The FIFA World Cup draw has been made and more than half of the planet is excited about it. Chatter has already increased about various odds and which team is most likely to win. The biggest sporting event of the year is no less than a carnival, regardless of which country ends up with the coveted trophy.
Football is the most popular sport on the planet. Half the planet will be tuned in to the extravaganza in the month of June. The draw for The World Cup 2018 was made on 1st December 2017 in Moscow, Russia, giving us the perfect time to analyze each group and predict the teams which can qualify for a round of 16.
As 32 teams have been divided into 6 groups; each group contains 4 teams. Without futher ado, let us start the ball rolling towards the predictions.
Did you know ?
This will be the first time ever, that Russia will host a FIFA World Cup.
Group A
Group A Teams and Matches
Team | Qualification | Consecutive Final Appearances | FIFA World Ranking |
Russia | Host Nation | 2 | 65 |
Uruguay | CONMEBOL Round Robin Runners-up | 3 | 21 |
Egypt | CAF Third Round Group E Winners | 1 | 31 |
Saudi Arabia | AFC Third Round Group B Runners-up | 1 | 63 |
Matches:
June 14:
Teams: Russia v Saudi Arabia
Venue: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Time: 18:00 Local Time
June 15:
Teams: Egypt v Uruguay
Venue: Ekaterinburg
Time: 17:00 Local Time
June 19:
Teams Russia v Egypt
Venue: St Petersburg
Time: 21:00 Local Time
June 20:
Teams: Uruguay v Saudi Arabia
Venue: Rostov-on-Don
Time: 18:00 Local Time
June 25:
Teams: Uruguay v Russia
Venue: Samara
Time: 18:00 Local Time
Teams: Saudi Arabia v Egypt
Venue: Volgograd
Time: 17:00 Local Time
Most Likely Winners: Uruguay and Egypt
Russian were able to secure fourth place in the FIFA World Cup in the year 1966. Uruguay has won the World Cup title in 1930 and 1950. They will have an upper hand in this group, as Russia and Saudi Arabia rank the lowest in the FIFA world ranking. This draw has definitely given Uruguay and Egypt an easy passage to the round of 16.
Group B
Group B Teams and Matches
Team | Qualification | Consecutive Final Appearances | FIFA World Ranking |
Portugal | UEFA Group B Winners | 5 | 3 |
Spain | UEFA Group G Winners | 11 | 6 |
Morocco | CAF Third Round Group C Winners | 1 | 40 |
Iran | AFC Third Round Group A Winners | 2 | 32 |
Matches:
June 15:
Teams: Morocco v Iran
Venue: St Petersburg
Time: 18:00 Local Time
Teams: Portugal v Spain
Venue: Fisht Stadium, Sochi
Time: 21:00 Local Time
June 20:
Teams: Portugal v Morocco
Venue: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Time: 15:00 Local Time
Teams: Iran v Spain
Venue: Kazan Arena, Kazan
Time: 21:00 Local Time
June 25:
Teams: Iran v Portugal
Venue: Mordovia Arena, Saransk
Time: 21:00 Local Time
Teams: Spain v Morocco
Venue: Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
Time: 20:00 Local Time
Most Likely Winners: Portugal and Spain
Even though Portugal ranks third and Spain ranks sixth in the FIFA world rankings, Spain is more likely to overtake Portugal. After all, it will be a battle between Cristiano Ronaldo and his Real Madrid teammates.
Sergio Ramos has been a part of a Spain team has won two European Champions in the year of 2008 and 2012, and one FIFA World Cup in 2010. Morocco has a good chance to prove themselves with Head coach Hervé Renard and CB Medhi Benatia’s defensive mechanism.
Group C
Group C Teams and Matches
Team | Qualification | Consecutive Final Appearances | FIFA World Ranking |
France | UEFA Group A Winners | 6 | 9 |
Australia | CONCACAF v AFC play-off Winners | 4 | 39 |
Peru | OFC v CONMEBOL play-off Winners | 1 | 11 |
Denmark | UEFA Second Round Winners | 1 | 12 |
Matches:
June 16:
Teams: France v Australia
Venue: Kazan
Time: 13:00 Local Time
Teams: Peru v Denmark
Venue: Mordovia Arena, Saransk
Time: 19:00 Local Time
June 21:
Teams: France v Peru
Venue: Ekaterinburg
Time: 20:00 Local Time
Teams: Denmark v Australia
Venue: Samara
Time: 16:00 Local Time
June 26:
Teams: Denmark v France
Venue: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Time: 17:00 Local Time
Teams: Australia v Peru
Venue: Sochi
Time: 17:00 Local Time
Most Likely Winners: France and Denmark
With no head coach, Australia’s chances of success are literally zero. For the first time ever Peru has been ranked 11th in the FIFA world rankings.
Denmark will have the upper hand in the match against Peru, unless Peru pulls off a stunner. France holds all the aces and there is nothing that can stop them from winning all three matches.
Group D
Group D Teams and Matches
Team | Qualification | Consecutive Final Appearances | FIFA World Ranking |
---|---|---|---|
Argentina | CONMEBOL Round Robin Third Place | 12 | 4 |
Iceland | UEFA Group I Winners | 1 | 22 |
Croatia | UEFA Second Round Winners | 2 | 17 |
Nigeria | CAF Third Round Group B Winners | 3 | 50 |
Matches:
June 16:
Teams: Argentina v Iceland
Venue: Spartak Stadium, Moscow
Time: 16:00 Local Time
Teams: Croatia v Nigeria
Venue: Kaliningrad
Time: 21:00 Local Time
June 21:
Teams: Argentina v Croatia
Venue: Nizhny Novgorod
Time: 21:00 Local Time
June 22:
Teams:Nigeria v Iceland
Venue: Volgograd
Time: 18:00 Local Time
June 26:
Teams: Nigeria v Argentina
Venue: St Petersburg
Time: 21:00 Local Time
Teams: Iceland v Croatia
Venue: Rostov-on-Don
Time: 21:00 Local Time
Most Likely Winners: Argentina and Croatia
The four teams in this group stage will be neck and neck. Argentina, despite all difficulties is likely to win. Croatia has got talented players like Luka Modrić as a captain and Mario Mandžukić as a forward which will help them in ensuring their spot for the round of 16.
However, Iceland has got good attacking players and their previous performance at the Euro can surprisingly help them out in winning this group stage. The chances of Nigeria’s success are not high, although they can give their best to win against Iceland.
Did you know?
Iceland is the smallest country ever to qualify for the world cup.
Group E
Group E Teams and Matches
Team | Qualification | Consecutive Final Appearances | FIFA World Ranking |
---|---|---|---|
Brazil | CONMEBOL Round Robin Winners | 21 | 2 |
Switzerland | UEFA Second Round Winners | 4 | 8 |
Costa Rica | CONCACAF Fifth Round Runners-up | 2 | 26 |
Serbia | UEFA Group D Winners | 1 | 37 |
Matches:
June 17:
Teams: Costa Rica v Serbia
Venue: Samara
Time: 16:00 Local Time
Teams: Brazil v Switzerland
Venue:Rostov-on-Don
Time: 21:00 Local Time
June 22:
Teams: Brazil v Costa Rica
Venue: St Petersburg
Time: 15:00 Local Time
Teams: Serbia v Switzerland
Venue: Kaliningrad
Time: 20:00 Local Time
June 27:
Teams: Serbia v Brazil
Venue: Spartak Stadium, Moscow
Time: 21:00 Local Time
Teams: Switzerland v Costa Rica
Venue: Nizhny Novgorod
Time: 21:00 Local Time
Most Likely Winners: Brazil and Switzerland
A not-so-good, yet not-so-bad draw for Brazil. It will be easy for Brazil to find their way to the knockout stage. Switzerland was able to win all but one game in the qualifying matches. Costa Rica might be able to surprise us by winning this stage. Serbia has the potential to turn the tables with a talented player like Sergei as a center midfielder.
Group F
Group F Teams and Matches
Team | Qualification | Consecutive Final Appearances | FIFA World Ranking |
---|---|---|---|
Germany | UEFA Group C Winners | 17 | 1 |
Mexico | CONCACAF Fifth Round Winners | 7 | 16 |
Sweden | UEFA Second Round Winners | 1 | 18 |
South Korea | AFC Third Round Group A Runners-up | 9 | 59 |
Matches:
June 17:
Teams: Germany v Mexico
Venue: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Time: 18:00 Local Time
June 18:
Teams: Sweden v South Korea
Venue:Nizhny Novgorod
Time: 15:00 Local Time
June 23:
Teams: Germany v Sweden
Venue: Fisht Stadium, Sochi
Time: 21:00 Local Time
June 23:
Teams: South Korea v Mexico
Venue: Rostov-on-Don
Time: 18:00 Local Time
June 27:
Teams: South Korea v Germany
Venue: Kazan
Time: 17:00 Local Time
June 27:
Teams: Mexico v Sweden
Venue: Ekaterinburg
Time: 19:00 Local Time
Most Likely Winners: Germany and Mexico
Gemany is the current world champions and top-ranked team in the FIFA world rankings might win all the three matches, and secure spot in a round of 16. Mexico’s matches will be exciting to watch, as it is one good attacking team with players like Javier Hernandez in the position of striker and Herrera as a midfielder.
Sweden could secure second spot if they play like they did in the playoffs. This draw has turned out to be bad for South Korea and it has a very slim chance of winning against teams like Germany and Mexico.
Group G
Group G Teams and Matches
Team | Qualification | Consecutive Final Appearances | FIFA World Ranking |
---|---|---|---|
Belgium | UEFA Group H Winners | 2 | 5 |
England | UEFA Group F Winners | 6 | 15 |
Tunisia | CAF Third Round Group A Winners | 1 | 27 |
Panama | CONCACAF Fifth Round Third Place | 1 | 56 |
Matches:
June 18:
Teams: Belgium v Panama
Venue: Fisht Stadium, Sochi
Time: 18:00 Local Time
Teams: Tunisia v England
Venue: Volgograd
Time: 21:00 Local Time
June 23:
Teams: Belgium v Tunisia
Venue: Spartak Stadium, Moscow
Time: 15:00 Local Time
June 24:
Teams: England v Panama
Venue: Nizhny Novgorod
Time: 15:00 Local Time
June 28:
Teams: England v Belgium
Venue: Kaliningrad
Time: 20:00 Local Time
Teams: Panama v Tunisia
Venue: Mordovia Arena, Saransk
Time: 21:00 Local Time
Most Likely Winners: Belgium and England
The only spectacular battle in this group is between Belgium and England. These two being strong teams, Tunisia and Panama have a difficult task, in winning the group stage.
Group H
Group H Teams and Matches
Team | Qualification | Consecutive Final Appearances | FIFA World Ranking |
---|---|---|---|
Poland | UEFA Group E Winners | 1 | 7 |
Senegal | CAF Third Round Group D Winners | 1 | 23 |
Colombia | CONMEBOL Round Robin Fourth Place | 2 | 13 |
Japan | AFC Third Round Group B Winners | 6 | 55 |
Matches:
June 19:
Teams: Poland v Senegal
Venue: Spartak Stadium, Moscow
Time: 18:00 Local Time
Teams: Colombia v Japan
Venue: Mordovia Arena, Saransk
Time: 15:00 Local Time
June 24:
Teams: Japan v Senegal
Venue: Ekaterinburg
Time: 20:00 Local Time
Teams: Poland v Colombia
Venue: Kazan
Time: 21:00 Local Time
June 28:
Teams: Japan v Poland
Venue: Volgograd
Time: 17:00 Local Time
June 28:
Teams: Senegal v Colombia
Venue: Samara
Time: 18:00 Local Time
Most Likely Winners: Colombia and Poland
Poland is a top-ranked team in this group, although it is not guaranteed to win against Colombia. Nevertheless, it will be a spectacular match between two FC Bayern Munich teammates, Rodríguez and Lewandowski. Japan is not among the strongest two, but it still stands a chance.
So these were the predictions according to the individual team’s current and previous performances in qualifier matches, their potential players and FIFA world rankings. But hey! Everything is unpredictable in football. Some teams may be more than capable of beating the best, but it may not be their day. So, who do you think will win the World Cup?