THEY FINISHED 23rd: AUSTRALIA

You expect yellow. You expect green. You expect fighting spirit. You expect ball tamp… no, no, not with this size ball. But did the Aussies really deliver this time round? They lack a poacher, someone to slam it home other than the hirsute Jedinak (ex-Palace, bit of a legend) who scored 2 penalties that helped keep Australia in it until the last game, where they came apart against Peru, and left a tournament they didn’t really set on fire the way they have in the past.

World Cup 2018 GROUP C FINAL GAMES: France 0-0 Denmark; Australia 0-2 Peru

The Armchair is aware of how much of a yawnfest the first 0-0 of the tournament was. There had to be one, and it had to involve the team The Armchair has predicted to finish the highest scorers in the tournament. 0-0 was enough to take France and Denmark through, given that Australia lost to the already eliminated Peru, who will be left wondering, what if they hadn’t skied that penalty in the first game!

They Finished 29th: Peru

Peruuuuuu. How we love your sash. How we liked your style. How we respect your fans for travelling so far, and bringing so much life to the stadia. 

But your team, in the final third, oh so disappointing. 

You can’t help thinking if only they’d scored that penalty in their first game. Blasted way, way over the bar. 

If ever a nation needed a poacher, someone to finish their often excellent play with a goal, Peru is that nation. 

But as a nation, they have made their make, and won many admirers, but alack have failed to win any games. 

World Cup 2018: France 1-0 Peru

Armchair regulars will recognise how difficult their host is finding watching these 4pm kick offs. 

The winner in this was scrappe by Mbappe and condemns a team I had high hopes for to an early exit. 

Peru’s fans have really made an impact in this World Cup, even if their team has let them down on the pitch. 

They have travelled in massive numbers, some 40,000 at this game, with some even giving up their jobs to watch their team. Now that’s commitment. The Armchair wouldn’t even give up his seat to watch his team. 

France won this, and have gone through, but have yet to do anything in this tournament worthy of note.

The Armchair Predicted

France 2-1 Peru

15 and 7

World Cup 2018: Peru 0-1 Denmark

Alumni from the Chris Waddle school of penalty taking showed up here and pretty much punctured Peruvian confidence with such a massive miss.

The Armchair had Peru to win this and surely if that pen had been converted, they would have. But such a miss shattered the South Americans and despite the fantastic level of support - they massively outnumbered the Danes despite the latter being so much closer -  I fear Peru will not not make the knockout phase.

The Danes were nothing special, save for the Schmeichel wall in goal.

The Armchair Predicted:

Peru 2-0 Denmark

5 and 2

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? 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 Win World Cup 2018 Group C

The World Cup 2018 Group C teams

AUSTRALIA

DENMARK

FRANCE

PERU

C rhymes with easy, sort of. And France with advance. In short, France should advance with ease from Group C's fixtures. That's poetry, that. Expectations will be high that les bleus serve up a hat-trick of victories in a group that’s theirs to lose. That isn't poetry, that.

Peru rhymes with woo-hoo and I’m thinking they could have something to celebrate. Why not them beating Australia and drawing against Denmark and going through on goal difference.

Denmark rhymes with When, Narked (yes, the idea is straining a little now), but the Danes will be feeling the pain of group stage exit I fear. Can't see them beating anyone in this group. A couple of draws and a loss to France.

Australia rhymes with nothing relevant, and I fear nothing is what the Aussies will leave Russia with. Always plucky and with no real opportunity to partake in ball tampering, it’s unlikely the green and golds will be winning any gold on the green fields of Russia.

My World Cup 2018 Group C prediction

1: FRANCE

2: PERU

3: Denmark

4: Australia