Due to real life shenanigans I was forced to step away from my stalwart post as the Keeper of Football. But do not worry, the matches were simulated and the games were watched. We have a lot to cover, so lets get to it.

Belgium VS Algeria

FIFA Match 

Belgium 0 Algeria 0

A boring, grinding game where no one could squeeze out an advantage. Both teams had sloppy mid field play so they barely got to the goal, and when they did finishing was spotty.

World Cup Match Result

Belgium 2- Algeria 1

Belgium 2
Fellain (70′)
Mertens (80′)

Algeria 1
Sofiane Feghouli (P)(21′)

An early penalty put Algeria ahead, but Belgium reacted, dominating the game and creating goal chances. Their efforts payed as they scored two late goals to win the match.

Brasil VS Mexico

FIFA Match

Brazil 1- Mexico 2

Brazil 1
Fred (29′)

Mexico 2
Peralta (49′)
Chicharito (89′)

A bold prediction by FIFA. Beating the host would have been a historic feat for a Mexico that had trouble qualifying.

World Cup Match Result

Brazil 0 Mexico 0

A thrilling 0-0 draw in which arguably could have been won by either team. Brazil should have won it, but I should have known it was suspicious when the simulation claimed Fred was going to score a goal.

This wasn't an ad. It was a prophesy for this match.

This wasn’t an ad. It was a prophesy for this match.

Russia VS South Korea

FIFA Match

Russia 0 South Korea 0

The game’s match a slow, un-creative affair where both teams played defensively and could not find any advantage.

World Cup Match Result

Russia 1 South Korea 1

Russia 1
Kerzakov (74′)

South Korea 1

Lee Keuhno (68′)

While the game started as the simulation, once South Korea scored Russia woke up and controlled the game. Had they played the whole game like that, Russia could have won the game, but unfortunately they will have to be happy with the tie.

Australia VS The Netherlands 

FIFA Result

Australia 2 Netherlands 2

Australia 2
Cahill (6′)
Cahill (89′)

Netherlands
Robben (35′)
Van Persie (50′)

The Netherlands controlled the game, but two well placed headers from Cahill kept Australia in the game. A bold prediction considering the extent to which the Dutch team destroyed the world champions in the first game.

World Cup Game Result

Australia 2 Netherlands 3

Australia 2
Tim Cahill (21′)
Jedinak (P)(54′)

Netherlands 3
Robben (20′)
Van Persie (58′)
Depay (68′)

For a while, it seemed as if Australia would shock the world and beat the Champion Slayers. A great goal by Cahill and a penalty gave Australia the lead, but less than five minutes later, Van Persie tied it, and ten minutes after that the Dutch artillery gave them their well-earned victory.

Spain VS Chile

FIFA Result

Spain3 Chile1

Spain 3
Iniesta (12′)
Iniesta (34′)
Costa (78′)

Chile 1
Valdivia (87′)

Spain is on paper one of the best teams in the tournament, so the simulation assumed that they would easily get past Chile for a recovery.

World Cup Game Result

Spain 0 Chile 2

Spain 0

Chile 2
Vargas (20′)
Aranguiz (43′)

Spain continued the performance of the last game, and allowed an aggressive, well coordinated Chile to score two goals. The goals were mostly due to mistakes made by Spain forced by the constant Chilean pressure. Spain, the most dominant team of the past 6 years, is out of the World Cup on the first round.

Colombia VS Ivory Coast 

FIFA Result

Colombia 1 Ivory Coast 2

Colombia 1

James (43′)

Ivory Coast 2
Drogba (67′)
Kalou (82′)

Colombia had most of the ball and scored first, but Ivory Coast, with its well coordinated counter attacks and physicality was able to reverse the result and win the game.

World Cup Result

Colombia 2 Ivory Coast 1

Colombia 2
James (64′)
Quintero (70′)

Ivory Coast
Gervinho (73′)

The game played very similar with Colombia having most of the ball, but Colombia was much more lethal in its finishing. It was a thrilling match that any side deserved to win.

Uruguay VS England

FIFA Result

Uruguay 1 England 2

Uruguay 1
Forlan (90+2′)

England 2
Gerrard (32′)
Sturtrridge (61′)

England controlled a game against an Uruguay that was not able to break through its defense. Uruguay was only able to answer at the last moment by the recently subbed in Diego Forlan.

World Cup Result 

Uruguay 2
Suarez (39′)
Suarez (85′)

England 1
Rooney (75′)

Uruguay really took the game to England, and shortly before the break Suarez put the first point, England became more aggressive and scored an equalizer, but Suarez responded only 10 minutes later to keep Uruguay alive and eliminate England.

Japan VS Greece

FIFA Result

Japan 0 Greece 0

A slow, boring game in which neither of the two cautious sides was able to score.

World Cup Result

Japan 0 Greece 0

Exactly the same game we saw in the simulation.

Itay VS Costa Rica

FIFA Result

Italy 1 Costa Rica 1

Italy 1
Balotelli (35′)

Costa Rica
Campbell (87′)

Italy scored early, but never seemed to be in real control of the game and by the second half retreated compltely to their own half. This allowed Costa Rica to tie the game late int he second half.

World Cup Result

Italy 0 Costa Rica 1

Italy o

Costa Rica 1
Brian Ruiz (44′)

Costa Rica deserve the win. Italy never seemed to be able to connect their midfield to their forwards to generate any meaningful chances, and looked to have no urgency even after Costa Rica score. It was more likely that Costa Rica would score again than that Italy would tie.

This is how Group D played out.

This is how Group D played out.

France VS Switzerland

FIFA Result

France 2 Switzerland 2

France 2
Sissoko (23′)
Benzema (90+1′)

Switzerland 2
Dezemali (48′)
Lichtsteiner (54′)

France started off winning, but Switerland turned the game around on the second half, and it looked like they might if not for a late goal by Benzema.

World Cup Result

France 5 Switzerland 2

France 5
Giroud (17′)
Matuidi (18′)
Valbuen (40′)
Benzema (67′)
Sissoko (73″)

Switzerland 2
Dzemaili (81′)
Xhaka (87′)

Under the leadership of Benzema, France tore the Swiss defense apart, to score five goals. The Swiss did try to respond, and did score two goals in the last ten minutes. Some say the French let them score because they felt sorry.

Ecuador VS Honduras

FIFA Result

Honduras 1
J. Palacios (14′)

Ecuador 1
Valencia (28′)

Two early goals, but neither team could break through the other’s defense to win it.

World Cup Result

Ecuador 2 Honduras 1

Ecuador 2
Valencia (34′)
Valencia (65′)

Honduras 1
Costly (31′)

A mediocre performance by Ecuador against a team that is weaker but looked like they could have won it.

Argentina Vs Iran 

FIFA Result

Argentina 1 Iran 0
Aguero (68′)

A complicated game where Argentina kept smashing against the wall the defense that Iran put around the penalty box. In the 68th minute Iran made a defensive mistake and Argentina scored via Aguero.

World Cup Result

Argentina 1 Iran 0
Messi (91+1′)

In an ugly game, Argentina squeezed out a victory courtesy of a very late goal by Messi. It looked like Iran might score at times, but Argentina at least managed to keep the scoreline 0-0 for the whole game.

Germany VS Ghana

Fifa Result

Germany 3 Ghana 1

Germany 3
Muller (45+1′)
Ozil (56′)
Kroos (75′)

Ghana 1
Muntari (82′)

Germany controlled the game and destroyed a weaker Ghana.

World Cup Result

Germany 2 Ghana 2

Germany 2
Gotze (51′)
Klose (71′)

Ghana 2
Ayew (54′)
Gyan (63′)

With fast, physical football, Ghana showed that Germany is not as bulletproof as they seemed, and even looked to be the match’s winners for a moment, before Germany was able to tie the match.

Nigeria VS Bosnia

FIFA Result 

Nigeria 2 Bosnia 1

Nigeria 2
Mikel (23′)
Mikel (74′)

Bosnia 1
Dzeko (56′)

An exciting match where both teams went back and forth, Dzeko was able to get on the score sheet, but couldn’t tie it after Nigeria got ahead a second time.

World Cup Result

Nigeria 1 Bosnia 0

Nigeria 1
Odemwingie (29′)

Nigeria scored a goal in the first half, then proceeded to do nothing for the next match. Bosnia had a legitimate goal disallowed, but at times they felt too calm and inactive for a team that were looking at elimination if they lost.

Belgium VS Russia

FIFA Results

Belgium 3 Russia o

Belgium 3
Hazard (52′)
Kompany (67′)
Hazard (77′)

A dominant performance by a Belgium that clearly went to win the game. While Russia was able to hold them off at the beginning, in the second half Belgium scored, and with the game more open, they were able to easily score two more.

World Cup Result

Belgium 1 Russia 0

Belgium 1
Origi (88′)

Russia came out strangely defensive once again, but they could not stop a wonderful Belgian offense, which score the goal they rightfully deserved late in the second half.

South Korea VS Algeria 

FIFA Result

South Korea 2 Algeria 2

South Korea 2
Park Chu-yung (37′)
Koo Ja Cheol (47′)

Algeria 2
Slimani (45+2′)
Taider (68′)

A great match where both teams went to win their game, but despite some great plays, they ended up tied, leaving the group wide open.

World Cup Result

South Korea 2 Algeria 4

South Korea 2
Son Heung Min (50′)
Koo Jacheol (72′)

Algeria 4
Slimani (26′)
Halliche (28′)
Abdelmoumene (38′)
Brahimi (62′)

Algeria dominated the first half, and despite South Korea’s brave attempts, they put the final nail on the coffin on the second half.

Some say Putin had an agent in Portugal

Some say Putin had an agent in Portugal

United States VS Portugal

FIFA Result

United States 1 Portugal 0

United States
Dempsey (82′)

A thrilling draw with lots of goals chances, Portugal could not capitalize on any of its chances despite Ronaldo’s best efforts. In the end it was Dempsey, with a late goal that eliminated Portugal from the World Cup.

World Cup Results

United States 2 Portugal 2

United States 2
Jones (64′)
Dempsey (81′)

Portugal 2
Nani (5′)
Varela (90+5′)

The US was the better team, but were unable to keep their lead. An earlier mistake put them behind. They pulled ahead in the second half, but a great injury time play means the United States goes to play for the first place against a German team looking to heal its bruised ego.

Conclusion

This has been a strange World Cup. With Spain and England already eliminated, Portugal practically out, and Italy finding itself in a tight spot, a 31% prediction rate is not that bad. During this time the game also closed the gap on the goal difference, but it is still far behind. As we advance to the knock out stages, things will become less predictable, but in the end, things should play out more or less how the simulation expects them to in the end.

Week 2

 

Join us tomorrow for more World Cup.