World Cup Group G Preview and Predictions
World Cup Group G Preview and Predictions
The teams in Group G are Belgium, England, Tunisia and Panama.
Below the team breakdowns are listed in order of a predicted outcome.
Belgium
FIFA Ranking– 3
Recent World Cup participation 2014
Squad:
Storylines:
Belgium are favorites to win the group and Many observers consider talent-laden Belgium a legitimate contender to win the 2018 World Cup. The model knows Belgium is among the top six 2018 World Cup favorites at most betting outlets to win the tournament, with odds of around 9-1. Belgium is looking to improve on its 2014 quarterfinal finish. The Red Devils boast a front line that is widely considered one of the most potent in the world. They are led by stars such as Kevin Be Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku. They are currently No. 3 in the FIFA rankings, but have received criticism for failing to play to their potential. They’ll look to buck that stigma in the 2018 World Cup.
Prediction:
Qualification should be easy. 1st place.
England
FIFA Ranking– 12
Recent World Cup participation 2014
Squad:
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
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GK | Tom Heaton | 15 April 1986 | 3 | 0 | Burnley | 2018 FIFA World Cup PRE |
GK | Joe Hart | 19 April 1987 | 75 | 0 | Manchester City | v. Italy, 27 March 2018 |
GK | Angus Gunn | 22 January 1996 | 0 | 0 | Manchester City | v. Brazil, 14 November 2017 |
GK | Fraser Forster | 17 March 1988 | 6 | 0 | Southampton | v. Lithuania, 8 October 2017 |
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DF | James Tarkowski | 19 November 1992 | 1 | 0 | Burnley | 2018 FIFA World Cup PRE / INJ |
DF | Joe Gomez | 23 May 1997 | 3 | 0 | Liverpool | v. Italy, 27 March 2018 |
DF | Alfie Mawson | 19 January 1994 | 0 | 0 | Swansea City | v. Italy, 27 March 2018 |
DF | Ryan Bertrand | 5 August 1989 | 19 | 1 | Southampton | v. Netherlands, 23 March 2018 |
DF | Michael Keane | 11 January 1993 | 4 | 0 | Everton | v. Brazil, 14 November 2017 |
DF | Chris Smalling | 22 November 1989 | 31 | 1 | Manchester United | v. Lithuania, 8 October 2017 |
DF | Aaron Cresswell | 15 December 1989 | 3 | 0 | West Ham United | v. Lithuania, 8 October 2017 |
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MF | Adam Lallana | 10 May 1988 | 34 | 3 | Liverpool | 2018 FIFA World Cup PRE |
MF | Jake Livermore | 14 November 1989 | 7 | 0 | West Bromwich Albion | 2018 FIFA World Cup PRE |
MF | Lewis Cook | 3 February 1997 | 1 | 0 | Bournemouth | 2018 FIFA World Cup PRE |
MF | Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | 15 August 1993 | 32 | 6 | Liverpool | v. Italy, 27 March 2018 |
MF | Jack Wilshere | 1 January 1992 | 34 | 2 | Arsenal | v. Netherlands, 23 March 2018 |
MF | Jack Cork | 25 June 1989 | 1 | 0 | Burnley | v. Brazil, 14 November 2017 |
MF | Harry Winks | 2 February 1996 | 1 | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur | v. Germany, 10 November 2017 |
MF | Nathaniel Chalobah | 12 December 1994 | 0 | 0 | Watford | v. Slovakia, 4 September 2017 |
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FW | Tammy Abraham | 2 October 1997 | 2 | 0 | Chelsea | v. Brazil, 14 November 2017 |
FW | Dominic Solanke | 14 September 1997 | 1 | 0 | Liverpool | v. Brazil, 14 November 2017 |
FW | Jermain Defoe | 7 October 1982 | 57 | 20 | Bournemouth | v. Lithuania, 8 October 2017 |
FW | Daniel Sturridge | 1 September 1989 | 26 | 8 | Liverpool | v. Lithuania, 8 October 2017 |
Storylines:
England are expected, to play in a 3-3-2-2 system that will have Raheem Sterling operating centrally alongside Harry Kane in attack and be heavily reliant, in the absence of orthodox wingers, on Young and Kieran Trippier breaking forward as attacking wing-backs. Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard have been chosen to play as England’s advanced midfielders and Marcus Rashford will be a substitute even if the Manchester United forward is fit, as expected, after the knee injury that has stopped him training since the squad arrived here, outside St Petersburg, on Tuesday.
Prediction:
If England finish second in the group which they are favorites to do they face the prospect of playing Brazil in the second round.
Tunisia
FIFA Ranking– 21
Recent World Cup participation: 2006
Squad: 2006
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 | GK | Aymen Mathlouthi (Captain) | 14 September 1984 | 69 | 0 | Al-Batin |
22 | GK | Moez Ben Cherifia | 24 June 1991 | 18 | 0 | Espérance |
1 | GK | Farouk Ben Mustapha | 1 July 1989 | 15 | 0 | Al-Shabab |
25 | GK | Mouez Hassen | 5 March 1995 | 1 | 0 | Châteauroux |
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12 | DF | Ali Maâloul | 1 January 1990 | 43 | 0 | Al Ahly |
2 | DF | Syam Ben Youssef | 31 March 1989 | 40 | 1 | Kasımpaşa |
19 | DF | Khalil Chemmam | 24 July 1987 | 21 | 0 | Espérance |
4 | DF | Yassine Meriah | 2 July 1993 | 13 | 1 | CS Sfaxien |
21 | DF | Hamdi Nagguez | 28 October 1992 | 13 | 0 | Zamalek |
6 | DF | Rami Bedoui | 19 January 1990 | 8 | 0 | Étoile du Sahel |
5 | DF | Oussama Haddadi | 28 January 1992 | 6 | 0 | Dijon |
27 | DF | Dylan Bronn | 19 June 1995 | 3 | 0 | Gent |
3 | DF | Yohan Benalouane | 28 March 1987 | 2 | 0 | Leicester City |
3 | DF | Bilel Mohsni | 21 July 1987 | 6 | 0 | Dundee United |
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13 | MF | Ferjani Sassi | 18 March 1992 | 36 | 2 | Al-Nassr |
10 | MF | Wahbi Khazri (Vice captain) | 8 February 1991 | 35 | 12 | Sunderland AFC |
14 | MF | Mohamed Amine Ben Amor | 1 January 1992 | 24 | 1 | Al-Ahli |
23 | MF | Naïm Sliti | 27 July 1992 | 14 | 3 | Dijon |
15 | MF | Karim Laribi | 20 April 1991 | 1 | 0 | A.C. Cesena |
18 | MF | Ahmed Khalil | 21 December 1994 | 3 | 0 | Club Africain |
24 | MF | Saîf-Eddine Khaoui | 27 April 1995 | 2 | 0 | Troyes |
17 | MF | Ellyes Skhiri | 10 May 1995 | 2 | 0 | Montpellier |
28 | MF | Bassem Srarfi | 25 June 1997 | 2 | 0 | Nice |
23 | MF | Mohamed Larbi | 2 September 1987 | 4 | 0 | Tours |
26 | MF | Ghailene Chaalali | 28 February 1994 | 4 | 1 | Espérance |
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7 | FW | Ahmed Akaïchi | 23 February 1989 | 29 | 9 | Al-Ittihad |
8 | FW | Fakhreddine Ben Youssef | 21 June 1991 | 31 | 4 | Al-Ettifaq |
11 | FW | Saber Khalifa | 14 October 1986 | 41 | 7 | Club Africain |
9 | FW | Anice Badri | 18 August 1990 | 4 | 0 | Espérance |
Storylines:
Tunisia, are without their star player, Youssef Msakni, sustained a knee ligament injury to force him to miss the tournament. Maâloul is in his second stint in charge of Tunisia, and had a further spell with a team of under-23s at the Olympics in 2004. Tunisia have failed to win their past 11 games at a World Cup since winning their first match, against Mexico in 1978. “We do have a certain level of confidence,” Maâloul said. “We know we’re in a very difficult group, one of the most difficult in the World Cup when you play against the No 3 in the world [Belgium] and an English team who have progressed so much in the last few years and are so much more attacking now but we have to have confidence.” The Sunderland striker Wahbi Khazri, on loan at Rennes, is set to be available for Tunisia although he may lack match fitness, having not played for the Ligue 1 side since April. Tunisia will be a difficult team to break down and are on outside beat to qualify.
Prediction:
Tunisia will be a difficult team to break down and have an outside chance of making it through but look set to finish 3rd.
Panama
FIFA Ranking– 55
Recent World Cup participation First time in their history!
Squad:
Storylines:
Panama is one of the biggest underdogs in the tournament’s history. Panama is considered an aging club with a limited ceiling, but it made headlines by finishing ahead of the United States in 2018 World Cup qualifying. Panama is led by Blas Perez, a 37-year-old striker who has 43 international goals to his credit. Rising prospect Ismael Diaz will be counted on for production. They should finish bottom of the group anything else and they will consider the tournament a success.
Prediction:
They should finish bottom of the group anything else and they will consider the tournament a success.
Group G Wrap-up:
Final Standings:
Belgium
England
Tunisia
Panama
Bold Prediction:
England will qualify second but will avoid Brazil in the next round!
World Cup Group G Predictions: