World Cup: A Beginner's Guide to the Tournament

In the LA Times: A Beginner’s Guide to the Tournament

There are things on which one can count at every World Cup. That Italy will start slow in group play and come on in the knockout rounds. Or that some African nation will surprise some established soccer power, that England will fail at the moment of truth, and Spain will fail before it gets to a moment of truth

Or maybe not.

To recognize the surprises at this year’s tournament in Germany, you have to know the norms. Here’s a World Cup primer to get you up to speed…