World cup eve. Its better than Christmas eve. Personally cant wait. Still think its the best, most exciting tournament on and off the pitch. Although no Italian national anthem, Dutch flamboyance and sea of orange followed by Dutch meltdown and no tartan arm.... ah forget that last bit.

Anyway. Bit of fun for the competition. What is everyones tips for:

World cup winners
Runners up
Biggest shock
Where England will finish
Englands best player
Golden boot winner
Golden ball / best player winner
Best goalkeeper


For me

Winners - Brazil. Best team from back to front and bench and best manager theyve had in a long team. Seem a proper team too.

Runners up - Uruguay. Just got a feeling if they keep the first 11 fit they have an excellent chance of even winning it. Theyve as good a forward line as anyone. A strong back line. And a not too shabby midfield. Theyre historically very good in competition football and always over achieve.

Biggest shock - Germany. I just think their lack of pace (leaving Sane especially) is a major issue. Neuer has also barely played in a year. There are off the field distractions and in camp fractions between Ozil, Gundogan and the rest. And no team has defended the title since the 62 final. I think they will exit at the last 16.

Think England will get to the QFs. Which with the lack of expectation and the number of good teams wouldnt be a bad start for Southgate.

Think Englands best player will be Sterling. Think he has a point to prove at national level away from his city side. And goals to score.

Golden boot - with easy groups on paper could be any of Kane, Jesus, Neymar, Messi, Aguero, Ronaldo, Suarez or Cavani. I am going to say Cavani.

Golden ball - Messi. I think its his time to shine for Argentina and his last chance to make the claim for best ever. Without doing it at a world cup the question mark will always be there and he knows it.

Best goalkeeper - there a lot of good prospects. As well as some veterans who while not top players could make a name for themselves. I think Caballero at Argentina will be that man. Hes not the best keeper. But Argentina will concede chances and he has a chance to make a name fot himself. Especially with his penalty record.

World cup winners
My heart says Argentina. I’ve just got a sneaky feeling Messi will do it. Germany on paper probably have the best balanced side imo.
Runners up

Biggest shock
France out at the group stage
Where England will finish
Quarter finals. Anymore and that would be a huge achievement
Englands best player
Jesse Lingard
Golden boot winner
Neymar/Aguero/Gomez
Golden ball / best player winner
Son/Messi
Best goalkeeper
Ederson

Europes best hopes appear to be France and Belgium. They will both entertain us but I can’t see either in the semis.
I think Germany and Spain will disappoint everybody but the bookies.
Portugal could go well again. They are at their best in Tournaments.

I was trying to be too cool to care about the World Cup but with 24 hours left, I can't wait now.

The best thing about it is some lad from Columbia or Senegal who's pretty useless will get a £30m move to Inter or Leicester on the back of a hat trick against Denmark in the Group Stages and then never be heard of again.

France are going to win it, Germany will be the shock early exit.

Best goalkeeper Ederson ?
You think the judges will be watching him in training ?
He’s Brazil’s no 2 keeper

TVC15 wrote:Best goalkeeper Ederson ?
You think the judges will be watching him in training ?
He’s Brazil’s no 2 keeper

Since when did football have judges??

I have placed £10 on an England v Spain Final @ 50/1.
He says England will beat Germany in the semi-final !!

I'd be very wary of placing money on Spain right now - looks as if their coach could be sacked today

Germany. Muller top scorer

Put your house and your entire life savings on Brazil.

Winners - Brazil
Runners up - Germany
Biggest shock - England to win group with 9 points
England - lose to Brazil in q/f
England best player - Sterling to annoy the headline writers
Golden boot winner - Jesus
Golden ball - Coutinho
Best goalie - Alisson

Brazil. Brazil to beat England. Jesus(brazil).coutinho(brazil).alisson(brazil).
Full house. Is that a brazilgasm?

Dyched wrote:Since when did football have judges??

The judges judging who wins the best keeper award ! Obviously they won’t have wigs like our court judges !!

I think Brazil will win it with Neymar leading scorer.
Belgium to reach final or semi.
England to go out in quarters (but could easily reach semis)

Underperforming flop big teams - France, Spain and Argies.

Surprise packages - one of which could reach semi final : Croatia ; Serbia ; Denmark ; Morocco ; Uruguay

Best player award - Nick Pope
Best keeper - Nick Pope
Ballon d’or - Nick Pope
Etc
Etc

MT03ALG wrote:I have placed £10 on an England v Spain Final @ 50/1.
He says England will beat Germany in the semi-final !!

Only one prediction from me, MT to lose £10

ClaretTony wrote:I'd be very wary of placing money on Spain right now - looks as if their coach could be sacked today

Could be sacked has now been has been sacked - big decision on the eve of the competition

Winners - Germany
Runners up - Brazil
Biggest shock - Spain
England - lose to Brazil in q/f
England best player - Sterling
Golden boot winner - MULLER
Golden ball - Messi
Best goalie - Neuer

World cup winners - Brazil
Runners up - Argentina
Biggest shock - Spain
Where England will finish - QF
Englands best player - Rashford
Golden boot winner - Werner
Golden ball / best player winner - Neymar
Best goalkeeper - Alisson

World cup winners: Brazil
Runners up: Spain
Biggest shock: Ramos' tackle on Messi in their quarter final
Where England will finish: Quarter Final, knocked out by Brazil
Englands best player: Kane
Golden boot winner: Neymar
Golden ball / best player winner: Neymar
Best goalkeeper: De Gea

The France-Brazil semi final will be the highlight of the tournament.

Ramos will do Messi early doors in their QF.

France to breeze through to the semis, beating Croatia and Portugal.

England to win group.

Germany beaten by Spain in SF.

the excitement is building and still dithering around watching tomorrow from home or the local bar, either way will be enjoying the spectacle.

I will go for a rank outsider to win - England

will be interesting to pick out a few unknown players along the way who could (on playing in this completion only) be an addition to BFC's exciting European adventure.

Picking the golden boot winner is tricky. Previous winners are James Rodriguez, Diego Forlan, Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo, Davor Suker, Oleg Salenko and Salvator Schillachi.

All good players of course, but the great Brazilian Ronaldo aside, I doubt they cost the bookies too much money. You win it by plundering shed loads against farmer teams in the group stages, not the tight final rounds.

World cup winners - Argentina
Runners up - France
Biggest shock - Spain don't get out the group
Where England will finish - Last 8
Englands best player - Sterling
Golden boot winner - Higuian
Golden ball / best player winner - Dybala
Best goalkeeper - Allison

Sterlings England record is abysmal to the point he shouldn't even be in the team.

Player of the tournament for me... Rashford. Showing Jose what he can do when he is allowed to play.

At the moment, I'm fancying Gabriel Jesus to win the Golden Boot but I wouldn't rule Muller out. He'll be there or there abouts. I don't think it'll be Kane, because I don't think we'll score many goals.

FactualFrank wrote:At the moment, I'm fancying Gabriel Jesus to win the Golden Boot but I wouldn't rule Muller out. He'll be there or there abouts. I don't think it'll be Kane, because I don't think we'll score many goals.

Kane needs a lot of chances to score his goals. Hes an outstanding striker. But our lack of creativity will restrict his chances.

I predict Tunisia to be the surprise package of the tournament.

One of the usual suspects will win the darn thing.

NottsClaret wrote:Picking the golden boot winner is tricky. Previous winners are James Rodriguez, Diego Forlan, Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo, Davor Suker, Oleg Salenko and Salvator Schillachi.

All good players of course, but the great Brazilian Ronaldo aside, I doubt they cost the bookies too much money. You win it by plundering shed loads against farmer teams in the group stages, not the tight final rounds.

Jamie Vardy is 150/1, I repeat 150/1.

This guy scores goals in batches, remember his hot streak when he bagged 11 in consecutive matches?

If he can get on the pitch against Tunisia and score, Southgate won't leave him out then who knows, his pace is frightening.

No need for a new thread 'of it's own':

Stuart Pearce was asked today for his ' Dark Horse' prediction, he said: Morocco!

Morocco! He did say it, honestly.

See what I did here, World Cup related, so popped it on the World Cup thread.

Winners - Germany
Runners up - Spain
Biggest shock - France (to struggle), Colombia (to do well)
England - second round
England’s best player - Trippier
Golden boot - Suarez
Golden ball - Isco
Best keeper - Nick Pope
2nd best keeper - de Gea

World cup winners - Brazil
Runners up - Spain
Biggest shock - Uruguay to make semi-finals
Where England will finish - lose in round of 16
Englands best player - Jordan Henderson
Golden boot winner - Neymar
Golden ball / best player winner - Firminio
Best goalkeeper - de Gea

World cup winners - PORTUGAL - Ronaldo upfront and probably the best defensive unit at International level.


Runners up - FRANCE - I don't know if it's even possible for Portugal v France in the final but I fancy a repeat of the Euros with a Ronaldo late winner instead of Eder.


Biggest shock - Brazil fail to reach the last 8

Where England will finish - 1/4 final

Englands best player - Walker

Golden boot winner - Cristiano Ronaldo

Golden ball / best player winner - Cristiano Ronaldo or Goncalo Guedes

Best goalkeeper - Rui Patricio

Biggest shock. Southgate picks Pope to start every game

World cup winners-Germany
Runners up-Brazil
Biggest shock-i don't know if this qualifies as a shock but Russia fail to make the knockout stages
Where England will finish-lose to Brazil in quarters
Englands best player-Trippier
Golden boot winner-Neymar
Golden ball / best player winner-Gabriel Jesus
Best goalkeeper-Manuel Neuer

I did the BBC World Cup predictor and France won. I hate France. I hope I'm wrong.

Diesel wrote:No need for a new thread 'of it's own':

Stuart Pearce was asked today for his ' Dark Horse' prediction, he said: Morocco!

Morocco! He did say it, honestly.

See what I did here, World Cup related, so popped it on the World Cup thread.

I watched them recently against Slovakia(full strength aren't a bad side), they were excellent and made Slovakia look awful, they haven't lost in 18 games. I think they could cause a lot of surprises but definitely won't win the tournament.

Dark horse for me would be Poland,always a threat with Lewandowski,and tough to break down,don't see them winning the thing but QF'S or beyond is possible.

Looking forward to it. Going to see as many games as I can. Will be watching the opening ceremony and match today.

This opening ceremony is so **** it’s brilliant

Opening ceremony done now. First game coming up. Gutted not to have gone now.

Dyched wrote:This opening ceremony is so **** it’s brilliant

Robbie nailed it - pub singer quality, but puts on a great show

...and the Opera singer DANG....!!! I would....!

Going to go for Russia 3-0 Saudi Arabia.

Hoping Russia get to the quarters. Always good the longer the hosts stay in. But its the poorest Russia team I can remember.

Surely they have put this translator on to take the pi$$ out of Putin?!

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Surely they have put this translator on to take the pi$$ out of Putin?!

you'd have thought they would have had a translated version of the speech in advance...

that Russian anthem is bloody brilliant isn't it, so emotive

Here we go!

We're off! Yaaay!

Rick_Muller wrote:that Russian anthem is bloody brilliant isn't it, so emotive

Always the best bits. Shame Italy arent there fr that reason alone!

Get in!

GOAL. RUSSKI

1-0 Russkies.

That's why I selected Golovin in the old fantasy football