Group A
1. Uruguay 2. Russia 3. Saudi Arabia 4. Egypt,
Egypt was a major let-down for me. I truly believed they could go far, but they were just a flop in this tournament. Mo Salah, EPL golden boot winner was futile in spearheading his team’s attack after Liverpool’s disastrous Champions League final and his injury setback. Uruguay was tactically brilliant. They didn’t concede a single goal in the group stage and Edison Cavani and Luis Suarez go together like Durant and Curry. Russia’s performance surprised me. Leading into this competition, they hadn’t done much but they’ve definitely built some momentum in these group stages after thrashing the Saudis 5-0 and ending Egypt’s dreams 3-1 in a crucial match.
Group B
1. Spain, 2. Portugal 3. Iran 4. Morroco
Spain tops this group with seemingly resuscitative vigour after getting humiliated at the last tournament in the group stage. Portugal has looked promising thanks to Ronaldo putting up an offensive masterclass with his hat-trick against Spain and goal against Morroco. If Portugal hadn’t at least tied to Spain in their first game, they wouldn’t have had the confidence to beat Iran and Morroco, who played quite well. Speaking of which, Morroco truly deserved to get through this group. They started off on the wrong foot after an unlucky own-goal against Iran in extra time despite dominating the possession in the match and having more shots on target. In their second game, Ronaldo’s sharpness in front of goal cost them early against Portugal and again, despite dominating the possession and shots on target, they were just unlucky. Their best performance was their last in the tourney when they remarkably tied to the Spaniards 2-2.
Group C: Underdogs
(Apart from the French, the rest of teams are expected to do little)
1. France 2. Denmark 3. Peru 4. Australia
France was not a very good time in this group stage, but they managed to win it due to the level of competition they faced. They were close to tying to the Socceroos in the first game, but a lucky own-goal in the last minute ensured a win for them. They almost lost to the Peruvians as well whom they were posessionally inferior to. The Danes managed to beat the South Americans and Oceanians to this group’s second spot despite Peru being a better team for me, personally. However, they held France to a draw, somehow beat Peru, and Poulsen and Eriksen have been pivotal to their success. They won’t be very successful in the round of 16 though, judging from their inefficient offensive abilities.
Group D: Group of Death
(Any team could be a the bottom, and any team can very well be at the top)
1. Croatia 2. Argentina 3. Nigeria 4. Iceland
I had this group almost entirely reversed in my predictions! Iceland was my number- one dark horse team in this World Cup, but they didn’t have that extra bit of sharpness and tactical tightness in their matches despite playing incredibly well. They started off earnestly, with a draw against Argentina but they completely lost it against the Nigerians. In the last matchday for this group, this group certainly played out as an epitomic Group of Death, with Iceland, Nigeria, and Argentina needing wins to lock the second spot. It could have even gone down to do Goal-differential, in which Iceland would’ve been superior to the Argentinians had they beat Croatia. They had many chances in the game – but a couple of key saves by the Croatian keeper, and an unlucky header off the woodwork saw a devastating denouement to their World Cup debut. Argentina was very close to being eliminated after tying to the Icelanders and being pounded by the Croats 3-0. However, in the last game, Messi spearheaded his side past the Africans in a marginal win by 2 goals to 1. Nigeria had their moments as well in this tourney, like Musa’s inspired brace against Iceland and the close match against Iceland.
but this Group of Death was just totally cutthroat and warlike.
Group F: 50/50
(Two shitty teams, two really good teams)
1. Sweden 2. Mexico 3. South Korea 4. Germany
This group had by the far, the biggest upset in entire group stage of this World Cup. And that is because the World Cup titleholders got suckerpunched by the Koreans in their last game which was a must-win scenario for them. A couple of my friends who live in Germany could not describe to me the almost paralysis and denial of German football fans in the country. They were shaky in their first game against the Mexicans and despite barely beating the Swedes in their second match, they put out a catastrophic showing this World Cup. I clearly had this group wrong since the sole shitty team was the World champions, not South Korea or Sweden. Sweden, who I am still pissed off by, for omitting the legendary Zlatan Ibrahamovic from their squad, have impressed me with their counterattacking prowess and defensive sturdiness. They truly deserve to win, what I thought would be a one-sided group.
Group G: Critic’s Choice
(All teams have to prove their skill)
1. Belgium 2. England 3. Tunisia 4. Panama
In this group, all teams had to prove their abilities but only two were successful in this pursuit. Belgium topped this one with technical efficiency and resilience. They started with a comfortable win over Panama and managed to relinquish a resolute Tunisian team who scored twice against them. And their last match proved that they were true World Cup contenders by defeating England in an intense match. England was close to Belgium’s status in the group after a marginal victory over Tunisia and a heavy beatdown against Panama (6-1), however, they couldn’t defeat the Belgians.
Rav Arora 
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