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

USA (E)
My number one pick for an upset.

Argentina (N)
Australia took it as far as they could.

Japan (E)
Gritty, never give up. Played better than Croatia and if any Asian country can make a deeper run it's Japan.

Brazil (N)
My tournament favorites. South Korea took it as far as they could.

Senegal (N)
My pick number two for an upset. England's record to fall.

France (N)
Poland will play their best match but fall short.

Morocco (E)
This one I am conflicted with, but I feel Africa will have at least one team in the 1/4 final, so I'm hedging my bet.

Switzerland (P)
Just a hunch. Feel that Portugal will overplay their hand.

 

Football to me is first and foremost about results. But it can't be just about a few results either. You have to look at everything in context, give results the highest weight, and then decide which sides were stronger or weaker. Sofascore looks at a lot of stats; FIFA/ELO look just at overall results; while tournament standings just a few results in that tournament.

 

USA (E, 2-1)
Argentina (N, 4-0)
Japan (N, 3-1)
Brazil (N, 3-0)
England (P, 2-2 before penalties)
France (N, 2-0)
Morocco (E, 2-1)
Portugal (N, 3-2)

I would like to add that I think Japan is going to demolish Croatia. It's not going to be fluky.

 

Team rankings:
1 Brazil
2 France
Won't fault either team for their last match. Two strongest teams in group phase by a mile.
3 England
Two good games, one boring as hell. Looking good though.
4 Morocco
Best team in a tough group winning it confidently. A bit restrained and unsure of its quality after 2018 in first game. Arguably best defence at the World Cup apart from Brasil.
5 Argentina
Started poorly, but looked good in second and third game. If they get the player selection right they might make the final.
6 Spain
Sorry, they played their best squad and were not sure of progressing. Japan simply outplayed them and showed their flaws. I am not convinced.
7 Netherlands
Did the bear minimum but looked good doing it. Could pull an Italy
8 Portugal
Won first game on a phantom penalty, so basically had one good game vs Uruguay. But showed the potential. Have a nagging feeling overconfidence will get the better of them.
9 Japan
Despite the Costa Rica hiccup their Spain and Germany wins were confident wins, not luck ones, unlike some of the other shock results.
10 Senegal
Confident three matches. Holland game did show some concentrations deficiencies as they lost a game they seemed to be in control off. Could be a problem if they go ahead vs England. However totally bossed Ecuador.
11 Croatia
Barely progressed thanks to a legendary series of Lukaku misses. That said looked good in all three games. Just not as good as those higher up.
12 USA
Maybe the easiest group to progress from, but they put in a good shift.
13 Germany
Don't deserve to be any higher, but best team not to make it through.
14 Switzerland
Played really well in defence vs Brasil, in general played a good game in the group.
15 South Korea
Not entirely convincing, as they progressed by beating a team that had already progressed.
16 Australia
For tenacity. Doubt they'll got any further, but wow did they fight.
17 Belgium
The quality is there, but they need more young blood. They messed up with overexperience.
18 Uruguay
Good and confident game vs Ghana. Messed up progression. Terrible players, good team.
19 Cameroon
Still not getting their due. They performed much better than expected. Song provided excellent coaching. In a very tough group they played an equal game with Switzerland, fell apart with Serbia but not as badly as Serbia fell apart as well, but played a master strategic game vs Brasil.
20 Ecuador
We underestimated them and had one good game vs Holland in team. Still Senegal showed them their place.
21 Iran
A bit dissappointed, expected them to progress.
22 Mexico
Comparatively poor Mexico side.
23 Ghana
Wasted potential and bad player selection, but had their moments. Showed they could have done better but messed up when it counted.
24 Tunisia
France was a fluke. Absolutely atrocious vs Australia. Meh against Denmark. Worst from Africa.
25 Denmark
Bad tournament by an overrated team.
26 Canada
Some promise, but not their yet.
27 Poland
Arguably the worst team to ever progress from the group phase of the World Cup. They lucked out with the group and they ways games played out.
28 Saudi Arabia
Let's face it - the Argentine win was a fluke. Second best vs Poland and Mexico.
29 Costa Rica
Beat Japan, but decidedly below other rivals.
30 Wales
Showed nothing.
31 Serbia
Decent attack but worst defence of the tournament.
32 Qatar
Zero points and worth every point...

 

England should win. Common!!!!

 

I ve seen most games of this WC, so, following John Stakes, ill do my ranking of the R16 based on what they showed, no explanation


1. France
2. Brasil
3. England
4. Argentina
5. Spain
6. Morocco
7. Switzerland
8.USA
9. Portugal
10 Senegal
11. Japan
12.Netherlands
13 Croatia
14 South Korea
15 Australia
16. Poland

 

Argentina winning 2-0 ( Both penalties )
Credit - FIFA

 

USA - blind delusional hope
Argentina
Croatia, hard to call but going with Kov/Modric to control ball despite pressure
Brazil
Senegal - Eng should win and I hope they win but think Southgate may take a too defensive approach
France
Spain
Portugal

 

Apart from Brazil's matches I am interested in Holland's match vs USA . Because I want them to win and then take out Argentina. Cant stand the argies

 

Holy shit. I feel asleep. Here quickly my picks.

Netherlands (E)
Argentina (N)
Japan (N)
Brazil (N)
Senegal (P)
France (N)
Spain (N)
Portugal (N)

 

Netherlands 1-0 up. You must be very happy
They will win in normal time

 

5 undefeated sides from 1st round

Morocco, Croatia, USA, Holland, England.

My 16

1. Brazil
2. France
3. England
4. Argentina
5. Morocco
6. Spain
7. Portugal
8. Croatia
9. USA
10. Senegal
11. Japan
12. Holland
13. Switzerland
14. South Korea
15. Australia
16. Poland

 

I'm honest. I submitted my post just one minute before Depay scored. I was still sleeping once the match kicked off.

Everybody here know that I wouldn't go against the Netherlands anyway since they were my pick to win this World Cup.

 

Best of luck against Argentina

 

Wow there. Wait until you win first!

 

He's brazilian... trying to jinx.

 

We are in for a Netherlands - Brazil semi-final like I predicted it before the tournament.

My other semi-final was England - Portugal.

I turned my back on England now by picking Senegal to win over them in a penalty shoot-out.

 

Will be eagerly waiting for that !!!!!!!!

 

France ??

 

Contrary to my pre-tournament predictions I believe it will be France in the semi-finals and not England.

Netherlands - Brazil

France - Spain/Portugal

 

Strange how Australia reached this far ....Absolutely pathetic

 

Logically you'd think so, but I believe it has more to do with instructions to play according to what needs to be done instead. I think for the majority of the subs used across all the teams in question, they still wouldn't be winning a spot on the starting team even if they played well. Unless ofcourse it's a position that's been in question.

 

what are you on about

EDIT: we have proactively let everyone here know about the hard stance that is being taken during the World Cup. No ad hominem attacks are permitted; future incidents will incur disciplinary measures. - Paul Calixte