The World Cup is here!
Okay, here is my expertise on the game of soccer four years later just like four years later.
I am so excited to see Christian Pulisic and the U.S.A. Men’s team.
Wait (Looking over notes).
The United States is not in the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
Pulisic will not be competing but is already the U.S.’s best player at the age of 19. He is the one bright spot for the Americans failed Cup –qualifying campaign. Pulisic is wise beyond his years. Get excited folks, if and when we are eligible.
To the current state of the World Cup.
With a wave of my magic wand, I will pick each team out of the groups. Considering I have read pages of notes to help me make my points.
Group A
Uruguay is the undisputed class of the World Cup’s Group A, while host Russia, Mohamed Salah-reliant Egypt, and upstart Saudi Arabia figure to fight for the group’s second place in the knockout stage. I am rooting for Saudi Arabia. The team hasn’t been to the World Cup in 12 years, and the 31-year-old Al-Sahlawi will be fun to watch.
Group B
Group B at the 2018 World Cup figures to be ruled by neighboring foes Spain and Portugal, but Iran and Morocco possess the quality to make things interesting for the two powers. I cannot leave out that Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) makes an appearance in Group B. Now 33, this might be Ronaldo’s last chance to add the one thing missing on his sparkling resume: a World Cup title. He had another fantastic season for Real Madrid, scoring 26 goals in 27 La Liga appearances and 15 Champions League goals in just 13 games.
Group C
Group C will be a fight to the finish, with favored France challenged by a pair of capable contenders and one veteran-laden upstart. It is for France for the taking. Peru is a sleeper team, Christian Cueva can be Peru’s most lethal weapon.
Group D
Argentina, Iceland, Nigeria, and Croatia are all capable of making a run to the knockout stage, making World Cup Group D arguably the competition’s most deadly foursome. Group D favorite, Argentina, nothing short of a trophy will satisfy. Lionel Messi (Argentina) was close to winning a World Cup four years ago, the burden will be heavy, but arguably the greatest player of this generation can handle it.
Group E
Brazil has Neymar back healthy and looks poised to challenge for a sixth title. But Serbia, Switzerland, and 2014 Cinderella Costa Rica all can duke it out for a place in the knockout stage, too. It is all Brazil for the entire trophy especially losing that last one on their home soil as the host country.
Group F
Germany is poised to avoid the same fate that plagued the last two World Cup champions in their title defense, but Mexico and Sweden are no pushovers as group hurdles. Sweden is a sleeper team; they will not be an easy out.
Group G
My personal favorite to win it all is in this group, Belgium. Plus they share a motto that Haitians have on their flag “L’union fait la force.” This squad boasts an embarrassment of riches so you really can’t go wrong whichever way you go, so let’s stick with the obvious choice. Kevin De Bruyne is the captain of the ship. England, Panama, and Tunisia will not turn their backs to get out of the group. But the edge goes to England.
Group H
I had to read my notes a couple of times for this group. Poland, Senegal, Columbia, and Japan. This is one of the most challenging groups to predict a winner because you can make a convincing argument that all four of these teams could win the group. With that being said, Poland will come out on top. The constant threat of Robert Lewandowski matched with solid options at goalkeeper and defense puts the European side in prime position to win the group. Colombia will follow in second in a group that’ll go down to the wire.
