COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil – Friday morning marked one of the more anticipated stages of drama in formal sport. FIFA held its draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, to be played in Brazil. Given the international passion for the sport, as well as a very ardent and cultural following of soccer in and around the area, we felt a breakdown of the draw was necessary.

We? Well, on this special edition of Nick’s Picks, I am bringing in fellow soccer enthusiast and sports scribe Mike Deak. Mike is no slouch on soccer, either, having played the game since 1988, including a stint in college, as well as having followed the sport closely both in the United States with MLS and also the national side. He is one of the bigger soccer fans I know. He also watched Brazil and Sweden play in the US World Cup in 1994, missing his driver’s education test. That is soccer dedication.

That’s right, two experts. One article. Full analysis. Can you handle this much soccer talk, Kosciusko County?

A quick breakdown of how the World Cup format works: There are 32 teams broken up into eight four-team groups. The top two teams from group stage qualifying advance to the Round of 16, where the top team from each group plays the second-place team from the opposite group. The Round of 16 becomes a knock-out stage, finishing with the July 13 final in Sao Paolo.

GROUP A – Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
The Scoop: Brazil is by far the favorite in this group, having won the Confederations Cup over Spain last summer. The win was an eye-opener around the world as Spain had not lost in a major tournament since the 2006 World Cup. Mexico backed into the World Cup after winning a tiebreaker home-and-home against New Zealand.
Nick’s Picks To Advance (in order): Brazil and Croatia
Mike’s Picks To Advance (in order): Brazil and Croatia

GROUP B – Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
The Scoop: Spain will receive most of the attention as defending champion, but are amidst a very traditionally tough group. The Netherlands faced Spain in the 2010 final, a very physical and chippy match that had Spaniard Andres Iniesta bury the winner in extra time. Chile comes in as a wild-card team ranked 15th in the latest FIFA World Rankings and played well in qualifying.
Nick’s Picks To Advance: Spain and Netherlands
Mike’s Picks To Advance: Spain and Chile

GROUP C – Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
The Scoop: The Greeks looked very fundamental in qualifying, surviving late-round play-ins from the European group. Colombia has been one of the better sides in all the world in the last year, and proved it by matching Argentina and Chile with nine wins in South American qualifying. Didier Drogba is making one last go-round with the Ivory Coast and has proven to be one of the game’s greats.
Nick’s Picks To Advance: Colombia and Ivory Coast
Mike’s Picks To Advance: Colombia and Greece

GROUP D – Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
The Scoop: Uruguay is listed as the top seed in the group, however, this could be a sorta “Group of Death” with the history of these world soccer powers. Between Uruguay, England and Italy, the countries have won seven of the 19 World Cups, Italy the latest in 2006. England and Italy both qualified as wild cards, not the oomph either club wanted. Goal differential in the group could be very important.
Nick’s Picks To Advance: Uruguay and Italy
Mike’s Picks To Advance: Uruguay and Italy

GROUP E – Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
The Scoop: This is one of the lighter groups, with Switzerland considered the weakest seeded team of the eight groups. An afterthought following a miserable 2010 World Cup showing, France enters 2014’s tournament as the slight favorite of the group. Switzerland has the potential and should be considered a dark horse pick depending on if their midfield play can slow down Ecuador and France’s capable offenses.
Nick’s Picks To Advance: France and Switzerland
Mike’s Picks To Advance: France and Ecuador

GROUP F – Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria
The Scoop: This is the group of “minor scrapes” according to ESPN analyst Alexi Lalas. And he is absolutely right. Argentina likely won’t be challenged in any of the three group matches if it doesn’t want to be. Lionel Messi will have plenty of time to recover from his thigh injury suffered with FC Barcelona. The lone drama will likely be who finishes second.
Nick’s Picks To Advance: Argentina and Nigeria
Mike’s Picks To Advance: Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina

GROUP G – Germany, Portugal, Ghana, United States
The Scoop: This is the official “Group of Death”. (Cue the lightning strikes and piano thuds) It could have not been a worse draw for the US, facing a Ghana side that knocked them out of the 2010 World Cup and having Germany and Portugal opposite. Germany is absolutely loaded with names like Neuer, Lahm, Lopez, Podolski, etc. Portugal has the incomparable Cristiano Ronaldo and tiny Ghana is ranked No. 24 in the world. The US – they won CONCACAF, but will have to travel 8,866 miles in 10 days in the three group stage games. Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey are grizzled veterans, as is Fort Wayne native DaMarcus Beasley. Tim Howard in net is as reliable as anyone in the world.
Nick’s Picks To Advance: Germany and the United States of America
Mike’s Picks To Advance: Germany and the United States of America

GROUP H – Belgium, Algeria, Russia and South Korea
The Scoop: There is no waffling here, Belgium is good at two things. One, making waffles. Two, playing soccer. The Belgians are currently ranked No. 11 in the world and only allowed four goals in its 10 European qualifying matches, going 8-0-2. Russia always has a pedigree and ability to do well, South Korea has potential for an upset.
Nick’s Picks To Advance: Belgium and Russia
Mike’s Picks To Advance: Belgium and Russia

Knockout Stages

Nick’s Picks In The Round Of 16:
Brazil over Netherlands; Spain over Croatia; Colombia over Italy; Uruguay over Ivory Coast; France over Nigeria; Argentina over Switzerland; Germany over Russia; United States over Belgium

Mike’s Picks In The Round Of 16:
Brazil over Chile; Spain over Croatia; Italy over Colombia; Uruguay over Greece; France over Bosnia; Argentina over Ecuador; Germany over Russia; United States over Belgium

Nick’s Picks In The Round Of 8:
Brazil over Colombia; Spain over Uruguay; Germany over France; Argentina over United States

Mike’s Picks In The Round Of 8:
Brazil over Italy; Spain over Uruguay; Germany over France; Argentina over United States

Nick’s Picks In The Semi-finals:
Germany over Brazil; Argentina over Spain

Mike’s Picks In The Semi-finals:
Brazil over Germany; Argentina over Spain

Nick’s World Cup Pick:
Germany over Argentina 2-0

Mike’s World Cup Pick:
Brazil over Argentina 3-1