Portland MLS 2011

Top 10 games of the group stage

While heroes, villains and legendary teams are made in the knockout stages of the World Cup, that doesn’t stop the group phase from having its own set of endearing qualities. It’s a period when even the wildest dreams seem possible, even for the tiniest of minnows. And there have been plenty of occasions when these supposed little fish have feasted on some of the bigger names.

It is this prospect of the unexpected that gives the tournament a different, though no less enticing, cadence in its early days. The lack of pressure on some of the participants can also serve to make the games more open, as opposed to the drab tactical chess matches that often ensue when the noose of increased expectations begins to tighten in the later rounds.

With that in mind, click here to view top 10 games of this year’s World Cup.