Group C - FIFA World Cup 2018 draw
Who I want to go through marked in bold.
Who will likely go through marked in asterisk *.
Group A
Russia*
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Uruguay*
Group B
Portugal*
Spain*
Morocco
Iran
Group C
France*
Australia
Peru
Denmark*
Group D
Argentina*
Iceland
Croatia
Nigeria*
Group E
Brazil*
Switzerland*
Costa Rica
Serbia
Group F
Germany*
Mexico*
Sweden
South Korea
Group G
Belgium*
Panama
Tunisia
England*
Group H
Poland*
Senegal
Colombia*
Japan
Iceland and Croatia
Iceland draw Croatia again. It was Croatia that knocked out Iceland in the 2014 World Cup Playoffs; 4 years later Iceland topped their 2018 World Cup Qualifying Group, relegating Croatia to the play-offs.
After noting that the two countries "seem to be a married couple", Iceland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said Iceland would demand a divorce from Croatia after next year's World Cup.
Familiar pairings
Nigeria draw Argentina again for the 5th time! (1994, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018).
Colombia draw Japan again as per 2014, while Brazil get Costa Rica again from 2002.
Open groups
Groups A and H look completely open; while group G should in theory be very easy for England and Belgium..
It also means that the teams that progress to the Round of 16 from Groups G and H will avoid heavyweights in that section of the draw (at least until the quarterfinals where Germany and Brazil will likely await).
Win the group and get Brazil; come second and get Germany in the QF if all goes to plan (see projected knockout draw below - countries noted in order of likelihood).
If I had it my way with the knockout draw....
This is what might happen.
Group A
Saudi Arabia tops Group A; Egypt comes runner-up.
Group B
Morrocco tops Group B; Iran comes runner-up.
Group C
France tops Group C; Aussies come runner-up.
Group D
Nigeria tops Group D; Iceland comes runner-up.
Group E
Brazil tops Group E; Switzerland/Serbia come runner-up.
Group F
South Korea top Group F; Germany come runner-up.
Group G
Tunisia/Panama top Group G; England are runner-up.
Group H
Japan top Group H; Senegal come runner-up.
R16 Match #1:
Saudi Arabia v Iran
Regional rivalry.
R16 Match #2:
France v Iceland.
Euro 2016 re-match.
R16 Match #3:
Brazil v Germany
Premature grand final.
R16 Match #4:
Tunisia v Senegal
African derby.
R16 Match #5:
Morrocco v Egypt
North African derby.
R16 Match #6:
Nigeria v Australia.
R16 Match #7:
South Korea v Switzerland.
R16 Match #8:
Japan v England.
France proceeds to semi.
Brazil beat Senegal and proceed to top semi.
Australia beat Nigeria on penalties and then beat Egypt on penalties.
Japan beat England on penalties; South Korea beat Switzerland on penalties.
Asia derby between Japan and South Korea. Japan wins 2-1.
SF#1: France v Brazil
1998 re-match
SF#2: Australia v Japan
Asia derby part 2.
Andre Lim
Who will likely go through marked in asterisk *.
Group A
Russia*
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Uruguay*
Group B
Portugal*
Spain*
Morocco
Iran
Group C
France*
Australia
Peru
Denmark*
Group D
Argentina*
Iceland
Croatia
Nigeria*
Group E
Brazil*
Switzerland*
Costa Rica
Serbia
Group F
Germany*
Mexico*
Sweden
South Korea
Group G
Belgium*
Panama
Tunisia
England*
Group H
Poland*
Senegal
Colombia*
Japan
Iceland and Croatia
Iceland draw Croatia again. It was Croatia that knocked out Iceland in the 2014 World Cup Playoffs; 4 years later Iceland topped their 2018 World Cup Qualifying Group, relegating Croatia to the play-offs.
After noting that the two countries "seem to be a married couple", Iceland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said Iceland would demand a divorce from Croatia after next year's World Cup.
Familiar pairings
Nigeria draw Argentina again for the 5th time! (1994, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018).
Colombia draw Japan again as per 2014, while Brazil get Costa Rica again from 2002.
Open groups
Groups A and H look completely open; while group G should in theory be very easy for England and Belgium..
It also means that the teams that progress to the Round of 16 from Groups G and H will avoid heavyweights in that section of the draw (at least until the quarterfinals where Germany and Brazil will likely await).
Win the group and get Brazil; come second and get Germany in the QF if all goes to plan (see projected knockout draw below - countries noted in order of likelihood).
This is what might happen.
Group A
Saudi Arabia tops Group A; Egypt comes runner-up.
Group B
Morrocco tops Group B; Iran comes runner-up.
Group C
France tops Group C; Aussies come runner-up.
Group D
Nigeria tops Group D; Iceland comes runner-up.
Group E
Brazil tops Group E; Switzerland/Serbia come runner-up.
Group F
South Korea top Group F; Germany come runner-up.
Group G
Tunisia/Panama top Group G; England are runner-up.
Group H
Japan top Group H; Senegal come runner-up.
R16 Match #1:
Saudi Arabia v Iran
Regional rivalry.
R16 Match #2:
France v Iceland.
Euro 2016 re-match.
R16 Match #3:
Brazil v Germany
Premature grand final.
R16 Match #4:
Tunisia v Senegal
African derby.
R16 Match #5:
Morrocco v Egypt
North African derby.
R16 Match #6:
Nigeria v Australia.
R16 Match #7:
South Korea v Switzerland.
R16 Match #8:
Japan v England.
France proceeds to semi.
Brazil beat Senegal and proceed to top semi.
Australia beat Nigeria on penalties and then beat Egypt on penalties.
Japan beat England on penalties; South Korea beat Switzerland on penalties.
Asia derby between Japan and South Korea. Japan wins 2-1.
SF#1: France v Brazil
1998 re-match
SF#2: Australia v Japan
Asia derby part 2.
Andre Lim
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