Soccer Analysis

Germany is the favorite to win the group, but they’ll miss Marco Reus’ attack from midfield. Portugal carry much of the same squad that made it to the semifinals of Euro 2012, and Ronaldo is always dangerous. The opening match between U.S. and Ghana will decide if either has a chance at advancing. Read more »

An attacking unit featuring Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero and Gonzalo Higuaín with Ángel di María as a manic two-way wing is somehow entering the World Cup a little further under the radar than expected or what they merit. Read more »

With $100,000 to spend on players, we selected Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Ramos and Gerard Piqué of Spain, Arjen Robben and Daley Blind of Holland, and Alexis Sánchez, Claudio Bravo and Mauricio Isla of Chile. Read more »

While France is the favorite to win, each country has something to prove in their nation’s World Cup timeline. Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras have problems defending, and the speed in width to exploit each other’s weaknesses. Read more »

Italy, Uruguay and England is as true of a three-team race as we can ever expect from a group. None of the three squads have enough depth of quality to sustain a run all the way to the Maracanã even though they could surely beat any team in the world. Read more »

Colombia has the fastest attack in the World Cup. Japan presses the hardest. Ivory Coast is sledgehammer lead by Drogba, Bony, and Yaya, and Greece’s attack is built on sticking and moving. Read more »

Group B has three aesthetically appealing squads in Spain, Chile and the Netherlands that appear capable of going the distance on paper and merely getting out into the Round of 16 will be an important accomplishment. Read more »

Group A appears to be Brazil and everyone else, but the other three have a diverse range of styles. Croatia’s midfield is the most creative, Cameroon’s the best at pressing. Mexico’s midfield relies most on possession, and Brazil has a little bit of everything depending on who plays Read more »

The best attacker in this 2014 World Cup will be a country’s press. Of course, games are won by brilliant moments from individual players. Genius does still exist. But the modern game is less Steve Jobs than it is Wikipedia. Read more »

Atlético gritted their way into our imaginations, overcoming hurdles starting with the financial structure of La Liga. The grit, selflessness and fight that defined Atleti's season can’t be sold, or replaced, over one summer. Read more »

For the second straight season, we have two teams in the final from the same country in a David vs. Goliath type match. Read more »

The long anticipated Champions League Final Four of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, three titans and the noveau riche, was thwarted by the inspired performances by Atlético Madrid and Chelsea. Read more »

Brendan Rodgers has helped transform Luis Suárez into one of the best footballers in the world and Liverpool has a real chance of going from 7th to the Premier League title. Read more »

How José Mourinho has Chelsea at the top of the Premier League and in the Champions League quarterfinals while also remaking the roster on the fly. Read more »

Moyes, Rooney, van Persie, De Gea and Giggs manufactured an improbable comeback against Olympiacos at Old Trafford to save United's season. Read more »

Barcelona was able to construct this roster almost entirely upon the foundation of La Masia and while that may not happen again in the same way, their core has many prime seasons remaining. Read more »

Regardless of how far Atlético goes in the UCL and their final standing in La Liga, his probable transfer to either Chelsea or Arsenal in the summer, Diego Costa in the World Cup could be the real story of 2014. Read more »

Pep Guardiola inherited the best team in the world and his goal in first season as Bayern's manager is to set the course for a dynasty like their run in the 1970s. Read more »

Soccer is undergoing an intriguing transformation with its embrace of advanced analytics and the implementation of Financial Fair Play Regulations that may make player movement more nuanced. Read more »