Mike's World Cup Prediction 2018

2018 FIFA World Cup -- Mike's Tournament Predictions

The World Cup, soccer's month-long festival, and the biggest sporting event in the world will kick off on Thursday, June 14 in Russia. It will culminate with the final match on Sunday, July 15.  For the following 32 days, offices will shut down or slow down, bars will be filled, everyone will have a jersey on and/or have their faces painted, and the world will practically stop. 

How will the champion be determined?

32 teams will battle for global soccer supremacy. For the group stage, they are split up into 8 groups of 4 teams each. Each team will play the other teams in their group once for a total of three games.  

The top two teams in each group based on points earned (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, and 0 for a loss) will advance to the knockout stage, where it's win or go home.

16 teams will reduce to 8, then 8 to 4, then 4 to 2, with the final two playing for the trophy on July 15. 

Who will win it all? Who will be the biggest surprise of the tournament? Who will disappoint? Where the hell is the US team? -- Hint: not in Russia :-( --

The answers, along with all the beer drinking, yelling and screaming, cheers and tears, and rolling eyes from people who have no idea what soccer is, will unfold over the next month.  Here's my attempt to predict what happens. 

Group Stage (June 14-28)

Group A

1. Uruguay
2. Egypt
3. Russia (hosts)
4. Saudi Arabia 

Group B

1. Spain
2. Portugal
3. Morocco
4. Iran

Group C

1. France
2. Australia 
3. Denmark 
4. Peru

Group D

1. Argentina 
2. Croatia 
3. Nigeria 
4. Iceland 

Group E

1. Brazil
2. Costa Rica 
3. Switzerland 
4. Serbia

Group F

1. Germany (Defending Champions)
2. Mexico
3. South Korea 
4. Sweden

Group G

1. Belgium
2. England 
3. Panama
4. Tunisia

Group H

1. Colombia
2. Senegal 
3. Poland
4. Japan

Round of 16 (June 30-July 3)

Portugal def. Uruguay 

France def. Croatia

Brazil def. Mexico 

Belgium def. Senegal

Spain def. Egypt 

Argentina def. Australia

Germany def. Costa Rica 

Colombia def. England

Quarterfinals (July 6-7)

France def. Portugal 

Brazil def. Belgium

Argentina def. Spain 

Germany def. Colombia

Semifinals (July 10-11)

Brazil def. France 

Germany def. Argentina

Third Place Game (July 14) -- Why bother?

Argentina def. France

Championship Game (July 15)

Brazil def. Germany -- Revenge for 2014!!

I'll probably be wrong, but whatever. As long as I can watch the games. That's what counts, I guess.  Enjoy!