THEY FINISHED 7TH: BRAZIL

The Armchair doesn't want to sound arrogant, but he has great difficulty in understanding those who thought Brazil would win this World Cup. Even reaching the final should not have been entertained.

The same with Germany and Argentina. They might be big names from the history of the World Cup, but none of them had shown any kind of form coming into the competition, and all were player for player weaker than at least three other big teams, Spain, France and Belgium.

Neymar did OK but is an habitual faker, and in this tournament all that fakery has caught up with them. Penalties they might have falsely earned in the past have been wiped out by VAR. The culture of diving and faking needs to change if these nations are ever to enjoy success on the world stage again.

Brazil seemed to learn that lesson in the second half against Belgium, where chasing the game meant they couldn't afford to waste time on the fakery. But Belgium outclassed them and gave them a taste of their own medicine, winding down the clock and winding up the Brazilians with a little dose of fakery.

What goes round...

World Cup Quarter Final: Brazil 1-2 Belgium

And so another former winner falls. All that remains are European teams, evidence that the continent is now the dominant force in world football, and has been since 2002, the last time a non-Euro team won the World Cup (Brazil).

Belgium's tactical switch proved a Martine Masterstroke. Not good enough to manage Everton apparently, the man has plotted Brazil's downfall, admittedly with a set of players far superior than anything seen playing in blue at Goodison Park.

Two up by half time, the second was a siege as the yellows poured forward. But Belgium poured scorn on their attempts most of the time, succumbing to header near the end. But they held on and deserved their win. Courtois pulled off save after save and their attached trio of De Bruyne, Hazard and Lukaku were immense.

The Armchair's predicted winners are still in it. And, as he predicted, they've seen off Brazil. 

World Cup Quarter Final: France 2-0 Uruguay

Oh, Cavani, where were thee? Your nation needed ye, and there you were injured.

A shadow of the team they were without you, never looked likely to score, and now homeward bound, while France dance on into the final (you need to bring more fans to the next game, though).

The Armchair predicted that France would reach the World Cup Semis and so it has proved. They never looked under threat today, though the Uruguayan keeper will not sleep well tonight, playing over and over the mistake that helped ensure his nation's hopes slipped through his fingers.

Another former winner of the World Cup gone, leaving just France and two others, Brazil and England. And the Armchair predicts we will lose another in tonight's game...

THEY FINISHED 12TH: MEXICO

And so Mexico waves goodbye to another tournament in the early knockout faces. To face Brazil was unfortunate, as the Brazilians are always strong, too strong for most world nations. What if Mexico had won their group and faced Switzerland instead? A different story, which is why that let down in their last group game will really rankle.

ROUND OF 16: Belgium 3-2 Japan

What a comeback by the team The Armchair has his money on, most of which he found down the back of his close friend Sofa. They looked on their way out, before Martinez shuffled his back, and what a transformation, from two down to three-two winners and a place in the quarters. Belgium showed a resilience that’s been missing from their last couple of tournaments. But a word for Japan who performed magnificently throughout. I guess that extra bit of quality showed. And The Armchair believes that Belgium has more quality than any other team in the competition, including the one they face next. Brazil. 

ROUND OF 16: Brazil 2-0 Mexico

The Armchair was not in front of his television for this one, or even to the side of it. But he thought it might go to extra time. It didn’t. Although Neymar’s goal has been overshadowed by his faking of pain after being trod upon on the sideline. It probably hurt an ickle but but not as much as he was making out. No wonder footballers have such a bad rep for being fakers, tarts. What about all the people in the world who suffer genuine pain all day. How does seeing some multimillionaire over-mothered footballer writhing around make them feel?

World Cup 2018 Group E FINAL GAMES: Serbia 0-2 Brazil; Switzerland 2-2 Costa Rica

The expected sometimes happens, And Brazil are always expected to get to the knockouts, but then so are Germany and we all saw what happened to them. No such disasters for Brazil, with Serbia dispatched and the group won. Serbia’s defeat left the way open for the Swiss to claim their spot which they duly did, although Costa Rica's late equaliser made it look less comfortable than it actually was.

World Cup 2018: Brazil 2-0 Costa Rica

Two late late goals sealed a game The Armchair missed as he was en route to a early summer break at Center Parcs. It was enough to take Brazil to the top of their group and condemn Costa Rica to an early exit. 

The Armchair Predicted

Brazil 3-1 Costa Rica

16 and 8

World Cup 2018: Brazil 1-1 Switzerland

Shock almost followed shock. With the champions turned over by Mexico in the match before, surely the Swiss wouldn’t deliver another form book busting performance?

Well, they very nearly did. Although after the first half hour, this looked like a thrashing was on the cards. Brazil were brilliant, summed up by the quality of Coutinho’s strike, outside the box, like he’s done many times before for Liverpool.

But as the lead failed to be extended, and as Behrami was allowed to foul Neymar to his boot’s content, the Swiss grew in confidence and it’s hard to argue that they didn’t deserve their equaliser.

The Armchair Predicted:

Brazil 2-0 Switzerland

6 right, 5 wrong.

World Cup 2018 Predictions: Who Will Win The World Cup 2018 Quarter Finals?

The Armchair has predicted the following quarter finals in World Cup 2018. And without use of tarot cards or crystal balls, sees the following happening…

World Cup 2018 Quarter Final Predictions

RUSSIA v FRANCE

Home nation nerves will be jangling. Expectation as high as a Russian cosmonaut orbiting the world. Cup fever gripping everyone from the Kremlin to the Crimea. For France, they are where they expect to be. Mixing it in the latter stages of a tournament quite a few fancy them to win. And win this game they shall. FRANCE TO WIN

SPAIN v PERU

There are always tales of the unexpected in every tournament (Iceland in Euro 2016, Brazil’s thrashing in 2014) and Peru are shaping up to be 2018’s instalment. Although people in the know know they are good enough to get here. But good enough to beat a still strong Spain? Not quite, for me. SPAIN TO WIN.

BRAZIL v BELGIUM

What a final this would have made. Two teams packed with big names and both getting into the groove in this tournament, winning their groups and their first knockout. But the draw machine has brought them together in this pick of the quarter finals. And, although it will be tighter than neutrals might hope for, it goes to extra time, and once again, Brazilian dreams are shattered by a European team. Narrowly this time.

BELGIUM TO WIN.

GERMANY v SENEGAL

Let’s remember, Germany weren’t in great form coming into the tournament, and they haven’t been brilliant during it. And by now, Senegal have been battling with Peru to become everyone’s second favourite team. There are no neutrals in the stadium. All non-Germans want to see Senegal win this. And although head has an inkling for Germany, I’m going with the heart. SENEGAL TO WIN.

World Cup 2018 Predictions: Which teams will make the quarter finals?

The Armchair World Cup 2018 predicts these will be the last 8 teams left standing in the tournament:

RUSSIA v FRANCE

SPAIN v PERU

BRAZIL v BELGIUM

GERMANY v SENEGAL

Who Will Win In The World Cup Round Of 16: Bottom half of the draw.

Predicting is thankless, and only sets you up to be shot down. So many variables in football. Injuries can transform a team’s chances. A sending off can change a game. A referee can turn a result on its head.

But here goes…

BRAZIL v MEXICO

Inconceivable that everyone’s second favourite team, unless you’re Brazilian (in which case they’re your first favourite team) won’t progress further than the Round of 16. Bad enough they didn’t win the last World Cup which was held in their back yard. To lose now….whoah. Yet Mexico won’t make it easy. BRAZIL TO WIN

BELGIUM v POLAND

The stadium awash with red and white. A corner of Russia becomes Warsaw, the Polish fans urging their team to quarter final glory. But having won their group, the Belgians have calm confidence. Their line-up is the strongest in several generations, from keeper to striker. They know this is their chance. They have seen other nations' previous so-called Golden Generations fail. They’ll not make the same mistake here. BELGIUM TO WIN.

GERMANY  v COSTA RICA

The defending champions enter familiar territory. Such a hard team to knock out in the knock outs. And where have Costa Rica come from? Geographically, Central America of course. But they were unfancied before this all kicked off. I believe this one will go to extra time. GERMANY TO WIN

SENEGAL v ENGLAND

Africa’s sole remaining representatives left in the tournament, with the backing of a continent. Against young, inexperienced, unfancied, unloved England. The team on the receiving end of boos from Russian fans wherever they’ve played. This one goes all the way to the PKs, and every Englishman knows how that ends. SENEGAL TO WIN

Who Will Win World Cup Group E?

The World Cup 2018 Group E teams:

BRAZIL 

Costa Rica

SERBIA

SWITZERLAND

Group E stands for educational. Because I believe the teams will finish in alphabetical order, with the two South American teams being propped up by their European group mates.

Brazil will win this group. They always win their group and betting against that is pure folly. Although the other 3 teams all have something decent going for them, they don’t have as much decency going for them as Brazil.

The Swiss have Shaqiri. Costa Rica have Guzman and Ruiz. Serbia has Mitrovic, Matic, Tadic and Milivojevic (the Eeeeeeeeagle!). But Brazil has Alves, Willian, Marcelo, Fernandinho, Casemiro, Coutinho, Firmino, Jesus and Neymar. To name just a few

I’m assuming all these players will be fit for the tournament of course. Even if a few aren’t, Brazil have strength in depth and World Cup experience in abundance. The others, not so much. 

World Cup Group E Betting:

World Cup Group E Predictions:

1: BRAZIL

2: Costa Rica

3: Serbia

4: Switzerland