The FIFA World Cup is starting in less than 24 hours on June 14, 2018. One of the powerhouses and favorites to win the trophy has just made a coaching change that has the potential to change the status of the team from favorites to perhaps less so.
Spain fired Julen Lopetegui with two days to go to Spain’s crucial first match vs Portugal. The coach agreed to take over the vacant Real Madrid head coaching position while in Russia preparing for the month long tournament.
It is still somewhat unlikely that Spain’s group stage position is under threat, here is one set predictions for the World Cup (teams in bold to progress)
[one_fourth]GROUP A
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Uruguay
[/one_fourth][one_fourth]GROUP B
Portugal
Spain
Morocco
Iran
[/one_fourth][one_fourth]GROUP C
France
Australia
Peru
Denmark[/one_fourth][one_fourth_last]GROUP D
Argentina
Iceland
Croatia
Nigeria[/one_fourth_last]
[one_fourth]GROUP E
Brazil
Switzerland
Costa Rica
Serbia[/one_fourth][one_fourth]GROUP F
Germany
Mexico
Sweden
South Korea[/one_fourth][one_fourth]GROUP G
Belgium
Panama
Tunisia
England[/one_fourth][one_fourth_last]GROUP H
Poland
Senegal
Colombia
Japan[/one_fourth_last]
SECOND ROUND
[one_half]Uruguay – Portugal[/one_half][one_half_last]Russia – Spain[/one_half_last]
[one_half]France – Croatia[/one_half][one_half_last]Argentina – Denmark[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Brazil – Mexico[/one_half][one_half_last]Germany – Switzerland[/one_half_last]
[one_half]England – Poland[/one_half][one_half_last]Belgium – Colombia[/one_half_last]
QUARTER FINALS
[one_half]Portugal – France[/one_half][one_half_last]Brazil – England[/one_half_last]
[one_half]Spain – Argentina[/one_half][one_half_last]Germany – Belgium[/one_half_last]
SEMI FINALS
[one_half]Spain – Germany[/one_half][one_half_last]Brazil – France[/one_half_last]
FINALS
Germany – Brazil
The Final is to be a repeat of the 2014 World Cup semi final where Germany humiliated the hosts 7-1!