I've just checked current Elo ratings for World Cup competitors and that's how they are currently sorted. Group A (average 1695 pts) : Uruguay: 1849 (13th) Russia: 1681 (45th) Egypt: 1654 (48th) Saudi Arabia: 1596 (61st) Group B (average 1866 pts) : Spain: 2013 (3rd) Portugal: 1976 (4th) Iran: 1791 (21th) Morocco: 1686 (44th) Group C (average 1843 pts) : France: 1969 (5th) Peru: 1866 (12th) Denmark: 1820 (19th) Australia: 1718 (33th) Group D (average 1821 pts) : Argentina: 1966 (6th) Croatia: 1838 (16th) Iceland: 1791 (21st) Nigeria: 1691 (41st) Group E (average 1855 pts) : Brazil: 2096 (1st) Switzerland: 1845 (14th) Serbia: 1752 (23rd) Costa Rica: 1728 (30th) Group F (average 1857 pts) : Germany: 2089 (2nd) Mexico: 1833 (17th) Sweden: 1805 (20th) South Korea: 1702 (37th) Group G (average 1774 pts) : England: 1914 (7th) Belgium: 1909 (9th) Panama: 1656 (47th) Tunisia: 1619 (52nd) Group H (average 1803 pts) : Colombia: 1911 (8th) Poland: 1821 (18th) Senegal: 1748 (24th) Japan: 1735 (28th) And here would be the playoffs in considering winners determined by highest Elo ratings. 2nd round: Uruguay (1849) - Portugal (1976) France (1969) - Croatia (1838) Brazil (2096) - Mexico (1833) England (1914) - Poland (1821) Spain (2013) - Russia (1681) Argentina (1966) - Peru (1866) Germany (2089) - Switzerland (1845) Colombia (1911) - Belgium (1909) Quarter-finals: Portugal (1976) - France (1969) Brazil (2096) - England (1914) Spain (2013) - Argentina (1966) Germany (2089) - Colombia (1911) Semi-finals: Portugal (1976) - Brazil (2096) Spain (2013) - Germany (2089) Final: Brazil (2096) - Germany (2089)
We all know this won't happen. There is always upsets and surprise in WC and we'll see giants out much earlier than this. I can see both Argentina and Spain going out early but ultimately Germany will win. Brazil will not get revenge since Neymar is practicing against Amiens and Guingamp.
Who knows man, I do not think his personaliity is gonna change at this point in his life. He knows he had 0.0% with this team beating all odds and getting to this stage so maybe he wouldn't come in and push people around, I could see him taking a back role......to an extent. I can tell you that in the past (years and years), the current team didn't seem to be happy about Zlatan's personallity and his influence on the team. He chose to boycott the NT some years ago after the Swedish coach suspended him after a night out. During Zlatan's boycott the team beat Spain 2-0 in qualifying and had another big win (forget the country), the players basically said openly that they didn't miss Zlatan (who says that?) so I don't think he is Mr. popular and nothing should ruin the amazing spirit that got thos group this far.....My 2 cents anyway To say something about the actual draw....I said yesterday to a collegue of mine that there are only 2 teams I want to avoid, Germany, Germany, Germany as the worst and then also Brazil. Sweden can beat or draw any team but those 2 and I wholeheartedly believe that. So I knew we were getting either Germany or Brazil!! . Coming from the campaign of France, Holland, Italy...its not bad anyway. Germany takes 1st place so there is one left to fight for and I can see Sweden taking that one. Gonna be an entertaining World Cup...not often "we" get faced with Mexico
A ranking is only about using a formula in order to sort teams according to their past results, it doesn't predict the future. However, favorites are similarly determined according to their past results, so I would see that as a way to figure out who are the favorites and the challengers before the serious things really begin. As a sidenote, I was surprized to see how poorly ranked are teams of group A compared to the rest of the draw.
I think Egypt, Denmark, and Serbia will get out of their groups (compared with the elo ratings) but in terms of upsets either Mexico, Colombia or Poland to eliminate one of the heavily favoured teams in the R16 or QF.
I took a class on the Balkans in college, taught by a Serbian guy. Greece was very consciously not part of the curriculum.
Greece and Turkey are both Baltic states, the Balkans would be very different without them (considering they were the two most powerful states historically). Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey.
Asian teams have consistently under-performed at World Cups. At WC 2014, Asia was cumulatively 0W-3D-9L (-16) with all four teams finishing last in their groups. Australia was in a group of death, but Japan finished last behind Greece, Colombia, and Ivory Coast, Iran finished behind Bosnia and Nigeria, and South Korea finished behind Algeria and Russia. As to my comment regarding it being "put up or shut up" time, that is largely in repsonse to Africa endlessly agitating for more places at the WC (which they will get in 2026, going from 5 to 9) without the results to back it up. At the last three World Cups, Africa's 15 representatives have gone a cumulative 9W-10D-26L (-25). It's time for Africa to show that it is as good as it's supporters say it is.
Wow. Iran, the best AFC team in the qualifiers, got the toughest draw. Mexico the best team in the CONCACAF qualifiers, got the toughest draw. And Nigeria, the best CAF team in the qualifiers got the worst draw other than Morocco,
If there's one thing Uruguay likes is ruining the party for the hosts... And if there's one thing they don't care at all, is hostile crowds...
Russians don't care that much about football. If Uruguayan supporters are willing to meet up in a forrest or a field they do like a fight.
Modric Rakitic Mandzukic are all starters playing at high level for the best clubs in the world so not sure what you are talking about. Not sure how Mexico got in this conversation. When Croatia lost to Mexico last time they were basically playing a road game. Playing in the Amazon the game before also did not help as the team was out of gas in the second half. This time Croatia will be playing in Europe where they will have a lot of there fans there supporting.
The biggest issue with Uruguay is that they love to complicate themselves, I wont be surprise if they come as runner up. Also it wont surprise me if they miraculously beat the winner of group B at min 90
This is quite the problem... Most of people here tend to forget that the Mexico Croatia in 2014 was a must win match for Croatia after the rob against brazil and that Mexico was in the relaxing sit at the start of the game. Once we had the pressure to open the game they just finished us. But we wouldn't have to open the game that way if we were meeting them in normal conditions.
I know Uruguay is tough...i am just telling that Russia and Egypt are also more complicated than most people think. It is a tighter group than it seems.
It is interesting to read your knowledge about Croatian talent. I will just add few points. Mexico Croatia in 2014 was played in specific conditions. We were stucked in a must win match after what happened against Brazil so it can not be just simply ignored. It is not the same when you start a game in equal conditions with your opponent and when one has to win while the other one can go through with a tie and just wait for the opponent to fall under pressure and to open the game to finish them. Which happened. We beat them 6 months ago 2-1 with a team full of young players. Our team is more complete now. We got a real international gk, more depth in every fields of the pitch more fire power more experience. For me it is not only a Croatia-Nigeria story it is between both Argentina Iceland Croatia and Nigeria. Everyone has to take this group seriously cause there are multiple scenarios possible... As far as Croatia is concerned i have confidence in our team i think our time is coming and we will be ready.
I am going to be adventurous and tip Croatia to win the whole thing. Seriously what you said is very true and this is their best chance. In Europe, with no team looking that dominant. Germany might look like the best side still, but you guys have beaten Germany in competitive matches last two times you faced them, and its rare that a team wins 2 world cups in a row. You guys will top your group. Argentina has not made the full use of their talent and if the coach will continue to be stubborn about benching Dybala and leaving Higuain out entirely then he will fail. Messi can only do so much by himself. I think 1. Croatia 2. Argentina 3. Iceland 4. Nigeria Although I would really like to see Iceland advance as well.
These continental comparisons of performance for a quadrennial competition, where matchups are highly nonrandom, are frankly nonsensical. That line of thought is tangential, a dead end and adds nothing to the discussion of football. It is time for Africa to "put up or shut up" or what will happen? What country are you from by the way?
Well I just dont think so. Iceland did fairly better than you guys in Euro 2016. And the Dutch and Italians are a mess nowadays.
We all agree that Russia is with one of the best south american teams and one of the best african teams right? Now we will see if they don't go through.
I’m sorry, but anyone that expects Croatia to get out of this group doesn’t follow football outside Europe. Iceland will be impossible to beat. They will come into the last game against Croatia likely playing for a draw to go through. Nigeria are a team on a frightening ascendancy. Many will point to their 2nd half demolition of Argentina in a friendly a few weeks ago, but the game to watch is their humiliation of African champions Cameroon a few months early. Defensively organised, a fierce ball winning midfield and an attack bursting with options. Pace, trickery, power, variety. Croatia simply don’t have the tools to live with that kind of force. Oddly I suspect Argentina is Croatia’s best chance of getting anything. Comically dependent on one player - even more so that Portugal - and a player who lets face is not what he used to be. A slow, ponderous, geriatric defence starring Mascherano will leak lots of goals. Just go back to the friendly and see how Alex Iwobi toyed and toyed and toyed with them. For me, Nigeria are certain to go through from the group. Who joins them? I suspect one of Iceland or Argentina. And despite my love for Modric, I think this one is a mountain to high.