ROUND OF 16: Uruguay 2-1 Portugal

It’s Cavani who’s grabbing the headlines for Uruguay this World Cup, his brace here steering his nation past the Euro 2016 champions and into the quarter finals, again. No magic from Ronaldo here, and on the day Messi exited the tournament, the other of those players who have had a duopoly on the world’s best player award for much of the last decade also exited. The Armchair didn’t fancy Uruguay much this World Cup, but that’s looking like a mistake…

World Cup 2018 GROUP B FINAL GAMES: Iran 1-1 Portugal: Spain 2-2 Morocco

Both dramatic games with late equalisers, but in the end the favourites came out on top thanks to VAR. But both Morocco and Iran should be applauded for the way they played, and perhaps if they weren’t drawn in a group with two of Europe’s most in-form powerhouses, things might have been different.

World Cup 2018: Iran 0-1 Spain

Spain all the way. Spain to win the day.

Spain to overcome, over-run, outclass, out play. 

Well, no way. Actually. 

Iran were impressive. A Portugeezer at the helm. With Man Utd on his CV. 

And Iran were so well drilled. An oil pun here maybe. Not necessary. 

They defended valiantly, would have equalised but for VAR. Wiped it out and Spain scraped through, but Iran have a chance, a great chance. 

Only Portugal and Ronaldo stand in their way of glory. 

Only.

The Armchair Predicted

Iran 0-2 Spain

13 and 7

World Cup 2018: Portugal 1-0 Morocco

Super harsh on Morocco to be the first team knocked out of World Cup 2018. They have entertained. They were unlucky against Iran and here too, as for great swathes they were the best team. A brave bullet header from Ronaldo, a player you might have heard of, settled the game, Narrowly. But it has to be said Morocco were really unlucky.

The Armchair Predicted:

Portugal 2-1 Morocco

11 and 7

World Cup 2018: Portugal 3-3 Spain

The Armchair is old enough and worn enough around the edges to remember World Cup 2010, during which there were next to no great games.

Russia 2018 has already served up a cracker. This goal fest draw benefited from an early goal as most games do. Ronaldo scored his first tournament free kick apparently (at the 45th attempt), and went on to secure a hat-trick. Isco was imperious. 

Costa got a couple. Pepe got stuck in. DeGea fluffed on his line. The Portuguese coach looked like he needed a cigarette. And Iran ended the day top of Group B.

A happy day for the World Cup, and for The Armchair…

The Armchair Predicted:

Portugal 2-2 Spain

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 Group B in World Cup 2018?

The World Cup Group B teams

SPAIN 

MOROCCO

IRAN 

PORTUGAL

This one is going to be close. Really close. Seriously.

Why? Because I can't think of another time when so few miles have ever separated the 4 teams in the same World Cup group.

This is how close things are:

Iran’s a little way away admittedly, but the other three are virtually neighbours. Spain and Portugal actually are. That's how close Group Be is going to B

When it comes to matters on the pitch, this is unlikely to be a close group, with a clear top two and bottom two.

Even with Ronaldo missing the tournament, which he might, you’d still fancy the Euro 2016 winners to accompany their next door neighbours Spain into the Round of 16.

Of course, both have to play each other, first up, in the first week’s biggest game, serving up a big derby early on. The winner wins the group but odds have to be sky high that this ends a draw.

Despite the winners of the last three European Championships residing in this group, I don’t see the World Cup winners coming from here. Portugaldo peaked 2 years ago, a few years after this generation of Spanish players.

BETTING:

MY PREDICTED World Cup 2018 GROUP B Finishing Positions

1:  SPAIN

2:  PORTUGAL

3:  Iran

4:  Morocco

And even if that's totally wrong, well, you've just had a free geography lesson!