I don't see many possibilities for surprises in the group-stage, no group with 2 heavyweights has a third team which is able to defend like a beast and could steal some crucial points.
A: Uruguay, Russia.
Egyptia has Mohamed Salah but Russia has Vladimir Putin.
B: Spain, Portugal.
Arabic teams can't defend, no way they steal a game to kick out a big team.
C: France, Denmark.
D: Croatia, Argentina.
I could see Argentina loosing some points in the early stage and not being first but in the end they'll qualify.
E: Brazil, Costa Rica.
F: Germany, Sweden.
G: Belgium, England.
If there was an eastern european team instead of Panama/Tunisia, I'd give them a chance to create a surprise. They know how to defend but Panama and Tunisia...
H: Poland, Colombia.
My favorites are
Germany,
Brasil and
Spain. Before the groups came out I'd put France as well but they got the hardest parcour.
If they get first: 1/8 vs argentina/croatie; 1/4 vs portugal/ uruguay, 1/2 vs brasil/ belgium.
If they get second: 1/8 vs argentina/croatie; 1/4 vs spain; 1/2 vs germany.
Would need to much luck to win all those games and especially the dirty defending teams are hard to play for france since they get forced to have the possession and Deschamps game-plan sucks.
And he still uses Giroud haha what a troll...
Argentina,
Portugal and
Uruguay will be the worst opponents to face, defending like hell, playing dirty and counter-attacking with the best attacking players in the world.
Especially Uruguay scares me, their central defense plays together all the year at Athletico and their attack are Cavani, a beast and Suarez, a hybrid between a beast and the dirtiest rat around.
Semi-Finals:
Uruguay - Brasil and Spain - Germany.
The winner between Germany and Spain should win the final, being the two most solid teams and having an easier parcour. Except if Brasil, Belgium or France mutates into an unstoppable beast over the tournament, which they have the potential for but that's an if.
Or if some dick like Argentina, Portugal or Uruguay steal all their matches
