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"In the World Cup, there ain't no heartbreak like knockout-stage heartbreak. That's what's in store for all but one of the tournament's remaining 16 teams between now and the World Cup final on July 13. \nGroups are settled; half the initial field has been sent packing. From here on out it's bring-on-the-extra-time, brace-yourself-for-penalty-kicks, no-draws-allowed, win-or-go-home, single-elimination madness. \nThe drama begins Saturday at 12 p.m. ET, when host Brazil takes on Chile in the opening \u2014 and potentially most intriguing \u2014 match of the knockout stage. That's followed by red-hot Colombia against the Luis Suarez-less Uruguay at 4 p.m. All in all, a scintillating first day of the World Cup's harshest phase. \nSee also: Hop on the Bandwagon, America: Your World Cup Team Is Easy to Love\nHere's the only preview you need to get ready for Saturday's double-header. Check back for daily previews through the rest of the knockout stage. \nBrazil vs. Chile\nBrazil, playing on its home turf, won Group A \u2014 but not in intimidating fashion. Were it not for the brilliance of Neymar, the Sele\u00E7\u00E3o would actually be in some pretty deep trouble. But Neymar is here; he's putting on a show, and the Brazilians will only go as far as the 22-year-old's golden touch can take them. He scored four goals in three group-stage matches, meaning he's tied for the tournament lead with Lionel Messi. \n\nChile offers a stern test to kick things off. La Roja was foreseen by many as a World Cup dark horse before the tournament began, and the team hasn't disappointed. Chile finished second to the Netherlands in an extremely tough Group B, dispatching defending champion Spain in spectacular fashion. \nBut make no mistake: While Chile has high hopes of advancing, the pressure is squarely on Brazil. Bowing out at home in the round of 16 would be nothing short of a footballing disaster \u2014 and in a country where soccer rules all, it wouldn't be a huge stretch to call it a national tragedy. \nBrazil hasn't lost a competitive match at home since 1975. To keep that streak alive, Neymar could certainly use some more help from his midfield, particularly Oscar and Paulinho. Much was expected of them before the World Cup, but little has been delivered. \nBrazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is reportedly mulling a switch in the starting midfield, inserting Fernandinho in hopes that the Manchester City man can provide a spark to what's looked like a relatively pedestrian squad. \nChile, meanwhile, packs plenty of midfield might \u2014 led by Arturo Vidal, a do-it-all type who's equally fearsome on offense and defense. He plays for Italian side Juventus, and some consider him the top midfielder in European football this past season \u2014 a powerful testament indeed. He won't be at full-strength against Brazil, but is a key player nonetheless. Star striker Alexis S\u00E1nchez, meanwhile, is Chile's top threat on goal. \n\nChile's Jorge Valdivia (10) celebrates with Arturo Vidal (8) and Gonzalo Jara (18) after Valdivia scored his side's second goal during the first half of the group B World Cup soccer match between Chile and Australia in the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, Brazil, Friday, June 13, 2014.Image: Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated PressBrazil vs. Chile also offers a fascinating and wholly unique side-plot: A clash of the tournament's two most impassioned fan bases. Brazil, playing at home, has a built-in advantage, but the Chilean supporters have turned out en masse to support their side in hostile territory. \nThe Chilean contingent was easily the wildest set of fans I encountered in Brazil; some without tickets even stormed the Maracan\u00E3 stadium for La Roja's match against Spain on June 18 before being apprehended by security in the media center. Brazil-Chile may well produce the tournament's most incredible stadium atmosphere. \n\nOur prediction: Brazil turns in another less-than-spectacular performance, but still finds a way to slip past Chile, with Neymar finding the net at least once and a final score of 3-2. \nColombia vs. Uruguay\nWill Uruguay still have some bite without its disgraced and suspended star Luis Suarez? That's the question hanging over La Celeste after its best offensive threat was suspended for four months for chomping on an Italian defender on Tuesday \u2014 the third such offense he's been punished for in his career. \nAdvancing without Suarez will be a tall order against a Colombian squad that's looking as sharp as anyone in the World Cup field. Star striker Radamel Falcao was ruled out of the tournament with an injury when Los Cafeteros' final roster was unveiled \u2014 but 22-year-old James Rodriguez has been nothing short of a revelation for the squad. You could even argue he's been the tournament's most outstanding player. Check out this insane goal he scored against Japan:\n\nTo top things off, Colombia celebrates its scores better than any other World Cup side. \n\nUruguay didn't look all that amazing with Suarez. It's still a team with talent \u2014 striker Edinson Cavani gets top billing now \u2014 but his absence will be felt against a Colombian side firing on all cylinders. \nSix different players have scored for Los Cafeteros so far in the World Cup, led by Rodriguez with three goals and Jackson Martinez with two. \nExpect Colombia to keep its good thing going, and Uruguay to follow Suarez out the door. We predict a final score of 3-0 in the second match of Saturday's double-header. \n\n\nLuis Suarez Biting World Cup \n\n\n\n\n\nLuis Su\u00E1rez's new kit.. pic.twitter.com/qwUypFxTlr\u2014 Not Match of the Day (@NOT_MOTD) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n#Suarez being subbed off at the end of the game pic.twitter.com/igiu7uuXnq\u2014 Richard cracknell (@crackersTHFC) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou are what you eat, which is why Suarez is all the world's footballers. #ITAURU\u2014 Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"Looks like Luis Suarez got hungry again, he fancied some Italian meatballs\"\n\nCheers Geoff pic.twitter.com/E1oD8R6hcf\u2014 Cheers Geoff (@Cheers_geoff) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Walking Suarez pic.twitter.com/pWZX2Ls5hi\u2014 Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe hardest job in football? Being Luis Suarez's dentist, surely?!\u2014 ZOO Magazine (@ZOO) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSuarez next season #suarez #biting pic.twitter.com/YF6CwOe8OC\u2014 Martyn Jones (@JonesMartyn) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWell, at least Suarez is sticking to his #paleo diet.\u2014 Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow does Luis Suarez not burst into flames in the sunlight? #WorldCup2014\u2014 Arda Ocal (@arda_ocal) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSuarez will claim he was whispering sweet nothings into Giorgio Chiellini\u2019s ear. #ITAvURU pic.twitter.com/aFY2gJaqCU\u2014 Soccer Gods (@soccergods) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSuarez's audition tape for a role in the new Blade film. https://t.co/2zapUGT6h5\u2014 Tom (@FourFourTom) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBreaking news: Snickers to endorse Suarez. Hungry? Why wait? #Suarez #WorldCup\u2014 Brian Koerber (@bkurbs) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nComing soon.... pic.twitter.com/MraxdArhJq\u2014 Jon Snow (@JonSnowBastrd) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nShorter Suarez: \"I'm having an old friend for dinner\" pic.twitter.com/lNUPMPcwCk\u2014 Slade Sohmer (@SladeHV) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"I'd like an Italian sub.\" - Confused Suarez at Subway #worldcup\u2014 Annie Colbert (@anniecolbert) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn all seriousness someone needs to look at Luis Suarez' nutrition plan. He is obviously not getting enough lean protein.\u2014 Beast Mode Soccer\u2122 (@BeastModeSoccer) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLuis Suarez almost ready to be brought in for the post game interview. pic.twitter.com/U2hoFvAY9r\u2014 Pierre The Pelican (@PelicanPierre) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo be fair to Suarez, Chiellini does sound like a particularly nice pasta dish.\u2014 Lee Barratt (@LeeGallows) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIf FIFA doesn't suspend Suarez, make him wear the Cone of Shame: http://t.co/91uZ9hUx4E\u2014 Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAqu\u00ED est\u00E1 la mordida de Su\u00E1rez a @chiellini . Son cinco dientes marcados en el hombro del italiano pic.twitter.com/rcaVcIMqwf\u2014 Nicol\u00E1s Olea (@nicoolea) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n!!!!!!!! RT @DJGalloEtc: How Suarez sees every opponent's jersey: pic.twitter.com/RsLSEOw5Kk\u2014 chris toronyi (@christoronyi) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCONGRATULATIONS: Luis Suarez retains the award for the second successive year. pic.twitter.com/3taJZAsSMU\u2014 BBC Sporf (@BBCSporf) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAnd Suarez claims yet another hat-trick! pic.twitter.com/tEvDHHiM9N\u2014 101 Great Goals (@102greatgoals) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMight need to call in the Dog(e) Whisperer to fix Suarez pic.twitter.com/NV2kmohYiE\u2014 Jun (@JohnKelly703) June 25, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo be fair to Luis Suarez, I can\u2019t resist an Italian sub either.\u2014 Jason O. Gilbert (@gilbertjasono) June 24, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n#Suarez \"Anyone got a toothpick? I got Chiellini stuck in my teeth\" pic.twitter.com/uq3c165E2p\u2014 telegraph_sport (@telegraph_sport) June 25, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA little #Suarez humor for ya....well played - #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/7OXf0x3Zao\u2014 Anthony DiMoro (@AnthonyDiMoro) June 25, 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nImage: Imgur, digz94\n\n\n\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2014/06/28/world-cup-preview-brazil-chile-colombia-uruguay/>