World Cup Predictions: Part V of V

This is incredibly long, though it's mostly lists, so I hope it won't be too hard to get through.

The group stage has ended, and now, as promised, I will go through what I got right and wrong and will predict the knockout stages.

Let’s look at all the groups:

Predicted Group A:

1. Brazil: 9 points
2. Croatia: 4 pts (ahead on goal difference)
3. Mexico: 4 pts
4. Cameroon: 0 pts

Actual Group A:

1. Brazil: 7 pts
2. Mexico: 7 pts
3. Croatia: 3 pts
4. Cameroon: 0 pts

Thoughts: Croatia underperformed consistently, and a large portion of the blame should go to coach Niko Kovač. He played Luka Modrić correctly, but played Ivan Rakitić in the defensive midfield even though he had so much success with Sevilla in an attacking midfield position. And without each other close by, neither could make things happen. Obviously the real story here, though, is Mexico. They struggled through qualifiers, finishing 2-5-3 in CONCACAF qualifying and only making it into the World Cup because the US beat Panama in qualifying’s final match. During qualifying, they fired their manager and proceeded to go through 2 more managers in the span of just 3 matches. Their replacement and current manager, Miguel Herrera, is the reason they have been so successful. His energy is extraordinary and translates into great play on the field from everyone involved. His decision to bring Chicharito off the bench was also a stroke of genius.

Group MVP: Guillermo Ochoa

Best Player: Neymar

Predicted Group B:

1. Spain: 7 pts
2. Netherlands: 5 pts
3. Chile: 4 pts
4. Australia: 0 pts

Actual Group B:

1. Netherlands: 9 pts
2. Chile: 6 pts
3. Spain: 3 pts
4. Australia: 0 pts

Thoughts: This was a shocker, obviously. I can’t say I’m disappointed. Like most other people, I’m not a big fan of Spain’s side. I like several of their players, but I just don’t like the team. Wanting them to win is like hoping to be bored. Their play style is boring and so is seeing them consistently win every major international trophy available to them. One of the Cup’s most disappointing developments thus far was that Australia didn’t win that game. Chile played tremendously exciting attacking football so I’m glad to see them move on. I was spot on that Australia wouldn’t make it through, so there’s always that.

Group MVPs: Arjen Robben

Predicted Group C:

1. Colombia: 7 pts
2. Japan: 5 pts
3. Ivory Coast: 2 pts
4. Greece: 1 pt

Actual Group C:

1. Colombia: 9 pts
2. Greece: 4 pts
3. Ivory Coast: 3 pts
4. Japan: 1 pt

Thoughts: Japan’s uselessness was embarrassing for both them and me. It’s frankly just disgusting. I’m actually kind of angry Greece advanced. They’re boring and never score. As I said in my predictions, this was certainly the most boring group, bar none.

Group MVP: James Rodríguez

Predicted Group D:

1. Uruguay: 7 pts
2. Italy: 5 pts
3. England: 4 pts
4. Costa Rica: 0 pts

Actual Group D:

1. Costa Rica: 7 pts
2. Uruguay: 6 pts
3. Italy: 3 pts
4. England: 1 pt

Thoughts: Wow! Everybody, me included, though Costa Rica would be fodder for the rest of the teams, but they played their hearts out and came away not just with qualification, but the group victory. It’s actually really impressive. After the Uruguay-Costa Rica opener, I thought Uruguay would have no chance without Luis Suárez. Costa Rica’s game against Italy showed me I was far too overeager to write them off. But Suárez is incredibly important to Uruguayan success, and his suspension will be devastating for them.

Group MVP: Luis Suárez

Predicted Group E:

1. Switzerland: 7 pts (ahead on goal difference)
2. France: 7 pts
3. Ecuador: 3 pts
4. Honduras: 0 pts

Actual Group E:

1. France: 7 pts
2. Switzerland: 6 pts
3. Ecuador: 4 pts
4. Honduras: 0 pts

Thoughts: France’s explosive start shows maybe they’re a force to be reckoned with. I’m not sure, though. Ecuador seems to have figured them out somewhat, and if others can, then they’ll lose eventually. Their disassembling of Switzerland was impressive, though perhaps more for the Swiss’s defensive futility than for France’s 5 goals.

Group MVP: Xherdan Shaqiri

Best Player: Karim Benzema

Predicted Group F:

Argentina: 9 pts

Bosnia and Herzegovina: 6 pts

Nigeria: 3 pts

Iran: 0 pts

Actual Group F:

Argentina: 9 pts

Nigeria: 4 pts

Bosnia and Herzegovina: 3 pts

Iran: 1 pt

Thoughts: I’m really disappointed Bosnia didn’t play better. I really wanted them to succeed for their country, to help an entire generation heal, but it wasn’t to be. The group was rather disappointing. Argentina was underwhelming, and nobody else did much of anything.

Group MVP: Lionel Messi

Predicted Group G:

Germany: 7 pts (ahead on goal difference)

Portugal: 7 pts

Ghana: 1 pt (ahead on goal difference)

United States: 1 pt

Actual Group G:

Germany: 7 pts

United States: 4 pts (ahead on goal difference)

Portugal: 4 pts

Ghana: 1 pt

Thoughts: I have never been happier to have been wrong about the United States. Our play showed all of our strengths and all of our weaknesses. We played poorly against Ghana and won; we played well against Portugal and drew; we played well against Germany and lost. Overall I’m pleased. I think we may actually have a shot moving forward. You’ll have to wait to see how much of a chance I think we have. Anyway, Germany’s play confirmed by thoughts on them: they’re the tournament’s best team, and they’re inconsistent. Not one of the group’s teams played consistently from game-to-game.

Group MVP: Thomas Müller

Predicted Group H:

Belgium: 7 pts

South Korea: 7 pts

Russia: 3 pts

Algeria: 0 pts

Actual Group H:

Belgium: 9 pts

Algeria: 4 pts

Russia: 2 pts

South Korea: 1 pt

Thoughts: Again Asia disappoints me! South Korea played like crap. Plain and simple. Russia was as mediocre as usual. Belgium also disappointed. Their inability to develop any sort of strong team chemistry is troubling and points to possible hurdles in their future. I’m stunned Algeria played so well, though I’m anything but disappointed. Every World Cup we get a surprise, and with the way they’re playing and the excitement their players are exhibiting, I couldn’t be happier for them. The Middle East gets a bad rap, but it’s not all bad. No, Algeria isn’t perfect, it’s not even one of the more free countries in the region, but it’s certainly not the completely horrendous place people seem to think.

Group MVP: Islam Slimani

I didn’t predict the knockout round here beforehand, but I did elsewhere. Here’s what it looked like:

Round of 16:

Brazil over Netherlands

Italy over Colombia

Switzerland over Bosnia and Herzegovina

Germany over South Korea

Spain over Croatia

Uruguay over Japan

Argentina over France

Belgium over Portugal

Quarterfinals:

Brazil over Italy

Germany over Switzerland

Spain over Uruguay

Argentina over Belgium

Semifinals:

Brazil over Germany

Argentina over Spain

Final:

Brazil over Argentina

Boring, huh? I’ll admit it’s pretty much what every other person on the planet had been predicting as far as final result goes, but it just seemed right.

For the predictions of what actually happened, I’m not going to give huge explanations in the name of not making this ridiculously long.

Round of 16:

Brazil over Chile: When the home team’s this good, it’s hard to imagine them losing this early. While Chile thrilled with explosive play, they don’t play defense, and with 4 in their final group game, they look to be hitting their offensive stride. Brazil isn’t as strong as many predicted, but they’re still a force to be reckoned with.

Colombia over Uruguay: Uruguay will suffer from Dracula’s curse (that’s a thing, right?). Suárez is their most important player, and Cavani can’t carry them alone. They’ll fall with him gone.

France over Nigeria: Unless Nigeria can somehow find a way to slow them down, expect France to have a monster match.

Germany over Algeria: Africa’s involvement will end. Feghouli, Slimani, and Co. will be no match for Germany’s many weapons.

Netherlands over Mexico: It really is a terrible draw for Mexico. They played fantastically well in the group, but the Dutch are just that much better.

Costa Rica over Greece: This is undoubtedly the weakest game of the round, and I expect CONCACAF to take at least one team into the quarters. Costa Rica scores; Greece doesn’t. The Costa Ricans speak Spanish; the Greeks are boring. Game, set, match.

Switzerland over Argentina: This is my first real shocker. This is arguably the most wide-open match of the round. The Swiss played excellent football in their two wins but looked disastrous for almost the entirety of their loss. Argentina looked okay, but was not nearly as impressive as expected. Though Messi may score, I think the Swiss take it, especially if Shaqiri turns in a good game. Thus far, when he has, the Swiss have won and vice versa.

United States over Belgium: Of course I’m being somewhat optimistic, but Belgium, for as talented as they are, have not played nearly as well as they need to for a deep run. If Team USA can put the pieces together, I have next-to-no doubt they move on. Even if they don’t, I still wouldn’t be surprised if they pulled out a win in the end.

Quarterfinals:

Brazil over Colombia: Again I just think Brazil brings too much to the table.

Germany over France: I could end up being 100% wrong on this. All it takes is one inconsistent game by Germany to sink their chances. If this is it, just as their match against Ghana was, they’ll lose. France is better than Ghana and will make them pay more often.

Netherlands over Costa Rica: The Dutch are a complete football team with loads of momentum. Unless Costa Rica can pull a rabbit out of the hat, they’re toast.

Switzerland over United States: If Michael Bradley can play to his potential, which he has yet to do in these games, the US stands a chance. Even then it’ll be hard. The Swiss are explosive, and the US defense is anything but watertight.

Semifinals:

Brazil over Germany: It’s the end of the road for Die Mannschaft. The home-field advantage and inconsistency get the better them. I really hope I’m wrong, but I doubt I will be.

Netherlands over Switzerland: A combination of everything else I’ve said is enough to say what I would here.

Third Place Game:

Germany over Switzerland: Germany don’t lose again. They’re simply to good and too fast and too strong and too deep for the Swiss.

Final:

Netherlands over Brazil: The experience and skill of the Dutch will outpace the youth and home-field support of the Brazilians. In their 4^th trip to the World Cup Final, they’ll win their first and redeem themselves after their Final loss in 2010. They'll also make 1974 World Cup team captain and Golden Ball winner Johan Cruyff, here, very proud indeed.