Posted in Features, News on Jun 15, 2018.
The 2018 World Cup kicked off yesterday as host nation Russia earned the best possible start with a thumping 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. Bernard Parker is among four Glamour Boys who offer their predictions for the global showpiece.
Which country will surprise us all?
Daniel Cardoso: France will be brilliant. They have some fantastic players, including Paul Pogba. They are also very strong up-front with Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, who is a great striker and who will surprise a lot of people at the World Cup.
Bernard Parker: Belgium, because of the quality of their players, like Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Dries Martens, Vincent Kompany and Romelu Lukaku.
Ryan Moon: Belgium, for sure. They already had a competitive side at the previous World Cup, but they lacked experience at the time. That’s now sorted. They have a really good side.
George Maluleka: Belgium. They have a relatively young squad with some fantastic players. And not only that, they look like a team and that collective is needed to progress far at a World Cup.
Which African country will you support?
Cardoso: Egypt. Their striker, Mohamed Salah has been phenomenal for Liverpool and, if fully fit again, will help his side to go past the group stage.
Parker: Nigeria. They have a young squad full of talent. They will enter the World Cup fearlessly as they have a point to prove.
Moon: I go with Nigeria. I first opted for Egypt, but it doesn’t look as if Mohamed Salah will be fit enough to really star for his country. That’s why I go for the Super Eagles. Virtually their whole squad plays in Europe, so they are used to playing on a highly competitive level. That will help them.
Maluleka: That will be Senegal. They are the ones who knocked us out during qualifying for the World Cup – it was either them or us. The Lions of Taranga will do Africa proud.
Who of the players will surprise us?
Cardoso: Paul Pogba might not have had a good season with Manchester United, but he will show his worth at this World Cup. The Frenchman is a fantastic player.
Parker: Paulo Dybala will excel and he will catch the eye of the big teams.
Moon: England’s Raheem Sterling. A lot of people are against him and that will motivate him to shine at the World Cup.
Maluleka: Everybody expects that Ronaldo and Messi will be dazzling at the World Cup, but I foresee that two players will surprise us – Eden Hazard and Sadio Mané. They will both shine and this is going to be their World Cup.
Who will be the two finalists?
Cardoso: I see a repeat of the 1998 World Cup with France and Brazil fighting it out in the final.
Parker: Two South American teams, Brazil against Argentina.
Moon: I would love to see England play Brazil in the final, but I think it will rather be Germany against Brazil.
Maluleka: Belgium will face either Brazil or Germany in the final.
Who will win the World Cup?
Cardoso: Brazil will win, although Germany and Spain shouldn’t be overlooked as candidates either.
Parker: I will go for Brazil. Their coach Tite has changed things around and they have been winning convincingly in recent times. As a result, their confidence is high.
Moon: England, Brazil and Belgium are my choice of three countries capable of winning this World Cup.
Maluleka: I put my money on Belgium.
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Which country will surprise us all?
Daniel Cardoso: France will be brilliant. They have some fantastic players, including Paul Pogba. They are also very strong up-front with Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, who is a great striker and who will surprise a lot of people at the World Cup.
Bernard Parker: Belgium, because of the quality of their players, like Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Dries Martens, Vincent Kompany and Romelu Lukaku.
Ryan Moon: Belgium, for sure. They already had a competitive side at the previous World Cup, but they lacked experience at the time. That’s now sorted. They have a really good side.
George Maluleka: Belgium. They have a relatively young squad with some fantastic players. And not only that, they look like a team and that collective is needed to progress far at a World Cup.
Which African country will you support?
Cardoso: Egypt. Their striker, Mohamed Salah has been phenomenal for Liverpool and, if fully fit again, will help his side to go past the group stage.
Parker: Nigeria. They have a young squad full of talent. They will enter the World Cup fearlessly as they have a point to prove.
Moon: I go with Nigeria. I first opted for Egypt, but it doesn’t look as if Mohamed Salah will be fit enough to really star for his country. That’s why I go for the Super Eagles. Virtually their whole squad plays in Europe, so they are used to playing on a highly competitive level. That will help them.
Maluleka: That will be Senegal. They are the ones who knocked us out during qualifying for the World Cup – it was either them or us. The Lions of Taranga will do Africa proud.
Who of the players will surprise us?
Cardoso: Paul Pogba might not have had a good season with Manchester United, but he will show his worth at this World Cup. The Frenchman is a fantastic player.
Parker: Paulo Dybala will excel and he will catch the eye of the big teams.
Moon: England’s Raheem Sterling. A lot of people are against him and that will motivate him to shine at the World Cup.
Maluleka: Everybody expects that Ronaldo and Messi will be dazzling at the World Cup, but I foresee that two players will surprise us – Eden Hazard and Sadio Mané. They will both shine and this is going to be their World Cup.
Who will be the two finalists?
Cardoso: I see a repeat of the 1998 World Cup with France and Brazil fighting it out in the final.
Parker: Two South American teams, Brazil against Argentina.
Moon: I would love to see England play Brazil in the final, but I think it will rather be Germany against Brazil.
Maluleka: Belgium will face either Brazil or Germany in the final.
Who will win the World Cup?
Cardoso: Brazil will win, although Germany and Spain shouldn’t be overlooked as candidates either.
Parker: I will go for Brazil. Their coach Tite has changed things around and they have been winning convincingly in recent times. As a result, their confidence is high.
Moon: England, Brazil and Belgium are my choice of three countries capable of winning this World Cup.
Maluleka: I put my money on Belgium.
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