Despite my love for the sport, I never write about football (soccer), so what better time than in the biggest competition in the world, right? Plus, why not to help get some momentum to the @blocktrades World Cup Contest and also to get the conversation going as these events sometimes have a great way for making communities come together.
Without further ado, here are my predictions for Group A of the 2018 World Cup:
Russia, the host of the big event opens the show facing off with Saudi Arabia, one of the most modest teams in this world cup editions. Without a doubt, luck has favored the home team.
Hell, they are leading the score as we speak.
In the second game of match day one, Uruguay is taking on Egypt at a time were things are not looking especially well for the Pharaons. Egypt is missing their star player and best African player of the year Mo Salah.
And that’s no small absence since Salah is widely regarded as one of the most decisive players in the world, and a clear contender to next year’s Ballon D’Or.
Uruguay on the other hand seems like a new kind of dangerous, much more so than in other previous competitions.
At the base, they still maintain their usual core strength in both defence and attack.
The backline is firmly secured by Atletico Madrid's duo Diego Godín and José María Giménez forming one of the strongest defensive partnerships in the world.
On the attacking front, the same remains true for Uruguay given the massive firepower contributed by Luis Suarez and Cavani, two of the best strikers in world football.
The middle of the park is one area that Uruguay were struggling with for years - Some even say that since Enzo Francescoli - but the emergence of so many young talents recently (Betancourt, Torreira, Vecino, Valverde...etc) is finally compensating their midfield rendering them the most compensated squad in the group.
I think it’s fairly safe to say that Uruguay will finish on the top of the group. The question is who goes second?
My guess is that it’s not going to be decided until the last game of the group between Russia and Egypt, given the fact that Saudi Arabia would finish last with all probability
If I had to bet, I’d go for Egypt because so many games get decided on small details, and in that sense Egypt is a slight favorite.
For instance, the game-changing ability of a world class player like Salah is far greater than that of Aleksandr Golovin, Russia’s main man.
But then again, there’s always the uck factor coming in as many forms as the devil has names: Unexpected injuries, hitting the woodwork so many times, or even in the form of a distracted referee… You name it.
Group A Final Predictions:
Uruguay finishes first, Saudi Arabia finishes last, and the second and third places is a coin toss between Egypt and the host team, Russia.