So this is when the World Cup well and truly gets underway. Two games at a time, four games a day for the next four days. Once it’s over we will have the bracket for the final 16.
Here anything can happen and often does, so what can we expect?

Group A: Uruguay and Mexico should go through. France needs a big win just to have any chance but France hasn’t scored a goal in the tournament to date. In terms of Fantasy Football, Diego Forlan and members of the Uruguay defence such as Néstor Muslera and Diego Lugano are definitely worth a look.
To go through: Uruguay and Mexico

Group B: Argentina will top the group. Nigeria aren’t out of it. Assuming Greece lost to Argentina, the Super Eagle will go through if they beat South Korea. Argentina is in such great form across the park that you can pick any of them but for Martin Demichelis who allowed that goal against South Korea.
To go through: Argentina and Nigeria

Group C: Will England break out of their scoring slump? They scored in the 4th minute against USA and haven’t scored again in 176 minutes. There is a lot of talk about the struggles of Wayne Rooney. Frank Lampard isn’t playing as he does for Chelsea. This looks like being a tight group so maybe best to avoid players from these four teams.
To go through: England and USA

Group D: This is another tight group and any of the four teams may still qualify for the last 16. Is Germany due for a big one after their loss to Serbia? Germany has NEVER lost more than one group game at the same World Cup and has only failed to make it past the first round once and they was back in 1938. Since then, it has made the quarter-finals or better every time. I said in the preview that Germany failing to make it to the final 16 would be unthinkable and it still is. If they draw against Ghana they will go out with a Serbia win so they will be doing everything they can to beat the Black Stars. Germany’s only loss to an African team came in 1982 when they lost to Algeria. If history counts for anything, they will defeat Ghana so you can pick a few Germans for your fantasy football team.
To go through: Germany and Serbia

Group E: Japan is playing Denmark for a place in the final 16. A draw will see the Japanese through. Japan’s only previous World Cup victory over European opposition was against Russia in 2002. Denmark has never failed to make it past the group stage and this should be no different. The likes of Nicklas Bendtner, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Dennis Rommedahl may be in the goals. The Netherlands may take it easy and could rest player so it may be best to avoid them.
To go through: Netherlands and Denmark

Group F: If the two games are draws of the same score, New Zealand and Italy will require the flip of a coin to separate them! It would be one of the biggest shocks in the history of the World Cup. Again think Shane Smeltz could be a threat in front of goal.
To go through: Italy and Paraguay

Group G: Unfortunately Brazil – Portugal is a dead game in terms of deciding who makes it through to the final 16. Both of these are through unless Ivory Coast scores at least eight against North Korea. So Brazil – Portugal isn’t the same game if these two would have met in the first or second match. Still it should be an entertaining match. This is before Group H plays so they don’t know if finishing second if a blessing in disguise. The two have only met at the World Cup once before, a game Portugal won 3-1 in 1966.
To go through: Brazil and Portugal.

Group H: If Spain defeats Chile they will finish top. Switzerland can also pinch top spot with a Chile loss depending on how they fare against Honduras. A draw for Chile will be good enough for them to secure top spot. It has been a great World Cup for Chile considering they haven’t won a game at the World Cup since 1962. They met Spain at the 1950 World Cup where they lost 2-0. Everyone who had David Villa in their fantasy football side would have been gleeful when Spain was awarded a penalty. Not so much after it was taken.
To go through: Spain and Switzerland