please log in to view this image 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP Group C Venue: Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte Date: Saturday 14 June Kick-off: 17:00 BST Coverage: BBC TV, Connected TV, BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Sport website TEAM NEWS Colombia lost Radamel Falcao, Edwin Valencia, Luis Perea and Aldo Ramirez to injury before the World Cup and Fredy Guarin is suspended on Saturday. Falcao's absence means either Carlos Bacca or Jackson Martinez will partner Teofilo Gutierrez up front. Greece will assess defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who missed their last two friendlies with a muscle problem. Coach Fernando Santos must decide if Kostas Mitroglou is ready to start after recovering from a knee injury. Santos will have midfielder Panagiotis Tachtsidis available after he recovered from the shoulder injury he picked up in training this week. MATCH PREVIEW A good start is imperative at a World Cup, as both Colombia and Greece have discovered to their cost. In their four previous campaigns, Los Cafeteros (the coffee growers) have lost their first match three times - on each occasion failing to make it past the group stage. The Greeks, who have never progressed to the knockout phase, have been beaten in both of their opening games. Greece's hopes of avoiding an unwanted hat-trick rest chiefly with their miserly defence. They kept eight clean sheets in qualifying - more than any other European side - and also held Portugal and Nigeria to goalless draws recently. However, goalscoring has been problematic for Fernando Santos' side, who went three games without netting until beating lowly Bolivia 2-1 in their final warm-up. Should the Greeks opt to "park the bus" in Belo Horizonte, Colombia may have just the man to break through the gridlock. Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca is a late bloomer who worked as an "ayudante" (akin to a bus ticket collector) on Colombia's Caribbean coast before belatedly turning professional. The 27-year-old scored 21 club goals this season and will challenge Jackson Martinez, who in turn netted 29 times with Porto, for a starting spot. One of them will have the unenviable task of trying to fill the shoes of Radamel Falcao, who scored nine of Colombia's 27 goals in qualifying. Los Cafeteros still boast plenty of attacking options, but the loss of Luis Perea, Edwin Valencia and Aldo Ramirez has exposed a lack of depth in central midfield and central defence. Jose Pekerman's side boasted the best defensive record in South American qualifying, conceding just 13 times in 16 games, and they have lost only two of their last 20 games (W12, D6), beating Belgium and drawing with Brazil and the Netherlands. However, performances have dipped slightly in the last 12 months, and they were unconvincing in recent draws against Tunisia and Senegal, meaning Colombia approach their first World Cup game for 16 years with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head The only previous meeting between the sides was a friendly in New York on 5 June 1994 which Colombia won 2-0. Colombia Los Cafeteros have lost eight of their 13 World Cup matches (W3, D2). However, in those games they averaged 58% possession and 85% pass completion - the highest figures of any nation at a World Cup since 1966 (minimum of 10 games played). Colombia had more shots on target (99) than any other team in South American qualifying. Of those, 29 were from Falcao. The four strikers they have taken to Brazil managed a combined total of 23. If Colombia's reserve goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon plays in Brazil he will become the oldest man to feature at a World Cup finals, breaking Roger Milla's record. Mondragon, who turns 43 on 21 June, was an unused squad member at the 1994 World Cup and played once at the 1992 Olympics. There have been 10 red cards in Los Cafeteros' last 12 matches - three for them, seven for their opponents. Their final four friendly matches prior to Brazil all featured one red card. Colombia were awarded fewer corners (62) than any other South American side in qualifying. Greece The Greeks have failed to score in three of four games since qualification (W1, D2, L1), with their only goals coming in a 2-1 win against Bolivia on 6 June. Forward Georgios Samaras has failed to score in 16 games for Greece since netting in the 4-2 defeat to Germany at Euro 2012. Greece have lost both previous World Cup encounters with sides from South America, conceding six and scoring none in the process. Both those games were against Argentina. Three of the five goals Greece conceded at the 2010 World Cup came from set-pieces. please log in to view this image 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP Group D Venue: Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza Date: Saturday 14 June Kick-off: 20:00 BST Coverage: ITV, BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Sport website, highlights on BBC TV and Connected TV TEAM NEWS Uruguay's talismanic striker Luis Suarez is back in full training after knee surgery but is not under consideration to play. Diego Forlan will deputise for him having recovered from a stomach complaint earlier in this week. Costa Rica are expected to start with Joel Campbell up front, with Alvaro Saborio ruled out of the tournament. Michael Umana and Junior Diaz have both been suffering with flu this week and will be assessed. MATCH PREVIEW Injuries have dominated the build-up to events in Fortaleza. Luis Suarez's knee injury has rightly hogged the headlines, yet Costa Rica head coach Jorge Luis Pinto has lost four of his intended 23-man squad, including Everton's Bryan Oviedo and Alvaro Saborio, their top scorer in qualifying. There is no doubt Suarez's absence is the biggest loss to the game. The Liverpool striker lit up the Premier League this season and his eagerly-awaited return to the world stage four years on from his impressive - albeit controversial - appearance at the 2010 World Cup will have to wait that little bit longer. Diego Forlan, Player of the Tournament as Uruguay finished fourth in 2010, is favourite to deputise for Suarez. Forlan is now 35, and head coach Oscar Tabarez has said: "Age affects things like speed... but Forlan is still a very big part of this team, bringing his experience, presence on the pitch and great shooting skill." Uruguay were the winners the last time Brazil hosted the World Cup, back in 1950. They are only here this time around thanks to a play-off victory over Jordan, having spluttered their way through South American qualifying. They also needed a play-off to qualify for the finals in South Africa, beating Costa Rica 2-1 over two legs. The Ticos, as they are known, have not forgotten that heartbreak and are out for revenge. Only eight countries have ever won the World Cup, and Costa Rica find themselves up against three of them in Group D. That, though, does not unduly concern head coach Jorge Luis Pinto: "We respect England, Italy, and Uruguay. But they should know that we can play football too.... the braver the bull, the better the bullfight." MATCH FACTS Head-to-head Uruguay have never lost to Costa Rica in eight previous meetings (W6, D2). Le Celeste beat Costa Rica 2-1 in a play-off to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals. Uruguay head coach Oscar Tabarez won his only previous meeting with Costa Rica head coach Jorge Luis Pinto at international level. Taberez's Uruguay beat Pinto's Colombia side 1-0 in 2008. Uruguay Uruguay won the only previous World Cup held in Brazil, defeating the hosts in 1950. Oscar Tabarez has been in charge of Uruguay since February 2006, the longest duration of all 32 head coaches involved in this year's World Cup. It is 44 years since a coach other than Tabarez guided Uruguay to a win at a World Cup finals. Edinson Cavani (25) and Luis Suarez (31) scored 56 goals between them at club level this season. Diego Forlan has scored three of Uruguay's last five goals at the World Cup. Costa Rica Costa Rica have won two of their three opening games at World Cup tournaments: 1-0 v Scotland in 1990 and 2-0 v China in 2002. The Ticos have lost all three previous World Cup meetings against South American opposition, conceding nine goals in the process. Costa Rica have won only three of 10 previous World Cup finals matches (D2, L5). The injured Alvaro Saborio top scored for Costa Rica in qualifying with eight goals, five more than any team-mate. The Ticos conceded only seven goals in 10 games during the final phase of CONCACAF qualifying.
Looking forward to Colombia (just scored as I speak...) watch out for Juan Cuadrado, a stunning talent. Back Colombia HT/FT, or -1. They are way, way too quick and skilful for a cumbersome Greek backline.
Greece far too negative, let's hope we are left with attacking teams. Great World Cup so far and loads of goals.
You missed Ivory Coast vs Japan 2am kick off here but Day 3 over there. Can't believe I am going to be up till 4am watching football, bloody fantastic isn't it.
