Germany and Brazil are the favourites to win World Cup 2018 in Moscow come July, so it’s no wonder why they are expected to dominate the group stage of the big event.
The only question left is: who will join them as they emerge from their respective groups?
In continuation of our FIFA 2018 forecast, we now take a look at groups E to H and make our prediction on who gets to move on to the World Cup sweet 16.
Note: This is the second of a two-part prediction piece. Check out Part 1 of our World Cup groups prediction for groups A to D.
Group E
Nations: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
Brazil are a team on a mission. Following their disastrous showing in the 2014 World Cup, on their home soil, the Brazilians are raring to get the job done this time and erase the aftertaste of their embarrassing 7-1 defeat to Germany.
The Selecao breezed through the South America qualifiers, topping the group by 10 points while scoring more and conceding less than any of the other qualifiers—a strong indication that they are well poised to mount a serious title bid.
While many might think that their hopes of World Cup glory lean on Neymar, it shouldn’t be forgotten they have world-class players like Gabriel Jesus, Philippe Coutinho, Douglas Costa and Roberto Firmino who can well change the course of the game for them.
Switzerland and Serbia are likely in a tight fight for the second spot. That’s not to write off Costa Rica, but it doesn’t help that most of their members play outside the world’s major leagues.
Serbia, who boast players like Nemanja Matic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, fended off the likes of Republic of Ireland and Wales in the European qualifiers for World Cup 2018.
On the other hand, Switzerland needed the playoffs to make it to this stage, but they proved in the qualifiers that they are a tough team to break down—conceding just seven goals.
Prediction: Brazil (1), Serbia (2)
Group F
Nations: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, Korea Republic
No one in their wildest dreams would expect Germany to crash out of the group stage. It’s just sacrilegious to think of that happening.
We’re talking about the defending champions, the World No.1, the same team that went 10-of-10 in the qualifiers.
The top spot is already for the Germans to take, which leaves the second spot for Mexico, Sweden and the Korea Republic to fight over.
South Korea are considered underdogs and the fact that they barely qualified won’t put their hopes up. Oh, and who could forget their poor outing four years ago that saw them get only one point?—not one win but one point!
Mexico have a long and rich football history. In fact, they haven’t failed to make it past the group stage in the last six World Cup editions.
Sweden will be keen to give the Mexicans a World Cup heartbreak, and they are more than capable of doing so with players such as Marcus Berg, John Guidetti and Emil Forsberg. They did that to Italy, after all.
Prediction: Germany (1), Sweden (2)
Group G
Nations: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
It doesn’t take an expert to know who would come out on top of Group G. No offence to Panama and Tunisia, but even the casual football fan knows that they are just there to make the Red Devils and the Three Lions look good.
What’s left to predict here is who’ll go first and second.
Both Belgium and England are oozing with talent, with several Premier League players set to feature for them.
Belgium—though considered dark horses—have remarkable quality in every department. In the attacking half, they have Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku; while they have Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld manning the back.
Then there’s Thibaut Courtois starting in goal.
England, meanwhile, have a young but proven team under Gareth Southgate. It’s not easy to forget their humiliating defeat to Iceland in the Euro 2016, but they earned their place in Russia convincingly after going undefeated in the qualifiers.
And are we really counting out a team that has Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and Eric Dier?
Prediction: Belgium (1), England (2)
Group H
Nations: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan
It’s anybody’s game in Group H as all four teams have a legitimate chance of producing an upset.
Poland and Colombia are the easy picks. After all, both nations have top-class scorers at their disposal.
Polish striker Robert Lewandowski is in fine form for Bayern Munich all season long, even capping it with the Bundesliga top-scorer prize. Meanwhile, his Bayern teammate and Colombia talisman James Rodriguez has been brilliant and was key to the Bavarians’ sixth straight top-flight title.
However, Senegal and Japan also have strong teams and star players that could make an impact.
Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Keita Balde Diao headline the Lions of Terranga, and they will hope to replicate Senegal’s feat in 2002 when they reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
The Samurai Blues will rely on Shinji Okazaki and Takuma Asano to provide them with a much-needed pace and scoring, and they won’t be short in confidence after comfortably topping their group in the Asia qualifiers.
Prediction: Poland (1), Senegal (2)
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