Who Will Win The World Cup 2018 Semi Finals?

The final four are known to the world, and perhaps two are a surprise to the world. But you don't get this far in a tournament without knocking in a few goals and helping knockout a few teams.

Here's how The Armchair envisaged this stage of the proceedings would look when he entered his predictions before the tournament started:

And here's how the actual semi-final line-up looks like:

FRANCE v BELGIUM
ENGLAND v CROATIA

So, in a topsy turvy tournament in which many a big team has fallen by the wayside early doors, the Armchair was 50% correct. Not bad.

But given this new line up, how does the Armchair see these ties shaping up?

OUCH! Yes, that is the sound of The Armchair plucking splinters from its undercarriage as he rests upon the fence. He believes both ties will be close and heading into extra time. He is sticking with BELGIUM to make the final, and thinks CROATIA will make it three out of three successful penalty shoot outs. But what a great Third Place Match that will leave us with!

World Cup Quarter Final: Russia 2-2 Croatia (Croatia win on pens)

And so the hosts bow out, but much later than many imagined (not The Armchair by the way who predicted they’d get to the Quarter Finals but no further). But they so nearly did, an arrogant penalty miss and a dragged one past the post costing the nation an unprecedented semi-final place. What joy would there have been. As it was, a late equaliser sent the home fans into raptures, but for the second time, Croatia prevailed in a penalty shoot out, setting up a semi final against the new masters of the shoot out, England. 

ROUND OF 16: Croatia 1-1 Denmark (Croatia win on pens)

Two goals in the first five minutes is sometimes a starter course for multiple goal thrillers. Not so here. This one went all the way, although Modric could have abridged proceedings had he converted a late penalty. He made amends by scoring in the shoot out, eliminating a Denmark team who were, quite frankly, punching way about their weight. Schmeichel was great in goals, his dad entertaining in the crowd with his reactions. But Croatia could be the real deal in this tournament. 

World Cup Group D Final Games: Argentina 2-1 Nigeria; Croatia 2-1 Iceland

Oh, Rojo. How you saved a nation. How you got Maradona to show two fingers to the rest of the world. How you saved Messi’s international career for at least a few more days. How well you finished, but how much you denied a Nigeria team who surely deserved a place in the Round of 16. They were just minutes away, but everyone else in the group were a lot of points of away from Croatia who maxed out on point age and served to remind the world that their quality players make a quality team that’s to be feared in the knock-out phase.

World Cup 2018: Argentina 0-3 Croatia

The unravelling of the Messi legend didn’t quite happen here, but almost. The genius proved he can’t quite produce his club performance for his country. Take nothing away from Croatia though, who were epic. More epic than The Armchair could ever have imagined.

The Armchair Predicted

Argentina 2-2 Croatia

15 and 8

World Cup 2018: Croatia 2-0 Nigeria

Perhaps the first dire game of the tournament. Nigeria looked well off the pace and almost disinterested. Croatia played within themselves but their star-studded line-up proved it can win ugly.
There wasn't much else about this game to recommend it. If there was, 24 hours later, it's been forgotten.

The Armchair Predicted:
Croatia 3-2 Nigeria

6 and 2

Who Will Win In The World Cup Round of 16? Top half of draw predictions

Based on my group finishing predictions, the top half of the World Cup 2018 Round of 16 shapes up like this:

RUSSIA v PORTUGAL

Ronaldo won’t be 100%. Russia will be driven by a passionate home crowd. Portugal peaked in 2016. Russia want this really bad. RUSSIA TO WIN

FRANCE v ARGENTINA

Such a big game so early on. But to win the World Cup you’ve got to beat the biggies some time. France are angry at losing the Euro 2016 final in their own back yard. Argentina aren’t amazing. This will go to extra time though. Possibly penalties. FRANCE TO WIN

SPAIN v URUGUAY

Another classic match-up. Hard to call. Big names clashing all over the park. But Spain still has the edge. The quality. A new generation hungry to follow in the footsteps of the 2010 legends. Here’s where they start to write their own history. SPAIN TO WIN

CROATIA v PERU

Intriguing. Peru perhaps the biggest unknowns of my Predicted Round of 16 teams. The pressure will be on Croatia. Close to home. Closer to glory. They can see the lights of the quarter finals from here. But Peru are ultra relaxed. In glory land and loving it. Winning fans in Russia. And they take this to penalties. A pure lottery and pure is an anagram of the team that will come out on top. PERU TO WIN

Who Will Qualify From World Cup Group D?

The World Cup 2018 Group D teams

ARGENTINA

CROATIA

ICELAND

NIGERIA

Keep. Your. Money. In. Your Pocket. That’s my advice when it comes to this group. What a tough one to call. 

You would think Argentina would win it, but Messi never seems to have a great World Cup. Player for player, they edge their group mates and it would be a shocker for them to go out in the group stage. But, remember, they didn’t qualify for the 2018World Cup with any ease.

And as for the rest, any one of those could qualify.

Iceland will make friends all over Russia, not least for the passion of their fans. To call them underdogs does them an injustice. They were Euro 2016 quarter finalists, beating England along the way. No great feat, admittedly.

Croatia has quality players with international pedigree and I always tip them to do well in tournaments (I even predicted they would reach the Euro 2016 Final which did not happen).

And Nigeria are always a good team to watch, perhaps lacking the big name attacking players they used to have.

So how to call this. Look to the support. Geographically, Croatia are the nearest, Argentina the furthest. I’m going to go against the grain with my predictions on this one and hope the Croats justify me backing of them to win Group D! 

This one will be close though, with one, maybe two points separating the four teams.

MY World Cup 2018 GROUP D Predictions

1: CROATIA

2: ARGENTINA

3: Iceland

4: Nigeria