2018 World Cup- TFC's Official Predictions *EDITED*
Well the squads are finalised, and with just over a week to
go, I think most of us are ready for the World Cup. I’ve spent a bit of time
(too much really) looking over the stats and different teams, and ready to
announce my full predictions. Please don’t get offended, but here is TFC’s
predictions for the Group staes and beyond.
GROUP A: Russia, Saudi
Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
With Russia guaranteed as seeds, Group A was always likely to
be the “Group of Life”, although I think Uruguay should qualify easily as group
winners. I don’t know much about Saudi Arabia at all, but I can’t see them
pulling up any trees, and Egypt and Russia will be fighting it out for second
place. I would normally back the hosts, but I haven’t been impressed with them
in what I’ve seen, so providing Mo Salah returns in time, I think Egypt will
come second.
GROUP B: Portugal,
Spain, Iran, Morocco
Not much to say here, but I think everyone will be deeply
shocked if the two European sides don’t qualify. Both were on top form in
qualifiers, but I think Spain will win the group despite Portugal being top
seeds. The only thing that I think could derail both teams is tiredness, as
many key players for both sides are likely to face long busy seasons,
particularly if Spanish clubs dominate the CL again. Iran and Morocco are very
much unknown quantities. I don’t see them challenging the European powerhouses
this time, but they’ll put up a good challenge.
GROUP C: France,
Australia, Peru, Denmark
Despite struggling at times in qualifiers, and claims that
Deschamps doesn’t play the best team to suit his players, I think France will
sail through this group as winners, quite possibly with 9 points unless they
take their foot of the gas in the final game against Denmark. If they do, I
think it would guarantee Denmark’s passage through as runners-up. The Danes
look a well-oiled machine, and in Christian Eriksen, they have a player who can
change a game in minutes. Peru, who looked impressive in qualifying, will no
doubt be fired up for their first World Cup since 1982, although I think they
could cause problems for the two European teams, I think will just fall short
this time. Finally for Australia, they struggled in qualifying and took a while
to confirm a manager, I don’t see them impressing this time, but again I don’t
think they’ll disgrace themselves.
GROUP D: Argentina,
Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
What I’d consider to be the group of death, I still think
Argentina should win this without too many problems, despite their struggles in
qualifying. Second place is harder to call, Croatia have a good side, but have
struggled at World Cups since their 3rd place debut in 1998. Nigeria
are always capable of getting a result, but may lack tournament experience
having failed to qualify for the last two AFCONs, and I think most people now
are aware of capable of what Iceland can do after Euro 2016, and they will be
confident having finished above the Croats in qualifying. Overall I think
Croatia will nick it, but it will be close.
It’s hard to see past Brazil here, who ripped up the latter
half of the South American qualifiers, as for second place, we could have an
interesting battle on our hands. Serbia, while having had great individual
players for years, haven’t been at a tournament for eight years and many of
these will lack experience due to this and might struggle. Costa Rica were the
surprise story of 2014, and because of this I think teams will be more wary of
them this time, so I am going for Switzerland for 2nd place. They
have looked solid and consistent at recent tournaments and were very unlucky
not to win their group, and OK they were very lucky in the play-offs with that
handball that will still be giving anyone from Northern Ireland nightmares for
months to come.
They might be in poor form right now, but personally I can’t
believe that people are forgetting one of the most important rules of
international football. NEVER WRITE OFF THE GERMANS! Despite recent results, I
believe the holders should win this group without any problems. I’ve always had
a soft spot for Sweden, and I’ve been impressed with the way they have
responded to Zlatan’s international retirement, despite many predicting a major
slump for them. I think they’ll just fall short in a tough group, but will
leave an impression. I wasn’t impressed with the South Koreans in 2014, and I
haven’t seen much since to make my change my mind, unless Son Heung-Min is able
to replicate last years form in Russia. I’m going for Mexico in second place,
as they always seem to navigate the group stages well, having qualified for the
last 16 in the previous 6 world cups, and the QF’s in 1986 (They were
disqualified in 1990), and have pedigree at this level.
GROUP G: Belgium,
Panama, Tunisia, England
OK, England time. Sorry peeps, but I think Belgium will win
this group, they have such a good team, and if they can find a way to get their
superstars to click, I think they could win the whole thing. As for England, I
think they’ve got a good deal from the draw. OK, I don’t know much about
Tunisia and Panama, but neither team has a player who strikes fear into me as
the likes of Mo Salah would do for Egypt, or Sadio Mane for Senegal. Like I say
I don’t know much about either of the other two countries, but that is the
great thing about the World Cup, and it means I can discover new players for
Football Manager 19!
GROUP H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan
Congrats to Poland for being seeded
for the World Cup, but I don’t think they will win the group. I was shocked how
they struggled in their 4-0 defeat to Denmark in qualifying, and while it
didn’t matter in the long term, the other three teams will remember and look at
what went wrong that night. In 2014 I developed a soft spot for the Colombians,
and I think they could impress again here in the group, especially if players
like James Rodriguez, Falcao and Juan Cuadrado, who seem to flourish on the
international stage, arrive in form. As for Senegal, while the presence of
Sadio Mane will prove a threat, I don’t think they’ll be able to defeat
Colombia or Poland, and Japan, would very much look like a team in transition
at the moment, may struggle.
1
ROUND of 16
Uruguay v Portugal, France v Croatia, Argentina v Mexico, Belgium v Poland, Spain v Egypt, Brazil v
Denmark, Germany v Switzerland, Colombia v England.
1. If this game happens, it will
inevitably be hyped up as Suarez v Ronaldo, and in this case I think Portugal
would edge past in a game I wouldn’t be surprised going to extra time, maybe
even penalties!
2. I'd expect France to win this one, but it won't be easy. Croatia are my dark horse for the World Cup so I wouldn't be surprised if they beat the French. Either way, I think this could go for the full 120 minutes, with penalties also a possibility. I'd favour France in a shoot out, purely as they are more experienced in knockout football
3. This would the third time in four
World Cups these two have played in the Last 16, and the last two times saw
Argentina emerge victorious, and I think they would again. If Argentina can get
Messi, Aguero, Di Maria and others all in form at the same time, I would be
worried to face them.
4. A game with two teams littered with
great individual talents, I think Belgium have a more all round good team to
knock out the Poles, only one place separates them in the World Rankings at
present, so this could make for an exciting match.
5. Well, well, well. A potential reunion
for Ramos and Salah so soon after the UCL final. Could be interesting to see
how the press and twitterverse spin it, but I think Spain will emerge
victorious.
6. A potential repeat of the exciting
WC1998 quarter final (one of my first football memories), Brazil should have
enough about themselves to see off the Danes.
7. Switzerland always have a stubborn defence but I think Germany will have enough about them to get past. It will be times like this where I think the Germans will find form and show off the famous ruthlessness of the Germans.
8. Here’s where I lose all creditability
as a blogger, but I think England could win this potential match up. While I
think the Last 16 would be par for England, an opponent like Colombia, who like
to attack, could be perfect for England. If the Three Lions can perfect counter
attacking, stifling the Colombian attack with a stubborn three man defence may
pay dividends.
QUARTER-FINALS
Portugal v France, Brazil v Belgium,
Spain v Argentina, Germany v England
1. A repeat of the Euro 2016 final, and
France will be out for revenge. They bottled it in Paris, and didn’t attack to
play to their advantages. Ronaldo can only carry Portugal so far.
2. I’ve touted Belgium as dark horses,
but I think the draw has done them do favours. A match up with Portugal, Spain
or even France, I’d have put them as favourites, but I think Brazil will be too
strong, but Euro 2020 or the 2022 World Cup could see them as winners.
3. I think Argentina will edge this one
(quite possibly on penalties), but they may have to look to players other than
Messi for the breakthrough, as playing against Spain will see him targeted,
either by teammates such as Pique or Busquets, or frequent opponents such as
Ramos who’ll know his game.
4. Not the Germans again! I hear you
scream, but it was probably always going to happen. They’ve played each other a
lot in friendlies, as I complained about recently, and I can’t help feeling the
Germans were purposefully not trying to give anything away in the 0-0 draw in
November. On the other hand, it could be penalties, and we know how that will
probably end.
SEMI-FINALS
France v Brazil, Argentina v Germany
1.
For
all I’ve lauded the French attack, I just feel they don’t have that one player
who can change the game like Neymar does, and while I don’t like him much, he
is a class player and I think that will be difference. Having seen both teams
during the recent friendlies, I think Brazil also have a better balanced side,
who look dangerous under Tite.
2.
On
the contrary, while Messi is in my opinion the most talented player in the
world (sorry Ronnie), I don’t think it will be enough, once again, to beat this
German unit. Sadly, I think Messi’s dream of capping off his wonderful career
with the World’s greatest prize will just fall short. The Germans, despite
recent form, have the upper hand against Argentina recently in knock-out
football and I see that trend continuing here.
FINAL
Brazil v Germany
Again, I think Germany as a squad is just too strong for the
talents of Neymar, and while he has better supporting players than his former
Barca teammate, think the Germans will become the first back-to-back winners of
the World Cup since Brazil in 1962. Hopefully, after the last few finals, it
will be an exciting affair, but not a repeat of the infamous 7-1 2014
semi-final between the two countries. As for Brazil, I think they could push
them close, but even with their strongest looking squad for some time, I think
they are just a little short of greatness right now, although with mainly of
there players still relatively young, I think by the time 2022 comes around,
they could be ready for that 6th World Cup.
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