2018 FIFA World Cup Predictions: Group Stages

I know that this may seem like a pointless exercise but with the world cup a week away, I figured it would be interesting to see what people thought about who advances to knock out stages. I also realise that the majority of this forum is composed of Americans who don't have a dog in this fight this year (and as an Italian, I feel the pain) but with a decent number of underdog teams making headlines (Saudi Arabia, Panama and Iceland) it could be a pretty interesting world cup. Anyway, here go my predictions:

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay [Top 2: Uruguay and Saudi Arabia]
Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran [Top 2: Portugal and Spain]
Group C: France, Australia, Peru and Denmark [Top 2: France and Peru]
Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria [Top 2: Argentina and Iceland]
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia [Top 2: Brazil and Costa Rica]
Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea [Top 2: Germany and Mexico]
Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England [Top 2: Belgium and England]
Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan [Top 2: Poland and Colombia]

 
Most Helpful

For me its,

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay [Top 2: Uruguay and Egypt] Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran [Top 2: Portugal and Spain] Group C: France, Australia, Peru and Denmark [Top 2: France and Peru] Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria [Top 2: Argentina and Croatia] Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia [Top 2: Brazil and Switzerland] Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea [Top 2: Germany and Mexico] Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England [Top 2: Belgium and England] Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan [Top 2: Poland and Colombia]

I usually support the Azzuri in such competitions but I was surprised when they did not qualify. Also, you could make a WSO Fantasy football league or something on one of the sites of there's enough interest.

 

I feel Switzerland has a much stronger team compared to Costa Rica. Other than Keylor Navas its mostly homegrown talent who play in their own country. Nothing against them, but I feel that the European leagues are way above in terms of difficulty and technical ability.

With the Swiss team stacked with players playing in the top European leagues on paper at least they should beat Costa Rica. Another problem with Costa Rica is that their team has stagnated a bit since the last world cup since the difference makers are the same just 4 years older.

Most importantly, I think Costa Rica did so well in the last World Cup because it was held in South America where they had the full support of the crowd. Though the power of supporters in debatable and not quantifiable it does play a part just like when Japan had a very good run in 2002.

This time its in Russia and the Swiss will feel more at home/used to the conditions as compared to Costa Rica.

But its the World Cup and there are bound to be surprises where logic does not work so I may be wrong :D. Also, Egypt will only go through on the back of Salah and even that will be an uphill battle. If he does not recover in time I just don't see Egypt qualifying.

 
DeltaDecay:
For me its,

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay [Top 2: Uruguay and Egypt] Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran [Top 2: Portugal and Spain] Group C: France, Australia, Peru and Denmark [Top 2: France and Peru] Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria [Top 2: Argentina and Croatia] Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia [Top 2: Brazil and Switzerland] Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea [Top 2: Germany and Mexico] Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England [Top 2: Belgium and England] Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan [Top 2: Poland and Colombia]

I usually support the Azzuri in such competitions but I was surprised when they did not qualify. Also, you could make a WSO Fantasy football league or something on one of the sites of there's enough interest.

Croatia coming out of group D. Smart man.

“Elections are a futures market for stolen property”
 

For me it’s

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay [Top 2: Uruguay and Russia] Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran [Top 2: Spain and Portugal] Group C: France, Australia, Peru and Denmark [Top 2: France and Denmark] Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria [Top 2: Argentina and Croatia (maybe nigeria instead?)] Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia [Top 2: Brazil and Costa Rica] Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea [Top 2: Germany and Mexico] Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England [Top 2: Belgium and England] Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan [Top 2: poland and Colombia]

 

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay [Top 2: Uruguay and Russia] Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran [Top 2: Spain and Portugal] Group C: France, Australia, Peru and Denmark [Top 2: France and Australia] Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria [Top 2: Argentina and Iceland] (hard one to call between the last 3, but I was impressed with Iceland at the Euros and really hope they qualify) Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia [Top 2: Brazil and Switzerland] Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea [Top 2: Germany and Mexico] Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England [Top 2: Belgium and Panama] Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan [Top 2: Poland and Colombia]

 

I also look at the spine of the team. For me, it will be France and Germany in the final - obviously barring any key injuries. I also think Belgium is a dark horse - so much young talent. Brazil always blows their load. Argentina's center midfield is too weak. England - same deal as Brazil. Spain's style of play is too delicate to win a WC.

 

Group Stage

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay [Top 2: Uruguay and Saudi Arabia]

Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran [Top 2: Spain and Portugal ]

Group C: France, Australia, Peru and Denmark [Top 2: France and Peru]

Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria [Top 2: Argentina and Croatia]

Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia [Top 2: Brazil and Costa Rica]

Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea [Top 2: Germany and Mexico]

Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England [Top 2: Belgium and England]

Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan [Top 2: Colombia and Poland]

Round of 16

1A Uruguay vs. 2B Portugal [Winner: Portugal]

1C France vs. 2D Croatia [Winner: France]

1E Brazil vs. 2F Mexico [Winner: Brazil]

1G Belgium vs. 2H Poland [Winner: Poland]

1B Spain vs. 2A Saudi Arabia [Winner: Spain]

1D Argentia vs. 2C Peru [Winner: Argentina]

1F Germany vs. 2E Costa Rica [Winner: Germany]

1H Colombia vs. 2G England [Winner: England]

Quarter Finals

Portugal vs. France [Winner: Portugal]

Brazil vs. Poland [Winner: Brazil]

Spain vs. Argentina [Winner: Spain]

Germany vs. England [Winner: Germany]

Semi Finals

Portugal vs. Brazil [Winner: Brazil] Spain vs. Germany [Winner: Germany]

Finals

Brazil vs. Germany [Winner: Germany (probably not 7-1 though)] Third Place: Spain vs. Portugal [Winner: Spain]

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G-I the pharma guy:
Very well thought out but I disagree with Poland beating Belgium and England beating Colombia in the round of 16. I think the opposite will be true

I'm not convinced enough by my two choices there to argue with you. A lot of toss ups here. Plus, inevitably at least one of the top teams will have an atrocious showing and someone will have a dream run.

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They're a surprise team. Whilst they didn't soar through their qualification group, Mohammad Al-Sahlawi was joint top scorer for the qualifiers (16 goals). They don't have a player like Salah but if you watch their qualifiers, they defend quite well but don't waste time and linger around midfield when the other teams fails an attack - the counter fast. They may not be super tactical but they have quite a few players who shoot hard and accurately from outside the box. I think they could finish 2nd in the group but can pass.

 
juveazzurri10:
saudi arabia out of the group stage? i really dont know a ton one them, any insight on them?

SOMEONE has to finish second. I don't really believe in Russia or Egypt either

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Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay [Top 2: Uruguay and Russia] Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran [Top 2: Spain and Portugal] Group C: France, Australia, Peru and Denmark [Top 2: France and Peru] Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria [Top 2: Argentina and Croatia] Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia [Top 2: Brazil and Costa Rica] Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea [Top 2: Germany and Mexico] Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England [Top 2: Belgium and England] Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan [Top 2: Poland and Colombia]

 

A note on Lewandowski..... finished as European qualifying's top scorer, and Bayern Munich's superstar is our ("Poland's") main weapon in Russia. However, the team is much more than just one striker. Coach Adam Nawalka is a popular specialist who is building on a major success at Euro 2016, where the team reached the quarterfinals and exited only on penalties. They have a solid backbone of experienced leaders, including centre-back Kamil Glik, defender Lukasz Piszczek and midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak, who are ably complemented by rising young stars like Piotr Zielinski and Karol Linetty. It is a very promising blend that could possibly develop into worthy successors to the majestic Poland teams of the 1970s and '80s that were considered some of the best in the world.

The biggest concern and I say this as a pole some of the key players didn't have a good club season, which is especially true of Krychowiak who wasn't even a certain starter at West Brom. Arkadiusz Milik barely featured at Napoli after yet another significant injury setback, Kuba Blaszczykowski was injured for most of the season at Wolfsburg, Kamil Grosicki went astray at Hull City, while Wojciech Szczesny spent the season as a bench-warmer behind Gianluigi Buffon at Juventus. Even Lewandowski came under pressure at Bayern Munich for failing to prove his worth in the Champions League. Nawalka needs all of his stars in top form in a difficult group, and Poland might be in trouble if many of them underperform. Finding the right balance in midfield between Krychowiak and Zielinski is another major issue.

 

I agree with this. As someone of Polish ethnicity, I'm a major fan of this team, and despite them realistically not making it far, I personally have high hopes.

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 

Stole the format from CRE - Hope you don't mind.

Group Stage

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay [Top 2: Uruguay and Egypt]

Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran [Top 2: Spain and Portugal]

Group C: France, Australia, Peru and Denmark [Top 2: France and Peru]

Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria [Top 2: Argentina and Croatia]

Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia [Top 2: Brazil and Switzerland]

Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea [Top 2: Germany and Mexico]

Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England [Top 2: Belgium and England]

Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan [Top 2: Poland and Colombia]

Round Of 16

1A Uruguay vs. 2B Portugal [Winner: Portugal]

1C France vs. 2D Croatia [Winner: France]

1E Brazil vs. 2F Mexico [Winner: Brazil]

1G Belgium vs. 2H Colombia [Winner: Belgium]

1B Spain vs. 2A Egypt [Winner: Spain]

1D Argentia vs. 2C Peru [Winner: Argentina]

1F Germany vs. 2E Switzerland [Winner: Germany]

1H Poland vs. 2G England [Winner: England]

Quarter Finals

Portugal vs. France [Winner: France]

Brazil vs. Belgium [Winner: Brazil]

Spain vs. Argentina [Winner: Spain]

Germany vs. England [Winner: Germany]

Semi Finals

France vs. Brazil [Winner: Brazil] Spain vs. Germany [Winner: Germany]

Finals

Brazil vs. Germany [Winner: Germany]

Third Place: Spain vs. France [Winner: France]

 
RocketToTheMoon:
No one thinks Iran can make it out of groups? I think they may be a surprise this time around especially with their performance during qualifiers.

In any other group, maybe. With Portugal and Spain? They don't stand a chance. Maybe they'll prove me wrong.

Never discuss with idiots, first they drag you at their level, then they beat you with experience.
 

Are you guys kidding me? Denmark is obviously going through.

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay [Top 2: Uruguay and Russia]

Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran [Top 2: Spain and Portugal]

Group C: France, Australia, Peru and Denmark [Top 2: France and Denmark]

Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria [Top 2: Argentina and Croatia]

Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia [Top 2: Brazil and Switzerland]

Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea [Top 2: Germany and Sweden]

Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England [Top 2: Belgium and England]

Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan [Top 2: Poland and Colombia]

 

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay [Top 2: Uruguay and Egypt] Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran [Top 2: Portugal and Spain] Group C: France, Australia, Peru and Denmark [Top 2: France and Denmark] Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria [Top 2: Argentina and Croatia] Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia [Top 2: Brazil and Switzerland] Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea [Top 2: Germany and South Korea] Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England [Top 2: Belgium and England] Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan [Top 2: Colombia and Poland ] Group I: Chile, Netherlands, Italy, and USA [Top 2: Italy, Chile]

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Group A: Russia Uruguay Group B: Spain Por Group C: France Denmark Group D: Arg Cro Group E: Bra Swi Group F: Ger Mexico Group G: Belgium England Group H: Colombia Japan

Group of the failures (nice idea Andy): Chile then Italy

Never discuss with idiots, first they drag you at their level, then they beat you with experience.
 
RocketToTheMoon:
No one thinks Iran can make it out of groups? I think they may be a surprise this time around especially with their performance during qualifiers.

In any other group, maybe. With Portugal and Spain? They don't stand a chance. Maybe they'll prove me wrong.

Also I'm officially supporting Mexico because Italy is not in it.

Underdogs, good football, same flag colours.

Never discuss with idiots, first they drag you at their level, then they beat you with experience.
 

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay [Top 2: Russia, Uruguay] Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran [Top 2: Portugal and Spain] Group C: France, Australia, Peru and Denmark [Top 2: France and Denmark] Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria [Top 2: Croatia and Iceland] Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia [Top 2: Brazil and Serbia] Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea [Top 2: Germany and Mexico] Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England [Top 2: Belgium and England] Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan [Top 2: Poland and Colombia]

 
Finance Brah:
México wins group F!

Honestly I'm confident Germany will win it. Mexico were solid, but I expect them to struggle against Sweden. S.Korea is also very organised and tactical.

Stunning World Cup anyway, so many unexpected results. I'm gonna put 5€ on Croatia going to the final, impressive team indeed

 

As it is right now, my prediction might as well end up 100% accurate. Though if we want to be precise, Uruguay went ahead of Russia and Croatia ahead of Argentina.

I fully expect Colombia to beat Senegal in two days.

Never discuss with idiots, first they drag you at their level, then they beat you with experience.
 
neink:
As it is right now, my prediction might as well end up 100% accurate. Though if we want to be precise, Uruguay went ahead of Russia and Croatia ahead of Argentina.

I fully expect Colombia to beat Senegal in two days.

Called it.

Also Jesus Christ Japan, really? They almost blew up worse than Germany. Nonetheless, called that group too.

15/16. Fuck Germany.

Never discuss with idiots, first they drag you at their level, then they beat you with experience.
 

Depends. Argentina have been poor this Worldcup. Also the French have not exactly lit the Worldcup. I think France should be able to defeat Argentina given Argentina's weak defense (they are playing Mascherano in central defense when he's supposed to be a DM, Otamendi can become a bag of nerves if pressured while Fazio is slow) and Sampaoli being a shit coach (you are struggling to break down teams with Messi, Dybala, Aguero and Higuain on the same team while Icardi was not even selected in the squad).

But its knockout so anything can happen since even a broken clock is correct twice a day.

And if France does go onto the Quarter Finals they will face Portugal/Uruguay. If its Portugal they should be able to win but against Uruguay its going to be tough since they have a very strong defense with heavy firepower up ahead.

But if France reaches the Semis then they'll have proved they are champion material.

 

Well damn, no Germany in this world cup.

They were at the direct opposite of France, so you could've had a France-Germany final. And a pattern was being set up too.

2014 World Cup: France/Germany meet in quarter finals (German win)

2016 Euro Cup: France/Germany meet in semi finals (French win)

2018 World Cup: France/Germany meet in finals (??? win)

 
G-I the pharma guy:
There was also the following pattern in the last few WCs:
  • 2006: Italy win and don't pass group stages in 2010

  • 2010: Spain win and don't pass group stages in 2014

  • 2014: Germany win and don't pass group stages in 2018

The curse of winning...

France won 98 and got kicked out in the first turn in 2002.

Never discuss with idiots, first they drag you at their level, then they beat you with experience.
 

Alright, let's hope I'm wrong on a few of those: France over Argentina Uruguay over Portugal Spain over Russia Croatia over Denmark Brazil over Mexico Belgium over Japan Switzerland over Sweden England over Colombia

Never discuss with idiots, first they drag you at their level, then they beat you with experience.
 

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