After the first eight World Cup matches and only two correct predictions, I called an internal crisis meeting early Sunday morning before making any further forecasts. The reason is quickly explained: A success rate of 25 percent on predictions is still improvable even by my standards. At the same time, one must respect the so-called small nations. Qatar scores against Switzerland, Morocco holds Brazil to a draw, and Australia surprises Turkey. Anyone who has so far relied solely on the FIFA World Rankings is likely to have a prediction record similar to mine. Football remains delightfully unpredictable.
Group B: Qatar vs. Switzerland 1:1
Our neighbors started the World Cup with a slight disappointment. Despite having a better game, the Swiss couldn’t get past a 1:1 against underdog Qatar. Qatar surprisingly displayed courage, defended passionately, and earned their point through a committed performance. In a group where Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina also hope for a spot in the round of 16, this draw may prove costly for the Swiss in the course of the tournament.
Group C: Brazil vs. Morocco 1:1
When Brazil plays, most people expect samba, magical football, and three points. However, in the first half, you had to look twice to be sure that the teams hadn’t accidentally switched jerseys. Morocco played boldly, aggressively, and with strong technique, while Brazil remained surprisingly lackluster. The North Africans rewarded themselves with a deserved point and spoiled Seleção’s perfect World Cup start. In the end, it was a 1:1 that felt like a victory for Morocco.
Group C: Haiti vs. Scotland 0:1
Haiti put up a great fight for long stretches and repeatedly sniffed at an upset. Scotland, on the other hand, played like a craftsman at work – not pretty, not spectacular, but in the end, the job got done. The decisive goal brought three points and a lot of relief. For Haiti, the realization remained that the difference between underdog and favorite is sometimes much smaller than the FIFA World Ranking might suggest.
Group D: Australia vs. Turkey 2:0
Australia looked more awake, aggressive, and purposeful from the start than Turkey. The Socceroos did not play like an underdog, but rather as a team that knew exactly there was something to be gained. The Turks, on the other hand, never really got into the game and fell short of what their fans expected. In the end, Australia secured a deserved 2:0 victory – and the realization that names don’t score points. Only goals do.
Upcoming Matches
Group E: Germany vs. Curaçao – 19:00
For the German national team, the World Cup begins with a match that couldn’t be more clear on paper. Germany has already been world champion four times, and with odds of around 15:1, Julian Nagelsmann’s team belongs to the extended group of favorites. After disappointing early exits in 2018 and 2022, a renewed title challenge is expected this time.
The game will be played in Houston – fortunately in a stadium with a closed roof, so the expected 35 degrees outside won’t matter. However, anyone who takes the wrong exit after the final whistle might quickly find out that Texas shows no mercy in June. On the field, there are no excuses. Just football. And Curaçao.And this opponent has already made history. Curaçao is participating in a World Cup for the first time and is one of the biggest surprises in the entire participant pool. The Caribbean nation has around 150,000 inhabitants. For comparison: That’s only about three times as many people as in my hometown Rheda-Wiedenbrück. Looking at our city squad, I would even consider my chances for a spot on the roster are slim. At least as long as nobody demands a sprint test.
Never before has a country with fewer inhabitants or a smaller area qualified for a World Cup finals. Just participating is already a historic success – and somehow also the best proof that football sometimes simply knows no boundaries. Except perhaps against Germany this evening.My prediction: Germany wins confidently 4:0. Havertz and Musiala score early, before the substitute Undav seals the deal with a brace.
Group F: Netherlands vs. Japan – 22:00
This match could be one of the hidden highlights of the first World Cup weekend. The Netherlands go into the match as favorites, but I don’t see it quite that clearly.
Oranje has been a fixture in the World Cup favorites for decades – and yet the country is still waiting for its first title. The Dutch have reached the final three times and have left each time as losers. A fate that could almost be felt sorry for. Almost. Because one thing you can’t accuse the Dutch of is a lack of passion. When Oranje plays, half the country celebrates – win or lose. Regardless, their potential to achieve a world title will never falter because of their fans.With players like Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong, and Cody Gakpo, the team also brings plenty of quality. However, Japan should not be underestimated at all. The Asians are participating in a World Cup for the eighth consecutive time and sent both Germany and Spain home in the 2022 World Cup. By the way, Japan was the first nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.The bookmakers see slight advantages for Oranje. I am wavering. For me, two technically strong and well-organized teams are clashing here. It can go either way. My prediction: An entertaining 2:2 in what has thus far been the most thrilling match of the World Cup.
Group E: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador – 01:00
Anyone who looks only at the big names at a World Cup might easily overlook this match. That would be a mistake. Because behind Germany, this duel in Group E could be crucial in determining who has the better cards in the fight for a spot in the round of 16.
The Ivory Coast qualified impressively. The “Elephants” remained unbeaten throughout qualification and didn’t concede a single goal. Still, this West African nation is still waiting for its first appearance in the knockout phase of a World Cup.
On the other hand is Ecuador, who are competing in their fifth World Cup and arrives as the second-place team from a strong South American qualification. The Ecuadorians lost only two of 18 matches there and are considered one of the most defensively stable teams of the tournament. My prediction: This won’t be a football fest, but it’s going to be an extremely important game. Both defenses will hold strong, and it’ll end as a goalless 0:0.
Group F: Sweden vs. Tunisia – 04:00
This game could be pivotal in the battle for the round of 16. Since the Netherlands and Japan are slightly favored in Group F, these three points could make all the difference in the end.Sweden is back on the big stage after missing the 2022 World Cup and goes into the match as the favorite. Tunisia, on the other hand, brings plenty of World Cup experience but is still waiting for its first appearance in the knockout phase of a World Cup.
The North Africans are seen as a tough opponent and will certainly not make life easy for the Swedes. Still, I believe that the greater quality will prevail. My prediction: Sweden wins 2:1.Whether I actually experience this result live remains to be seen. If I’m still awake at four in the morning, I probably won’t remember if I’m watching Sweden vs. Tunisia or dreaming of an Ikea shelf.
