It’s World Cup month! And also November…
With around 2 weeks to go before the kick off of the World Cup in Qatar, I haven’t done my predictions yet. I will do a hyper realistic predictions post using World Soccer Talk’s World Cup predictor. This will be a long one, I’m sure you know the jist of predictions so let’s get right into it.
Group A
4th – Qatar
Many people are tipping the hosts Qatar for a fairytale run to the knockout stage or even the Quarter-Finals, but I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but home field isn’t that influential. As recently as the Arab Cup, on home soil for Qatar remember, they barely squeaked by the likes of Bahrain and Oman by one goal. How do you think they’ll deal with the Netherlands and Senegal? Not only will they finish bottom, but they’ll have 3 losses and not score a single goal
Results:
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Qatar 0-3 Senegal
Qatar 0-3 Netherlands
3rd – Ecuador
With their uncertain World Cup qualification, Ecuador will be shaky in this tournament. Enner Valencia will announce himself to the world again with a goal vs Qatar and the Netherlands, but other than him, they’ll look lacklustre.
Results:
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Netherlands 3-1 Ecuador
Ecuador 0-1 Senegal
2nd – Senegal
This Senegal team will be unlucky to not win this group, losing by one goal difference, but depending on who they get in the knockouts, this Senegal team could make a dark horse deep run. They’ll be led by the attacking heroics of Sadio Mane, while, even though they’re out of form, a defense foremanned by Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy will be enough for two clean sheets.
Results:
Senegal 1-1 Netherlands
Qatar 0-3 Senegal
Ecuador 0-1 Senegal
1st – Netherlands
They won’t walk the group, but will win it. They’ll win the games vs Ecuador and Qatar easily. This team will come away from the group looking like one of the hottest teams. However, it will be quite easy for them, and they’ll walk away from this group with all the confidence in the world. Virgil Van Dijk will look like his 2019 prime self, Cody Gakpo will announce himself as “arrived” to the world to further increase his January price tag, and Nathan Ake’s performances will bench Stefan de Vrij.
Results:
Senegal 1-1 Netherlands
Netherlands 3-1 Ecuador
Netherlands 3-0 Qatar
Group Top Scorer: Sadio Mane (3 goals)
Group B
4th: Wales
Wales is being tipped as dark horses, like Qatar, in this group, but they’ll fall. They won’t be as bad as Qatar, though. They’ll be competitive in each game and a win vs them will be difficult with a strong defensive performance by players like Ben Davies, Neco Williams, and Ethan Ampadu. They’ll even hold England to a draw, with a late equaliser by Gareth Bale, but it will be heartbreak for this team.
Results:
USA 1-0 Wales
Wales 1-2 Iran
Wales 1-1 England
3rd: USA
This American team will also put up a valiant effort, with a promising start vs Wales, but I can’t see them qualifying. The story of their qualifying will be Brenden Aaronson, scoring 1 USA goal and assisting their other one. However, a humbling by England will be the confidence breaker.
Results:
USA 1-0 Wales
England 4-0 USA
Iran 2-1 USA
2nd: England
Yes, you know what that means, but I’ll get to that later. Other than a demolition of the USA, this English team will look very vulnerable with 2 draws other than that game. However, from the start of the USA game, this England team won’t look in doubt of qualifying. The man who gets the most goals fo England won’t be Harry Kane, with his only goal coming in the 4-0. It will be Phil Foden, who will score 4 and assist one in the group stage, setting up a spicy 2nd round matchup vs the Netherlands.
Results:
England 2-2 Iran
England 4-0 USA
Wales 1-1 England
1st: Iran
Before you say that I’m batty and deserve to be locked up with Irish Guy in the jail of terrible predictions, let me remind you that it is only 3 games, miracles can happen, and Iran will be underestimated. A couple defensive errors will see Iran scrape a draw vs England, they’ll win quite easily vs Wales, and they’ll scrap out a win vs a demoralised USA. Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi will form a deadly dynamic duo up top, and their gameplan will be largely to outscore their opponent.
Results:
England 2-2 Iran
Wales 1-2 Iran
Iran 2-1 USA
Group Top Scorer: Phil Foden (4 goals)
Group C
4th: Saudi Arabia
Like 2018, I suspect an embarrasing performance out of Saudi Arabia in the World Cup, with 1 goal scored and 7 conceded. A 5-1 defeat vs Argentina in their opening game will take all the wind from their sails, and they’ll fall to last. Even Qatar has a better chance of qualifying than this team.
Results:
Argentina 5-1 Saudi Arabia
Poland 2-0 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia 0-0 Mexico’
3rd: Mexico
This team has declined a lot since 2018, and with the other two teams doing so well, Mexico will be a deflated mess in Qatar. The opening game vs Poland will be a must-win, and once they draw and then lose vs Argentina, their last chance to dance vs Saudi Arabia will be a bore draw. I know people are expecting Guillermo Ochoa to turn into Manuel Neuer for 3 weeks again, but that won’t be the case. He’s 37 now and will be facing two of the best forwards in the game in this group – Robert Lewandowski and Lionel Messi, and will be truly exposed. Hirving Lozano will be the only player to show a bit of promise for Mexico, scoring the only goal scored by Mexico in the tournament.
Results:
Mexico 1-1 Poland
Argentina 3-0 Mexico
Saudi Arabia 0-0 Mexico
2nd: Poland
By no means will this team have a dominant run to the knockouts, but Robert Lewandowski’s heroics will carry this team. He will score the goal in the 1-1 draw with Mexico, and both goals in their win vs Saudi Arabia. This team, while not running their play entirely through Lewa, will rely on him in the box for the tournament. Nicola Zalewski will have a good tournament, and Wojciech Szczesny will be heroic vs Mexico and Saudi Arabia.
Results:
Mexico 1-1 Poland
Poland 2-0 Saudi Arabia
Poland 1-3 Argentina
1st: Argentina
This will be a group stage of dominance for Argentina, and it can be attributed to Lionel Messi. They will score 11 goals across the 3 games, 6 scored by Messi and 3 assisted by the Argentine as well, including a hat trick vs Saudi Arabia and a brace vs Poland. His Sofascore ratings will average a 9 throughout the groups, but other than Messi, Argentina as a whole will look like a great and cohesive unit. Papu Gomez will get 3 assists, Lautaro Martinez will score 2 and assist 1, and Cristian Romero will look like one of the best Center Backs of the group stage.
Results:
Argentina 5-1 Saudi Arabia
Argentina 3-0 Mexico
Poland 1-3 Argentina
Group Top Scorer: Lionel Messi (6 Goals)
Group D
4th: Tunisia
The whipping boys of the group,Tunisia will have to make Hannibal Mejbri their main player. He’ll score Tunisia’s only goal, as they slump, forgettably, to 4th in the group with one point. Wabhi Khazri will flop, and Aymen Dahmen will have to be forced to make a ton of saves. However, they will have one huge draw vs France and so, will walk away from this tournament with a high-held head.
Results:
Denmark 3-0 Tunisia
Tunisia 1-2 Australia
Tunisia 0-0 France
3rd: France
The world cup winner’s curse will strike again with France. We saw how it could happen in the Nations League, and they will go out because of no more than one goal. A 0-0 draw with Tunisia on the final day will kill their World Cup repeat hopes. In what’s seemingly Didier Deschamps’ final tournament, France will go out with a whimper. I’m not a betting man but if I was, I’d put money on France going out in the groups. It may not be their offense, with Mbappe and Benzema creating loads of chances, but without N’Golo Kante, Raphael Varane an old Hugo Lloris, France’s defense will be over confident after an opening game win vs Australia. The goalkeepers will also be immense in the games vs France.
Results:
France 2-1 Australia
France 0-2 Denmark
Tunisia 0-0 France
2nd: Australia
While Argentina in the next game won’t be a matchup Australia’s looking forward to, they will be remembered for being the team that squeaked by France on goal difference in the group stage. This will be a very difficult team to break down, as demonstrated by their valiant nearly draw vs France and final game draw vs Denmark. Mat Ryan, while keeping no clean sheets, will make a total of 15 saves across the 3 games. 18-year old Garang Kuol will also score THE goal vs Denmark to put Australia too and make him an instant fan favourite.
Results:
France 2-1 Australia
Tunisia 1-2 Australia
Australia 1-1 Denmark
1st: Denmark
This Denmark team will cruise their way to the top of the group 18 months after their Semi-Final run in Euro 2020. Martin Braithwaite will show people exactly why they shouldn’t sleep on him, and Frederik Ronnow, taking the reigns of the #1 from Kasper Schmeichel, will concede only one goal in the 3 games. An impressive win vs France will get them in the eyes of the watching world, and they’ll have a good shot of going to the Semi-Final in this World Cup as well.
Results:
Denmark 3-0 Tunisia
France 0-2 Denmark
Australia 1-1 Denmark
Group Top Scorer: Martin Braithwaite (3 goals)
Group E
4th: Costa Rica
This Costa Rica team is very far removed from the miracle 2014 team. Keylor Navas hasn’t even played this season for PSG, Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz have both regressed, and the team as a whole have regressed. While this team has been solid defensively, they don’t at all score often, and will end this group stage goalless. Additionally, while a team like Canada goes scoreless when they play against them, Germany and Spain will have their way for this team. The only positive? They won’t concede vs Japan.
Results:
Spain 2-0 Costa Rica
Japan 0-0 Costa Rica
Costa Rica 0-3 Germany
3rd: Japan
Japan isn’t doing much better. The only reason they’ll finish 3rd is a goal from Take Kubo vs Germany in a 3-1 loss. This is also a different team from the one that nearly beat Belgium in the round of 16 and with much harder group stage opponents than Colombia, Poland, and Senegal. This group seems over before it begins.
Results:
Germany 3-1 Japan
Japan 0-0 Costa Rica
Japan 0-2 Spain
2nd: Spain
This team will have a dominant performance in the groups, but will finish 2nd only because of their not selecting De Gea. They’ll finish 2nd by one goal. Gavi and Pedri will be huge in this tournament, and Nico Williams will make his first couple appearances in the world cup. Mikel Merino will also announce himself to the world again, and Gerard Moreno will remind the world of his presence while Spain will be forced to choose at game time between Unai Simon and Robert Sanchez.
Results:
Spain 2-0 Costa Rica
Spain 3-3 Germany
Japan 0-2 Spain
1st: Germany
This team will follow up the heartbreaking group stage exit from 2018 with style. They’ll be in control of all of their games and quite rightly finish top of the group. Thomas Muller will be their best offensive player, with Manuel Neuer being (largely) a rock in goal. Germany will show a whole new free flowing style under Hansi Flick which will see them not only control the game but put on an attacking show. Their attacking play will be largely praised throughout the groups, which again, they’ll dominate.
Results:
Germany 3-1 Japan
Spain 3-3 Germany
Costa Rica 1-3 Germany
Group top scorer: Thomas Muller (4 goals)
Group F
4th: Morocco
Let’s face it – Morocco has not shot at this. They’ll have a promising opening day draw vs Croatia, but will fall vs an unstoppable Belgium side and a hungry Canadian team. Who do they have? Achraf Hakimi, a version of Hakim Ziyech who’s a shell of his former self, and you can say the same about Yassine Bounou and Youssef En-Nesyri. This team’s lack of attack is going to cost them in this World Cup campaign.
Results:
Morocco 2-2 Croatia
Belgium 2-0 Morocco
Canada 2-0 Morocco
3rd: Croatia
The older football fans may think that putting Croatia 3rd is a downright stupid decision, but we need to face facts: This team is much, much worse than the team that finished 2nd 4 years ago. The only 2 players from that 2018 fairytale team that still are even close to the version of themselves now are Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic. Granted, they do have new stars Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, and Josko Gvardiol and will still be a tough team, but there’s another not talked about nearly enough curse. The Runner-Up Curse. In 2018, 2014 Runner-Up Argentina got knocked out in the RO16, In 2010, 2006 Runner-Up France finished last in their group. The odds seem to be stacked against Croatia.
Results:
Morocco 2-2 Croatia
Croatia 1-1 Canada
Croatia 0-3 Belgium
2nd: Canada
This screams bias, I know, but hear me out. All that needs to happen is Morocco getting a result vs Croatia, us getting a result vs Croatia, a win vs Morocco, and Belgium to be Belgium and we’re golden. All the way back in April, Bob predicted us to get a 1-1 draw with Belgium which I think is a bit optimistic, but hey, I’d love to see it happen. No, really, I think a Canadian team with no more big injuries can scrap their way to getting out of the group of death into a (sigh) matchup with Germany. The big teams better wrap up the big Canadian stars in bubble wrap for the next week so they don’t get injured. As long as sweat pants Milan Borjan and not Rangers Milan Borjan shows up, we should be good for these groups.
Results:
Belgium 3-0 Canada
Croatia 1-1 Canada
Canada 2-0 Morocco
1st: Belgium
This team, while in the group of death, will look like the real deal again and set up one of the matchups of the 2nd Round vs Spain. 3 wins, 0 goals conceded, although to 3 teams with no huge attacking threat, let’s be fair. This group should be sleepwalked for Belgium here. I think, in particular, Kevin de Bruyne will stand out with 3 goals and 3 assists in the group stage. Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen will link up again for a great partnership in defense, and in general, this Belgium team will look rather unstoppable.
Results:
Belgium 3-0 Canada
Belgium 2-0 Morocco
Croatia 0-3 Belgium
Group Top Goalscorer: Kevin de Bruyne (3 goals)
Group G
4th: Switzerland
It seems, like Turkey, whenever Switzerland have any expectation in a tournament, they flop. In this one, they’re the favourite to finish 2nd, but I think they will capitulate. They’ll play an almost unwatchable style of play, and they won’t even score a goal. Before you go crazy on me, this is a team whose two best attacking options are Hans Seferovic and Breel Embolo. They have a good defence, and other than their game vs Brazil, they’ll only concede once. But it’s the attack that concerns me. Again, it’s only 3 games, and anything can happen.
Results:
Switzerland 0-1 Cameroon
Brazil 4-0 Switzerland
Serbia 0-0 Switzerland
3rd: Serbia
Now mind you, Serbia, you aren’t too much better, in fact, you only place above Switzerland on goals scored. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will have 3 off-games, Aleksandar Mitrovic will be spent from his time at Fulham, and we have yet to see what Dusan Vlahovic has to offer on a huge stage. Go on then, prove me wrong, Dusan. But I don’t think he’ll cut it. Don’t even get me started on the defence.
Results:
Brazil 4-0 Serbia
Cameroon 2-1 Serbia
Serbia 0-0 Switzerland
2nd: Cameroon
This is a huge surprise selection, and I don’t think it’ll even be close, I mean, they’ll secure qualification with a game to spare. Everyone is underestimating this team. Andre Onana will have the best 3 games he’s ever had at senior level, Eric Choupo-Moting is on some of the best form he’s ever been on, and a great supporting cast of Bryan Mbeumo, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Karl Toko Ekambi, and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou will help Cameroon, and Christopher Wooh will also have a breakthrough tournament and have some big European teams sniffing around him. I’m going to be right here, and it will feel oh so sweet.
Results:
Switzerland 0-1 Cameroon
Cameroon 2-1 Serbia
Cameroon 1-4 Brazil
1st: Brazil
The favourites for the World Cup will announce their arrival in style. 12 goals in 3 games, none of which in doubt, only one goal conceded with great group stage performances by Ederson and Marquinhos. However, this performance will be defined by the Neymar everybody expected 5 years ago. He’ll score 7 and assist a further 3, with a hat-trick vs Serbia. (Only him and Messi will get hat-tricks in the group stages). Overall, this will be one of the best performances in group stage history by Brazil and have them secured as the firm favourites going into the knockout stages.
Results:
Brazil 4-0 Serbia
Brazil 4-0 Switzerland
Cameroon 1-4 Brazil
Group Top Scorer: Neymar (7 goals)
Group H
4th: South Korea
South Korea could be missing Heung-Min Son for this World Cup, a HUGE damper on the team. I know for sure Kim-Min Jae can’t carry a World Cup team, so they’ll finish bottom in what’s already a tough group. The defense will be shaky, the attack will be lacklustre, and it just won’t be fun for this team. Could be a different story if Heung-Min Son is back though.
Results:
Uruguay 2-2 South Korea
South Korea 1-3 Ghana
South Korea 0-3 Portugal
3rd: Uruguay
Yes, I’m predicting a shock group stage exit for Uruguay. This team, though, has gone almost as much of a transformation since 2018 as Croatia. Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, and Diego Godin all are in no state to run this team, who knows what version of Darwin Nunez will show up in Qatar, leaving the only reliable and good player in the team being Fede Valverde. Yeah, I predict last minute heroics by Ghana to get their revenge on Uruguay 12 years later in one of the classic World Cup moments.
Results:
Uruguay 3-0 South Korea
Portugal 2-2 Uruguay
Ghana 2-1 Uruguay
2nd: Ghana
Why not? With one of the most underrated teams in the tournament with some hot prospects in Kamaldeen Sulemana, Tariq Lamptey, and Mohamed Kudus, along with a great team that also features Thomas Partey, Inaki Williams, and Mohamed Salisu, this team could go on to have a great tournament, and with Asamoah Gyan in the stands on the 2nd of Decemeber, Ghana will go on to get a late winner vs Uruguay and advance.
Results:
Portugal 2-1 Ghana
South Korea 1-3 Ghana
Ghana 2-1 Uruguay
1st: Portugal
While not a dominant group stage win, it will never quite look in doubt for Portugal. Ronaldo will get one goal, but Bernardo Silva will get 4 goals and 1 assist in the groups. While the offence will look great, the defense will leave a lot to be desired in the group stages, but again, as I said, it will never look in doubt.
Results:
Portugal 2-1 Ghana
Portugal 2-2 Uruguay
South Korea 0-3 Portugal
Group Top Scorer: Bernardo Silva (4 goals)
That’s all for now, folks. This one is over 3000 words, so it was a long one to make. The knockout stage predictions are coming soon. Until then, I’m Jim James and until next time.