Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon.
Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia.
Group C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan.
Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy.
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras.
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Iran, Nigeria.
Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA.
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea.
Those teams in bold are my picks to make it out of the group stages.
I don't really know anything about any of the African teams. Nigeria, I saw in the Confederations Cup. I know they won the African Cup of Nations. I wasn't overly impressed with them. I thought they looked really good going forward but were weak at that back. If they are indeed the best African team, I don't fancy any of the African countries to do much at this World Cup.
Group C - I am hoping Japan get the 2nd spot. Ivory Coast are perennial underachievers. Greece normally play dull defensive counter attacking football. Japan play nice attacking possession football so I hope they make it through.
Group E - I think it will be between Switzerland and Ecuador. Two defensive minded teams. With France still underachieving, this group be a dull group. Honduras look over-matched.
Group F - I haven't seen Bosnia play yet but I hear they play lovely attacking football but cannot defend. Sort of like Nigeria. So 50-50 between those two for the second spot in the group behind Argentina.
Group G - Know nothing of Ghana. Disappointed they didn't do more following their 2006 World Cup showing. That was a great group of players and smashing team at that time. No idea what their team is like now. Portugal have some good talent but have been underwhelming in qualifiers. Not sure about their manager. USA usually have solid but unspectacular teams. Should be a very competitive group behind Germany. Portugal are my favourite.
Group H - no idea about Algeria, Russia or South Korea. South Korea have been pretty good in recent World Cups and played some nice football so I will go with them.