Our feature columnist, John Newsome previews this year’s Football World Championship Qatar’22- Round 3 with his unique and insightful commentary. You can view all previous analysis from John’s regular column here: English Premier League Predictions For Saturday.
Please note all prices quoted below were correct at the time of publication
Football World Championship Qatar’22
Final Group Standings
Group A
NETHERLANDS 7pts (plus+ 4 goals)
SENEGAL 6pts (plus+ 1 goal)
ECUADOR 4pts (plus+ 1 goal)
QATAR 0pts (minus- 6 goals)
Group B
ENGLAND 7pts (plus+ 7 goals)
USA 5pts (plus+ 1 goal)
IRAN 3pts (minus- 3 goals)
WALES 1pt (minus- 5 goals)
Group C
ARGENTINA 6pts (plus+ 3 goals)
POLAND 4pts (plus-minus 0 goals)
MEXICO 4 pts (minus- 1 goal)
SAUDI ARABIA 3pts (minus- 2 goals)
***Poland Qualify on Goal Difference
Group D
FRANCE 6 pts (plus+ 3 goals)
AUSTRALIA 6 pts (minus- 1 goal)
TUNISIA 4 pts (plus-minus 0 goals)
DENMARK 1 pt (minus- 2 goals)
Group E
JAPAN 6pts (plus+ 1 goal)
SPAIN 4pts (plus+ 6 goals)
GERMANY 4pts (plus+ 1 goal)
COSTA RICA 3pts (minus- 8 goals)
***Spain Qualify on Goal Difference
Group F
MOROCCO 7pts (plus+ 3 goals)
CROATIA 5pts (plus+ 3 goals)
BELGIUM 4pts (minus- 1 goal)
CANADA 0 pts (minus- 5 goals)
Group G
BRAZIL 6pts (plus+ 2 goals)
SWITZERLAND 6pts plus+ 1 goal)
CAMEROON 4pts (plus-minus- 0 goals)
SERBIA 1 pts (minus- 3 goals)
***Brazil finished top on Goal Difference
Group H
PORTUGAL 6pts (plus+ 2 goal)
SOUTH KOREA 4pts (plus-minus- 0 goals)
URUGUAY 4pts (plus-minus- 0 goals)
GHANA 3pts (minus- 2 goals)
***South Korea Qualify on Goals Scored 4 compared to Uruguay’s 2
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Last 16
Knockout Stages-
1-Winners of Group A v Runners-up of Group B
2-Winners of Group C v Runners-up of Group D
3-Winners of Group D v Runners-up of Group C
4-Winners of Group B v Runners-up of Group A
5-Winners of Group E v Runners-up of Group F
6-Winners of Group G v Runners-up of Group H
7-Winners of Group F v Runners-up of Group E
8-Winners of Group H v Runners-up of Group G
Saturday, December 3rd
1-Winners of Group A v Runners-up of Group B
NETHERLANDS v USA
15.00 in England
The fun starts with the last-16 knockout stages that will throw up all sorts of pots and plans.
It would be interesting to see how many of these 8 fixtures are decided on a penalty shootout.
The Netherlands finished at the summit of their respective Group and face the United States of America in the knockout opener.
The Dutch are 1 of just 5 teams out of the 32, that are unbeaten, having a record of 2 wins and a draw from the 3 played already.
The USA are another unbeaten side with 1 win and 2 draws.
England, Croatia and Morocco are the others, meaning 11 of the last-16 have suffered a defeat at this year’s World Cup.
As Jimmy Greaves would say,
Football, it’s a funny old game!’
The PSV Striker and Manchester United target, Cody Gakpo has 3 goals up to now, joint with Kylian Mbappe, Marcus Rashford, Alvaro Morata and Enner Valencia at the Top of the Golden Boot chart.
Enner has departed, so the Ecuadorean cannot add to that tally, however, Cody, Kylian, Alvaro and Marcus are still going strong, so all will be looking to be Top of the Pops.
As mentioned, the USA gained a victory in the final game of Group B against Iran to finish as runners-up to England.
The Netherlands should be too strong for the Americans, however, the energy and press put in by Gregg Berhalter and the Yanks could give Louis Van Gaal and the Oranges something to think about.
Betfred offer the Netherlands at Evens 1/1, the draw at 23/10 and 10/3 for the USA to come away with all 3-points.
Netherlands Win 1-0
2-Winners of Group C v Runners-up of Group D
ARGENTINA v AUSTRALIA
19.00 in England
After suffering a surprise opening game defeat against Saudi Arabia, Argentina eventually finished at the summit of Group C with 2 victories, against Mexico and Poland to set up this fixture against Australia.
In the game against the Poles, the dreaded VAR somehow awarded a penalty for a supposed foul by Wojciech Szczesny on Lionel Messi.
It was extremely harsh on the ex-Arsenal goalkeeper, who then got up and saved Limpy Lionel’s tame spot-kick.
It appeared justice was served.
Australia surprised everyone with a final game victory against Denmark to qualify for the last-16.
The only other time the Socceroos progressed from the Group Stage was in 2006 when, after finishing 2nd to Brazil, had the arduous task of facing Italy, who eventually sent the Aussies back to the Land Down Under.
The solace the Green and Gold took from that particular competition was Australia were defeated by the eventual winners, Italy.
The loveable OzScot was up at 2.00 AM in Melbourne to watch his home International team (that’s when Scotland aren’t playing) get the unexpected victory against the Danes who, it’s fair to say, were poor throughout the tournament.
Kylie, as do most men of a certain age, was up around 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock and 6 o’clock until eventually, it was time for Good Morning Australia.
Braveheart is looking forward to this fixture against Argentina to see one of his fellow Scots play for La Albiceleste.
Back in August 2021, in a previous EveryTip column, the following was written.
‘If a question was asked,
Where does Alexis Mac Allister originate from?
Ninety per cent of respondents would probably say Scotland, however, that’s not the case as Young Alexis is Argentinian.
Not to delve too much into the past of Mr Mac A, (or his parents!) there were a lot of Scottish fans that never returned home, following the 1978 World Cup journey, that coincidentally took place in Argentina!
There was a famous song that preceded the infamous Scotland adventure to South America back in ‘78.
‘We’re on the march with Ally’s Army,
We’re going to the Argentine and we’ll really shake them up, when we win the World Cup,
‘Cause Scotland are the greatest football team
I’ve heard it said that Beckenbauer’s the best that’s ever been, some people think that Pele is the greatest that they’ve seen.
There’s Bobby Moore and Charlton, England’s famous two but Ally’s tartan army love the boys in Scotland’s blue.
We’re on the march with Ally’s Army.
We’re going to the Argentine and we’ll really shake them up when we win the World Cup,
‘Cause Scotland are the greatest football team
When it comes to managers, we surely got the champ, when Docherty and Ormond left to join some other camp.
We had to get a man who could make all of Scotland proud,
He’s our Muhammad Ali, he’s Alistair MacLeod,
We’re on the march with Ally’s Army,
We’re going to the Argentine and we’ll really shake them up when we win the World Cup,
‘Cause Scotland are the greatest football team
When we reach the Argentine, we’re really gonna show, the world a brand of football that they could never ever know.
We’re representing Britain, we’ve got to do or die, for England cannae dae it ’cause they didnae qualify.
We’re on the march with Ally’s Army.
We’re going to the Argentine and we’ll really shake them up,
When we win the World Cup,
‘Cause Scotland are the greatest football team.
We’re on the march with Ally’s Army,
We’re going to the Argentine and we’ll really shake them up,
When we win the World Cup,
‘Cause Scotland are the greatest football team.
Yes, Scotland are the greatest football team!
Scotland suffered a defeat against Peru by a 3-1 scoreline, a 1-1 draw against Iran (Iran!!) and a victory against Holland by a 3-2 score, which did produce one of the greatest-ever World Cup goals from Archie Gemmill.
Unfortunately, the Scottish were eliminated and home before the postcards, well some were!’
Deluded Scottish!
Alexis Mac Allister is keeping the Scottish/Argentinian dream alive and the OzScot in Melbourne won’t know who to cheer, in this last-16 encounter.
Betfred offer Argentina at Odds On 1/5, the draw at 6/1 and 16/1 for Australia to come away with all 3-points.
Argentina Win 2-0
Sunday, December 4th
3-Winners of Group D v Runners-up of Group C
FRANCE v POLAND
15.00 in England
Didier Deschamps decided to change 9 of the eleven that started the previous fixture against Denmark, leaving Hugo Lloris, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and the rest of Les Bleus on the bench in the final Group game against Tunisia.
Kylian and Antoine did see game time but couldn’t overturn an earlier Tunisian goal scored just after the break.
When DD made the changes, a certain Serg in Manchester, cried ‘foul play’ with a lot of French Tunisians around, however, because Australia got the victory against Denmark, despite Tunisia inflicting a defeat on France, it wasn’t enough to progress.
Sorry, Serg!
Snooker and Boxing aren’t fixed either.
With a record of 2 wins and a loss, Les Bleus take on the Poles, who gained 4 points from a win, a draw and a loss, the same as Mexico, however, had a slightly better goal difference than the Mexicans.
It was touch and go at one point with Mexico needing to turn around a 4-goal swing and after Argentina had scored 2 and the Mexicans also had 2, another goal, either conceded by Poland or scored by Mexico, would have seen the North Americans jump above the Poles.
At one point, the Runners-up were about to be decided on Yellow Cards, which would have been a travesty.
Luckily for football (unluckily for Mexico), Saudi Arabia scored a late goal that made the goal difference in favour of Poland setting up this last-16 encounter against France on Sunday afternoon.
It’s worth mentioning that the winners of this game take on either England or Senegal for a place in the Semi-Final.
Betfred offer France at Odds On 2/7, the draw at 9/2 and 11/1 for Poland to come away with all 3-points.
France Win 3-0
4-Winners of Group B v Runners-up of Group A
ENGLAND v SENEGAL
19.00 in England
England remained unbeaten from the Group stage, following a comfortable predicted victory against Wales on Tuesday.
That gave the Three Lions 7 points from 2 wins and a draw to see Gareth Southgate’s Men top Group B and set up this intriguing fixture against Senegal.
After the pragmatic display against the USA that drew a lot of criticism, Gareth brought in Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford, which a lot were calling for, especially in Phil’s case.
Both repaid the gesture by scoring the goals in the victory against Wales.
Marcus with 2 and Phil with 1.
Some would say that Mr Southgate knows what he’s doing and whilst the benefit of the doubt has to be given to GS at the moment, it does offer up fine margins and if, if England don’t at least make the Semi-Final with Gareth reverting to a negative mindset, then there will be repercussions from the Three Lion faithful.
John Newsome has already pinned his English colours to the mast and stated in the Round 1 preview that a possible England v Brazil World Cup Final is on the cards.
That won’t change until the possibility ends.
The Three Lions faithful just need to believe, it may finally be coming home!
Senegal gained a victory against Ecuador to secure the Runners-up place behind the Netherlands in Group A, gaining 6 points from 2 wins and a defeat.
The Senegalese may have been a bigger threat to the English if Sadio Mane was in the team but without the ex-Liverpool star, Gareth Southgate’s Men should be too strong.
Betfred offer England at Odds On 8/15, the draw at 3/1 and 13/2 for Senegal to come away with all 3-points.
England Win 2-0
Monday, December 5th
5-Winners of Group E v Runners-up of Group F
JAPAN v CROATIA
15.00 in England
Japan were the eventual winners of Group E and Croatia were Runners-up in Group F.
Eventually, as somehow a ball that appeared over the byline, came back into play allowing the Japanese to score a winner against Spain that firstly, gave Japan all 3 points and secondly, the victory ultimately eliminated Germany.
(It’s not all bad then.)
Japan finish with 6 points from 2 wins and a loss.
Croatia, finished as Runners-up in Group F, with Belgium eventually eliminated.
Thus, setting up this Monday afternoon showdown against Japan.
Croatia themselves are part of the World Cup Six, that absolutely nobody is referring the teams to, finishing with 5 points from a win and 2 draws.
After holding Belgium to a goalless draw, (Croatia’s 2nd goalless game in the 3 Group fixtures) which in the process, eliminated the Golden Belgium Generation (some would say Olden Belgium Generation) the Croatians face the Japanese.
It will be the last hurrah for Luka Modric who, whilst still a superb little player, is 37 now and as one knows, time waits for no man, woman, Cristiano or Belgian.
Betfred offer Japan at 3/1, the draw at 9/4 and 11/10 for Croatia to come away with all 3-points.
Draw 1-1 (then Penalties)
6-Winners of Group G v Runners-up of Group H
BRAZIL v SOUTH KOREA
19.00 in England
Brazil were on the verge of gaining a point from a draw against Cameroon on Friday until the remaining few minutes when the Cameroons scored a surprise goal that ultimately inflicted a defeat on the Samba Boys in the final Group G fixture, by a 1-0 scoreline.
Obviously, some of the Managers have put out a weaker team in the final round knowing that qualification was a given.
However, when one looks at that again, it is remarkable that only 1/6th (just above) of the World Cup contingent have a 26-man squad capable of not being defeated.
That does bode well for England, who look strong in every department.
The Brazilian Manager Tite picked a starting eleven that included Dani Alves, Fabinho, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Fred for the final fixture against Cameroon but was unable to get the expected 3rd victory.
Without this EveryTip column and John Newsome wanting to sound boring, United (and Brazil!) won’t win anything with Fred.
Just saying!
Just to add, the Cameroon goal scorer, Vincent Aboubakar, who scored one of the goals of the tournament so far against Serbia and then scored the winner against Brazil, was shown a Yellow Card, because the lad took his shirt off, after scoring the winner, which ultimately produced a Red because of an earlier Yellow.
Is that Football?
Come on!
The lad deserves a Cameroonian Rolls Royce, not a Red Card.
Football, bloody hell!
South Korea were the surprise Runners-up of Group H behind Portugal, somehow gaining a vital win against the Portuguese in Round 3 to progress.
When it looked like the plane back to Korea was being fuelled, the South Koreans scored a winner in the 91st minute to qualify purely on goals scored.
Uruguay were in front in their final game against Ghana and were in 2nd place going into injury time but the goal by the Wolves Striker Hwang-Hee Chan in the 91st minute gave SK the advantage and sent the Uruguayans home with Luis Suarez visibly crying in the dugout.
The Oasis tune was ringing out at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayan,
‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out!’
The Ghanaians in attendance getting Educated were happy and felt redemption after the Quarter-Final back in South Africa’2010.
Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani bow out of the World Cup and whilst some may have reserved opinions, John Newsome just wants to put on record, both are a credit to the Uruguayan Shirt.
Betfred offer Brazil at Odds On 1/4, the draw at 5/1 and 12/1 for South Korea to come away with all 3-points.
Brazil Win 3-1
Tuesday, December 6th
7-Winners of Group F v Runners-up of Group E
MOROCCO v SPAIN
15.00 in England
Morocco are the surprise winners of Group F, also finishing unbeaten with 7 points from 2 wins and a draw.
The victory against Canada in the final game sets up an unpredicted last-16 tie against Spain.
A lot assumed that Belgium would win the Group and then Croatia would finish as Runners-up.
No one really saw the Moroccans, not only qualify but win Group F and are one of the World Cup Six that are unbeaten.
It was in Mexico’86 when Morocco last qualified for the knockout stage, coincidentally finishing top of the Group England were in, gaining a goalless draw against the Three Lions along the way.
This last-16 fixture was certainly not predicted by most, with Japan the eventual winner of Group E and Spain as Runners-up.
In a Topsy-Turvy night, Spain suffered a defeat against Japan, which left the Spaniards as Runners-up.
Germany finished with the same 4 points as Spain but with a far inferior goal difference, due mainly to the 7 goals that the Spaniards scored against the Costa Ricans.
What was slightly different is the fact that it was Morocco, not Belgium that finished at the Summit of Group F above the Croatians, with Belgium being eliminated, so it’s Morocco v Spain for a place in the Quarter-Final of the World Cup.
Betfred offer Morocco at 11/2, the draw at 3/1 and Odds On 4/7 for Spain to come away with all 3-points.
Morocco Win 2-1
8-Winners of Group H v Runners-up of Group G
PORTUGAL v SWITZERLAND
19.00 in England
Portugal finished at the summit of Group H and surprisingly face Switzerland in the last-16.
Following 2 victories in the openers, Fernando Santos rested a few for the final fixture, including Bruno Fernandes, however, still kept Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting eleven, which throws up the question as to who is actually picking the team.
When a draw was on the cards, with both teams scoring a goal apiece,
Portugal conceded a late South Korean winner to ultimately suffer a defeat by a 2-1 score but still qualify for the knockout stages as Group H Winners.
Mr Ronaldo was taken off in the 65th minute, obviously to rest for the last-16, yet still looked annoyed, is it professionalism to want to stay on or selfishness?
It is a team game Cristiano and it’s not all about Brand CR7.
Switzerland eventually qualified as Group G Runners-up after a very entertaining final fixture against Serbia where the Swiss, scored, were equalised, then went behind, equalised themselves, had a cup of tea, took the lead and ran out victorious by a 3-2 scoreline, to set up this last-16 encounter against Portugal.
Heidi was happy in the end.
Betfred offer Portugal at slight Odds On 10/11, the draw at 5/2 and 7/2 for Switzerland to come away with all 3-points.
Portugal Win 1-0
If the last-16 predictions are correct, that gives a Quarter-Final lineup of
Netherlands v Argentina
France v England
Croatia/Switzerland v Brazil
Morocco v Portugal