"Victory at the Confederations Cup had hinted that the younger players were ready. It was achieved under the captaincy of Julian Draxler and without Neuer, Boateng, Hummels, Kroos, Khedira, Muller or Ozil in the squad. All seven were restored to the starting line-up for the first game at this World Cup. With it, that sense of renewal was lost."
It's been an interesting group phase. Many shocks threatening to happen, but most not quite actually happening till now. I might post some predictions from the second round on, I feel like I understand the teams a bit better now .
So, it looks like it's Colombia and Japan on to the round of 16.
Both Japan and Senegal end with 4 points and a score of 4-4. They drew against each other so the 2nd place in group H is decided by which team has the best Fair Play record (i.e., received the fewest yellow and red cards).
EDIT: I think this gives England and Belgium something to play for tonight. The winner of that match meets Japan in the next match; the loser will play Colombia. With all due respect for Japan, Colombia is in my opinion a stronger team.
I think for both teams it might be actually better to not win this match, they'll be better in another part of the tournament (you know, the one without Portugal, France, Argentina, Brazil).
I wonder, - not for the prediction game (as there're no points for that according to the starting rules), just for curiosity, - what would users' favourite be now, after the group stage, and with that knockout draw?
I would pick a France - Croatia final right now (with France as a winner), but will support Sweden, Croatia and Portugal.
I wonder, - not for the prediction game (as there're no points for that according to the starting rules), just for curiosity, - what would users' favourite be now, after the group stage, and with that knockout draw?
I would pick a France - Croatia final right now (with France as a winner), but will support Sweden, Croatia and Portugal.
Uruguay and Croatia are looking really strong at the moment. It's too bad Croatia has to play Denmark next. If I were making new predictions now, I would probably go with Uruguay, Croatia, Belgium and Colombia as the semifinalists.
This world cup is getting weirder by the hour, the teams dont play that well and there have been many upsets already. But the world cup has been a succes so far. Focus has been on the teams and football, so my hats of to Russia for keeping it that way - if only they hadnt invited Maradona (sorry to say...)
My predictions for the next round Fra - arg: 2-0 Uru - por: 1:1 (Portugal on penalties) Spa - rus: 2:0 Cro - den: 2:0 ( ) Bra - mex: 3:1 Bel - jap: 2:1 Swe - swi: 1-0 Eng - col: 1-2
@JuliusBorisov I still think Spain is a solid bet for the cup...
Ps: I am still missing the disaprove button for the scoreboard...
I hope everyone remember the rules we've set as a result of the discussion:
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)
So if one of the predictions above are for the overall result, please edit it.
Uruguay - Portugal 1:1 (not for the prediction game - I think Portugal will go through thanks to the Ronaldo factor; Uruguay have been strong but they haven't played against a top team yet; Portugal are the Euro champions, they know how to play playoff games)
France - Argentina 2:1 (France gave some rest to their stars to have additionals days for preparation; I don't feel Argentina wouldn't score, though; no extra time here)
Spain - Russia 2:1 (Spain always look like they're going to concede at least one goal; but still they seem to be able to handle a lesser team)
Croatia - Denmark 1:0 (I hope Croatia won't stop playing strongly)
Brazil - Mexico 1:1 (well, Mexico had their alarm call; they just have to play consistenly during the whole game, not only during the first half; I believe Brazil will go through in extra time)
Belgium - Japan 2:0 (this one looks straightforward for me)
Sweden - Switzerland 1:1 (the men are not ready to go out, not yet; but Switzerland can hold their line; this can go well into the penalty shootout; I'd pick Sweden there)
Columbia - England 1:2 (so, we all know how England play their playoff games; but Columbia certainly have problems, eg. James has an injury; England also rested their main players, so they should be fine in this particular game)
France-Argentina: 2-1. France hasn't been that strong but unless the Argentinians come up with a better plan than "Pass the ball to Messi and let him do everything himself", it's France to the quarter final.
Uruguay-Portugal: 1-1. Uruguay has a strong defense and Portugal has Ronaldo. It looks like an even match. Bonus prediction: Portugal wins in extra time or on penalties.
Spain-Russia: 3-1. Spain is stronger but Russia is playing at home.
Croatia-Denmark: 1-0. The nationalist in me hopes Denmark wins but the player in me goes for points in the prediction game and Croatia is better on most positions. Denmark has a strong defense and Kasper Schmeichel and only loses by one goal.
Brasil-Mexico: 2-0. Brasil is the stronger team.
Belgium-Japan: 2-0. Belgium is stronger but they don't score a lot of goals.
Sweden-Switzerland: 0-0. Both teams are stronger on defense than on offense. If I have to predict who wins on extra time or penalties, it's Switzerland.
England-Colombia: 1-2. Colombia will prove effective against a British style. Or not; I've been more wrong than right this time around.
Comments
Uruguay for the cup!!
Also... Go Brasil.... I have my cerveja and pipoca pronto
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12098/11418964/germany8217s-world-cup-exit-what-went-wrong-for-the-champions
"Victory at the Confederations Cup had hinted that the younger players were ready. It was achieved under the captaincy of Julian Draxler and without Neuer, Boateng, Hummels, Kroos, Khedira, Muller or Ozil in the squad. All seven were restored to the starting line-up for the first game at this World Cup. With it, that sense of renewal was lost."
I'm so excited, so happy, so amazed and so goddamn surprised! SWEDEN IS TOP AND GERMANY IS OUT!! Who the hell could EVER have imagined that!?
EDIT: Fixed.
Both Japan and Senegal end with 4 points and a score of 4-4. They drew against each other so the 2nd place in group H is decided by which team has the best Fair Play record (i.e., received the fewest yellow and red cards).
EDIT: I think this gives England and Belgium something to play for tonight. The winner of that match meets Japan in the next match; the loser will play Colombia. With all due respect for Japan, Colombia is in my opinion a stronger team.
Here is an overview of the knockout stage, nicked from Wikipedia.
I wonder, - not for the prediction game (as there're no points for that according to the starting rules), just for curiosity, - what would users' favourite be now, after the group stage, and with that knockout draw?
I would pick a France - Croatia final right now (with France as a winner), but will support Sweden, Croatia and Portugal.
EDIT: fixed.
My predictions for the next round
Fra - arg: 2-0
Uru - por: 1:1 (Portugal on penalties)
Spa - rus: 2:0
Cro - den: 2:0 (
Bra - mex: 3:1
Bel - jap: 2:1
Swe - swi: 1-0
Eng - col: 1-2
@JuliusBorisov
I still think Spain is a solid bet for the cup...
Ps: I am still missing the disaprove button for the scoreboard...
Uru - por: 2:1
Spa - rus: 2:0
Cro - den: 2:0
Bra - mex: 1:0
Bel - jap: 3:0
Swe - swi: 1-0
Eng - col: 2-1
Uru - por: 1-2
Spa - rus: 2-0
Cro - den: 2-1
Bra - mex: 2-0
Bel - jap: 1-0
Swe - sui: 1-2
Eng - col: 1-1 (Col on penalties
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)
So if one of the predictions above are for the overall result, please edit it.
Uruguay - Portugal 1:1 (not for the prediction game - I think Portugal will go through thanks to the Ronaldo factor; Uruguay have been strong but they haven't played against a top team yet; Portugal are the Euro champions, they know how to play playoff games)
France - Argentina 2:1 (France gave some rest to their stars to have additionals days for preparation; I don't feel Argentina wouldn't score, though; no extra time here)
Spain - Russia 2:1 (Spain always look like they're going to concede at least one goal; but still they seem to be able to handle a lesser team)
Croatia - Denmark 1:0 (I hope Croatia won't stop playing strongly)
Brazil - Mexico 1:1 (well, Mexico had their alarm call; they just have to play consistenly during the whole game, not only during the first half; I believe Brazil will go through in extra time)
Belgium - Japan 2:0 (this one looks straightforward for me)
Sweden - Switzerland 1:1 (the men are not ready to go out, not yet; but Switzerland can hold their line; this can go well into the penalty shootout; I'd pick Sweden there)
Columbia - England 1:2 (so, we all know how England play their playoff games; but Columbia certainly have problems, eg. James has an injury; England also rested their main players, so they should be fine in this particular game)
Uruguay Portugal - a 1-1 draw won by Portugal in extra time.
Fra- Arg, a 1-1 draw going to penalties. Maybe the Argies there. Or France will explode into coherence...
Spain 3 Russia 1.
Croatia 2 Denmark 0.
Brazil 2 Mexico 1.
Belgium 3 Japan 0.
Sweden 1 Switzerland 1. (Maybe even 0-0, going to penalties where Swiss may have the edge. Swedes more likely to win in normal time though.)
Colombia 1 England 2.
Uruguay-Portugal: 1-1. Uruguay has a strong defense and Portugal has Ronaldo. It looks like an even match. Bonus prediction: Portugal wins in extra time or on penalties.
Spain-Russia: 3-1. Spain is stronger but Russia is playing at home.
Croatia-Denmark: 1-0. The nationalist in me hopes Denmark wins but the player in me goes for points in the prediction game and Croatia is better on most positions. Denmark has a strong defense and Kasper Schmeichel and only loses by one goal.
Brasil-Mexico: 2-0. Brasil is the stronger team.
Belgium-Japan: 2-0. Belgium is stronger but they don't score a lot of goals.
Sweden-Switzerland: 0-0. Both teams are stronger on defense than on offense. If I have to predict who wins on extra time or penalties, it's Switzerland.
England-Colombia: 1-2. Colombia will prove effective against a British style. Or not; I've been more wrong than right this time around.