Well with 4 groups already concluded, we can start to look at the road to the final for some teams! To visualize this, I did make a left and right bracket!
As we can see, at the moment it is much harder to get to the final when being on the left side, in stead of the right side! The already filled in matches on the left could be semi-finals on their on.
Left Bracket!
Here we already have to following teams: Argentina, France, Portugal and Uruguay!
Bot only one of these teams will reach the semi-final!
On the bottom side of the left bracket, still lots of spaces will have to be filled in! But for sure two teams will be added today!
Most likely Germany will become runner-up in Group F. In this happens, this would add another favorite to the left bracket! The runner-up from Group F will play against the winner of Group E, which most probably will be Brazil!
The other match will be filled in with the winner of Group G (probably England, I do expect a draw between England and Belgium and then the disciplinary point will count) and the Runner-up of Group H. Hard to tell whom this will be, all three countries are possible (Japan, Colombia and Senegal).
By being on the left side of the bracket the road to the final, will be a huge task!
Right bracket!
This seems to be a lot easier. Most of us will already predict that there will be a quarter final between Spain and Croatia!
This bracket will be filled up with the winner of Group F (most likely Mexico), who will face the runner-up of group E (Switzerland or Serbia). The other round of 16 game will be between the winner of Group H (Japan, Senegal or Colombia) and the runner-up of Group G (probably Belgium)!
While all great countries, this road to the final seems a little bit more easier then the left bracket!
Both England and Belgium claim to want to win their group, but they also know what this would mean! A much tougher way to the final! The other countries are still battling to be part of the round of 16, so they don't have much to choose!
Possible Round of 16
This would give us lot's of appealing matches like:
- Uruguay vs Portugal
- France vs Argentina
- Brazil vs Germany
- Belgium vs Colombia
Spain or Croatia will probably reach the semi-final B, while England and Mexico shouldn't complain if this scenario will become the reality!
In England and Belgium there is a lot of discussion going on if a becoming the runner-up of group G would be better than to win the group! There are pro's and con's for both!
Both countries should be able to reach the final 8! And then it would be Germany or Brazil as winner of the group, or Mexico or Switzerland as runner-up. The right bracket does seem more attractive but it will also give more pressure (heavenly favorite) and a change of underestimation!
I would prefer to see Belgium winning the final but this probably won't happen. In that case I rather see them getting eliminated by for instance Germany or Brazil in stead of Mexico or Switzerland!
Do you think that these could be the round of 16?
If you had to choice would you prefer to be on the left or right side of the bracket?
Let's hear!
Cheers,
Peter
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