World Cup 2018 predictions: Picking every game, group stage through final
The World Cup Draw is complete. After a lot of singing and dancing and FIFA/Russia propaganda-spewing, and after a bit of ping-pong-ball drawing, the 2018 World Cup has its eight groups. Its landscape is orderly. And now we have one of the most excruciating waits in sports, the six-and-a-half months between the draw and the actual World Cup.
But why wait to make some predictions? Isn’t all the anticipation of the draw based on the fact that we now have specific matchups to look forward to? Specific paths to glory to envision?
Yes, it’s way too early to make predictions. And yes, predictions are a mostly futile exercise anyway, even on the eve of the tournament’s June 14 kickoff.
But, what the heck, let’s have a go at picking all 64 games of the 2018 World Cup:
Group A
Russia 2-1 Saudi Arabia
Egypt 0-2 Uruguay
Russia 1-1 Egypt
Saudi Arabia 0-3 Uruguay
Russia 0-1 Uruguay
Saudi Arabia 1-2 Egypt
Winner: Uruguay
Runner-up: Russia
Group B
Portugal 0-1 Spain
Morocco 1-0 Iran
Portugal 1-1 Morocco
Spain 3-0 Iran
Portugal 1-1 Iran
Spain 2-0 Morocco
Winner: Spain
Runner-up: Morocco
Group C
France 4-1 Australia
Peru 2-1 Denmark
France 3-1 Peru
Australia 0-1 Denmark
France 2-2 Denmark
Australia 1-2 Peru
Winner: France
Runner-up: Peru
Group D
Argentina 2-1 Iceland
Croatia 2-1 Nigeria
Argentina 1-1 Croatia
Iceland 1-1 Nigeria
Argentina 3-1 Nigeria
Iceland 0-2 Croatia
Winner: Argentina
Runner-up: Croatia
Group E
Brazil 3-0 Switzerland
Costa Rica 0-2 Serbia
Brazil 4-1 Costa Rica
Switzerland 0-0 Serbia
Brazil 1-0 Serbia
Switzerland 1-1 Costa Rica
Winner: Brazil
Runner-up: Serbia
Group F
Germany 1-2 Mexico
Sweden 1-0 South Korea
Germany 2-0 Sweden
Mexico 2-0 South Korea
Germany 5-0 South Korea
Mexico 1-1 Sweden
Winner: Mexico
Runner-up: Germany
Group G
Belgium 5-0 Panama
Tunisia 0-2 England
Belgium 3-1 Tunisia
England 2-0 Panama
Belgium 2-1 England
Tunisia 2-1 Panama
Winner: Belgium
Runner-up: England
Group H
Poland 2-1 Senegal
Colombia 1-0 Japan
Poland 1-2 Colombia
Senegal 3-1 Japan
Poland 1-1 Japan
Senegal 1-1 Colombia
Winner: Colombia
Runner-up: Poland
KNOCKOUT ROUNDS
Uruguay 2-0 Morocco
France 3-1 Croatia
Brazil 2-1 Germany
Belgium 1-0 Poland
Spain 3-0 Russia
Argentina 1-0 Peru
Mexico 2-0 Serbia
England 1-0 Colombia
Uruguay 1-0 France
Brazil 3-1 Belgium
Spain 3-1 Argentina
England 2-1 Mexico
Brazil 2-0 Uruguay
Spain 1-0 England
Spain 2-1 Brazil
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Henry Bushnell covers global soccer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Question? Comment? Email him at henrydbushnell@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell, and on Facebook.
More World Cup coverage from Yahoo Sports:
• 2018 World Cup preview hub
• Ranking the top 100 players at the World Cup
• FC Yahoo Mixer: The Ronaldo vs. Messi debate
• A tactical guide to the 2018 World Cup
• How Vladimir Putin can use the World Cup to his benefit
