World Cup 2018: Morocco 0-1 Iran

To the constant hum and chirp of horns and blasters, Group A opened in entertaining style with both teams knowing it was win or bust here, what with Portugal and Spain awaiting.

Morocco went for it from the off and were unlucky not to score, but Iran proved why they qualified so well with super stolid defending and lightning quick counter attacking.

The awkward timing of the kick off meant The Armchair was on his way home from the office during the final 20 minutes, so missed Iran seal the win. A win he was delighted to hear about, given his prediction (below)

The Armchair Predicted: 

Morocco 0-1 Iran

World Cup 2018: Egypt 0-1 Uruguay

There’s a school of thought in tournaments that says if you want to win them, you don’t want to peak too soon.

On that basis, Uruguay could well win this, and Egypt have no chance. Because the latter played above themselves, even without their talisman, while Uruguay must consider themselves fortunate to emerge from this with anything other than a draw.

Salah could well have made all the difference, but the likelihood is he is still too fragile to be risked. And with his team-mates holding many people’s Group A favourites (not mine I hasten to add) the thinking must have been to save him for the last two games and get a point here.

A late winner scuppered that plan and was more than Uruguay deserved. The result is harsh on Egypt. And surely Uruguay can only get better…

The Armchair Predicted: Egypt 1-2 Uruguay

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

Who Will Win The 2018 World Cup Final?

The Armchair couldn’t predict that Spain would sack their manager hours before the start of the tournament.

But The Armchair hopes the nation rallies behind whoever is given the hot seat and does a Denmark ’92 and makes the final.

SPAIN v BELGIUM

An all-European final with two teams packed with talent from front to back.

Never predict a thrilling goal fest of a World Cup final, because they rarely happen.

It will be tense, tight and other emotive words beginning with t, but The Armchair believes we will see a new name on the trophy.

BELGIUM TO WIN THE World Cup

Compare The Armchair's prediction, to a World Cup 2018 winners prediction based on historical FACT! 

Spain Sack Manager

Has a nation ever sacked their manager so close to the start of a World Cup?

Lopetegui goes barely 48 hours before Spain's opener against Portugal.

Having been appointed the next Real Madrid manager just yesterday.

This could change everything in terms of Spain's chances.

So far, I've predicted them to reach the final. But that could all go out of the window now!

At least I haven't got money on it...

Who Will Reach The 2018 World Cup Final?

It's worth bearing in mind that the Armchair correctly predicted 75% of the World Cup 2014 semi-finalists as evidenced if you click on this sentence.

The Armchair has predicted the following World Cup Semi-Finals and sees them panning out a bit like this:

FRANCE v SPAIN

A match up fit to be a final. Both teams have been in great form throughout the tournament, and pundits are split 50/50 on who will emerge victorious. Griezmann is on for tournament top scorer, Spain have played well as a team. This one’s going to penalties, where the tears will be les bleus. SPAIN TO WIN.

BELGIUM v SENEGAL

Billed as a festival of flair, the game is actually tight, nerves taking hold among two teams who know they are one step away from the biggest game of their lives. It is decided in favour of the team that packs the most international experience and expectation. BELGIUM TO WIN.

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 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

World Cup 2018 Predictions : Who Will Qualify For The Round of 16

Neck on the line, reputation alongside it. But here goes. I'm putting it out there.

My Round of 16 predictions for the World Cup, based on my Group predictions:

RUSSIA  v PORTUGAL

FRANCE v ARGENTINA

SPAIN v URUGUAY

CROATIA  v PERU

BRAZIL v MEXICO

BELGIUM v POLAND

GERMANY  v COSTA RICA

SENEGAL v ENGLAND

Who Will Win World Cup Group H?

World Cup Group H Teams

COLOMBIA

JAPAN

POLAND

SENEGAL

Never before has a World Cup Finals group delved so deep into the alphabet. And H is for Hard to call. This is the most evenly balanced group of them all, with all four having a chance to win the group or prop it up.

It's also the most diverse, with a European, African, South American and Far Eastern team.

So, don’t bet with any certainty on this group, and rest assured, my prediction has no certainty about it.

For POLAND, this is as close as the World Cup is going to get to their home soil. They will have plenty of support, plenty of motivation and in Lewandowski, plenty of goal threat. This for me, gives them the edge.

And of all the African teams, SENEGAL has the best chance of qualification. Liverpool’s Mane is here. So too a host of talent which, on its day, could beat anyone in the world.

COLOMBIA also have a lot of talent throughout the team, including star of World Cup 2014 James Rodriguez, but not quite enough killer instinct up front for my money.

And JAPAN, although they could win it, for me they are the least likely to. It’s a struggle to find any truly world class players in their ranks but they are always an entertaining team to watch.

World Cup Group H Betting

Armchair World Cup Group H Predictions

1: SENEGAL

2: POLAND

3: Colombia

4: Japan

Calling Time On The Old England Excuse

“The players were too tired after a long season. That’s why we got knocked out by those super fit and hungry minnows.”

Yawwwwnnnnn.

You’ve heard the excuses before. How the English season is longer and more arduous than others. That we have two domestic cup competitions. That the players were tired. Blah blah blah

But now there is evidence that contradicts that.

And it's here...