THEY FINISHED 5TH: RUSSIA

What a start. 5-0 against anyone in your home World Cup campaign is going to get people excited, dreaming big. And that’s what Russia did. Rated as close to hopeless by many before the tournament started, they proved so much to so many and were so close to going one better.

But this will be regarded as a successful performance by the Russian teams. No big names, for sure, but big hearts all over the park, and big support from the stands. The Armchair salutes the home side and looking at his predictions before the tournament can say with confidence ‘I told you so.’

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: Spain 1-1 Russia (Russia win on pens)

If there’s one thing The Armchair has learned in all his years of tournament blogging, it’s always  expect the hosts to do a little better than their ranking would dictate. And Russia came into their tournament as the lowest ranked team of all the competing nations. Now, having beaten many people’s favourites, Spain, they won’t end the tournament in such a lowly position. Spain were disappointing here, their goal an own goal and their play too lateral to break down a Russian side given such an impetus by the vociferous home crowd. They bought a ticket for the lottery of penalties and hit the jackpot. 

World Cup Group F FINAL GAMES: Mexico 0-3 Sweden; Germany 0-2 South Korea

What the! Eh! That simply doesn’t make sense. No, no, not Germany going out to South Korea, but the fact that Group F finished up before Group E. What happened there alphabetically? It was all going so well. Such things get The Armchair twitching on his cushion. Now what about these two results. Maximum pointed Mexico going down to Sweden and then the holders, the invincible Germans who always make it through the Group Stage being turned over by South Korea. No one expected that, and it’s this kind of thing that’s helping make Russia’s World Cup a real classic.

World Cup 2018 GROUP A FINAL GAMES: Uruguay 3-0 Russia; Saudi Arabia 2-1 Egpyt

The qualifiers from this group were already decided before this final set of games. The only thing at stake, who would top the group. And with Russia reduced to ten men early doors, the path was cleared for Uruguay, and they strode along it with ballsy confidence.

In the other game, Salah scored but Saudi soared to a rare World Cup win that will send their fans home happy, and give them confidence going into the 2022 World Cup which, should they qualify, will be much closer to home.

FINAL TABLE

World Cup 2018: Uruguay 1-0 Saudi Arabia

The tricky 4 o’clock UK time kick off rendered this game unwatchable for The Armchair. 

And, from the sounds of it, it was pretty unwatchable for those who saw it in the stadium or on TV. 

Uruguay took the lead and held onto it by all accounts, by all means necessary. 

Boring, boring, boring, 

The Armchair hopes they don’t beat Russia as the hosts deserve to win this group, having played the best football. And because The Armchair tipped them to win Group A at the start of the competition.

The Armchair Predicted:

Uruguay 3-1 Saudi Arabia

12 and 7

World Cup 2018: Russia 3-1 Egypt

Oh for a fully fit Salah. He would have made a difference, no doubt. Whether it would have been big enough to alter this result is another matter.

Russia are truly rampant, as The Armchair suspected they might be when he made them Group Winners. An entertaining, attacking team, with no stand out stars as such. It’s working well. They are rising to the challenge and being backed by a passionate crowd.  They are virtually in the Round of 16, with Egypt out if Uruguay avoid defeat against Saudi Arabia.

The Armchair Predicted:

Russia 2-0 Egypt

10 and 7

World Cup 2018: Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia

Anyone who seriously thought Russia’s lowly world ranking would have a bearing on their performance in their World Cup should have been set straight by this emphatic result.

Yes, Saudi Arabia aren’t the world’s best, but they are here on merit, and the Russians demolished them, the fourth the pick of the goals.

The Armchair feels vindicated at having predicted that Russia would win Group A. Uruguay will be the big game, but they’ve done their goal difference no harm here.

The only downside was that the match kicked off at awkward o’clock, preventing live viewing from the armchair, requiring the iPhone to be surreptitiously positioned adjacent to the laptop screen. And even then, I was unable to watch the full game live.

Still, congratulations to the host team and host fans who really generated an awesome atmosphere.

The Armchair Predicted: Russia 2-0 Saudi Arabia

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 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

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

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

WHO WILL QUALIFY FROM World Cup 2018 GROUP A

GROUP A

Saudi Arabia

Uruguay

Russia

Egypt

Not SURE about this one? 

RUSSIA, as hosts, will have the pressure on to qualify. But the hosts always qualify from the group stage, right? It’s inconceivable that they won’t. But should the worst happen (which I don’t think it will) the show Moscow on. 

Mo Salah. The mere mention of the name will send pulses of fear through the defences of the other 3 teams in Group A. But as EGYPT’s star man, he risks being marked out of games. Such a talisman, could he steer his nation into dreamland? It’s possible.

Saudi Arabia - any mention of them and the World Cup cannot be allowed to pass without a link to one of the best goals ever scored in the competition. Take a bow Al Owairan and click this link to enjoy his incredible run and finish from USA ’94.

It’s getting on for 100 years since URUGUAY lifted the first ever World Cup. Surely they will see this draw as a group they can safely negotiate? They have the names and, providing Suarez can keep his cool, surely the only challengers for World Cup Group A winners will come from the hosts.

Betting for World Cup 2018 Group A:

MY PREDICTION:

World Cup GROUP A

1: RUSSIA

2: URUGUAY

3: Egypt

4: Saudi Arabia