Prediction of Second Semi-final game of World Cup 2018

Second semi-final game starts tonight at Japan time.

Croatia and England will meet for the first time at FIFA World Cup. I'm sure that the game tonight will be exciting.

The first half of the game will be probably 0-0, and they both have to be patient to get a goal. The game will change in the second half.

England has been staying away from Semi-final for awhile, and they are eager to be winners of World Cup 2018, so goddess of victory will smile at England.

In the second half, Harry Kane will win one goal and England will win the game at the end.

You will see tonight!!

World Cup Prediction for Semi-Finals

In the first semi-final, Belgium vs France, I suppose Belgium will have a perfect performance. They won't need to take a risk for getting more goals. I think the result probably will be 2-0. Lukaku will score 2 goals and be replaced in 2nd half.

Also, England will get to the final. Modric might play well, but will continue 0-0 at the end of 90 minutes. In extra time, VAR could be used for a disallowed goal but in the end there won't be any goals. In the penalties shoot out I think Harry Kane should definitely score his penalty, England will beat Croatia as 3-2.

Posted for Yuki

Predictions for the second round of group games - Group G

Belgium vs Tunisia
I think Belgium will win 1-0 and Hazard will score 1 goal, then De Bruyne will play very well.

England vs Panama
I think England will win, score will be 2-1 and Harry Kane will score 2 goals, and Dele Alli will play well, but according to web news he had an injury. I think it's fake news.

England will win and Belgium comes second.

Posted for Masaaki

Predictions for the second round of group games - Group C

Denmark vs Australia
I think that Australia will win the game and the score will be 2-1. Tim Cahill will score a goal. Mille Jedinak will play well.

France vs Pery
I think that France will win the game. The score will be 1-0. I think Antoine Griezmann will score a goal. Kylian Mbappé will play well.

I think that France will win the group and Peru will come second in the group.

Posted for Rumi

FIFA World Cup Predictions Group B

Sorry for my late predictions… The games have already started!!  Please allow me to predict from next games.

There are Portugal, Spain, Iran and Morocco in Group B.  I think Portugal will be top in the group and must go to next stage.  The other team should be Spain, but I am not really sure about that.  It is because that the coach was replaced with new one just 2 days out from the 1^st game.  It may affect the team, but it would not be serious.  I think Spain will probably go to next stage with Portugal.

On June 20^th, Portugal and Spain will have the games with Morocco and Iran respectively.  Portugal will beat Morocco 5 to 0.  Christiano Ronald may turn the hat trick again.  Spain will beat Iran 3 to 1.  I hope Andres Iniesta who is traded to Vissel Kobe recently might score at least 1.

On June 25^th, both countries will have the last game in the group.  Portugal will probably beat Iran 3 to 1 and Spain will beat Morocco 2 to 1.

Portugal might have the game with Russia which is host country at round of 16, beat and then go to Quarter-final.

World Cup Predictions for Group D - Yumi the pundit

The teams of group D of World Cup soccer, 2018 is Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, and Nigeria.
I’m estimating the result of games of group D as follows.

In the game of Argentina VS Iceland, Gylfi will score two goals, but Messi will score 3 goals, so Argentina might beet Iceland.

In the Croatia VS Nigeria, Mikel will show his excellent performance and he would lead the win of the game by one to zero to Nigeria.

Nigeria will show their fundamental power in the game with Argentina.
They would control the game in the most of time, but they may lose one score at 20 mins in the second half. It is unfortunate but Nigeria may lose the game by one to three.

Finally, I estimate that Argentina will be the first and Croatia will be the second in group D.
They will go to next stage of game.

FIFA World Cup Predictions - Group F

I think Germany will win group F.

I think Mexico will be second in group F.

I think Sweden will be third in group F.

I think South Korea will be fourth in group F.

I think Germany will win the World Cup.

I think Germany will beat Brazil in the final.

Posted for Daiya

FIFA World Cup Predictions - Group E

I think Brazil will win group E.

I think Switzerland will be second in group E.

I think Costa Rica will be third in group E.

I think Serbia will be fourth in group E.

I think Brazil will win the World Cup.

I think Brazil will beat Japan or Germany in the final.

Posted for Takahiro

FIFA World Cup Predictions - Group D

I think Argentina will win group D.

I think Croatia will be second in group D.

I think Nigeria will be third in group D.

I think Iceland will be fourth in group D.

I think Germany will win the World Cup.

I think Germany will beat Japan in the final.

Posted for Kaito

FIFA World Cup Predictions - Group D

I think Nigeria will win group D.

I think Argentina will be second in group D.

I think Iceland will be third in group D.

I think Croatia will be fourth in group D.

I think Germany will win the World Cup.

I think Germany will beat Brazil in the final.

Posted for Ritsu

FIFA World Cup - Group C predictions

I think France will win group C.

I think Denmark will be second in group C.

I think Peru will be third in group C.

I think Australia will be fourth in group C.

I think Brazil will win the World Cup.

I think Brazil will beat Spain in the final.

Posted for Masato

FIFA World Cup Group G expectation!

Group G has England, Belgium, Panama, and Tunisia and two of these countries go to the next round. 
Let me remind you of the FIFA ranking of these four countries: England #12, Belgium #3, Panama #55, and Tunisia #21 (June 7, 2018).

I abandon Panama and Tunisia because they will probably lose or possibly draw the match with England and Belgium. It is the first world cup for Panama and it has been more than a decade since Tunisia was qualifier in 2006. England and Belgium are way too good for them.

I learn about England players and compare them with Belgium players with my fair point of view.

What I know is that they both belong to UEFA group and have star players. However, I found that Belgium has a major anxiety and England has a significant strength.

On one hand, Belgium may possibly lose the match with Panama and Tunisia since Belgium rely on their star players individually. On the other hand, as England tried different formations and tactics against interior countries during qualifying matches they should not lose against Panama and Tunisia.

With all my respect to the president of Luna International, England will certainly finish Group G tournament in the 1st position.

I expect to see who would be the next Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane or Raheem Sterling. It will certainly the best if Kane would become the best scorer and Sterling would make the most assists.

If I were wrong, I will definitely finish my reading assignments by the end of the last match between Panama and Tunisia in Group G, which is on June 28. 

Off topic but Vauxhall has been the sponsor for four nations in the UK. German car maker, BMW , is one of the sponsors for Belgium national team. How could England possibly lose against Belgium? 

Reiko's World Cup 2018 prediction - Group A

World Cup 2018 will be started today! Here is my prediction for group A.

There are 4 countries in group A as below

1.  Russia - Host country - FIFA ranking 70th in the world. There is no star player but the strongest point is the host country. The power of audiences could help the team to win. They might score 2 goals against Saudi Arabia and win a game as FIFA ranking is almost the same. I think Russia team will probably lose the other games considering FIFA ranking.
2. Saudi Arabia FIFA ranking 67th in the world. There is also no special player in this team. They may score 1 goal at least to any of team but I think Saudi team might not be able to the next state.
3. Egypt FIFA ranking 45th in the world. The forwarder, Mohamed Salah Ghaly is the most famous player who belongs to Liverpool. But he got his shoulder injured and could get in the game of Russia. So I think Egypt will probably win Russia team and score 3 goals. But they might lose Uruguay team at the first game because Salah might not be able to get in the game. 
4. Uruguay FIFA ranking 14th in the world. There are two star players; Edinson Roberto Cavani Gómez who belongs to Paris Saint-Germain and Luis Alberto Suárez Diaz who belongs to Barcelona. As Cavani and Suarez are forwarder, the offensive strength is very good, they will probably score more than 4 goals in the group stage. On the other hand, defensive strength is also good because of goal keeper, Néstor Fernando Muslera Micol. 

Uruguay team will probably finish the first round at the top of Group A.

Your predictions

Image via Wikipedia

Here is some analysis of your expert predictions for the Football World Cup in South Africa - thank you for all your clicks!

• Group A: An amazing 45% thought France would win this group. They came bottom and only just managed to score a goal near the end. Typically ungracious guests, spoiling the host's party. They do win best comedy act of the world cup though, and made England look good by comparison.
• Group B: 60% of you chose Argentina, who have some brilliant players but an insane manager (see previous posts about him). Are they fragile at the back?
• group C: 0% selected USA, who fully deserved to go through, and should have won their game with Serbia except for inexplicable reffing. England? My observant 10 year old student explained "They're crap". Kid will go far!
• Group D: Depressingly, 75% called Germany to win. What a surprise, we (England) get to put them in their place in the next round. 12 years ago I was doing shots of Jameson's (Irish whiskey) through the penalty shoot out with Sean. Ghana is not a chocolate bar.
• Group E: Only 47% said Holland. Maybe the other 53% wanted The Netherlands? Will Japan meet 31% expectations tonight (and beat the Danes...like England did in Niigata in 2002)? I think so.  Good joke I heard today: "If Japan had a Prius up front instead of a Honda, would they be unstoppable?" Gambarre Nippon.
• Group F: 83% said Italy. They're rubbish! I'd love to see the Kiwi's get into the next round but Paraguay are too good.
• Group G: Only 61% thought Brazil would clean up in this group? Any change of heart? They're looking strong.
• Group H: The Swiss probably gave the Spaniards the wake up call they needed. 89% of you figured they'd make the last 16 as winners of this group. Chile should join them (one of my dark horses).

Next challenge is to predict who will fill the semi-final berths, to be played on July 2nd.

I hate Maradona - surprise?

 Word association game with Maradona - inspired by his news conference yesterday asking for Fair Play at the FIFA World Cup.

Arrange the following words into two groups - one positive ("Group A") & one negative ("Group B")

•  cheat
• drug pusher
• fellon
• unsportsmanlike
• hypocrite
• Cruella de Ville lookalike
• left-footed
• short-arsed
• misogynist 
• Peter Shilton

For those of you who need a hint, there is only one answer for Group A (Peter Shilton is the one you wanted)

Favourite memory from the World Cup in 2002 was the "Maradona, Maradona, what's the weather like at home?" chant after Beckham's penalty put them out in Sapporo. Japan wouldn't let him in the country for drug offences.

Who was England's best ever goalie? For me, always Shilts.
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First round matches - World Cup schedule

Image by chooyutshing via Flickr

Here is the schedule (Japanese times) for the first round matches in the World Cup (football, the one in South Africa...)

I will be showing some of the matches on the big screen at Luna - everyone is welcome.
I will post the schedule of matches we will screen on the blog each weekend during the tournament

To get started, which countries will win their groups? Vote in the polls on the right-hand margin NOW!