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:

1 GK Thibaut Courtois 11 May 1992 (age 26) 58 0 England Chelsea
12 GK Simon Mignolet 6 March 1988 (age 30) 21 0 England Liverpool
13 GK Koen Casteels 25 June 1992 (age 25) 0 0 Germany VfL Wolfsburg

2 DF Toby Alderweireld 2 March 1989 (age 29) 77 3 England Tottenham Hotspur
3 DF Thomas Vermaelen 14 November 1985 (age 32) 66 1 Spain Barcelona
4 DF Vincent Kompany 10 April 1986 (age 32) 77 4 England Manchester City
5 DF Jan Vertonghen 24 April 1987 (age 31) 102 8 England Tottenham Hotspur
15 DF Thomas Meunier 12 September 1991 (age 26) 25 5 France Paris Saint-Germain
20 DF Dedryck Boyata 28 November 1990 (age 27) 7 0 Scotland Celtic

6 MF Axel Witsel 12 January 1989 (age 29) 90 9 China Tianjin Quanjian
7 MF Kevin De Bruyne 28 June 1991 (age 26) 62 14 England Manchester City
8 MF Marouane Fellaini 22 November 1987 (age 30) 82 17 England Manchester United
11 MF Yannick Carrasco 4 September 1993 (age 24) 26 5 China Dalian Yifang
17 MF Youri Tielemans 7 May 1997 (age 21) 9 0 France Monaco
18 MF Adnan Januzaj 5 February 1995 (age 23) 8 0 Spain Real Sociedad
19 MF Mousa Dembélé 16 July 1987 (age 30) 76 5 England Tottenham Hotspur
22 MF Nacer Chadli 2 August 1989 (age 28) 45 5 England West Bromwich Albion
23 MF Leander Dendoncker 15 April 1995 (age 23) 5 0 Belgium Anderlecht

9 FW Romelu Lukaku 13 May 1993 (age 25) 69 36 England Manchester United
10 FW Eden Hazard (captain) 7 January 1991 (age 27) 86 22 England Chelsea
14 FW Dries Mertens 6 May 1987 (age 31) 69 14 Italy Napoli
16 FW Thorgan Hazard 29 March 1993 (age 25) 11 1 Germany Borussia Mönchengladbach
21 FW Michy Batshuayi 2 October 1993 (age 24) 16 7 Germany Borussia Dortmund

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
GK Tom Heaton 15 April 1986 (age 32) 3 0 England Burnley 2018 FIFA World Cup PRE
GK Joe Hart 19 April 1987 (age 31) 75 0 England Manchester City v.  Italy, 27 March 2018
GK Angus Gunn 22 January 1996 (age 22) 0 0 England Manchester City v.  Brazil, 14 November 2017
GK Fraser Forster 17 March 1988 (age 30) 6 0 England Southampton v.  Lithuania, 8 October 2017

DF James Tarkowski 19 November 1992 (age 25) 1 0 England Burnley 2018 FIFA World Cup PRE / INJ
DF Joe Gomez 23 May 1997 (age 21) 3 0 England Liverpool v.  Italy, 27 March 2018
DF Alfie Mawson 19 January 1994 (age 24) 0 0 Wales Swansea City v.  Italy, 27 March 2018
DF Ryan Bertrand 5 August 1989 (age 28) 19 1 England Southampton v.  Netherlands, 23 March 2018
DF Michael Keane 11 January 1993 (age 25) 4 0 England Everton v.  Brazil, 14 November 2017
DF Chris Smalling 22 November 1989 (age 28) 31 1 England Manchester United v.  Lithuania, 8 October 2017
DF Aaron Cresswell 15 December 1989 (age 28) 3 0 England West Ham United v.  Lithuania, 8 October 2017

MF Adam Lallana 10 May 1988 (age 30) 34 3 England Liverpool 2018 FIFA World Cup PRE
MF Jake Livermore 14 November 1989 (age 28) 7 0 England West Bromwich Albion 2018 FIFA World Cup PRE
MF Lewis Cook 3 February 1997 (age 21) 1 0 England Bournemouth 2018 FIFA World Cup PRE
MF Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 15 August 1993 (age 24) 32 6 England Liverpool v.  Italy, 27 March 2018
MF Jack Wilshere 1 January 1992 (age 26) 34 2 England Arsenal v.  Netherlands, 23 March 2018
MF Jack Cork 25 June 1989 (age 28) 1 0 England Burnley v.  Brazil, 14 November 2017
MF Harry Winks 2 February 1996 (age 22) 1 0 England Tottenham Hotspur v.  Germany, 10 November 2017
MF Nathaniel Chalobah 12 December 1994 (age 23) 0 0 England Watford v.  Slovakia, 4 September 2017

FW Tammy Abraham 2 October 1997 (age 20) 2 0 England Chelsea v.  Brazil, 14 November 2017
FW Dominic Solanke 14 September 1997 (age 20) 1 0 England Liverpool v.  Brazil, 14 November 2017
FW Jermain Defoe 7 October 1982 (age 35) 57 20 England Bournemouth v.  Lithuania, 8 October 2017
FW Daniel Sturridge 1 September 1989 (age 28) 26 8 England 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 (age 33) 69 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Batin
22 GK Moez Ben Cherifia 24 June 1991 (age 26) 18 0 Tunisia Espérance
1 GK Farouk Ben Mustapha 1 July 1989 (age 28) 15 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
25 GK Mouez Hassen 5 March 1995 (age 23) 1 0 France Châteauroux

12 DF Ali Maâloul 1 January 1990 (age 28) 43 0 Egypt Al Ahly
2 DF Syam Ben Youssef 31 March 1989 (age 29) 40 1 Turkey Kasımpaşa
19 DF Khalil Chemmam 24 July 1987 (age 30) 21 0 Tunisia Espérance
4 DF Yassine Meriah 2 July 1993 (age 24) 13 1 Tunisia CS Sfaxien
21 DF Hamdi Nagguez 28 October 1992 (age 25) 13 0 Egypt Zamalek
6 DF Rami Bedoui 19 January 1990 (age 28) 8 0 Tunisia Étoile du Sahel
5 DF Oussama Haddadi 28 January 1992 (age 26) 6 0 France Dijon
27 DF Dylan Bronn 19 June 1995 (age 22) 3 0 Belgium Gent
3 DF Yohan Benalouane 28 March 1987 (age 31) 2 0 England Leicester City
3 DF Bilel Mohsni 21 July 1987 (age 30) 6 0 Scotland Dundee United

13 MF Ferjani Sassi 18 March 1992 (age 26) 36 2 Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr
10 MF Wahbi Khazri (Vice captain) 8 February 1991 (age 27) 35 12 England Sunderland AFC
14 MF Mohamed Amine Ben Amor 1 January 1992 (age 26) 24 1 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
23 MF Naïm Sliti 27 July 1992 (age 25) 14 3 France Dijon
15 MF Karim Laribi 20 April 1991 (age 27) 1 0 Italy A.C. Cesena
18 MF Ahmed Khalil 21 December 1994 (age 23) 3 0 Tunisia Club Africain
24 MF Saîf-Eddine Khaoui 27 April 1995 (age 23) 2 0 France Troyes
17 MF Ellyes Skhiri 10 May 1995 (age 23) 2 0 France Montpellier
28 MF Bassem Srarfi 25 June 1997 (age 20) 2 0 France Nice
23 MF Mohamed Larbi 2 September 1987 (age 30) 4 0 France Tours
26 MF Ghailene Chaalali 28 February 1994 (age 24) 4 1 Tunisia Espérance

7 FW Ahmed Akaïchi 23 February 1989 (age 29) 29 9 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
8 FW Fakhreddine Ben Youssef 21 June 1991 (age 26) 31 4 Saudi Arabia Al-Ettifaq
11 FW Saber Khalifa 14 October 1986 (age 31) 41 7 Tunisia Club Africain
9 FW Anice Badri 18 August 1990 (age 27) 4 0 Tunisia 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:

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 GK Jaime Penedo 26 September 1981 (age 36) 131 0 Romania Dinamo București
12 GK José Calderón 14 August 1985 (age 32) 31 0 Panama Chorrillo
22 GK Álex Rodríguez 5 August 1990 (age 27) 6 0 Panama San Francisco

2 DF Michael Amir Murillo 15 February 1996 (age 22) 22 2 United States New York Red Bulls
3 DF Harold Cummings 1 March 1992 (age 26) 52 0 United States San Jose Earthquakes
4 DF Fidel Escobar 9 January 1995 (age 23) 23 1 United States New York Red Bulls
5 DF Román Torres 20 March 1986 (age 32) 111 10 United States Seattle Sounders
13 DF Adolfo Machado 14 February 1985 (age 33) 76 1 United States Houston Dynamo
15 DF Erick Davis 31 March 1991 (age 27) 38 0 Slovakia Dunajská Streda
17 DF Luis Ovalle 7 September 1988 (age 29) 25 0 Honduras Olimpia
23 DF Felipe Baloy (Captain) 24 February 1981 (age 37) 102 3 Guatemala Municipal

6 MF Gabriel Gómez 29 May 1984 (age 34) 144 12 Colombia Atlético Bucaramanga
8 MF Édgar Bárcenas 23 October 1993 (age 24) 29 0 Mexico Tapachula
11 MF Armando Cooper 26 November 1987 (age 30) 98 7 Chile Universidad de Chile
14 MF Valentín Pimentel 30 May 1991 (age 27) 23 1 Panama Plaza Amador
19 MF Ricardo Ávila 4 January 1997 (age 21) 5 0 Belgium Gent II
20 MF Aníbal Godoy 10 February 1990 (age 28) 89 2 United States San Jose Earthquakes
21 MF José Luis Rodríguez 19 June 1998 (aged 19) 2 0 Belgium Gent II

7 FW Blas Pérez 13 March 1981 (age 37) 118 43 Guatemala Municipal
9 FW Gabriel Torres 31 October 1988 (age 29) 72 14 Chile Huachipato
10 FW Ismael Díaz 12 May 1997 (age 21) 11 2 Spain Deportivo Fabril
18 FW Luis Tejada 28 March 1982 (age 36) 105 43 Peru Sport Boys
16 FW Abdiel Arroyo 13 December 1993 (age 24) 33 5 Costa Rica Alajuelense

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:

Tunisia Vs England 1-1
Panama Vs Belgium 1-3
England Vs Panama 4-0
Belgium Vs Tunisia 2-0
England Vs Belgium 1-2
Panama Vs Tunisia 1-2
 
Belgium 9pts 7-2
England 4pts 6-3
Tunisia.  4pts 4-3
Panama 0pts 2-9
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