We are about to witness another edition of the second greatest sporting extravaganza on this planet after Olympics – FIFA World Cup Finals of Football. The host is Russia and all the 11 host cities are ready to welcome the teams when the first whistle blows on 14th of June. In the next one month, we would witness 64 electrifying soccer matches to determine the best team in the world.
Of the last 20th Edition, only 8 teams have won the FIFA finals till date – 5 from Europe and 3 from South America. The list of Winners and Runners up are given in Annexure – I. Brazil has won the World Cups 5 times while Germany and Italy has won it 4 times each. Argentina and Uruguay could win this a couple of times while European countries Spain, France and England has won it only once.. Among the notable teams, Netherlands should also be remembered as they are the only teams who have reached the finals thrice and never won it.
Out of these 8 winners, Italy could not qualify in this world cup and Netherlands are also missing from the fray. England and Uruguay are not the force that they used to be. So, it leaves us with only 5 strong contenders for the Cup this time from past winners. Among other teams, Belgium, Portugal, Peru and Columbia are good teams. Further, this Cup is being seen as the last world Cup of two stalwarts – Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi. Since, this coveted trophy is missing from their cabinets, they will be itching to get a hand on it. However, if we go by expert’s opinion – they are viewing only 6 teams capable of winning this Cup – Five past winners viz. Brazil, Argentina, Spain, France, Germany and Belgium. Like hockey, Belgium has improved by leaps and Bounds and is a strong contender to be crowned for the first time.
5 teams have qualified from both Asian and African continents, 3 teams have qualified from North America while their Southern counterparts are sending 5 teams in the competition. 14 Nations are coming from Europe and thus making it 32 nations’ contest. These nations have been clubbed in 8 groups of four teams and top two teams from each group will make it to the first round of knock-out stage i.e. pre-quarterfinals.
Group A is the weakest group with host Russia (65) pitted against nations like Egypt (30), Uruguay(17) and Saudi Arabia (63). Though, Uruguay is two times world champion and boasts of player like Suarez and Egypt is ranked 30th in the World but this is the best group hosts could have bargained for if they wanted to qualify for the next stage. I feel Uruguay and Russia will qualify for the next stage.
Group B is the tougher group with Spain (8) and European Champion Portugal (3) alongwith Iran(34) and Morocco(48) in it. This is one of the relatively tougher group of the championship but I don’t think Portugal and Spain will have any problem in reaching pre-quarterfinals. It is only a matter of positioning for these two teams.
Group C consists of France(7), Australia(43), Peru(10) and Denmark(19), which seems to be the toughest group. France and Peru seems to be strong contender to reach knock out stage but Denmark can be the surprise package spoiling the campaign for other two.
World No. four, Argentina (4) will be facing minnows Iceland(21), Croatia(18) and Nigeria(43) in Group D. They could not have bargained for easier group than this and Messi can get good match practice during group stage before the real championship starts for them. Among other teams, Iceland and Croatia both have equally good chance but if tiny nation Iceland shows the form it displayed during European cup in 2016, it will easily qualify for the second round.
Eternal favourites Brazil (2) is up against Switzerland (11), Costa Rica ( 22) and Serbia (38) in Group E and going by the form of the sides, Brazil and Switzerland would be reaching the last 16 without much fuss.
Group F has the best team of the World Cup, no. 1 Germany (1) alongwith Mexico(16), Sweeden(25) and South Korea(62). Germany will reach the pre-QF easily – it is only the second place fight between Mexico and Sweeden.
One of the competitive group in the fray is Group G – Belgium (5), England (12), Tunisia (28) and Panama (49). However, the top two ranked team Belgium and England should have it easy.
Last group boasts of the team like Poland (6), Senegal (32), Columbia(13) and Japan (44). I feel Poland and Columbia can reach the second stage without any surprises in store for them.
Since, teams like Italy and Netherlands are missing from this Cup which has resulted in less competitiveness at the group stage and it has also devoid us from customary “group of Death”. The qualifiers for the next stage can be predicted very easily unless some major upset takes place which is highly unlikely.
Though predicting anything in a Championship like FIFA World Cup football is a very risky affair, still I am presenting my prediction as follows in the table i.e. Spain will be the Champions lifting the Cup for the 2nd time on 15th of July.
Hope to see my predictions coming true in the World Cup but above all, I hope that this WC brings the everlasting joy and excitement to us and may the best team win the Cup!!!!
Annexure – I
| S.No. | Year | Host | Winner | Runners Up | Final Score | Remarks |
| 1 | 1930 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Argentina | 4-2 | |
| 2 | 1934 | Italy | Italy | Czechoslovakia | 2-1 | Decided in Extra Time. Score was 1-1 after 90 Min |
| 3 | 1938 | France | Italy | Hungary | 4-2 | It wasn’t Finals but decisive match that decided the winner |
| 4 | 1950 | Brazil | Uruguay | Brazil | 2-1 | |
| 5 | 1954 | Switzerland | West Germany | Hungary | 3-2 | |
| 6 | 1958 | Sweeden | Brazil | Sweeden | 5-2 | |
| 7 | 1962 | Chile | Brazil | Czechoslovakia | 3-1 | |
| 8 | 1966 | England | England | West Germany | 4-2 | Decided in Extra Time. Score was 2-2 after 90 Min |
| 9 | 1970 | Mexico | Brazil | Italy | 4-1 | |
| 10 | 1974 | West Germany | West Germany | Netherlands | 2-1 | |
| 11 | 1978 | Argentina | Argentina | Netherlands | 3-1 | Decided in Extra Time. Score was 1-1 after 90 Min |
| 12 | 1982 | Spain | Italy | West Germany | 3-1 | |
| 13 | 1986 | Mexico | Argentina | West Germany | 3-2 | |
| 14 | 1990 | Italy | West Germany | Argentina | 1-0 | |
| 15 | 1994 | USA | Brazil | Italy | 3-2 | Decided through Penalties. Score was 0-0 after 120 Min |
| 16 | 1998 | France | France | Brazil | 3-0 | |
| 17 | 2002 | Japan-S.Korea | Brazil | Germany | 2-0 | |
| 18 | 2006 | Germany | Italy | France | 5-3 | Decided through Penalties. Score was 1-1 after 120 Min |
| 19 | 2010 | S. Africa | Spain | Netherlands | 1-0 | Decided in Extra Time. Score was 0-0 after 90 Min |
| 20 | 2014 | Brazil | Germany | Argentina | 1-0 | Decided in Extra Time. Score was 0-0 after 90 Min |
Kopal 