My 2022 World Cup Group Stage Predictions: What do you think?

Group A
1. Netherlands
2. Ecuador
3. Senegal
4. Qatar

Before Sadio was ruled out I had them over Ecuador. I don’t really see Qatar getting a win in this group maybe a draw or 2. Netherlands will steamroll through.

Group B
1. England
2. Wales
3. Iran
4. USA

Englands the easy pick here to top the group. I don’t think the US can muster up a good performance this time around to make it through. I gave Wales the slight edge over Iran to make it through.

Group C
1. Argentina
2. Mexico
3. Poland
4. Saudi Arabia

No brainer to pick Argentina to top the group. Mexico will turn up and make it through although I wouldn’t put Poland that much behind them.

Group D
1. Denmark
2. France
3. Tunisia
4. Australia

I don’t think France will get knocked-out, I think the WC curse will manifest itself in them dropping points to Tunisia and/or Australia and narrowly making it. But hey maybe the World Cup curse continues, we’ve been wrong before.

Group E
1. Germany
2. Spain
3. Japan
4. Costa Rica

Hard to see Germany or Spain not making this group, they could easily swap positions. Although I see Japan being the team that steals points from either of the 2.

Group F
1. Croatia
2. Belgium
3. Morocco
4. Canada

I don’t see Canada or Morocco posing much of a threat, but I see Belgium dropping the ball and losing to Croatia missing out on 1st.

Group G
1. Brazil
2. Serbia
3. Switzerland
4. Cameroon

Brazil the easy pick here, but I’ll take Serbia over Switzerland here.

Group H
1. Uruguay
2. Portugal
3. South Korea
4. Ghana

Tbh Portugal can easily top the group, I don’t see South Korea or Ghana making an impact other than stealing a point from Uruguay or Portugal.

 

Ok, for reasons of easier visibility I repeat it.

14/16 in common. You have Ecuador and Iran making it.

I got Senegal and Wales making it.

 

According to your score predictions finishes with 5 points not 3.

 

Those of you talking about the weather as a factor are aware that all 8 stadiums are enclosed and air-conditioned, right?

The conditions will probably be cooler than a lot of venues were in Russia, and certainly cooler than most in Brazil.

 

We got 14/16 teams in common.

You picked Ecuador and Belgium.

I picked Senegal and Morocco.

I realise now you have no Asian and no African team in the Round of 16? Hmm

Football doesn't belong only to Europeans and South and North and Central Americans.

 

Group A
Netherlands
Ecuador

Originally I had Senegal, but I changed it after Mane's injury. I still think that Ecuador is going to lose the opener because I don't see Qatar wasting trillions just to get humiliated.

Group B
England
Iran

A little bit of uncertainty here, by football arguments I would put bet on Iran
making his first knockout round appearance, but I don't know how much of an impact the political side of things will have here. They could be really inspired and make an epic participation, or lose the three games.

Group C
Argentina
Mexico

Most predictable group for me, Argentina easily tops the group and Mexico will show up like they always do in the group stages and then find a new and creative way to lose the R16

Group D
Denmark
Australia

My boldest pick here, I'm betting all my savings on the champions curse. Australia and France tie in the opener, Denmark beats France for the third time in a row, and then France gets the KO hit by Tunisia. Although, I think the chances of seeing an Argentina-France rematch are way too high.

Group E
Spain
Germany

Don't really think that Japan is going to get through over one of Spain, Germany. I don't see Costa Rica winning any game, but I doubt they are going to go pointless at this world cup.

Group F
Croatia
Morocco

I think Belgium is going to be the team that is going to be the top team that fails to get out of the group this time. Croatia vs Belgium in M3 is going to be spicy

Group G
Brazil
Serbia

I think Serbia is going to get their revenge against Switzerland and going through. Brazil manages to top the group as always.

Group H
Uruguay
Portugal

Won't comment anything on this one. Bring on Santos ball!

 

I realize that, we agree on 14/16, and tbh I was gonna go with Iran over Wales the difference is minimal. Senegal could easy still make it through as well I’ll concede this one is a bias pick plus with Sadio Mane out it helps. Other than that it’s hard to see Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Cameroon, Ghana coming out of those groups. With that being said Japan, Morocco, South Korea and Tunisia are teams that I see causing upsets in their groups i don’t dismiss them as fodder teams who don’t stand a chance against European and SA teams.

 

I'm all for math, and I consider myself a "numbers guy" but way to many variables and nuances in Sport for math to have much of a say. Also it seems like when inputting numbers, Oxford was using 2018 numbers for Belgium, because making the finals is definitely not going to happen. I mean I don't have a crystal ball, but their odds I truly believe are roughly the same as perhaps like a Croatia or Uruguay. Still good teams but not make the final kinda teams. That defensive line is just past it, that simple honestly.

 

I think you meant Croatia, but yeah those are tough decision's and almost coin flips. I now actually am leaning towards Serbia over the Swiss but that's neither here nor there.

 

I just posted it because it had Iran advancing I'm rooting for a Brazil-Portugal final or an Argentina-Portugal one.

 

I think you mean France. You are right and it seems they will overcome the curse after all

 

I think Tunisia are underrated but the match you allude to was a closed door training scrimmage, not supposed to be even an official international friendly. Iran used two 22 players and 2 entirely different lineups in each half. You are limited to 6 substitutions in official friendlies.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-wo...iran-loss-ahead-fifa-world-cup-opener-england

 

Even a highly respected sports data company like Gracenote has put out this forecast.
Belgium's Elo rating is pretty high and in their path only Brazil has a higher one. Nobody is actually expecting Belgium to make such a deep run.

 

Contenders

1. Brazil
2. Portugal
3. Argentina
4. France
5. England
6. Germany
7. Spain
8. Holland

Dark Horses

9. Belgium
10.Denmark
11. Serbia
12. Croatia
13. Uruguay
14. Morocco
15. Senegal
16. Japan
17. Switzerland

Average WC teams

18. Canada
19. USA
20. Ghana
21. Iran
22. Mexico
23. Poland
24. Tunisia
25. Wales
26. South Korea

Below Average WC teams

27. Ecuador
28. Australia
29. Saudi Arabia
30. Cameroon
31. Costa Rica
32. Qatar

 

Funny how so many people are picking Ecuador over Senegal just because of Mane, when Senegal is just a far superior team.

Estupinian and Moses Caciedo are the only 2 players who could start for Senegal.

and its not even like Ecuador has been playing well, they've been crap for quite a while.

 

I'm not picking who will go through just going to do my percentages, there are far too many random things which can easily alter the outcomes, so I stick with just posting odds. I guess you could call my top odds the picks

Holland 80%
Senegal 50%
Qatar 40%
Ecuador 30%

England 65%
USA 50%
Iran 45%
Wales 40%

Argentina 90%
Mexico 40%
Poland 40%
Saudi Arabia 30%

France 70%
Denmark 70%
Tunisia 35%
Australia 25%

Germany 75%
Spain 70%
Japan 45%
Costa Rica 10%

Belgium 60%
Croatia 55%
Morocco 50%
Canada 35%

Brazil 80%
Serbia 55%
Switzerland 45%
Cameroon 20%

Portugal 70%
Uruguay 55%
Ghana 45%
S. Korea 30%

 

So for possible upsets it's these 3 for me

Morocco
Japan
Ghana

 

Also before I said either Brazil or Argentina will win.

I'm adding Portugal to that pool. I'm fairly certain the winner will be one of those 3. I can't really see anyone else to be honest.

Call them super contenders.

 

I can’t see anything but a Netherlands & Senegal top 2. Ecuador are heavily reliant on their home advantage and are a young side.

 

They’re a good side, they were pretty much perfect in qualifying, I have them progressing ahead of Switzerland who are a very good side too.

 

Yeah people are way too reactionary. For me there is still enough of a gap in order to stick with Senegal.

 

They will entertain in Qatar. It's the best Serbian team since quite a while. In terms of squad strengh but also in terms of how passionate they are to play for the national team. This wasn't always the case with serbia.

They will make it out of the group and have a very close encounter with Portugal in the Round of 16.