The Football World Cup is billed as the “biggest single-event sporting competition in the world” and over the next 4 weeks we will hopefully find out why. It kicks off today with Russia taking on Saudi Arabia.
From an initial 210 entrants (for the first time ever every FIFA member association entered, but Zimbabwe and Indonesia were disqualified before playing their first match!) spread across six continents we are now down to just 32. A total of 64 matches will be played, using 12 venues. The Final will be played in Moscow on 15th July.
England take on Tunisia (18th June at 7pm), Panama (24th June at 1pm) and Belgium (28th June at 7pm). Progression to the “Round of 16” would see them play on either Monday 2nd July or Tuesday 3rd July, both at 7pm.
The 19 FIFA World Cup tournaments have been won by eight different national teams. Brazil are the only country to have played in every tournament and have won five times. The other winners are Italy (four times), Germany (three), Argentina and inaugural winners Uruguay (both with two) and England, France, and Spain, all with one title each.
So what does our Banana Analyst predict for 2018? Forever the optimist, not only does he predict an England win he also suggests how they will achieve it:
Group G Winners
Round of 16 – defeats Columbia
Quarter Final – defeats Brazil
Semi Final – defeats France
FINAL – defeats Germany (on penalties!!!!)
Whatever the outcome, Banana Crumble hopes you all have a great month watching the tournament, are able to get out the BBQ in good weather and that the tournament lives up to the hype.