The 2014 FIFA World Cup cheat sheet: Group C

Over the next few weeks, new editions of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Cheat Sheet will be presented to give to your friends (or keep for yourself). These are quick little recaps, so your friends (or yourself) can quickly refer to facts and players mid-match.

Last time, we took a look at Groups A and B, this week, let us now examine Groups C.

GROUP C:  Colombia | Greece | Ivory Coast | Japan

Colombia

• Pro Tip: As of December 2013, Colombia was ranked 4th, in the FIFA World Rankings, behind Spain, Germany, and Argentina but ahead of Portugal, Uruguay, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, and  Brazil.
• Player to Watch: Radamel Falcao; watch him, because he’s fantastic. The former Atlético Madrid/current Monaco striker has been getting the attention of powerhouse clubs like Manchester United.
• Jersey to Wear: Cristián Zapata; because a Colombian Zapata jersey is cool, a Milan Zapata jersey is not so much.

Greece

• Pro Tip: The Greeks have a tendency to shock; not only did they win the 2004 Euro Cup as the tournament’s dark horse, they also surprised and entertained in qualifying matches leading up to this World Cup.
• Player to Watch: Antonios Nikopolidis; and by this, I mean, “watch for in the crowd.” The retired goal keeper no longer plays for the national team, but he looks like George Clooney’s doppelganger.
• Jersey to Wear: Giorgos Karagounis; the team captain and Fulham midfielder is the most capped player in the team’s history. He also scored the opening goal in the 2004 Euro Cup, which lead to his team winning the whole tournament.

 Ivory Coast

• Pro Tip: Despite recent world-wide popularity and interest in the national team, this will only be the Ivory Coast’s third World Cup, having qualified in 2006 and 2010.
• Player to Watch: Yaya Touré; the Manchester City player single handedly—by scoring the game’s only goal—won the 2011 FA Cup Final, the first major trophy City had won in 35 years.
• Jersey to Wear: Didier Drogba; the captain of the team, the country’s leading goal scorer, and a man who is constantly giving back charity-wise to the Ivory Coast. Even if you don’t support the Ivory Coast, you can wear his jersey with pride.

Japan

• Pro Tip: The Japanese women’s team is the most recent Women’s World Cup winners. Let’s see if the men’s team can bring home another trophy for their country.
• Player to Watch: Shinji Kagawa; the former Borussia Dortmund, current Manchester United attacking midfielder was the first Asian player to play in the Premier League to score a hat-trick.
• Jersey to Wear: Shinji Okazaki; having played less than 100 caps for the national team, Okazaki is the country’s 4th leading goal scorer.

Predicted Group Winners: Colombia and Japan

Next Cheat Sheet will examine Group D (Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, and Italy), one of the most anticipated groups of the tournament!