A1: Uruguay
B1: Spain
C1: France
D1: Iceland
E1: Brazil
F1: Germany
G1: Belgium
H1: Poland

A2: Egypt
B2: Portugal
C2: Denmark
D2: Argentina
E2: Switzerland
F2: Mexico
G2: England
H2: Colombia

Round of 16

A1-B2: Portugal
C1-D2: France
E1-F2: Brazil
G1-H2: Colombia
B1-A2: Spain
D1-C2: Denmark
F1-E2: Germany
H1-G2: England

Quarterfinals

A1/B2-C1/D2: France
E1/F2-G1/H2: Brazil
B1/A2-D1/C2: Spain
F1/E2-H1/G2: Germany

Semifinal 1 winner: Brazil
Semifinal 2 winner: Germany
3rd Place winner: France

World Cup winner: Germany

———

Golden Boot winner: Thomas Muller (Germany)
Biggest Surprise team: England
Biggest Disappointment team: Belgium & Argentina

Call me crazy, but I think England are due for at least a quarterfinal appearance after failing miserably at the last few major tournaments. Picking Iceland to win the group over Argentina is bold, but I think they'll be the Costa Rica of this World Cup and overachieve. I don't think Argentina are a great team this time, and Messi can't carry them forever. I also feel like Belgium's golden generation will continue to disappoint for some reason.

I know picking Germany to win is boring, but they are simply the best team in the world right now. Their depth is just absurd. They could probably split their best 22 players into two teams and both of those teams would make the quarterfinals.

I think Brazil will reach the final, motivated to purge the demons of 2014 with a good performance. If Germany don't win, I think Brazil or France will. Portugal is a good team, but their run through the Euros in 2016 was kind of fluky. Don't think they can pull that off a second time, even with Ronaldo still in top form.

I think this is the second tournament in a row where no Asian teams make the knockout rounds. I won't be surprised if no CONCACAF teams do either, but I think Mexico is just good enough to finish second behind Germany. They'll beat Korea, draw Sweden, and that'll be enough to advance.

This post was edited on 6/5/18 at 6:42 am