With the World Cup starting on November 20th, it’s time to give each group a letter grade from A to F on how competitive the group will be, how watchable the group will be, and predict a winner, a loser, and who might be a surprise upset in each group.
Group A:
Qatar – 50
Ecuador – 44
Senegal – 18
Netherlands – 8
Competitive Grade: C
Watchability Grade: C
Group Winner: Senegal
Group Loser: Qatar
Surprise Upset: Ecuador
Group A is overall a fairly boring group. You have two teams who are ranked in the top 20 of the world followed by two teams that are ranked near the bottom of all the teams that have qualified. Qatar qualified as hosts, Ecuador came 4th in qualifying, Senegal beat Egypt on pens to qualify and the Netherlands topped their qualifying group in Europe. The best game of this group will most likely be Senegal vs. Netherlands, as that is the game that will decide who wins the group. Ecuador being a South American team could provide an upset and finish second in the group.
Group B:
England – 5
Iran – 20
USA – 16
Wales – 19
Competitive Grade: A
Watchability Grade: A
Group Winner: England
Group Loser: USA
Surprise Upset: Iran
Group B is a good group for a casual fan. All of the teams are in the top 20 ranked teams in the world and you get great regional/political rivals in this group with England vs Wales and Iran vs USA. England topped their qualifying group in Europe, Iran topped their qualifying group in Asia, Wales got in through the backdoor way in Europe, while the USA Finished third in North American qualifying. It’s hard to say which match will be the best in the group as they will all be good. Iran could provide a surprise upset by finishing second in this group.
Group C:
Argentina – 3
Saudi Arabia – 51
Mexico – 13
Poland – 26
Competitive Grade: B
Watchability Grade: B
Group Winner: Argentina
Group Loser: Saudi Arabia
Surprise Upset: Poland
Group C is a good group you have three very competitive teams and then you have Saudi Arabia. Argentina qualified by finishing second in South America, Saudia Arabia got in by finishing top of their group in Asia, Mexico finished second in North America and Poland got in through the back door of Europe. The best match in this group will probably be Argentina vs Mexico. Poland could be the surprise in this group but that really depends on how Robert Lewandowski does.
Group D:
France – 4
Australia – 38
Denmark – 10
Tunisia – 30
Competitive Grade: C
Watchability Grade: B
Group Winner: France
Group Loser: Australia
Surprise Upset: Tunisia
Group D is a mixed bag when it comes to teams, you have the previous World Cup winner in France and you have Denmark ranked 10th. On the other side, you have Tunisia who qualified on a slim 1-0 victory over Mali, and you have Australia who only got in through the Asian back door and the inter-confederation playoffs against Peru where they won 5-4 on pens. The best match of this group will hands down be France vs Denmark. Tunisia might surprise people in this group though as they are the third-best team in Africa.
Group E:
Spain – 7
Costa Rica – 31
Germany – 11
Japan – 24
Competitive Grade: B
Watchability Grade: B
Group Winner: Germany
Group Loser: Costa Rica
Surprise Upset: Japan
Group E is a well-balanced group, you have two previous winners in Spain and Germany, and you have the second-best Asian team and arguably the most experienced one as well. Then you have Costa Rica which fills out the group. Both Spain and Germany won their qualifying group. Japan came second in theirs, and Costa Rica got in through the inter-confederation playoffs where they beat New Zealand 1-0. The best game of this group will be Spain vs Germany, both teams are giants in world football and both have won the World Cup recently (Spain 2010, Germany 2014). These two teams play very good football and this will be a game for any neutral fan to tune in for. The surprise of this group might come in Japan, if they can hold either Germany or Spain to a draw, beat Costa Rica, and if Germany and Spain tie each other I could see Japan coming in second.
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Group F:
Belgium – 2
Canada – 41
Morocco – 22
Croatia – 12
Competitive Grade: C
Watchability Grade: A
Group Winner: Belgium
Group Loser: Morocco
Surprise Upset: Canada
Group F is the group to watch if you are reading this article and are from Canada. This is because this is our group. This is where Canada will put its stamp on the world stage. Well, we probably all wish Canada got a slightly easier group, we have to go with what we are given. Belgium won their group in Europe and is ranked second in the world. Canada won the qualifying group in North America and has climbed the Fifa Rankings in the process. Morocco is the second-best team in Africa and beat DR Congo 5-2 to qualify. Croatia won their group in Europe and made it to the finals last World Cup. The most entertaining game for a neutral would be Belgium vs Croatia. However, as Canadian fans, the best game for us will most likely be vs Morocco as that will be our best chance to win a game. I am biased so I picked Canada as the surprising upset in the group just due to pure hope that they advance.
Group G:
Brazil – 1
Serbia – 21
Switzerland – 15
Cameroon – 43
Competitive Grade: D
Watchability Grade: B
Group Winner: Brazil
Group Loser: Serbia
Surprise Upset: Switzerland
Group G is an easy group and probably not a very competitive one either. Brazil won their qualifying group in South America, Serbia and Switzerland won theirs in Europe, and Cameroon only got in on the away goal rule in Africa. Brazil should easily win this group. There isn’t a clear upset in this group with second place really just a coin flip between Serbia and Switzerland.
Group H:
Portugal – 9
Ghana – 61
Uruguay – 14
South Korea – 28
Competitive Grade: C
Watchability Grade: F
Group Winner: Portugal
Group Loser: Ghana
Surprise Upset: South Korea
Group H is all over the place when it comes to teams. The highest ranked is Portugal, while the lowest is Ghana at 61 place which is also the lowest in the entire tournament. Portugal came in second in their European group and then beat Turkey, and North Macedonia to get in through the European back door. Ghana beat Nigeria on away goals to qualify. Uruguay came third in South American qualifying. And South Korea came second in their Asian Qualifying group. The best game in this group will be Portugal vs Uruguay. The surprise of this group will be South Korea.
Winner
World Cup Winner: Brazil
World Cup Runner-Up: France
Third Place: Argentina
Brazil will bring the World Cup back to South America for the first time since 2002, and we will see a rematch of the 1998 finals incept for Brazil will win instead of France. The semis will be Brazil vs Argentina in one and France vs Belgium in another. Argentina will beat Belgium to come in third.
Overall, this will be an exciting World Cup (minus the corruption, human rights violations, and worker deaths, that went into building it). This World Cup will cement itself in history as the first to be played in winter and the first to be held in a Middle Eastern country. Fans both at the game and watching on TV will come away with unforgettable memories and will be witnesses to unbelievable skill, as players from around the world put on an unforgettable show.
Let me know if my predictions are wrong and who you think will win in the comments below.
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