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

I messed up with my predictions this time.

Wales and Mexico look in retrospect like my worst picks.

I have still hope that a couple of things will turn into my favour on matchday 3 but there is no way I will finish anywhere better than in the middle of the table.

 

I missed the user pipinogol. So here again the table.


1. monster- exodia____12________________________________10
2. pipinogol__________11_________________________________9
2. Viking Lord_________11________________________________9
4. The Special One____11________________________________8
5. Testator___________11________________________________5
6. Nani_17___________10________________________________8
7. brasileiragem_______10________________________________7
7. thewitness_________10________________________________7
7. Xylophone_________10________________________________7
10. Gibraldo__________10________________________________6
10. Hayaka___________10________________________________6
10. Jon Stakes________10________________________________6
10. tudobem62014_____10________________________________6
14. Iranian Monitor_____10________________________________5
15. Fancy Suspect______9________________________________9
16. almango___________9________________________________8
17. ineedanewname_____9________________________________7
17. Mean Machine______9________________________________7
17. Patoeber___________9________________________________7
20. Christina99_________9________________________________6
20. faiyez_____________9_________________________________6
20. theaub_____________9________________________________6
23. GPisco____________9_________________________________5
23. Kamtedrejt_________9_________________________________5
23. mfw13____________9_________________________________5
23. unclesox__________9_________________________________5
27. HomietheClown_____9_________________________________4
27. Noahgghhujjjnbb____9_________________________________4
29. glennaldo_sf_______8_________________________________5
29. Nico777___________8_________________________________5
31. AIL1998___________8_________________________________4
31. Cosmin10__________8_________________________________4
33. FOX4LIFE__________8________________________________3

 

Very fine margins between successful and failed group stage predictions. Best case scenario for me personally would be that:

*Ecuador gets points against Senegal
*USA wins against Iran
*Argentina and Saudi Arabia win against Poland and Mexico respectively
*Denmark beats Australia, while Tunisia doesn't do the same vs. France
*Germany wins against Costa Rica, while Spain wins against Japan
*Croatia doesn't bottle it against Belgium. Canada is a lost cause.
*Switzerland gets points against Serbia
*Uruguay beats Ghana, while South Korea doesn't beat Portugal and get a better GA

15/16 is my maximum and none of the above seem "theory only" scenarios. But things could just as easily end up with very few correct predictions. I would be particularly happy if I nailed the Group C one...

 

A lot of people rightfully felt good about Morocco.

 

He missed the AFCON. Part of the reason they didn't do well. Speaking of that I see parallels between Ghana 2006 and Ghana 2022.

2006 and 2022 Ghana do poorly at the AFCON going out in the first round.

2006 and 2022 Ghana end up in a tough WC group and are the least favored team.

2006 and 2022 Ghana lose opener to the top seed Italy and Portugal. Italy goes on to win WC, will Portugal ?

2006 and 2022 Ghana wins second match.

2006 Ghana wins third match makes the 2nd round and plays Brazil.

2022 if Ghana makes it through, they most likely will play Brazil again in the 2nd round.

 

My pre-tournament predictions saw Ecuador getting eliminated in the group stage while Uruguay made it to the Round of 16.

I see now the roles being reversed. I expect Ecuador to hold on on 2nd place in Group A while I don't have much faith in Uruguay to get a win over Ghana. And that's based on what these teams have shown so far on the pitch at this World Cup.

Either way in a cycle where CONMEBOL has been on downward trajectory it doesn't make any sense at all if all four CONMEBOL teams would advance. Only way I could see Uruguay advance is if the occasion gets to Ecuador and they lose to Senegal.

 

Ghana and Senegal must have best World Cup history from African countries.

 

Thanks. Given your record, now I have hope.

 

You're welcome.

 

I have hope because Senegal over Ecaudor!

 

How many people actually picked Senegal to advance ?

Very few.

Many people switched to Ecuador after Mane's injury.

 

I stuck with Senegal. Clearly better team, even without Mane. People were just "confederation" betting.

 

Also missing Bouna Sarr, right back who was their 2nd best player at the afcon.

Kouyate also injured.

 

Kouyate is likely back for 1/8 final. But Gana out.

But Papa Gueye is like a carbon copy young Gana.

Will be interesting to see England outmuscled in midfield.

 

The majority stuck to Senegal regardless of Mane's injury. 19 of 33 members here predicted Senegal to advance.
That equals still solid ~ 57.6%

 

Updated standings prediction contest after todays's results


__________________________Teams correct to advance_______Teams in correct order

1. monster- exodia_________13__________________________11
2. The Special One_________11__________________________8
3. Hayaka________________11__________________________7
4. unclesox_______________11__________________________6
5. Jon Stakes_____________11___________________________5
6. HomietheClown__________11__________________________4
7. Nani_17________________10__________________________8
8. brasileiragem____________10__________________________7
8. glennaldo_sf_____________10__________________________7
8. thewitness______________10___________________________7
11. AIL1998_______________10___________________________6
11. Gibraldo_______________10___________________________6
11. Iranian Monitor__________10___________________________6
11. Kamtedrejt______________10__________________________6
11. Xylophone______________10__________________________6
16. Noahgghhujjjnbb_________10__________________________5
17. Testator________________10__________________________4
18. Fancy Suspect___________9___________________________9
19. ineedanewname__________9___________________________7
19. Patoeber________________9___________________________7
19. pipinogol________________9___________________________7
19. Viking lord_______________9___________________________7
23. faiyez___________________9___________________________6
23. Nico777_________________9___________________________6
23. theaub__________________9___________________________6
26. mfw13__________________9___________________________5
26. tudobem62014___________9____________________________5
28. almango________________8____________________________7
29. Mean Machine___________8____________________________6
30. Christina99______________8____________________________5
31. FOX4LIFE_______________8___________________________4
31. GPisco__________________8___________________________4
33. Cosmin10________________8___________________________3

 

The winners of the day____________________Places won


- HomietheClown_____27 => 6______________21
- glennaldo_sf________29 => 8______________21
- AIL1998___________31 => 11______________20
- unclesox__________23 => 4_______________19
- Kamtedrejt_________23 => 11______________12
- Noahgghhujjjnbb____27 => 16______________11
- Hayaka____________10 => 3_______________7



The losers of the day______________________Places lost


- pipinogol____________2 => 19_____________17
- Viking lord___________2 => 19_____________17
- tudobem62014_______10 => 26_____________16
- Mean Machine_______17 => 29_____________12
- almango____________16 => 28_____________12
- Testator_____________5 => 17______________12
- Christina99__________20 => 30_____________10


As you can see nothing is set in stone. The standings are highly volatile and can change after every matchday.

 

And it was a well deserved red.

Also I think generally overall they aren't giving penalties as easily as before, which is a very good thing.

 

Although Messi, Ronaldo and Lewandowski all got a stinker penalty a piece.

 

10 penalties so far (2 missed). In 2018 we had 16 penalties scored (probably a few more missed), so no not more. Significantly less than in Russia.

No own goals so far! (We had 12 in 2018).

 

France, Brazil and Portugal all have 6 pts and are guaranteed of qualifying (and strongly favoured to win group with superior goal difference).

They all play opponents with 1 pt in final match.

Will that be a benefit for Tunisia, Cameroon and Korea who need a win in final game? Can any of three pull it off? All three will be fighting for life, while group winners will be just playing for 9 pts.

 

Of the three I think South Korea has the best chance to pull an upset. Portugal are kind of notorious for just phoning it in unless their backs are against the wall, and the Koreans have some offensive firepower. I see a 2-1 Korean win.

 

I expect the same from France TBH.

Brazil - unfortunately for Cameroon - is least likely to phone it in.