2014 World Cup – Group C (FINAL)

This post will be updated as Group C progresses.

Group C Preview (Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Greece, Japan)
This is expected to be an extremely fascinating group, from my perspective.  You have four sides from four corners of the globe, who all have vastly different styles of play.  [Queue the ill-informed soccer stereotypes that seem to be rooted in at least a little objectivity:]  The attacking South Americans (Colombia), the defensive-oriented, precision-passing Europeans, the patient and disciplined Asians (Japan), and the open, risk-takingly aggressive Africans (Cote d’Ivoire).  The Colombians might be slight favorites here to win this group, as they have been really good lately and are playing on their home continent, but, they are not world-beaters and the other three sides are more than competent, meaning that this group is really up for grabs.  Probably the next favorite is the boring, European team from Greece.  They play an excruciatingly slow, plodding style of play that I would imagine could be likened to the neutral-zone trap that the New Jersey Devils used to strip the NHL of all its watchability (now, I have really lost it – making a hockey reference).  But, the Greeks are always dangerous and did win the last Euro Championship that wasn’t won by Spain (I’m rooting for the Greeks because I have money on them at 9-1 to win this group and 250-1 to win the whole thing…).  Right along with Greece is the best side from the continent of Africa, the Ivoirians.  Cote d’Ivoire is always good and exciting and are probably the most disciplined African side, which allows them to really utilize their elite athleticism.  And, then there are the Japanese.  Never a side that will beat themselves, and therefore always a threat.  I think they should have the longest odds to get out of this group, but that does not mean that they won’t give fits to all three opponents here.

6/14, noon – Colombia vs. Greece
Let us get this contest out of the way early, as probably the two favorites in Group C battle right out of the shoot.  This should be an interesting battle of styles, as the Colombians will want to attack, while the Greeks are perfectly content sitting in their own end, playing suffocating defense and waiting until you tire yourselves out and then pounce on a counter.  This is a very dangerous match for Colombia and a draw here might not be the worst thing for either side.

Colombia 3 – Greece 0
As Doogan mentioned in his Day Three recap, the Colombians (their players and fans) debuted in very impressive fashion and they are looking like a legitimately scary squad going forward, even without their best player, Falcao.  For the Greeks to concede three times in their opening game does not portend well for a team that relies almost exclusively on stingy defense.  The fact that they continue to seem simply unable to truly defend set pieces is a really bad sign for their future here in Brazil.  They should not be counted out just yet, as the group is still wide open, but this was a nightmare start.  As for Colombia, they got 3 key points in their quest to win this group.

6/14, 9:00 – Cote d’Ivoire vs. Japan
Another interesting match in an interesting group.  The Ivoirians could really use a quick 3 points here, but they had better be careful because a lapse or two could be all it takes for the disciplined Japanese to pounce.  The difference in athleticism should be apparent all match, but that does not always lead to a decisive victory.  This is a dangerous matchup, as the Japanese could steal not just one point, but all three, if the Coast isn’t careful.

Cote d’Ivoire 2 – Japan 1
This game signified two early trends in the 2014 World Cup – one of which is not unusual for the sport and the other one is (at least in little experience as a fan). First of all, soccer matches, despite their lack of scoring and seeming dependence on fortunate plays or referee decisions, really seem to often be won by the team that played better that day.  That may seem like an obvious comment, but that really is not the case in many sports around the world.  This about an American football game.  How many times has one team outplayed the other all game only to be victimized by a poorly-timed turnover or two and lose the game.  Same with baseball, if there are runners left on, and especially that awful sport called ice hockey.  Well, the better side today won here, as the Ivoirians outplayed Japan all match.  The other trend of this World Cup has been the fact that the side that scores first is often not winning the match.  From Croatia to Spain to Uruguay and now Japan, there have been more comeback victories already this year than I can remember in year’s past.  This was another, as the Japanese had a 1-0 lead for about 60 minutes.  Then, the Ivoirians put in African god, Didier Drogba, and just like that, they went up 2-1 and never looked back.  This was a GIGANTIC win for the Coast, as they are coming to the end of their “Golden Era” of soccer talent and have never escaped group play (mostly due to ridiculous drawings in the previous two World Cups).  Now, they have a manageable draw, and they may be able to take advantage of it.  Let’s go, Les Elephants!

Day One Recap
A couple of big wins to open the group for Colombia and Cote d’Ivoire, and those two will battle it out on the 19th for Group C bragging rights.  Both teams looks good, but Colombia looked REALLY good.  We will see if Japan and Greece can bounce back from tough losses, as their roads are pretty tough now.  Either way, I think that the major takeaway from Day One in Group C is…Watch out for Colombia.

6/19, noon – Colombia vs. Cote d’Ivoire
This is a fantastic match to open the second day of competition in Group C.  Both sides picked up nice wins in the first round, so a winner here would be in complete control of the group.  As Doogan has mentioned, the Colombian support in their first match against Greece was so impressive, you may have thought the match was being played in Bogota.  If they receive similar support today (and there is no reason to think that they won’t), they will be tough.  However, Les Elephants looked really good in the second half against a decent Japanese side, and they have the experience and talent to make some noise here this month.  I think the Colombians have to be the favorites here, but no result would be shocking.  It will be interesting to see just how aggressive these teams are considering they already have 3 points in the bag.  If it wasn’t a match between two attacking sides, I might look for some conservative gameplans, but I am not sure it is in the makeup of either of these sides to play that way.  I am excited for this one.

Colombia 2 – Cote d’Ivoire 1
Just like in the first match, as soon as Cote d’Ivoire put in Didier Drogba off the bench, the entire game changed.  However, this time it was for the worse for the Africans.  As soon as Drogba came in to a scoreless tie, the Colombians netted a pair of goals and didn’t look back.  Les Elephants came back with one and a strong fury to try and get the equalizer, but, in the end, it was Colombia taking control of Group C and looking good to win the group.  Cote d’Ivoire went down valiantly, and it probably is not the last we hear of them, as they have the inside track on the second qualifying spot from this group.

6/19, 6:00 – Greece vs. Japan
The Greeks were rather disappointing – yet again – in their opener against Colombia.  In something eerily similar to their 2010 performance, they looked uninspired and overwhelmed.  That may have been more a product of the excellence of the Colombians, but we will find out tonight.  Japan played well against the Ivoirians in their opener, but conceded two second-half goals to take a tough defeat.  They are still very much alive in this group, but need 3 points from this one.  Keisuke Honda is amazing and from his last two WC performances has officially become one of my favorite players to watch.  We will see if the Greek defensive approach can stifle him at all.  This is probably a must-win for both sides, as neither can much afford a draw, so if they have any attacking ability in them, they need to show it today.

Greece 0 – Japan 0
A boring match played by two boring sides actually got more exciting when Greece went down a man late in the first half.  The Greeks seemed to gain some energy and actually started attacking.  In the end, though, it didn’t matter, as this match ended in the ole nil-nil draw.  Neither side can be happy with the one point, but the Japanese, in particular, really needed this win.  Greece still has Cote d’Ivoire on their docket, and a win there should get them through to the knockout stage.  Whereas, the Japanese, who have already lost to the Coast, would have to beat Colombia and that still might not be enough.

Day Two Recap
This group has taken definitive shape.  Colombia has all but wrapped up the top spot from this group, while Cote d’Ivoire probably only needs a draw with Greece to go through as the second qualifier.  Barring a big Japanese upset of Colombia, the Greeks need to beat the Ivoirians to get themselves in.  Japan needs a big win over Colombia and some help.

6/24, 4:00 – Colombia vs. Japan
6/24, 4:00 – Cote d’Ivoire vs. Greece
The first group to enter the final round of matches with all four sides still alive is Group C.  So, we may get some simultaneous drama Tuesday afternoon.  Colombia is already through, but has not definitively won the group.  I am interested to see how they play this.  By the time this match kicks off, they will know whether or not Costa Rica has won Group D.  If so, they figure to be the easier draw than the second qualifier from the group (Italy/Uruguay).  Does that mean that Colombia plays for second in the group?  And, what does that mean for everyone else.  For Colombia to get second, they would have to lose to Japan, and a Japanese victory (particularly a multi-goal victory) puts everyone else in danger.  That does throw a wrench in everything, as Cote d’Ivoire may not be okay with just a draw against Greece – they may need to play for a win (which would be exactly what Colombia is looking for to finish second).  Greece would now need a win AND a goal differential edge on Japan.  If Colombia doesn’t take care of business against Japan (for whatever reason), these Group C finales could get CRAZY.  If they do, though, it’s simple – a win or draw for Ivory Coast puts them through, while Greece needs a win.  Either way, Greece will be on the attack, which is always a dicey proposition.

Colombia 4 – Japan 1
Greece 2 – Cote d’Ivoire 1
Absolute utter heartache for the Ivoirians (one of the teams for which I peronally root most heavily, due to my affinity for all things West African)!  Even for this novice soccer fan, the term “golden generation” seems to have become painstakingly cliche, but for a nation like the Ivory Coast to have Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure come along at the same time (along with a host of other solid supporting players) is incredibly fortunate and ushered in what could have been a true golden era for this small, poor nation that lacks any real infrastructure to develop future generations of quality athletes.  In 2006, they were young and inexperienced and put into the Group of Death, where they lost two heartbreakers to Argentina and the Netherlands before beating a solid Serbian side to finish 3rd in a brutal group.  Then, in 2010, they were again put into a ridiculously tough group that featured two of the world’s 3 best teams when their iconic midfielder, Drogba, had a broken arm.  They earned a great draw with Portugal, then lost a really tough match to Brazil before pounding North Korea.  The problem is that Portugal and Brazil played in the final match, where Brazil only needed a draw to win the group and Portugal only needed a draw to move on through ahead of Ivory Coast.  And, the two nations (with a long history of shared cultures and such) played to an incredibly suspect 0-0 draw that was essentially the equivalent of kicking the ball around for 90 minutes waiting for the final whistle and a place in the knockout stage for each.  And, now…in 2014.  They finally get a manageable group, and they lose their place in the knockout stage (which would be the first ever for their nation) on a questionable penalty call in the 93rd minute?  WOW!  I am not saying it wasn’t a penalty or shouldn’t have been called (I actually think it was the right call), but how heart-wrenching?  In the end, though, Les Elephants have no ones to blame but themselves, as they really did not play all that well all tournament.  They needed two second-half goals to beat Japan.  Then, they floundered away a possible win (or at least a draw) against Colombia, and now they didn’t put away a Greece team that wasn’t as good as they were.  And, their downfall?  The same thing that seems to bring down all the African sides eventually – lack of discipline and hustle.  All they needed to do was kill 5 minutes to go on through, and they kept attacking and giving up counters where the forwards were late in getting back.  And, then the coup de grace was that senseless penalty in the box.  Ugh…  Good for the Greeks, who qualify for the knockout stage for the first time in their history and will have a winnable game against Costa Rica in the Round of 16.  As for the other match, Colombia took it to the Japanese, sweeping the group and looking rather strong.  They take a lot of momentumwill take on a Uruguay side that will likely be without Suarez.

Group C Final Recap
1. Colombia – Can’t ask for more than 9 points, and that is what the Colombians came away with.  Their 9 goals scored are second only to the Netherlands with 10, and they only allowed 2.  Considering the confidence and competence with which they are playing and then incredible fan support they have been receiving, this is an incredibly dangerous team that no one is going to want to face in the knockout stage.  They will play Uruguay in the Round of 16 where the winner will play an awesome 4th of July quarterfinal against the Brazil-Chile winner.  As Doogan pointed out, it is kind of a shame that all four of the sides in this quadrant of the bracket are South American, which means that three of these exceptional South American teams will be eliminated before the semis.  Then again, it does make for some incredible intrigue.

2. Greece – The Greeks are through the group stage for the first time ever.  Their boring style (which somehow won them the 2004 Euro championship) was enough to get them through here.  They are now set up with a winnable Round of 16 match against Costa Rica before a potential quarterfinal with the Netherlands-Mexico winner.  The road is not incredibly tough right now for this unimpressive side, and the $1,250 that I will win if they win the tournament is still in play ($5 at 250-1).  Let’s go, Greece!

3. Cote d’Ivoire – What an incredibly devastating way to end this era of Ivoirian soccer!  A stoppage time goal allowed to a Greece team that looked like they couldn’t score at all sends Les Elephants home early yet again.  They could have played better, though, as this was a manageable group, and the just didn’t manage it.  It is sad to see it end, though.

4. Japan – I still love me some Keisuke Honda, but this team just wasn’t all that good.  They were overmatched even in this mediocre group, and the Japanese are sent packing.