The World Cup 2018 - Discussion, Opinions, and Prediction game
JuliusBorisov
Member, Administrator, Moderator, Developer Posts: 22,754
The FIFA World Cup starts on June 14, 2018.
There're 32 teams in the tournament. We'll see 64 matches (48 in group play that is 6 in each of 8 groups + 15 in elimination play, to eliminate 15 out of the 16 remaining + 1 extra for the 3rd place match).
Match schedule
Matches
Current team rating
So, what team do you think will win? Germany? Brazil? Belgium? Portugal? Argentina? France? Spain? England? Another country?
Notable absentees from the World Cup: Chile, Italy, Netherlands, USA, Wales.
As always, there will be a prediction game for those forum users who are interested in Football or just want to have fun. There will be an open spreadsheet for everyone to see.
@booinyoureyes won the World Cup 2014 prediction game.
@FinneousPJ won the Euro 2016 prediction game.
@Pibaro won the Confederations Cup 2017 prediction game.
@bengoshi (you know that fella, right?) was the winner of match-by-match predictions in 2014.
@FinneousPJ was the winner of match-by-match predictions in 2016.
@Montresor_SP was the winner of match-by-match predictions in 2017.
Anyone interested can post their predictions regarding a champion, a vice-champion and a team winning the 3rd place, as well as group winners. You can also post your predictions for all matches (as they go day by day) before each kick-off.
Everything is optional (you can make those predictions you want, for example, predict only group winners and overall winners).
1) guessing the right outcome = 1 point
2) guessing the right score = 2 points (so that 64 matches potentially can give 128 points)
3) guessing the champion (before the tournament starts) = 30 points
4) guessing the vice-champion (before the tournament starts) = 20 points
5) guessing the 3rd team (before the tournament starts) = 10 points
6) guessing the right team to qualify from the group (before the tournament starts) = 4 points (per team)
7) bonus for the right prediction regarding the 1, 2 and 3 places (their final standings don't matter; before the tournament starts) = 20 points
8) bonus for the right prediction regarding the 1, 2 places (their final standings don't matter; before the tournament starts) = 10 points
For the matches after the group phase:
guessing the right outcome and the right score should be done only regarding normal time (so it can be only this way: team A wins in normal time; team B wins in normal time, a draw in normal time)
Tagging people from previous football-related threads:
@Anduin @Argas @Aristillius @Belteshazzar89 @BGLover @Blackraven @booinyoureyes @Dungeonnoob @Cahir @CrevsDaak @elminster @Doubledimas @Grond0 @histamiini @jackjack @Messi @Mhamza @Pecca @Pibaro @Qbert @ronaldo @SpaceInvader @Sparkleav @StummvonBordwehr @TheElf @TStael
There're 32 teams in the tournament. We'll see 64 matches (48 in group play that is 6 in each of 8 groups + 15 in elimination play, to eliminate 15 out of the 16 remaining + 1 extra for the 3rd place match).
Match schedule
Matches
Current team rating
So, what team do you think will win? Germany? Brazil? Belgium? Portugal? Argentina? France? Spain? England? Another country?
Notable absentees from the World Cup: Chile, Italy, Netherlands, USA, Wales.
As always, there will be a prediction game for those forum users who are interested in Football or just want to have fun. There will be an open spreadsheet for everyone to see.
@booinyoureyes won the World Cup 2014 prediction game.
@FinneousPJ won the Euro 2016 prediction game.
@Pibaro won the Confederations Cup 2017 prediction game.
@bengoshi (you know that fella, right?) was the winner of match-by-match predictions in 2014.
@FinneousPJ was the winner of match-by-match predictions in 2016.
@Montresor_SP was the winner of match-by-match predictions in 2017.
Anyone interested can post their predictions regarding a champion, a vice-champion and a team winning the 3rd place, as well as group winners. You can also post your predictions for all matches (as they go day by day) before each kick-off.
Everything is optional (you can make those predictions you want, for example, predict only group winners and overall winners).
1) guessing the right outcome = 1 point
2) guessing the right score = 2 points (so that 64 matches potentially can give 128 points)
3) guessing the champion (before the tournament starts) = 30 points
4) guessing the vice-champion (before the tournament starts) = 20 points
5) guessing the 3rd team (before the tournament starts) = 10 points
6) guessing the right team to qualify from the group (before the tournament starts) = 4 points (per team)
7) bonus for the right prediction regarding the 1, 2 and 3 places (their final standings don't matter; before the tournament starts) = 20 points
8) bonus for the right prediction regarding the 1, 2 places (their final standings don't matter; before the tournament starts) = 10 points
For the matches after the group phase:
guessing the right outcome and the right score should be done only regarding normal time (so it can be only this way: team A wins in normal time; team B wins in normal time, a draw in normal time)
Tagging people from previous football-related threads:
@Anduin @Argas @Aristillius @Belteshazzar89 @BGLover @Blackraven @booinyoureyes @Dungeonnoob @Cahir @CrevsDaak @elminster @Doubledimas @Grond0 @histamiini @jackjack @Messi @Mhamza @Pecca @Pibaro @Qbert @ronaldo @SpaceInvader @Sparkleav @StummvonBordwehr @TheElf @TStael
Post edited by JuliusBorisov on
9
Comments
Russia vs Saudi Arabia
Egypt vs Uruguay
Morocco vs Iran
Portugal vs Spain
France vs Australia
Argentina vs Iceland
Peru vs Denmark
Croatia vs Nigeria
Costa Rica vs Serbia
Germany vs Mexico
Brazil vs Switzerland
Sweden v Korea Republic
Belgium vs Panama
Tunisia vs England
Poland vs Senegal
Colombia vs Japan
Russia vs Egypt
Portugal vs Morocco
Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia
Iran vs Spain
France vs Peru
Denmark vs Australia
Argentina vs Croatia
Brazil vs Costa Rica
Nigeria vs Iceland
Serbia vs Switzerland
Belgium vs Tunisia
Germany vs Sweden
Korea Republic vs Mexico
England vs Panama
Japan vs Senegal
Poland vs Colombia
Uruguay vs Russia
Saudi Arabia vs Egypt
Spain vs Morocco
Iran vs Portugal
Denmark vs France
Australia vs Peru
Nigeria vs Argentina
Iceland vs Croatia
Korea Republic vs Germany
Mexico vs Sweden
Serbia vs Brazil
Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Japan vs Poland
Senegal vs Colombia
England vs Belgium
Panama vs Tunisia
EDIT: I mean if I pick teams A, B, C for 1st-3rd the implication is j predict them to go through in all their qualifying games. Therefore the interesting game by game prediction is the lower level outcome of the game
1) team A wins in normal time
2) team B wins in normal time
3) a draw in normal time
?
GO URUGUAY! My prediction, based on nothing more than my past support for them, is that Uruguay will win.
(I have no knowledge of the sport however)
Argentina
GOALIES: Sergio Romero (Manchester United), Nahuel Guzman (Tigres Monterrey), Wilfredo Caballero (Chelsea), Franco Armani (River Plate).
DEFENDERS: Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla), Federico Fazio (AS Roma), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), German Pezzella (Fiorentina), Ramiro Funes Mori (Everton), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Nicolas Taglafico (Ajax), Javier Mascherano (Hebei Fortune), Marcos Acuna (Sporting), Eduardo Salvio (Benfica), Cristian Ansaldi (Torino).
MIDFIELDERS: Ever Banega (Sevilla), Guido Pizarro (Sevilla), Lucas Biglia (AC Milan), Leandro Paredes (Zenit), Angel Di Maria (PSG), Giovani Lo Celso (PSG), Enzo Perez (River Plate), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham), Pablo Perez (Boca Juniors), Cristian Pavon (Boca Juniors), Maximiliano Meza (Independiente), Ricardo Centurion (Racing), Rodrigo Battaglia (Sporting).
STRIKERS: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Mauro Icardi (Inter), Sergio Agüero (Manchester City), Diego Perotti (AS Roma), Lautaro Martinez (Racing).
Australia
GOALIES: Mat Ryan (Brighton), Danny Vukovic (Genk), Brad Jones (Feyenoord), Daniel Vukovic (Genk).
DEFENDERS: Aziz Behich (Bursaspor), Milos Degenek (Yokohama Marinos), Matthew Jurman (Suwon Bluewings), Fran Karacic (NK Lokomotiva), James Meredith (Millwall), Josh Risdon (Western Sydney Wanderers), Trent Sainsbury (Grasshoppers).
MIDFIELDERS: Joshua Brillante (Sydney), Jackson Irvine (Hull), Mile Jedinak (Aston Villa), Robbie Kruse (Bochum), Massimo Luongo (QPR), Mark Milligan (Al Ahli), Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield), Tom Rogic (Celtic), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory).
STRIKERS: Daniel Arzani (Melbourne City), Tim Cahill (Millwall), Tomi Juric (Luzern), Mathew Leckie (Hertha Berlin), Andrew Nabbout (Urawa Red Diamonds), Dimitri Petratos (Newcastle Jets), Nikita Rukavytsya (Makkabi Haifa).
Brazil
GOALIES: Alisson (Roma/), Cassio (Corinthians), Ederson (Man City),
DEFENDERS: Danilo (Man City), Fagner (Corinthians), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Miranda (Inter Milan), Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (PSG), Geromel (Gremio)
MIDFIELDERS: Casemiro (Real Madrid), Fernandinho (Man City), Paulinho (Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Fred (Shakhtar Donestk), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona), Willian (Chelsea)
STRIKERS: Neymar (PSG), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Douglas Costa (Juventus), Taison (Shakhtar Donestk).
Egypt
GOALIES: Essam El Hadary (Al Taawoun), Mohamed El-Shennawy (Al Ahly), Sherif Ekramy (Al Ahly), Mohamed Awad (Ismaily).
DEFENDERS: Ahmed Fathi (Al Ahly), Saad Samir (Al Ahly), Ayman Ashraf (Al Ahly), Mahmoud Hamdy (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdel-Shafy (Al Fateh) Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich) Ali Gabr (West Bromwich), Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa), Karim Hafez (RC Lens), Omar Gaber (Los Angeles FC), Amro Tarek (Orlando City).
MIDFIELDERS: Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Mahmoud Abdel Aziz (Zamalek), Shikabala (Al Raed), Abdallah Said (KuPS), Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Kahraba (Al Ittihad), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City), Trezeguet (Kasimpasa), Amr Warda (Atromitos).
STRIKERS: Marwan Mohsen (Al Ahly), Ahmed Gomaa (Al Masry), Kouka (SC Braga, Portugal), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England).
South Korea
GOALIES: Kim Seunggyu, Kim Jinhyeon, Cho Hyeonwoo, Gu Sungyun.
DEFENDERS: Kim Younggwon, Jang Hyunsoo, Jeong Seunghyeon, Yun Yeongseon, Kwon Kyungwon, Oh Bansuk, Kim Jinsu, Kim Minwoo, Park Jooho, Hong Chul, Go Yohan, Lee Yong, Choi Chulsoon
MIDFIELDERS: Ki Sungyueng, Jeong Wooyoung, Kwon Changhoon, Ju Sejong, Koo Jacheol, Lee Jaesung, Lee Seungwoo, Moon Sunmin, Lee Chungyong, Son Junho, Lee Myungjoo, Lee Changmin, Ji Dongwon.
STRIKERS: Kim Shinwook, Son Heungmin, Hwang Heechan, Lee Keunho, Suk Hyunjun.
Iran
GOALIES: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Seyed Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal), Rashid Mazaheri (Zob Ahan), Amir Abedzadeh (Maritimo).
DEFENDERS: Ramin Rezaeian (Ostende), Voria Ghafouri (Esteghlal), Steven Beitashour (Los Angeles FC), Seyed Jalal Hosseini (Persepolis), Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh (Padideh), Morteza Pouraliganji (Alsaad), Mohammad Ansari (Persepolis), Pejman Montazeri (Esteghlal), Seyed Majid Hosseini (Esteghlal), Milad Mohammadi (Akhmat Grozny), Omid Norafkan (Esteghlal), Saeid AGhaei (Sepahan), Roozbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal).
MIDFIELDERS: Saeid Ezatolahi (Amkar Perm), Masoud Shojaei (AEK Athens), Ahmad Abdolahzadeh (Foolad), Saman Ghoddos (Östersund), Mahdi Torabi (Saipa), Ashkan Dejagah (Notthingham Forest), Omid Ebrahimi (Esteghlal), Ehsan Hajsafi (Olympiakos), Ali Karimi (Sepahan), Soroush Rafiei (Al Khor), Ali Gholizadeh (Saipa), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis).
STRIKERS: Alireza Jahanbakhsh (AZ Alkmaar), Karim Ansarifard (Olympiakos), Mahdi Taremi (Al Gharafa), Sardar Azmoun (Rubin Kazan), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Heerenveen), Kaveh Rezaei (Charleroi).
Iceland
GOALIES: Hannes Thor Halldorsson (Randers), Runar Alex Runarsson (Nordsjælland), Frederik Schram (Roskilde).
DEFENDERS: Kari Arnason (Aberdeen), Ari Freyr Skulason (Lokeren), Birkir Mar Saevarsson (Valur), Sverrir Ingi Ingason (Rostov), Hordur Magnusson (Bristol City), Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson (Levski Sofia), Ragnar Sigurdsson (Rostov).
MIDFIELDERS: Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley), Birkir Bjarnason (Aston Villa), Arnor Ingvi Traustason (Malmö), Emil Hallfredsson (Udinese), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton), Olafur Ingi Skulason (Karabukspor), Rurik Gislason (Sandhausen), Samuel Fridjonsson (Valerenga), Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City).
STRIKERS: Alfred Finnbogason (Augsburg), Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson (Rostov), Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (Reading), Albert Gudmundsson (PSV).
Colombia
GOALIES: David Ospina (Arsenal), Camilo Vargas (Deportivo Cali), Ivan Arboleda (Banfield), Jose Fernando Cuadrado (Once Caldas).
DEFENDERS: Santiago Arias (PSV), Frank Fabra (Boca Juniors), Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham), Cristian Zapata (AC Milan), Yerry Mina (Barcelona) Johan Mojica (Girona), Bernardo Espinosa (Girona), Oscar Murillo (Pachuca), Farid Diaz (Olimpia), Stefan Medina (Monterrey), William Tesillo (Leon).
MIDFIELDERS: Abel Aguilar (Cali), Wilmar Barrios (Boca Juniors), James Rodriguez (Bayern München), Carlos Sanchez (Espanyol), Jefferson Lerma (Levante), Giovanni Moreno (Shanghai Shenhua), Juan Fernando Quintero (River Plate), Edwin Cardona (Boca Juniors), Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Juventus), Gustavo Cuellar (Flamengo), Sebastian Perez (Boca Juniors), Mateus Uribe (America).
STRIKERS: Radamel Falcao (Monaco), Carlos Bacca (Villarreal), Duvan Zapata (Sampdoria), Miguel Borja (Palmeiras), Jose Izquierdo (Brighton), Luis Muriel (Sevilla), Teofilo Gutierrez (Junior), Yimmi Chara (Junior).
Croatia
GOALIES: Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Lovre Kalinic (Gent), Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Karlo Letica (Hajduk Split)
DEFENDERS: Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscou), Domagoj Vida (Besiktas), Ivan Strinic (Sampdoria), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid), Josip Pivaric (Dinamo Kiev), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Matej Mitrovic (Club Brugge), Borna Barisic (Osijek), Zoran Nizic (Hajduk Split), Duje Caleta-Car (Salzburg), Borna Sosa (Dinamo Zagreb)
MIDFIELDERS: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona), Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Marko Rog (Naples), Mario Pasalic (Spartak Moskova), Filip Bradaric (Rijeka)
STRIKERS: Mario Mandzukic (Juventus), Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan), Nikola Kalinic (AC Milan), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Marko Pjaca (Schalke), Ante Rebic (Eintracht Frankfurt), Duje Cop (Standard Liege), Ivan Santini (Caen)
Mexico
GOALIES: Guillermo Ochoa (Standard Liege), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul).
DEFENDERS: Carlos Salcedo (Einracht Frankfurt), Nestor Araujo (Santos), Diego Reyes (Porto), Hector Moreno (Real Sociedad), Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Oswaldo Alanis (Getafe), Edson Alvarez (America), Miguel Layun (Sevilla), Jesus Gallardo (Pumas).
MIDFIELDERS: Jesus Molina (Monterrey), Rafael Marquez (Atlas), Hector Herrera (Porto), Jonathan dos Santos (Los Angeles Galaxy), Andres Guardado (Betis), Erick Gutierrez (Pachuca), Marco Fabian (Eintracht Frankfurt), Giovani dos Santos (Los Angeles Galaxy).
STRIKERS: Javier Hernandez (West Ham), Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Oribe Peralta (America), Jesus Manuel Corona (Porto), Carlos Vela (Los Angeles Galaxy), Javier Aquino (Tigres), Hirving Lozano (PSV), Jurgen Damm (Tigres).
Nigeria
GOALIES: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba), Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United), Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United).
DEFENDERS: Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa), Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge), Leon Balogun (Mainz), William Troost-Ekong (Bursaspor), Shehu Abdullahi (Bursaspor), Ola Aina (Hull), Tyronne Ebuehi (Den Haag), Bryan Idowu (Amkar Perm), Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plodiv), Chiedozie Awaziem (Nantes).
MIDFIELDERS: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor), Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda), John Ogu (Hapoel Beer Sheva), Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas), Joel Obi (Torino), Mikel Agu (Bursaspor), Uche Agbo (Standard Liege).
STRIKERS: Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone), Junior Lokosa (Kano Pillars), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester), Ahmed Musa (TsSKA Moskova), Moses Simon (Gent), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal).
Panama
GOALIES: Jaime Penedo (Dynamo Buchrest), Jose Calderon (Chorrillo), Alex Rodriguez (San Francisco)
DEFENDERS: Azmahar Ariano (Patriots), Felipe Baloy (Municipal), Harold Cummings (San Jose), Eric Davis (DAC Dunajska Streda), Fidel Escobar (New York Red Bulls), Adolfo Machado (Houston Dynamo), Michael Amir Murillo (New York Red Bulls), Luis Ovalle (Olimpia), Francisco Palacios (San Francisco), Richard Peralta (Alliance), Torres Roman (Seattle Sounders)
MIDFIELDERS: Ricardo Avila (Ghent), Edgar Barcenas (Cafetaleros de Tapachula), Ricardo Buitrago (Municipal), Miguel Camargo (San Martin), Adalberto Carrasquilla (Taurus), Armando Cooper (Universidad de Chile), Anibal Godoy (San Jose Earthquakes), Gabriel Gomez (Atletico Bucaramanga), Jose Gonzalez (Union Comercio), Cristian Martinez (Columbus Crew), Valentin Pimentel (Plaza Amador), Alberto Quintero (Universite), Jose Luis Rodriguez (Ghent)
STRIKERS: Abdiel Arroyo (Liga Deportiva Alajuelense), Rolando Blackburn (Chorrillo), Ismael Diaz (Deportivo La Coruna), Jose Fajardo (Club Atletico Independiente), Roberto Nurse (Mineros de Zacatecas), Blas Perez (Municipal), Luis Tejada (Sport Boys), Gabriel Torres (Huachipato).
Portugal
GOALIES: Anthony Lopes (Olympique Lyonnais), Beto (Goztepe SK), Rui Patricio (Sporting CP)
DEFENDERS: Antunes (Getafe), Bruno Alves (Rangers), Cedric (Southampton), Joao Cancelo (Internazionale), Jose Fonte (Dalian Aerbin), Luis Neto (Fenerbahce), Mario Rui (Napoli), Nelson Semedo (Barcelona), Pepe (Besiktas), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Ricardo (Porto), Rolando (Marseille), Ruben Dias (Benfica)
MIDFIELDERS: Adrien Silva (Leicester City), Andre Gomes (Barcelona), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Sporting CP), Joao Mario (West Ham United), Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Manuel Fernandes (Lokomotiv Moscow), Rony Lopes (Monaco), Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Sergio Oliveira (Porto), William (Sporting CP)
STRIKERS: Andre Silva (AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Eder (Lokomotiv Moscow), Gelson Martins (Sporting CP), Goncalo Guedes (Valencia), Nani (Lazio), Paulinho (Braga), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas)
Poland
GOALIES: Bartosz Bialkowski (Ipswich), Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea), Lukasz Skorupski (AS Roma), Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus).
DEFENDERS: Jan Bednarek (Southampton), Bartosz Bereszynski (Sampdoria), Thiago Cionek (SPAL), Kamil Glik (Monaco), Artur Jedrzejczyk (Legia Varsova), Marcin Kaminski (Stuttgart), Tomasz Kedziora (Kiovan Dynamo), Michal Pazdan (Legia), Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund).
MIDFIELDERS: Jakub Blaszczykowski (Wolfsburg), Pawel Dawidowicz (Palermo), Przemyslaw Frankowski (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Jacek Goralski (Ludogorets), Kamil Grosicki (Hull), Damian Kadzior (Gornik Zabrze), Grzegorz Krychowiak (West Bromwich), Rafal Kurzawa (Gornik Zabrze), Karol Linetty (Sampdoria), Maciej Makuszewski (Lech Poznan), Krzysztof Maczynski (Legia Varsova), Slawomir Peszko (Lechnia Gdansk), Maciej Rybus (Lokomotiv Moskova), Sebastian Szymanski (Legia), Piotr Zielinski (Napoli), Szymon Zurkowski (Gornik Zabrze).
STRIKERS: Dawid Kownacki (Sampdoria), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern München), Arkadiusz Milik (Napoli), Krzysztof Piatek (Krakova), Lukasz Teodorczyk (Anderlecht), Kamil Wilczek (Bröndby).
Germany
GOALIES: Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen), Manuel Neuer (Bayern München), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris Saint-Germain)
DEFENDERS: Jerome Boateng (Bayern München), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Jonas Hector (Köln), Mats Hummels (Bayern München), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern München), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Ruediger (Chelsea) Niklas Süle (Bayern München), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
MIDFIELDERS JA STRIKERS: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris Saint-Germain), Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Thomas Müller (Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Arsenal), Nils Petersen (Freiburg), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern München), Leroy Sane (Manchester City), Timo Werner (RB Leipizg)
Denmark
GOALIES: Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester), Jonas Lossl (Huddersfield), Frederik Ronnow (Brondby), Jesper Hansen (Midtjylland)
DEFENDERS: Simon Kjaer (Sevilla), Andreas Christensen (Chelsea), Mathias Zanka Jorgensen (Huddersfield), Jannik Vestergaard (Mönchengladbach), Andreas Bjelland (Brentford), Henrik Dalsgaard (Brentford), Peter Ankersen (FC København), Jens Stryger (Udinese), Riza Durmisi (Real Betis), Jonas Knudsen (Ipswich), Nicolai Boilesen (FC København)
MIDFIELDERS: William Kvist (FC København), Thomas Delaney (Werder Bremen), Lukas Lerager (Bordeaux) Lasse Schone (Ajax), Mike Jensen (Rosenborg), Christian Eriksen (Tottenham), Daniel Wass (Celta Vigo), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Southampton), Mathias Jensen (Nordsjælland), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Deportivo La Coruna), Robert Skov (FC København)
STRIKERS: Pione Sisto (Celta Vigo), Martin Braithwaite (Bordeaux), Andreas Cornelius (Atalanta), Viktor Fischer (FC København), Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig), Nicolai Jorgensen, (Feyenoord), Nicklas Bendtner (Rosenborg), Kasper Dolberg (Ajax), Kenneth Zohore (Cardiff)
Tunisia
GOALIES: Aymen Mathlouthi (Al Batin), Moez Ben Cherifia (Esperance), Farouk Ben Mustapha (Al Shabab), Mouez Hassen (Chateauroux)
DEFENDERS: Nagguez Hamdi (Zamalek), Dylan Bronn (Gent), Rami Bedoui (Etoile du Sahel), Yohan Benalouane (Leicester), Syam Ben Youssef (Kasimpasa), Yassine Meriah (CS Sfaxien), Bilel Mohsni (Dundee United), Khalil Chammam (Esperance), Oussema Haddadi (Dijon), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahli)
MIDFIELDERS: Ellyes Skhiri (Montpellier), Mohamed Amine Ben Amor (Al Ahly), Ghaylene Chalali (Esperance), Karim Laaribi (Cesena), Farjani Sassi (Al Nassr), Ahmed Khalil (Club Africain), Seifeddine El Khaoui (Troyes), Mohamed Larbi (Tours)
STRIKERS: Fakhreddine Ben Youssef (Al Ettifaq), Anice Badri (Esperance), Bassem Srarfi (Nice), Ahmed Akaichi (Al Ittihad), Wahbi Khazri (Rennes), Naim Sliti (Dijon), Sabeur Khalifa (Club Africain)
Russia
GOALIES: Igor Akinfejev (TsSKA), Vladimir Gabulov (Club Brugge), Soslan Džanajev (Rubin Kazan), Andrei Lunev (Zenit).
DEFENDERS: Vladimir Granat, Ruslan Kambolov, Fedor Kudryashov (kaikki Rubin Kazanista), Ilja Kutepov (Spartak), Roman Neustadter (Fenerbahce), Konstantin Rausch (Dynamo Moskova), Andrei Semenov (Akhmat Grozni), Igor Smolnikov (Zenit), Mario Fernandes (TsSKA).
MIDFIELDERS: Juri Gazinski (Krasnodar), Alexsandr Golovin, Alan Dzagojev (TsSKA), Alexsandr Erokhin, Juri Zhirkov, Daler Kuzjajev (Zenit), Roman Zobnin, Alexsandr Samedov (Spartak), Anton Miranchuk (Lokomotiv), Alexsandr Tashajev (Dynamo), Denis Tšeryšev (Villarreal).
STRIKERS: Artjom Dzjuba (Arsenal Tula), Aleksei Mirantšuk (Lokomotiv), Fedor Smolov (Krasnodar), Fedor Tšalov (TsSKA).
Uruguay
GOALIES: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco da Gama), Martin Campana (Independiente)
DEFENDERS: Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Sporting CP), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Maximiliano Pereira (Porto), Gaston Silva (Independiente), Martin Caceres (Lazio, Guillermo Varela (Penarol)
MIDFIELDERS: Nahitan Nandez (Boca Juniors), Lucas Torreira (Sampdoria), Matias Vecino (Inter Milan), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus), Carlos Sanchez (Monterrey), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro), Diego Laxalt (Genoa), Cristian Rodriguez (Penarol), Jonathan Urretaviscaya (Monterrey), Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders), Gaston Ramirez (Sampdoria)
STRIKERS: Cristhian Stuani (Girona), Maximiliano Gomez (Celta Vigo), Edinson Cavani (PSG), Luis Suarez (Barcelona)
Sweden
GOALIES: Robin Olsen (FC København), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Swansea), Karl-Johan Johnsson (Guingamp).
DEFENDERS: Andreas Granqvist (Krasnodar), Victor Nilsson Lindelof, (Manchester United), Mikael Lustig (Celtic), Ludwig Augustinsson (Werder Bremen), Pontus Jansson (Leeds), Emil Krafth (Bologna), Filip Helander (Bologna), Martin Olsson (Swansea).
KESKIKENTTÄ: Sebastian Larsson (Hull), Gustav Svensson (Seattle Sounders FC), Albin Ekdal (Hamburg), Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig), Viktor Claesson (Krasnodar), Jimmy Durmaz (Toulouse), Marcus Rohden (Crotone), Oscar Hiljemark (Genoa)
STRIKERS: Marcus Berg (Al Ain), John Guidetti (Alaves), Isaac Kiese-Thelin (Waslan Beeveren), Ola Toivonen (Toulouse)
England
GOALIES: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley).
DEFENDERS: John Stones (Manchester City), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Phil Jones (Manchester Utd), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Manchester Utd), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool).
MIDFIELDERS: Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Jesse Lingard (Manchester Utd), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Fabian Delph (Manchester City).
STRIKERS: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester Utd), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).
Portugal - France
Brazil - England
Spain - Argentina
Germany - Belgium
Should be a very fun tournament!
Champion - Germany
Vice-champion - France
3rd team - Argentina
Teams to qualify from the groups: Uruguay, Egypt; Spain, Portugal; France, Denmark; Argentina, Croatia; Brazil, Switzerland; Germany, Sweden; England, Belgium; Poland, Columbia.
Opening match (Thursday, 14 June) Russia - Saudi Arabia 2:1
Champion - Spain
Vice-champion - France
3rd team - Germany
Teams to qualify from the groups: Uruguay, Egypt; Spain, Portugal; France, Denmark; Argentina, Croatia; Brazil, Switzerland; Germany, Sweden; England, Belgium; Poland, Columbia.
Opening match (Thursday, 14 June) Russia - Saudi Arabia 1:0
Qualifiers from the groups (winners first, followed by 2nd places):
Group A: Uruguay, Russia
Group B: Spain, Portugal
Group C: France, Denmark
Group D: Argentina, Nigeria (The group of death; all four teams can qualify!)
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland
Group F: Germany, Sweden
Group G: Belgium, England
Group H: Poland, Senegal (Another group of death but not as strong as group D)
Gold: Germany
Silver: France
Bronze: Argentina
4th place: Brazil
Opening match: Russia-Saudi Arabia 1-0
Uruguay, Egypt
Portugal, Spain
France, Denmark
Argentina, Nigeria
Brazil, Switzerland
Germany, Mexico
Belgium, England
Poland, Colombia
1st: Germany
2nd: Brazil with a vengeance
3rd: Portugal
Time to try this World Cup quiz. And, man, a few of those questions do bring up memories. That Bergkamp goal...
1st: Nigeria
2nd: Brazil
3rd: Costa Rica
When it comes to choosing investments randomness usually performs as well or better than investment advisers. I can't say I'm overwhelmingly confident about the random selection above, but we'll see
Painfully close.
You're England in 1990. So, so close to the top bracket, but again undone at the last.
Portugal - Brazil
Argentina - Germany
As soon as he makes his prediction for the final and the 3rd place, I'll include JM into our preditiction game.
Also, it turns out the next coach of RM will be the current manager of Spain. How it will influence the national team, I wonder?