World Cup predictions: Group G – final standings

Dress Rehearsals

This is the result of each Group G member’s final friendly before the World Cup:

Belgium 3-0 Egypt

England 2-0 Costa Rica

Tunisia 1-0 Spain

Norway 1-0 Panama

Estimated group match results

Belgium 4 – 0 Panama – Fisht Olympic Stadium

(18 June, 6pm Moscow time: two hours in-front of BST)

Belgium are vastly superior to Panama. Unless the Red Devils have certain devastating injuries or dismissals and a terrible game plan, they will overcome this challenge.

Tunisia 0-1 England – Volgograd Arena

(18 June, 9pm MSK)

St. George’s team will narrowly avoid embarrassment by scraping a 1-0 victory. Tunisia will be fired-up with nothing to lose. That is, if Leicester‘s Yohan Benalouane is a realistic example of their determination.

Any points dropped whatsoever in this game will hand incentive as well as advantage to Martinez’s players.

Belgium 2-1 Tunisia – Otkritie Arena

(23 June, 3pm MSK)

Belgium should cruise this game in all actuality. But, as we know, Tunisia are resilient opposition. They most recently held Spain goalless for over 80 minutes.

England 3-0 Panama – Nizhny Novgorod Stadium

(24 June, 3pm MSK)

If England cannot beat Panama, they do not deserve to progress. In theory, if they cannot win by a two-goal margin at least, then they are not knockout-round quality.

Belgium 0-0 England – Kaliningrad Stadium

(28 June 2018 8pm Kaliningrad Time = KMT-1hr)

World class winger Eden Hazard has inadvertently laid down the gauntlet to his English league-mates. I think he meant to energize his international teammates, as opposed to provoking his main rivals for pole position:

"“The golden generation you had in England, 10 years or 15 years ago, won nothing. Now I think the fans, journalists, all of Belgium, the country just want to win something. We have a golden generation. We are in preparation but we will be ready for the World Cup.” – Eden Hazard (Via: Mail Sport)"

A nil-nil thriller is my estimation. Sorry for the pessimism; it is just that subconsciously I can see the players adhering. Nothing nefarious, of course.

Panama 1-2 Tunisia – Mordovia Arena

(28 June, 9pm KMT)

Let me put it this way: at 1,000-1 odd, Panama are five times more likely to win the cup than Leicester were hypothetically premiership champions.

A central American nation, their main goalkeeper is Jaime Penedo. He commented, “I am not afraid. Most of all, I am excited.” And why not give it a good go?!

All fixtures and timings taken from Wikipedia.

Forecast of standings:

A final table is below, if my prophecy is correct. Including; played, won, drawn, goal difference, lost and points. Let’s take a look:

1. Belgium: P3 W3 L0 D0 GD+5 PTS: 7

2. England: P3 W2 L1 D1 GD+4 PTS: 7

3. Tunisia:   P3 W1 L2 D0 GD-1 PTS: 3

4. Panama: P3 W0 L3 D0 GD-8 PTS: 0

A German type of mentality is mandatory to ensure this chart is near accurate. Unless for example either favourites draw with Panama, due to being overawed by the tournament occasion.

Belgium will out-score England overall. So if they tie on points, goals scored decide the final leader.

In conclusion, our final table makes Belgium winners. England are a respectable second, advancing forward. Tunisia again once again do not proceed. A surely disappointing campaign forecast for the Panamanians, yet a privilege to have them on-board.