Who's winning it?

[Brizzle Fox]

I'd put Argentina back in there. Only conceded 3 shots on their goal throughout the group stage, with 2 of those in the weird game against SA, a piss easy last 16 game and getting better every game.

[gerblod]

On 29/11/2022 at 20:51, Lionator said:

The draw always opens up in competitions, they likely wouldn’t have to play Spain, Argentina or Brazil until the final. The route to the final is Senegal, France then likely Portugal or Croatia in the semi, we shouldn’t be scared. Only France could trouble us the way we’re playing. 

Portugal or Croatia could beat England - Senegal could be troublesome. France, at their best, are a level above any other team.

Remember the Europeans - England got to the final, but Italy were the dominant side in that game.

[gerblod]

FIFA bank accounts are doing very nicely and should come out as the ultimate winners of WC 2022.

Guardian states, "Revenue generated by the four-year cycle of the Qatar World Cup (from 2018 to 2022, including an extra five months because of the winter schedule) will reach $7.5bn, compared with $6.4bn for the previous cycle in Russia."

Nice one, Infantino. I bet your share takes you well out of the migrant worker wage bracket. Silly speech, wasn't it, Gianni?

[RumbleFox]

Argentina. 

[RowlattsFox]

I really don't think there is a clear favourite. Lots of average to good teams that with a bit of luck and favourable draw could win. Can see lots of penalty shootouts. 

[Lcfc098]

6 hours ago, Criggers said:

They knocked the ball around well and showed some flare but Poland were beyond dire and barely tried to attack.

 

You’d certainly say they’re capable but how many times have we seen Argentina just not show up. 2014 springs to mind.

That's two teams they've now forced to just sit back because of their relentless attacks. Defence seems solid enough apart from that Saudi game which was an anomaly. They're starting to play how they played throughout their copa america win and their 34 game unbeaten streak. Will be a very tough team to beat in a knockout game and when you have messi you have every chance in attack

[Aus Fox]

Based on the group stages, I don’t think anyone can say there is a clear favourite. Brazil, Argentina, France, Spain, England all looking decent, but have floors too. The Dutch and Portugal can’t be completely counted out either. 
Serbia, Croatia, Belgium, Germany, all not really shown anything yet, but if they make the knock out stages are capable of giving anyone a game on their day.

 

[CosbehFox]

The big plus point of Argentina's struggle is now they are playing Enzo Fernandez. Di Maria being dropped is the next obvious move. 

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Updated predictions (I said Spain before the thing):

 

Favourites:

1) France

 

Good chance:

2) Spain

3) Brazil

 

Less favoured:

4) Germany

5) England

 

Outside chance:

6) Portugal

7) Argentina

8) Croatia

 

Extremely unlikely

9) Uruguay

10) The Netherlands

11) Belgium

 

Dark horses

12) Morocco

 

Rest not worth mentioning as torunament winners IMO.

Edited 1 December 2022 by Arriba Los Zorros

[Lionator]

Brazil’s route to the final just got a whole lot easier. 

[fuchsntf]

5 hours ago, Arriba Los Zorros said:

Updated predictions (I said Spain before the thing):

 

Favourites:

1) France

 

Good chance:

2) Spain

3) Brazil

 

Less favoured:

4) Germany

5) England

 

Outside chance:

6) Portugal

7) Argentina

8) Croatia

 

Extremely unlikely

9) Uruguay

10) The Netherlands

11) Belgium

 

Dark horses

12) Morocco

 

Rest not worth mentioning as torunament winners IMO.

I thought at first not a bad list,but now…

 

Favourites:

1) Argentina

 

Good chance:

2) France

3) Brazil

4) Spain

 

Less favoured:

4) England

5) Croatia

 

Outside suprise chance:

6) Portugal

7) Morocco

8) Netherlands

 

Extremely unlikely

9) Uruguay

10) Ghana

11) Senegal

12) Poland

 

Dark Horses

13) USA

14) Japan

15) Switzerland

 

If Costa Rica,had held on Spain would have gone..it was close…

[gerrytaggart]

NOT GERMANY

[fuchsntf]

I am confused now…no Germany,

I just hope our (Englands) penalty taking has improved…wearing my 70s England shirt,I have got until Sunday to get use to it..

[Deeg67]

I don’t see it with Argentina.  They look like a mid-table team with a poor manager being carried by an old talisman who still generates a few moments of brilliance every match.  That’s a good story but I don’t think it’s a WC winning side.

[Aus Fox]

8 hours ago, fuchsntf said:

I thought at first not a bad list,but now…

 

 

Favourites:

1) Argentina

 

Good chance:

2) France

3) Brazil

4) Spain

 

Less favoured:

4) England

5) Croatia

 

Outside suprise chance:

6) Portugal

7) Morocco

8) Netherlands

 

Extremely unlikely

9) Uruguay

10) Ghana

11) Senegal

12) Poland

 

Dark Horses

13) USA

14) Japan

15) Switzerland

 

If Costa Rica,had held on Spain would have gone..it was close…

You appear to have left Australia off your list… 😂 

[Nalis]

On 19/11/2022 at 10:34, Nalis said:

Mine is very similar in the later stages, with some shocks thrown in for measure like Iran, Morocco, Qatar and Japan getting to the 2nd round.

 

Since I had the logic of Belgium knocking England out, perhaps its a England Brazil final instead? 

[Lcfc098]

23 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

The big plus point of Argentina's struggle is now they are playing Enzo Fernandez. Di Maria being dropped is the next obvious move. 

Agree with Enzo but think Di Maria has shown signs he's still good enough for one last tournament

[Lcfc098]

9 hours ago, Deeg67 said:

I don’t see it with Argentina.  They look like a mid-table team with a poor manager being carried by an old talisman who still generates a few moments of brilliance every match.  That’s a good story but I don’t think it’s a WC winning side.

After the first game your point may have been valid but after watching the last two games and them only giving up one shot on target, you start to see why they were one of the favourites coming into the tournament. And as they say, defence wins you championships

[Lionator]

NOT BRAZIL 

[The Bear]

I still say Spain. They made plenty of changes in their last game. 

[Sly]

At this point … It could be any of the last 16 

[TJQuik]

So, England are the only "favourites" not to lose a match in the group stage. Interesting, that.

Edited 2 December 2022 by TJQuik

[Aus Fox]

So it looks as though England have had the best group stage of anyone.

Only England, Morocco, Holland and the US left undefeated. 
The quality of some teams looks questionable beyond their first 11.

[foxes_rule1978]

From what I have seen it is out of france, Brazil and England… those are the strongest teams 

[Guest Col city fan]

Still not seen anything from any other team that would make England necessarily fear them. But I’m going for France I think. Mbappe is the best player in this tournament and the thought of him one on one with Maguire DOES worry me.