We need to produce an article for keyword "World Cup Bracket 2014". Use context when useful but not required. Must be 600-900 words. Use only safe HTML tags: h2, h3, p, ul, ol, li, strong, em. No markdown fences. No other tags like div, span, etc? The instruction: "Return only safe HTML using h2, h3, p, ul, ol, li, strong, and em tags." So only those tags allowed. Must not include other tags like header, footer, etc. Use natural headings. Must be SEO-friendly. Avoid unsupported claims. Must not mention AI-generated. We need to write article about World Cup Bracket 2014 (the bracket of the 2014 FIFA World Cup). Provide factual info: tournament held in Brazil, groups, knockout stage, bracket details, results, final etc. Use headings (h2, h3). Use paragraphs. Use lists maybe for group standings or knockout matches. Use strong for emphasis. Use em for italics maybe. Word count 600-900 words. Let's aim ~750 words. We must not use any other tags. Ensure we close tags properly. Let's draft. We need to ensure we don't accidentally use other tags like
. Not allowed. So we must rely on paragraphs for line breaks. We'll start with h2 title maybe "World Cup 2014 Bracket Overview". Then sections: Introduction, Group Stage Summary, Knockout Stage Bracket, Key Matches, Final and Legacy. We can use h3 for subsections. We need to avoid unsupported claims: stick to known facts. Let's craft about 750 words. Count words roughly. We'll write and then approximate. Let's write:

World Cup 2014 Bracket Overview

The 2014 FIFA World Cup took place in Brazil from June 12 to July 13, featuring 32 national teams divided into eight groups of four. The tournament followed a traditional format: a round‑robin group stage followed by a single‑elimination knockout bracket. This article outlines the structure of the 2014 World Cup bracket, highlights the path each team took, and notes the most memorable moments from the competition.

Group Stage Format

Each group played a round‑robin where teams earned three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss. The top two teams from each group advanced to the Round of 16. Tie‑breakers were applied in the order of goal difference, goals scored, head‑to‑head points, and fair play points.

Group Standings and Qualifiers

Below is a summary of the teams that secured the first and second places in each group:

Knockout Bracket Structure

The Round of 16 matched the group winners against the runners‑up from other groups, following a predetermined bracket:

  1. Match 1: Brazil (A1) vs Chile (B2)
  2. Match 2: Colombia (C1) vs Uruguay (D2)
  3. Match 3: Netherlands (B1) vs Mexico (A2)
  4. Match 4: Costa Rica (D1) vs Greece (C2)
  5. Match 5: France (E1) vs Nigeria