2014 Fifa World Cup - Group a Preview - Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon

We kick off our series of World Cup previews, wearing African specs, with a look at Group A. Cameroon have a mountain to climb if they hope to emerge from the group stages, but for those who want to reach for some sort of hope, we've found you some.

Rally round, sports fans. It's that time once every four years when even those with just a passing interest in kickball get excited about men putting foot to a ball. Yes, even Americans will be zoning in on this soccer feast which is just two weeks away from kicking off.

If you can manage to rub your weary eyes to make it to the late kick-off, you'll be in for a treat as the world's best fight it out for a place in the knockouts. But before we get there, it's preview time. Over the next few days, we'll be running the rule over the groups and pick out some of the must-watch games.

Who is playing and the odds to advance

Group A has drawn tournament hosts Brazil with Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon. You don't have to be a football fanatic to figure out that Brazil will...