Group C: Old Dogs, Old Tricks

Group C: Colombia, Greece, Japan, Cote D'Ivoire

HOW THEY FINISH:
Cote D'Ivoire 1-0-2 5PTS
Japan 1-1-1 4 PTS
Colombia 1-1-1 4 PTS
Greece 1-2 3 PTS

In what is quite possibly the most wide open group in the whole tournament a lot of defensive tactics and low scoring games will be in store. Greece is known for their defensive tactics and boring soccer. Ivory Coast have one of the best midifelders in the world right now, Japan always have the potential to overachieve. But the biggest story in the group is a World Cup return for Colombia after a 16 year drought, having made it back World Cup for the first time since 1998. Los Cafeteros (The Coffee Growers) earned a Top 8 seed and this is a dream group for them, but they will not be able to overcome the loss of their star striker, Monaco man, Radamel Falcao.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Keisuke Honda (JAP) -  To the left a quick refresher from the 2010 World Cup, on what Honda can do on set pieces.

Shinji Kagawa (JAP) - The Manchester United man,  is a creative clinical passer out of the mdifield and became the first Asian to score a hat trick in the EPL back in 2013.

Didier Drogba (CIV) -  Drogba still has it,  even at 36, the man who scored 100 goals for Chelsea in his career has 65 in his international career.

Yaya Toure (CIV) - Quite possibly the worlds best all-around midfielder. Toure's fitness is in queston after he suffered a knock in his final premier league game, and could loom large over the Les Elephants chances.

Lacina Traore (CIV) - Traore is 6'8 (that's an inch taller than Kawhi Leonard), that's reason enough to watch the striker especially against a bunch of 5'9 defenders from Japan.

Faryd Mondragon (COL) - Mondragon was Colombia's #1 keeper last time they made the World Cu (16 years ago if you read up above), now 42, he would be the oldest player ever in a World Cup. Group C features the 3 oldest players on rosters (and Drogba who is 7th).

James Rodriguez (COL) - Someone has to take Radamel Falcao's place and Colombia will look to 22 year old James Rodriguez, often called "the Valderrama of this era." Rodriguez plays in France at Monaco, so we don't hear from him much, but he should be mentioned with the likes of Oscar, Eden Hazard, Kagawa and Thomas Muller.

Jesse Katsopolis (GRE) - The Greeks are so boring to watch, I suggest three reruns of Full House during their matches. Though you'll need 4 episodes, if you choose to fast forward through the commercials.


GAME OF THE GROUP:
Japan vs Colombia - Once again this is the third game for both teams, and very likely will decide who moves on. Both teams could be looking for victories which could make for an exciting attack minded game, with a lot of players we don't get to see every day.