Here is a complete schedule of the World Cup- listing the eastern start times for all the games, and what channel each match will be on here in the states.
We obviously don't know the knockout round match-ups yet, but even if the group stage this year has some potentially great games. Here are the 10 must-watch group stage games for the casual American follower (in chronological order):
** All matches in PACIFIC TIME (translate accordingly if you're in a different time zone) **
South Africa vs. Mexico June 11th 7:00AM ESPN
It's an early start, but worth it. Coverage will actually start closer to 6:00AM PT, for those who really want to get up early. And you should- they'll be plenty of pageantry and excitement before kickoff. It's the opening match of the World Cup, and really cannot be missed. The match is being held in South Africa's showcase stadium- Soccer City in Johannesburg. The stadium will be packed with 95,000 South African fans loudly blowing their vuvuzelas. Mexico has much more talent and pedigree than the hosts, but anything can happen with that kind of crowd support. It should be a great start to the tournament.
England vs. USA June 12th 11:30AM ABC
Easily the most highly anticipated game of the group stage, this was the first match to sell out. It figures to be the highest rated soccer match in American television history. It is the opening match for the English and Americans, and both will be looking to get off to a good start. The Americans will be sizable underdogs, but proved last summer they can play with anyone. Manager Fabio Capello won't let his team look too far ahead, but many media stories have come out about the English overlooking their first opponents. The English Captain Rio Ferdinand has been scratched from the World Cup due to injury, but that will hardly slow them down. Wayne Rooney, England's best player, is one of the 3 best players on the planet (Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo) and will be looking to have a big tournament. He is a very strong and powerful striker, capable of scoring many different types of goals, and is a great passer too. He will pose huge problems for the American defenders.
Argentina vs. South Korea June 17th 4:30AM ESPN
With the kickoff at 4:30AM PT, this might be one to tivo. But to get the true World Cup experience, you have to get up for at least one game in the middle of the night, and this is a great one to start with. It will be Argentina's second game of the tournament. The South American side is one of the biggest enigmas of the World Cup. They have the best player in the World, Lionel Messi (just put his name into youtube, you won't regret it), but have eccentric genius Diego Maradona as manager. Many experts expect Maradona to get in the way of his star, and hamper the Argentine team. He already made some questionable decisions leaving a few great players out of the World Cup squad. But Messi is so good he is capable of carrying the entire team on his back in necessary. After a tough opening match against Nigeria, the Argentine side might really need a result in this game. The South Koreans will give them a good test.
Brazil vs. Ivory Coast June 20th 11:30AM ABC
As you can see by the television channel picking up this game, this is another of the most anticipated match ups. Brazil are a popular favorite in South Africa, with fans and media alike. Many (including myself) are predicting them to win the tournament. They don't play as "beautiful" as in past years, but they are big, strong and efficient. Of course, they still have plenty of flair and skill as well. Ivory Coast is considered Africa's best hope by most observers. With many European stars, they have the pedigree to do damage in South Africa. Their biggest star, and arguably the best African player- Didier Drogba- broke his arm last week, and was feared to miss the tournament. It now appears he might be able to recover, and should be fit in time for this game. This is the group of death (with Portugal and North Korea) though, and this game will likely be crucial to both team's hopes. Also in Soccer City, the match will have a huge, passionate crowd. It's an absolute must watch, and as it's on a Sunday afternoon- there's really no excuse to miss it.
Spain vs. Honduras June 21st 11:30AM ESPN
Spain is another of the big favorites to win the whole World Cup, and this is a great game to watch them. They have several world class superstars- Fernando Torres, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, just to name a few. But their biggest strength is in how well they play as a team. They love to dominate the ball, and play attacking soccer that's very easy on the eyes. You don't even have to get up early, as it's one of the later games. Honduras will be an interesting opponent. Along with Mexico and the USA, they are the third and final representative from CONCACAF. They clinched a spot on the final night of qualifying thanks to a late goal in an American game they could only watch. As the entire country celebrated in the streets, they didn't forget that it was an American goal that gave them a helping hand. The least we could do is root for them to upset World #1 Spain. They'll be heavily over-matched, but you never know. It's worth watching just to see the amazing Spanish attack anyway.
France vs. South Africa June 22nd 7:00AM ESPN2
France is another World Cup enigma. They have so much talent, but seem to be having major chemistry and off-the-field issues at the wrong time. This will be the last day of matches for Group A, so the drama will be extremely high. It obviously depends on how the first two games go, but both teams might be fighting for their lives in this match. Will France really go out in the first round? Could South Africa's fans carry their heavy underdog team into the knockout round? We'll find out in this game. It will very likely be the last match of the tournament for at least one of these teams.
USA vs. Algeria June 23rd 7:00AM ESPN
This will be the Americans last match of the group stage, and they will very likely be needing a good result to advance. Unless they can beat England in their opener, they'll probably need a draw or win in this match to make it to the knockout round. The pressure will be high, because failure to advance from the group would be a huge disappointment for the USA team. They are more than capable of beating Algeria, but will they be able to do it with such high stakes? Call in sick to work this Wednesday morning, because this is an absolute must watch game. But really, if you're going to follow the American team, all their games are "must watches".
Ghana vs. Germany June 23rd 11:30AM ESPN
Take a short nap after the USA Algeria game, or go out and grab some breakfast- this one starts shortly after, and you won't want to miss it either. Germany is another of the handful of teams that have a chance to win the whole tournament. As always, they have a big and powerful squad, and are fully capable of going far in South Africa. With tough games against Serbia and Australia, it's possible that neither of these teams will have clinched a spot in the second round, leaving everything to play for in this clash. Ghana could have made a case for the best African team, but their best player Michael Essien will miss out due to injury. They have enough other players to have a shot at the knockout round, but it will be tough.
Holland vs. Cameroon June 24th 11:30AM ESPN
After their first two matches against Denmark and Japan, the Netherlands may have already clinched a spot in the knockout round. But their first two matches are both at 4:30AM PT, so this is the one you'll probably want to watch, and you do want to watch them. Holland are another of the around 5 teams that have a realistic chance of winning the Cup. In the 1970's they invented "total football", and always play a beautiful, attacking, flowing style, but have never lived up to their potential in the World Cup. They have lost in the Final of the World Cup twice, but never claimed the trophy. Could this be the year they finally win it all? They went on a great run in 2008's Euro Championship, if they can recreate some of that form in South Africa, they'll go far. Cameroon will likely still have much to play for in this game, and will want to be one of the African teams to make it to the knockout round. They have Samuel Eto'o, a pacy striker who plays for Inter Milan.
Portugal vs. Brazil June 25th 7:00AM ESPN
You can't have too much of Brazil on your "must watch list". In the last day of matches for the Group of Death (group G) there will likely be plenty of drama. We've already talked about how Brazil is very capable of winning the whole tournament, but Portugal will give them trouble. Although Portugal barely snuck into the World Cup, they have Cristiano Ronaldo, one of their very best players on the planet, who is capable of creating magic at any time. If you haven't seen this amazingly epic commercial (and how couldn't you have?) check it out now. It feature's a few of the players we've talked about in this preview: Drogba (in orange in the beginning), Rooney, and Ronaldo at the end. The drama at the finish, with Ronaldo about to take a critical free kick, may very well come true in the game. It will probably be close game, and at least one of the squads will likely need a result to advance. This game will be well worth getting up early for.
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