weekend we will be shifting our attention to a much less likely fourth versus second place match-up, when Braga take on Vitoria de Guimaraes. Guimaraes is having an incredible start to their campaign having lost just once in the first eleven matches. Braga is not too far behind having accumulated 5 less points than their weekend opposition. Did we mention that it's also a derby? That's right, the rivalry beween the two clubs is known as the Minho Derby in Portugal.

Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen (Germany - Saturday)

Bayern Munich will likely have one of those seasons where they run away with the title with no other contender in sight. Nonetheless, visitors Leverkusen are in third place and although they don't pose a huge threat we all know that anything is possible in football. Plus, you should be watching Bayern play every week, for their spectacular football and to see who will be the first club to defeat them this year.

Barcelona vs. Espanyol (Spain - Derbi Barceloní - Sunday)

It's crazy how many football fans are unaware of the fact that Barcelona and Espanyol is a city derby. The Derbi Barceloní as it is called in Spain is an 85 year old rivalry between two clubs who's grounds are just 8.5 kilometers from one another. The last time Espanyol was able to defeat their city rivals in league action was during the 2008-09 season, in a match that was coincidentally also at the Camp Nou.

Wisla Krakow vs. Lech Poznan (Poland - Sunday)

Bitter rivals Wisla and Lech Poznan kick-off this Sunday in a match that is always great to watch not just for the decent Eastern European quality football, but for the atmosphere in the stands as well. The two clubs are among the four best supported teams in Poland and contest the rivalry fiercely every season, regardless of their place in the standings.

5 Matches to Watch This Weekend

2014-11-07T12:00:00.000-05:00

As we do every week, this weekend we here at FootyFair will be keeping an eye on five matches that promise to be quite entertaining. Of course, the three of us have our favorite clubs, nonetheless, we do like to watch action from all over the world and share with you the 5 matches we think could be great. This week we suggest action from Belgium, Russia, England, Italy and France.

Gent vs. Anderlecht (Belgium - Sunday, Nov 9)

Whether you follow the Belgian league or not, the Jupiler League does offer up some good action and this weekend the two league leaders are going at it. Home side Gent sit in second place just 1 point behind league leaders Anderlecht, which means that even though the season is just 14 matches in, this could be a crucial match come end of the year. KAA Gent has never won the Belgian top tier in their 150 year history...that's right, 150 years. Meanwhile Anderlecht is the most successful Belgian club both domestically and in European competition, with a few European titles in the 1970's and 80's.

Dinamo Moscow vs. CSKA Moscow (Russia - Sunday, Nov 9)

Finding a derby in Moscow is about as hard as finding one in London with a great amount of clubs in the top tier coming from the capital. But aside from the rivalry between Dinamo and CSKA both clubs have been doing quite well in recent history so the quality of football when the two meet is usually pretty solid. This years CSKA is sitting in 2nd place behind Zenit St. Petersburg, while Dinamo is hoping to start a bit of a climb with a home win over their rivals, as they sit in 7th place after 12 matches.

Sampdoria vs. AC Milan (Italy - Saturday, Nov 8)

AC Milan is always a big ticket in Italian football even when they sit in 7th place as they are currently after 10 matches played in Serie A. Sampdoria however, have only won the Italian top tier once in the early 1990's compared to the 18 their opposition this weekend has accumulated over the past century. But the home side from Genoa is doing pretty well this year sitting in 4th place and this match-up promises to be quite interesting, especially considering the fact that the Italian league has been quite unpredictable all year thus far.

Liverpool vs. Chelsea (England - Saturday, Nov 8)

The Reds and The Blues go at it this Saturday and the two couldn't be on a more opposite path. Nonetheless, when these two meet, the match-up is always intriguing and this year should be no different. Chelsea sit atop the EPL table, already 12 points ahead of this weekend's opposition Liverpool who are in 7th place. Mario Balotelli is still having a hard time finding the net in league action while Chelsea's new signing Diego Costa is just one goal behind the league's scoring leader and that's considering the Spaniard missed some matches due to injury. Can Brendan Rodgers outsmart the man he used to work with, or will Chelsea's bench-boss Jose Mourinho come out on top?

Paris Saint Germain vs. Marseille (France - Sunday, Nov 9)

Le Classique as this rivalry is called in France, is always a highly contested fixture in the French calendar and this year should be no different considering both clubs are doing well domestically. Sitting first and second in the table, Marseille has already managed to gain a 4 point lead on the defending champions PSG and for the club from the capital this match at home may be a great opportunity of closing the gap to just a single point.

5 Matches to Watch This Weekend

2014-10-31T16:00:00.000-04:00

Really fascinating matches are scheduled for this coming weekend around Europe. This week, we suggest action from England, Russia, Italy, Israel and Germany, with three of the five matches being local derbies.

Hapoel Tel Aviv vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv (Monday, Nov 3)

A month shy of its 83rd anniversary, the Tel Aviv derby kicks-off this Monday at Bloomfield Stadium. Whether you follow the Israeli league or not, this fixture is always a colorful and heated affair. Maccabi are the defending champions in Israel and are currently sitting in 2nd place in the table. The Israeli 'Red Devils' Hapoel have struggled to begin the season but still sit in 5th with the derby being a good opportunity to catch up to their arch rivals. Officially Hapoel are the home team for this match-up, although the two share a stadium.

CSKA Moscow vs. Zenit St. Petersburg (Saturday, Nov 1)

It doesn't matter which league the match is from, any time first place meets second the fixture promises to be electric. Such is the case in this Russian Premier League meeting between capital city hosts CSKA Moscow who sit in second place, four points behind their visitors Zenit from St. Petersburg. André Villas-Boas' side Zenit bring with them the two league scoring leaders to Moscow, those in the form of 25 year old Venezuelan striker José Salomón Rondón and the Brazilian big man Hulk, both having scored 7 goals so far this year. But CSKA have their own weapons up front with newly aquired Israeli international midfielder Bibras Natkho also having scored 7, although 5 were from the spot.

Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund (Saturday, Nov 1)

Perhaps this year a meeting between Bayern and Borussia will not entice the viewership it usually does due to the fact that the yellow and blacks from Dortmund are in bad shape and find themselves just 1 point clear of the relegation zone in 15th place after 9 matches. Bayern on the other hand is doing as well as always and are 4 points clear of second place Borussia Monchengladbach at the summit of the Bundesliga. Nonetheless, the meetings between these two are always entertaining, and if Jürgen Klopp's side were to find their feet at any point this season this would be a perfect fixture to do so.

Besiktas vs. Fenerbahce (Sunday, Nov 2)

It has been 90 years since these two clubs from Istanbul met each other on the pitch for the very first time, and the two will renew an ongoing bitter rivalry this weekend once more. With over 300 meetings between the two, the derby between Besiktas and Fenerbahce rarely disappoints and this year may be that much more entertaining. The Black Eagles of Besiktas are sitting atop the league table in Turkey, with The Canaries in 4th but just one point back. Besiktas' home, the Atatürk Olympic Stadium will be buzzing this weekend, with fan clashes and some good quality hard-fought football bound to be on display.

Manchester City vs. Manchester United (Sunday, Nov 2)

A match-up United supporters may have anticipated eagerly in the past two decades may not be so exciting to see for The Red Devils on the schedule any longer, as United struggles for a second straight season to find themselves in a top 6 position in the league. Manchester City has had a rough week or so themselves however, with league losses to the high-flying West Ham United and a league cup embarrassment at the hands of Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium. With United doing a bit better in recent weeks, most notably the draw against Chelsea in which United have showed some very good football, Van Gaal's men will surely look at the 133 year old Manchester derby as a great opportunity to turn their fortunes around, while City will also look to bounce back after two straight losses.

5 Matches to Watch This Weekend

2014-10-24T12:00:00.000-04:00

As we do every week, here are the top 5 matches we think are worth watching this weekend. This week we got action from Germany, France, England, Greece and of course the big match in Spain.

Lyon vs. Marseille

Sitting in fourth and first respectively, Lyon and Marseille are both very good clubs in Ligue 1 this season and do carry somewhat of a rivalry between themselves. The fact that this meeting is set to be played at the Stade de Gerland in Lyon makes this fixture a very interesting one as the home field advantage sways to Lyon's side, while Marseille is seemingly in much better shape on the pitch this season so far.

Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Bayern Munich

First versus second place will be on display this weekend in Germany. Borussia Monchengladbach is the closes club to leaders Bayern and both clubs have yet to suffer a loss in the first eight matches of the season.

Manchester United vs. Chelsea

Always fun to watch these two trade blows and this year should be no different. Chelsea is still undefeated after eight matches in the league but have a few issues up front with Diego Costa and Loic Remy both set to miss the clash due to injuries during international play. Manchester United on the other hand have not enjoyed a spectacular start this season winning just three times in their first eight matches, but they will be playing at home and will have a point to prove.

Olympiacos vs. Panathinaikos

This is the most important day in the Greek football calendar as the top two clubs in the country take on one another. Known around the world as one of the most passionate, heated and mostly violent rivalries in football, this fixture is always of the highest entertainment value even for those that do not follow the Greek league.

Real Madrid vs. Barcelona

Another rivalry, but unlike the Greek clash, this one is perhaps the most talked about, televised and anticipated clash in club football all over the world. The first El Clásico of this season sees Barcelona sit in first place in La Liga, while Real Madrid is in third place, just four points behind the leaders. Barca has yet to concede this season in league action, while Real Madrid has scored more goals than any other club. Scoring 30 times in 8 matches, Real Madrid have star player Cristiano Ronaldo to thank for their success up front as the Portuguese had scored half of that tally with hat-tricks in three different matches.

Other notable matches to watch this weekend:

Paris Saint Germain vs. Bordeaux

Sampdoria vs. Roma

5 Matches to Watch This Weekend

2014-09-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

Four rivalries are on the menu for this weekend and one very intriguing match fro the English Premier League. With some very interesting action coming up from Poland, France, Holland, England and Italy, this weekend should be great unless you hate fantastic football.

Paris Saint Germain vs. Lyon (Ligue 1 - Sunday, September 21)

Although this is not a derby or a huge rivalry, these two clubs don't particularly like one another and have been among the most succesful in France in the past two decades. Although undefeated, Paris Saint-Germain has drawn three times in their first five matches of the year. Lyon on the other hand is looking to rebound from a slow start to the year in which they have managed just 6 points from the available 15.

Wisla Krakow vs. Legia Warszawa (Polish Ekstraklasa - Sunday, September 21)

The greatest rivalry in Polish football, and one of the fiercest in all of Europe, this match should be all fireworks as the league leaders meet this weekend in "Poland's Derby".

Feyenoord vs. Ajax (Eredivisie - Sunday, September 21)

Another huge European rivalry on this weekend comes from the Netherlands in the form of the "De Klassieker". The meetings between Feyenoord and Ajax is always one of the most heated on the continent regardless of either squad's place in the domestic standings.

Manchester City vs. Chelsea (EPL - Sunday, September 21)

Two of the favorites to win the English Premier League this season will meet this Sunday at the City of Manchester stadium when the hosts City take on first place and still perfect record holders so far this year Chelsea FC. That plus the fact that Frank Lampard will face Chelsea for the first time since putting on the City uniform should make this affair quite entertaining.

AC Milan vs. Juventus (Serie A - Sunday, September 21)

After two match-days in Italy there are three clubs that have won both matches and two of them are the clubs in this meeting. Juventus and AC Milan are both extremely successful in the history of Italian football and clashes between the two are always entertaining. That and the fact that both will be looking to defend their perfect start for the year should make this one of (if not the) most interesting fixtures on this weekend's roster.

5 Matches to Watch This Weekend

2014-09-12T12:00:00.000-04:00

A great weekend of football is coming up and we take a look at five matches that intrigue us most, with the majority being played on Saturday. Three of those will be in the English Premier League, while we also will be watching what should be a very interesting Russian Premier League meeting and of course the biggest derby in Spain.

Zenit St. Petersburg vs Dinamo Moscow (Russian Premier League)

After six match-days in the Russian Premier League these two squads sit one-two at the top of the league with only three points separating the title contenders. While Dinamo had recorded five wins and one loss in their first six matches, the giants from St. Petersburg boast a perfect record so far in league play.

Manchester United vs Queens Park Rangers (English Premier League)

Sure the EPL is only three weeks into the season, but oddly nonetheless The Rangers are sitting 1 point clear above The Red Devils and Van Gaal's side is still looking for their first win of the young campaign. Perhaps United can grab the full three points on home ground against a mediocre Queens Park Rangers team, but the real story here will surely be Rio Ferdinand's return to Old Trafford after leaving the club this summer after spending 12 years at the club.

Arsenal vs Manchester City (English Premier League)

This one should just be a great affair between two clubs that are very likely to be at or near the summit of the table once all thirty-eight matches have been played. Arsenal's new front-man Danny Welbeck may make his debut in this one, and if he is able to match his performance with the one he had for England less than a week ago, City could be in for a tough one.

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid (La Liga)

A replay of last season's Champions League finals is on the cards for this weekend when the Madrid derby kicks-off on Saturday. But although the two clubs share the capital of Spain as their home, it seems that not many Atletico supporters were interested in travelling for this "away" match and Real should have a proper home-field advantage. But the two have already met this season twice, during the two legs of the Supercopa de España which Atletico won 2-1 on aggregate; and , Real were shocked by Real Sociedad in the last round of domestic matches when the "white and blue" came back from a two goal deficit to defeat Los Blancos by a final score of 4-2.

Chelsea vs Swansea City (English Premier League)

This match-up may not seem all that intriguing until you take a look at the EPL table. I'll give you a moment...Alright, so now that you have realized that both clubs hold perfect records after three matches, this fixture suddenly becomes one of the more interesting ones this weekend. For a more in-depth analysis of the only two clubs that have won all three games to date in England this year CLICK HERE. Otherwise, it'll be interesting to see whether Swansea can at least secure a draw at Stamford Bridge to keep their undefeated streak going.

5 Matches to Watch This Weekend

2014-08-22T12:00:00.000-04:00

This weekend we suggest five spectacular match-ups, from five different leagues.

#5 - Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC (MLS - Sunday, August 24)

Whether you watch Major League Soccer or not, this "Cascadia" derby which involves three teams is always entertaining. This Sunday it'll be Portland playing host to Seattle. These two have met on three ocassions already this year (one meeting taking place in the US Open Cup), with Seattle winning all meetings except for their first meeting of the year which was a thrilling 4-4 draw back in April.

#4 - Bayern Munich vs. Wolfsburg (Bundesliga - Friday, August 22)

Bundesliga is back and what better way to kick it off than with the title holders playing at home against an interesting Wolfsburg squad. Surely you all know the popular names on the Bavarian side, but how about The Wolves? With Swiss international Diego Benaglio in net, Belgian Kevin De Bruyne, Brazilian Luiz Gustavo, Croatian Ivica Olić and new signing Nicklas Bendtner among others, Wolfsburg sure look like they could make a bit of noise in the German top tier this year.

#3 - Sevilla vs. Valencia (LaLiga - Saturday, August 23)

Great match-up this one to kick-off the LaLiga season, with two very strong squads. Liverpool's Iago Aspas has joined Sevilla on loan for the year and will look to make an impression on both his new fans and his actual employers back in Anfield. Valencia has also added to the squad, mainly German international World Cup participant Shkodran Mustafi which Valencia had purchased from Italian side Sampdoria.

#2 - Ajax vs. PSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie - Sunday, August 24)

The Dutch 2014-15 season will only hit its third weekend of action and already we have a huge fixture on display. Bitter rivals PSV and Ajax are going at it at the Amsterdam Arena on Sunday and make no mistake about it, the 52,000+ stadium will be at capacity for this affair. Although early in the season both clubs are sitting one-two in the table after winning their first two matches, and both will look to hold the early advantage over the other. This one should be a cracker.

#1 - Manchester City vs. Liverpool (EPL - Monday, August 25)

What a gift the EPL has given us in only the second week of English top tier action. Last season's one-two finishers, which were separated by just two points at the end of the year will meet at the City of Manchester Stadium this coming Monday. With both squads having something to prove with few believing that either one of those squads can win the title this year, this match is crucial if either of the clubs were to make a long early unbeaten run in the Premier League. Too bad Balotelli is unlikely to be with Liverpool in time for this one.

5 Matches to Watch This Weekend

2014-08-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

With some of Europe's leagues just about underway and international club friendlies still being played as well, this weekend's football schedule is packed with some very interesting fixtures. Here are the best 5 we think you should not miss.

Note: The German Super Cup between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will be played next Wednesday, August 13. It's not quite on the weekend, but if you love good football this match is not to be missed.

#5 - SSC Napoli vs. Paris Saint Germain (International Friendly, Monday, August 11)

This meeting has Champions League written all over it. Although this is just a club friendly, a meeting between these two clubs is not to be missed. Zlatan Ibrahimovic had already shown his intent by scoring both of PSG's two goals in the French Super Cup last weekend and this last preparation for both the Italian and French club could be a good showing.

#4 - Santos FC vs. Corinthians - Clássico Alvi-negro (Brazilian Serie A, Sunday, August 10)

The "Black and White" derby as it is known because of the primary colors of both Santos and Corinthians is a heated affair in the Brazilian league. With Santos FC sitting in sixth place and Corinthians in fourth, there's a lot to play for aside from bragging rights and pride.

#3 - Benfica vs. Rio Ave (Portuguese Super Cup, Sunday, August 10)

Another super cup this weekend, as the Portuguese top tier is ready to begin. Benfica is obviously the heavy favorites here and will look to bounce back after a somewhat disappointing pre-season campaign. Rio Ave's participation in this match is due to their loss in the Portuguese cup to Benfica last season.

#2 - Dinamo Moscow vs. Spartak Moscow - Moscow Derby (Russian Premier League - Sunday, August 10)

One of the oldest rivalries in Russia will be on display this weekend with red going against blue in the Capital. Spartak and Dinamo rivalry is always more about pride than league position and is almost always a very colorful and heated one. Both started the season off last weekend with impressive wins as Spartak handed Rubin Kazan a 4-0 defeat, while Dinamo humiliated Rostov's club with a 7-3 final.

#1 - Arsenal vs. Manchester City (FA Community Shield, Sunday, August 10)

Possibly the most popular "super cup" in the world takes place this Sunday in England. This year's Community Shield will be contested between English champions Manchester City and FA Cup title holders Arsenal. With both teams making significant changes this off-season this contest will give one of them a chance to carry some momentum into the season.

5 Matches to Watch This Weekend

2014-07-25T12:00:00.000-04:00

As always we bring you the 5 matches we think are worth watching this weekend from around the world. This weekend our focus shifts mostly to the 2014 International Champions Cup, a tournament consisting of 8 high-profile European clubs competing in a preseason tournament hosted in North America. We will be keeping an eye on all four matches from that competition, plus one really juicy international friendly.

#5 - Benfica vs. Ajax (International Club Friendly - Saturday, July 26)

Although playing in different leagues, Benfica and Ajax have some history between the two clubs, having met in European competition previously. Obviously this will not be a heated affair as it is only a friendly, nonetheless, it would be great to catch a first glimpse of the two clubs that will be defending their domestic championship title this coming season.

2014 International Champions Cup:

#4 - AC Milan vs. Manchester City

AC Milan has already played their first match in this competition in a 3-0 loss to Greek side Olympiacos. It will be interesting however to see how Mario Balotelli does against his former team from Manchester. This match will be hosted in the American football venue Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

#3 - Liverpool vs. Olympiacos

As mentioned above, Olympiacos won their first match in this tournament against AC Milan by a score of 3-0. A win against a revamped Liverpool squad would go a long way in the Greeks' attempt to secure top spot in their group, as it is the only place that advances to the final of this competition. This match will be played at Soldier Field in Chicago.

#2 - Manchester United vs. AS Roma

New Roma defender Ashley Cole knows English opposition very well, having spent his entire career in his native England before leaving Chelsea for the Italian capital this summer. With a new manager in Louis van Gaal, United will look to continue their already solid pre-season after a 7-0 win against the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. This match will be played at the 76,000 capacity Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver.

#1 - Real Madrid vs. Inter Milan

Playing at the California Memorial Stadium, Real Madrid have made a number of high-profile signings already this summer and will be preparing for yet another tough season in La Liga, one they will surely look to finish as champions of Spain. Inter Milan has fallen from domestic title contention in their domestic league in recent years, but the profile of the club is still very big all around the world.

2014 World Cup Match Day 24 (3rd Place Match): Preview

2014-07-12T06:00:00.000-04:00

Brazil vs. Netherlands

Match Info

The third place match will be played at 5pm local time in Brazil.
This fixture is between two sides that have met six times before. The two nations share not only an identical record of 3 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses, but have also scored an exact 15 goals each in previous meetings. The match will take place at the 69,349 seat Estádio Nacional de Brasília Mané Garrincha, in the capital Brasilia. Brazil has played once before in this stadium, defeating Cameroon in the group stages 4-1. The Netherlands will be playing in the capital of Brazil for the first time in this tournament.

Netherlands' star winger Arjen Robben has gone on record saying that he does not care for the 3rd place match whatsoever. Brazil on the other hand, have some unfinished business after their humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany, after which they must have a good showing in front of their home supporters in order to regain any kind of respect from their nation's faithful.

Don't get your hopes up, Neymar will not be playing in this match. But the key ingredient that was missing against the Germans, captain and center-back Thiago Silva, will. Surely the Dutch don't want to finish off a decent World Cup run with two straight losses, but the Brazilians have much more riding on this fixture and are more likely to come out on their "front foot".

Players to watch

For the Dutch it will most likely be Tim Krul who had played all of 46 seconds before becoming a Dutch hero, leading his nation to a penalty kick victory over the Ticos from Costa Rica. Van Gaal must show the keeper respect and give him the nod in this "match that doesn't matter". For the Brazilians it will be David Luiz. The newly aquired PSG center-back must show his new teammates that he can be relied on, because if he shows up to camp after the World Cup with nothing other than the loss to Germany to show for, he may as well spend all of next season on the bench while proving to his colleagues in training that he can get the job done.

Staff Predictions:

Kon: Brazil 2-1 Netherlands

Iain: Brazil 2-1 Netherlands

Pedro: Brazil 3-1 Netherlands

2014 World Cup Match Day 20: Preview

2014-07-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

The quarter finals are here and this day will feature two of the four matches on the schedule.

France vs. Germany

Match Info

The first match as usual will be played at 1pm local time in Brazil.
For the first time since the introduction of the current World Cup format in 1998, all quarter final participants are group winners, and this one will feature the ones from groups E and G.
The match will be played at the infamous 78,838 seater Estádio do Maracanã in Rio, where France drew Ecuador in their final group stage match.

These two nations have faced each other on twenty-five previous occasions. France holds a record of eleven wins and the Germans with eight. The two sides have played to a draw in the remaining 6 meetings.

This is the stage where we start to see "giants" go at each other and there's not many better match-ups to start it off than a rivalry that has been contested over twenty times previously. It is rumored that as many as seven German players have been plagued by what seems like the flu, but whether it is true or not the French will go full force into this meeting in hopes of eliminating their European rivals whether they are at their best or otherwise. Both of these squads had some difficulties in their round of 16 matches against African sides, with the French winning 2-0 against a resilient Nigerian side and the Germans being held by the "Desert Foxes" of Algeria to an extra-time frame before winning the match 2-1.

Players to Watch

It's not often we discuss defenders as players to watch, but with each passing match French full-back Mathieu Debuchy is looking more and more dangerous coming up from his flank. Against Nigeria he looked solid both in defense and going up in transition and creating scoring chances. Debuchy's contribution could prove to be vital to the French in order to succeed in their quarter final match. On the German side 23 year old André Schürrle got his game going against the Algerians and could also prove to be vital for his squad if he is included in the line-up. The Chelsea FC midfielder proved that he can play a very mature game on the pitch.

Brazil vs. Colombia

Match Info

The second match of the quarter finals will be played at 5pm local time in Brazil.
This fixture is between the hosts Brazil (winners of group A) and Colombia (winners of group C). The match will be played at Estádio Castelão, in Fortaleza, which has a capacity of 67,037 people. This is the same arena where Brazil drew Mexico 0-0 in their second match of the 2014 World Cup.

These two nations just like the ones in the 1pm match, have also faced each other on 25 previous occasions. But unlike with France and Germany, the record between Brazil and Colombia is much more uneven, with the two sides drawing eight times, Colombia winning just twice and Brazil coming out on top in the remaining 15 meetings between the two.

This match has excitement written all over it. With the hosts Brazil playing a very good Colombian squad this match could be quite explosive. Brazil will obviously be looking to advance all the way to final, but with many difficulties in pretty much every previous match this may prove more difficult than most anticipating. Colombia on the other hand are on a great run. In their four matches thus far they have only conceded twice while scoring eleven times against their opponents. If Colombia can do the "unthinkable" they will surely look to go all the way and become the eighth overall nation to win the World Cup.

Players to Watch

If Neyamr is healthy (which it seems he is) it will be the head-to-head everyone has been anticipating. The goal scoring leader James Rodriguez against the ultimate player in Neymar. There are no two other players that the cameras and eyes of the spectators will concentrate on more, and therefore we cannot imagine picking any other two footballer as the "players to watch" in this match.

Match Day 20 - Staff Picks

Kon: France 0-1 Germany, Brazil 1-2 Colombia
Pedro: France 2-1 Germany, Brazil 1-3 Colombia
Iain: France 1-2 Germany, Brazil 1-2 Colombia

2014 World Cup Match Day 18: Preview

2014-06-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

World Cup day 18 brings us two more potentially exciting match-ups in the Round of 16.

France vs. Nigeria

Match Info

The first match of the day will see group E winners France, take on group F runner-ups Nigeria.
The match will be played at the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha in Brasilia, with a capacity of 69,349 people.

These two nations have only met once before, with Nigeria winning by a 1-0 final score.

Didier Deschamp's side looks pretty good, coming out of their group not only as winners, but with little to no trouble against their opponents. Nigeria finished runner-ups behind their group winner Argentina, looking better with each match played. France are going into this fixture as the obvious favorites, but their success in a group which included Ecuador, Switzerland and Honduras may be misleading. Nigeria on the other hand have been tested and proved a worthy opponent in their match against Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Players to Watch

For the Nigerians it must be Ahmed Musa. The CSKA Moscow forward scored twice against Argentina after less than stellar performances in Nigeria's first two fixtures. For France it'll be Karim Benzema yet again. The big forward was a huge part of France's success in the first round, and will be looking to pounce on the slightest Nigerian mistake to put the ball in the back of the net.

Germany vs. Algeria

Match Info

The second game of the day features group G winners Germany and the runner-ups of group H, Algeria.

The match will be played at the 51,300 capacity Estádio Beira-Rio in orto Alegre.

These two nations have faced each other twice before, with Algeria surprisingly winning both times.

This is a first ever trip for the Algerians into the round of 16 and even though the North Africans became the first ever African nation to score four goals in one World Cup match, the expectations of them advancing at the expense of the Germans is pretty low. Germany on the other hand expect to win, and possibly without too much in terms of a challenge from the Algerians. But the "Desert Foxes" did show some moments of brilliance in their group matches, and they will surely do everything possible to pull off the unthinkable surprise.

Players to Watch

For the Algerians we will be keeping an eye out on Islam Slimani who showed good quality football in his first few matches. Slimani is a footballer who can change a match at any point and if Algeria were going to pull off a big upset, he will have to be in top form. For the Germans it may have to be Ozil. The Arsenal midfielder has had a pretty mediocre run at the World Cup so far and we feel that his big performance is yet to come. Could it be against the Algerians?

Match Day 18 - Staff Picks

Kon: France 3-1 Nigeria, Germany 3-0 Algeria
Pedro: France 3-0 Nigeria, Germany 1-1 Algeria (Algeria win on PK)
Iain: France 2-0 Nigeria, Germany 2-1 Algeria

2014 World Cup Match Day 11: Preview

2014-06-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

Match day 11 will see the 2^nd games of countries in group H and of two countries in group G. Two of the three matches today promise to have the title of "marquee", with Russia taking on Belgium and the United States playing against Portugal.

Russia vs. Belgium

Match Info

The first game of the day sees the Russians taking on Belgium, an important match in this group.

The match will be played at the infamous Estádio do Maracanã in Rio, with a capacity of just under 80,000.

These two nations have met on 8 previous occasions with Russia holding a slight advantage with 4 wins, 3 losses and a draw.

Belgium escaped a shock result in their opening match against Algeria, having to come from behind for an eventual 2-1 win. Russia on the other hand had what most considered a sub-par performance, with Capello's men also having to come from behind after goalkeeper Akinfeev gifted Korea Rep. with the opening goal, spilling an easy catch into the back of the net. The Russians however were not able to completely turn the game as they settled for a 1-1 draw. Before the beginning of the tournament, most experts were looking for this match to be the crucial one of this group, with both teams being favorites to come out of this group into the round of 16. It is still the case in terms of importance, only this time around both sets od supporters will surely be nervous if their team loses, as it seems that both Korea and Algeria could potentially be a threat for one of the top two spots.

Players to Watch

For the Belgians it was two substitutes who made the difference, with Fellaini and Mertens providing the Red Devils with their two goals. But as quiet as he was in that first match, we will look for Romelu Lukaku to come out of his shell and provide the spark for the Belgian side this time around. For the Russians we will actually watch the goalkeeper. Igor Akinfeev is a leader at CSKA Moscow, and is known to make his defense comfortable with him standing behind them. In the first match however, Akinfeev looked uncomfortable for almost the entire match. If he continues this way the Belgians are very likely to take advantage, but if Akinfeev can recreate his better performances he can give his squad a great chance to win the match, just like he did for the most part in the qualifying stages.

Korea Rep. vs. Algeria

Match Info

The second match of the day will see the second Group H game between Korea Republic and Algeria.

The match will be played at Estádio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, with a capacity of 51,300 people. This stadium previously hosted the France versus Honduras and Netherlands versus Australia matches.

The Koreans played Algeria just once before and were victorious by a final score of 2-0.

This match will be important for both squads as they are looking to steal one (or maybe even both) of the top two spots from the group favorites Russia and Belgium. Algeria showed well in their first match against heavy favorites Belgium. But although they were the ones to open the scoring, the Belgians found answers in the second half and Algeria could not secure any points. Korea on the other hand picked up 1 point from their opening match against the Russians.

Players to Watch

Algeria's penalty-kick scorer from game 1 Sofiane Feghouli is a very important player to the North African side, and we will look for him to be the difference maker against Korea as well. On the Korean side we will keep an eye on captain Koo Jacheol to settle his squad in order to give them a chance at a victory.

USA vs. Portugal

Match Info

The last match of the day will feature the Americans and Portuguese from Group G. This match will be played at 7pm local time in Brazil.

This fixture goes from Arena da Amazônia in Manaus and it has a capacity of 41,000 people.

These two have an identical record from their 5 previously contested meetings. Both managed 2 wins and 1 draw, with goal tally's also being equal at 5 a piece.

After their embarrassing 4-0 loss to the Germans, the Portuguese must win against the Americans to keep their chances of reaching the next round. A victory for the US will guarantee them a round of 16 qualification, and an early exit for Ronaldo's squad.

Players to Watch

Cristiano Ronaldo showed very little against the Germans who found a way to cancell out the Portuguese star's presence on the pitch. He will yet again be our player to watch because against the US he may have a lot more freedom to roam the field. For the US it'll be Toronto FC defensive midfielder Michael Bradley who did a great job at slowing Ghana's pace in their first match and 2-1 victory.

Match-day 10 - Staff Picks

Pedro: Russia 1-2 Belgium, Korea Rep. 0-1 Algeria, USA 1-3 Portugal

Kon: Russia 1-1 Belgium, Korea Rep. 1-2 Algeria, USA 0-1 Portugal

Iain: Russia 0-2 Belgium, Korea Rep. 1-1 Algeria, USA 1-1 Portugal

2014 World Cup Match Day Preview: Day 8

2014-06-19T06:00:00.000-04:00

Match day 8, will complete the second round of play for Group C and will see Group D rivals Uruguay and England go at each other, in a match that is undoubtedly the marquee fixture on the day.

Colombia vs. Ivory Coast

Match Info

This match will be played at Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, which has a capacity of 69,432 people. This venue hosted the Ecuador versus Switzerland clash on Sunday.

Colombia and Ivory Coast have never met before in senior competition, but with both squads winning their first matches in the group, this should be a great starting match for match-day 8.

In their first match, Colombia put in a solid performance defeating the 2004 European champions Greece by a decisive 3-0 final score. Ivory coast concede early in their opening match against Japan, but put together a string of attacks in the second half to complete a come-back and win 2-1. Both teams will be looking to pick up the 3 points which will guarantee the winner a direct pass to the round of 16, without having to put too much emphasis on their third and final match in the group. If Colombia can recreate their performance from their first match, and Ivory Coast can find the energy to play the way they have in the second 45 minutes against Japan, this match should be a really entertaining one to watch.

Players to Watch

Teófilo Gutiérrez looked in the mood for the Colombian side in their first match and will be an interesting figure to watch against the Ivorians. The River Plate striker scored Colombia's second goal of the match against Greece. Even though Didier Drogba was not involved in the starting 11 for Ivory Coast, he surely seemed to inject his squad with the energy required to come from behind to win their first match against Japan. We will be watching him yet again, to see whether he can provide the same spark as he did in their earlier fixture.

Uruguay vs. England

Match Info

The second match of the day will be our marquee match and will see both Group D losing sides from their first matches Uruguay & England try to preserve their chances of qualifying to the next round at 4pm local time in Brazil.

The match will be played at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo, the same 61,606 capacity venue that hosted the first match of this World Cup between Brazil and Croatia.

This will be the eleventh competitive meeting between the two countries, with the Uruguay holding a slight advantage of 4 wins from the previous ten matches. While England won on 3 occasions and the teams also drew 3 times.

There is no doubt that this is a must win for both squads. Just as many experts in the football world predicted, this match is very likely to crown the runner-up of Group D. We must keep in mind however that England does hold a very slight advantage having lost to the tougher opposition in Italy, while Uruguay crumbled at the feet of the minnows from Costa Rica. With Uruguay still having to play the Italians they will surely look to snatch the full three points in this one, while the Three Lions would still have a very small chance of qualifying even if the draw this match. Nonetheless, neither team will want to leave things to chance and will likely come out "swinging" or maybe even biting (that incident will never get old).

Players to Watch

Luis Suarez will no doubt be the player to watch on the Uruguayan side, as he was rested against the Costa Ricans due to injury but is now ready to start against an England side that contains many of his Liverpool teammates. Raheem Sterling put in a good performance for the English in their match against Italy, but it will be Wayne Rooney to keep an eye out in this affair, as it is rumored that he will be placed back at the "number 10" slot after being played out of position against the Azzurri. While many of the Liverpool footballer in the English squad are certain that they know how to stop Suarez, Wayne Rooney seems to be the one stopping himself from shining in recent years, so whether he performs well and gives his country a chance to qualify for the next round will be mostly up to him.

Japan vs. Greece

Match Info

Last match of the day will feature Japan and Greece from Group C. This game will be played at 7pm local time in Brazil.

This will be the third match at the Arena das Dunas in the city of Natal. The 45,000 capacity arena hosted the Mexico vs. Cameroon match, and most recently the USA vs. Ghana affair.

Japan and Greece met just once before, a match that saw the Asians come out on top by a score of 1-0

We would hate to disappoint you, but after the first two matches this one may very well be another case of Iran vs. Nigeria after the Germany match. Although we may actually see some scoring in this one, the quality of both the Japanese and Greek sides may prove to be a bore after the first two matches of the day. That said, there is a lot on the line for both squads which may be a factor to the entertainment value of this particular fixture. Both squads lost their opening matches and anything less than 3 points in this one could likely mean an early exit from the tournament.

Players to Watch

Keisuke Honda must be the player to watch on the Japanese side as he not only scored the only goal for Japan in their first match, the AC Milan man was involved in almost every play the Japanese were trying to create. If Honda can positively involve the players around him, Japan could potentially come out victorious. On the Greek side it's a bit of a tougher choice, as it seemed that not one player could spark any kind of life into the team in their first match against Colombia. But since we have to pick, we would suggest keeping an eye on Panagiotis Kone, the 26 year old Albanian born attacking midfielder seemed to provide Greece with a more attacking style of play from the usually defensive one we are so used to seeing from the 2004 European champions.

Match-day 8 - Staff Picks

Pedro: Colombia 2-1 Ivory Coast, Uruguay 1-1 England, Japan 2-1 Greece

Kon: Colombia 1-2 Ivory Coast, Uruguay 0-2 England, Japan 0-1 Greece

Iain: Colombia 2-1 Ivory Coast, Uruguay 0-1 England, Japan 1-1 Greece

2014 World Cup Match Day Preview: Day 5

2014-06-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

Match day 5 is here and on this day we dig into the two matches from the "group of death", plus the remaining match from group F.

Germany vs. Portugal

Match Info

The day starts off with a bang, as we will see the big match of the day being played first, with Germany taking on Portugal at 1pm local time in Brazil.

This match goes from the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, a stadium with the capacity of 50,000. This will be the second match in this stadium, with Netherlands and Spain having played there three days earlier.

These two countries have a history of playing against one another with a total of 17 matches contested between the two in previous competitions. The Germans hold a head-to-head advantage with 9 victories and the Portuguese have won just 3 times; the two countries played to a total of 5 draws.

This is a big match and while most believe that the winner of this fixture will most likely top Group G, the loser may be in trouble as the other two squads in the group are far from being heavy underdogs. Portugal did not enjoy a smooth qualifying campaign, having to play a play-off match-up against Sweden, while Germany qualified directly to the World Cup tournament finishing head of their group.

Players to Watch

With the Portuguese there is no doubt that all eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo who was nursing an injury before the start of the tournament. His presence (or lack there of) will be crucial for the Portuguese as they nearly always enjoy better performances when Ronaldo is up to the task. For the Germans there are many in the line-up who can make a difference, but for this opening match we will have our eye on 36 year old striker Miroslav Klose. Klose broke Gerd Mullers record of most goals scored for the national team with 69, he will be looking to become the top scorer in World Cup history, with just one goal back he is chasing Brazil's Ronaldo who has got 15 all time.

Iran vs. Nigeria

Match Info

The second match of the day will be the remaining fixture from Group F, contested between Iran and Nigeria.

The match will be played at brand new Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, with a capacity of of just under 40,000.

Iran and Nigeria have met just once before, with the Africans winning by a score of 1-0.

With Bosnia and Herzegovina losing to Argentina, these two countries will look to grab the early 3 points and put themselves into contention for the second place position in the group. Nigeria has an obvious problem in the forward position and although their attackers are the better known names internationally, Nigeria did not manage to score a lot in the qualifying stages. Iran on the other hand enjoyed a pretty impressive qualifying round finishing first in the group (ahead of Korea Rep.).

Players to Watch

For the Iranians one of the more entertaining players to watch should be Ashkan Dejagah. The Iranian midfielder, who played at all youth levels for the German national squad has shown some impressive attributes this year with his Premier League club Fulham and could be a key whether in the starting XI, or from the bench. Victor Moses could be a key for his Nigeria squad as they struggle to score. We all know Moses could be a prolific goal-scorer if he is on his game, the question is whether he will be up to the task.

Ghana vs. USA

Match Info

The last match of the day sees the US take on possibly the best African nation in this year's tournament, Ghana.

This match will be played at Arena das Dunas in city of Natal, a stadium that has already hosted the match between Mexico and Cameroon.

Ghana and the US have met on 2 previous occasions, with the Africans coming out victorious both time.

These two nations definitely feel like the underdogs drawn in a group with Germany and Portugal. But if anyone is going to surprise the big teams it will be one of these two squads and therefore they will look to come out quick out of the gates and grab 3 points, as a draw would likely not help either of their causes for a trip to the next round. Klinsmann's USA squad took some heat when call-ups were announced with the omissions of Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan, the Ghanaian squad on the other hand looks quite solid with quite a few footballers from the top tiers of European football.

Players to Watch

On Ghana's squad I will be looking at captain and striker Asamoah Gyan to make a difference. Although the 28 year old forward has seemed to leave European football behind him with a move to UAE club Al Ain FC, he always seems to provide his national squad with great performances. On the American we will also look at the squad captain, with Midfielder/Forward Clint Dempsey having an amazing season with Seattle Sounders FC in the MLS. Dempsey's strong nature is felt both for club and country, and the 31 year old Texas native will have to put in the performance of his lifetime if USA is to have any chance at qualifying for the next round.

Match-day 5 - Staff Picks

Pedro: Germany 1-2 Portugal, Iran 1-1 Nigeria, Ghana 2-0 USA

Kon: Germany 2-0 Portugal, Iran 1-0 Nigeria, Ghana 2-1 USA

Iain: Germany 1-0 Portugal, Iran 1-0 Nigeria, Ghana 1-1 USA