Our feature columnist, John Newsome previews this year’s Football World Championship Qatar’22- Quarter Final 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 Quarter Final
Friday, December 9th
BRAZIL v CROATIA
15.00 in England
Brazil smashed South Korea on Monday with goals from Vinicius Junior, Neymar, Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta, before half-time, sending the Samba Boys Samba-ing with individual dances from all the boys and girls, even the Manager, who did look a right, Tite.
South Korea scored a late consolation but the tie was already over with Neymar turning on his mobile phone, hoping for a call from Strictly.
Roy Keane wasn’t happy in the ITV studio, stating the choreographed dancing was disrespectful.
Whilst most things that come out of Mr Keane’s mouth are on the mark, this EveryTip column doesn’t necessarily agree with those comments.
Come on Roy, it’s nearly Christmas and football is an entertainment business, if the Samba Boys can’t celebrate the goals in a fun way, then there is something else wrong in this Ever Decreasing Circle of Life one lives in.
Mind you, Old Grincho Keano didn’t say the worse thing in the ITV studio.
Before the game, the ex-Footballer and controversial pundit, Eni Aluko, stated the following (and this is true, not made up!),
‘Richarlison has 19 goals in 40 appearances, do the Math on that, it’s one goal a game pretty much.’
Hello!
Of course, following that, there were the obvious comments on the Social Abuse site and whilst anything racist or sexist is never condoned and out of order, a bit of harmless banter doesn’t go amiss.
Obviously, it was just a slip of the tongue from Eni as most know that 19 goals in 40 appearances is, well if one does the Math, more than 18.
It’s now 20 in 41 for Richy Rich, following the brilliant notch against South Korea.
Which is 1 in 2 if one (and Ms Aluko does the Math!)
The 3rd pundit in the ITV studio for the last-16 contest was Graeme Souness.
Graeme is 70 years old in May 2023 and no, Eni hasn’t done the Math on that, the Scottish legend is almost 70.
The lads’ fellow Scot, Rab C Nesbitt, could take a leaf out of Graeme’s book in the looking good in the late 60s envelope.
Respect, Mr Souness!
Another note to add regarding Brazil v South Korea, there wasn’t a Fred in sight, with the enigmatic Manchester United Midfielder, remaining on the bench for the whole of the 90 plus+ minutes.
Croatia conceded a goal just before the interval against Japan on Monday, then scored the equaliser soon after the restart through the current Tottenham Midfielder Ivan Perisic.
With no further significant action, the game went to Extra-time and Penalties, as predicted in this EveryTip column last week.
The Croatians were successful in the shootout that sets up this tough ask against the Dancing Samba Boys.
The only drawback to this fixture is it kicks off at 3 PM in England when a lot will be out working.
There’s an argument that all 4 Quarter-Finals should start at 7 PM on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Or is that just a selfish opinion from John Newsome?
Betfred offer Brazil at Odds On 2/5, the draw at 19/5 and 8/1 for Croatia to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 11/10 that Richarlison Scores Anytime and 23/20 that Brazil Win To Nil.
Brazil Win 3-0- Get 15/2 on Betfred & Claim your new account welcome offer!
NETHERLANDS v ARGENTINA
19.00 in England
This EveryTip column did predict a Netherlands v Argentina Quarter-Final and whilst some can shout,
‘Obviously!’
A few of the Barnsley Branch of this brilliant column and the Australians thought otherwise.
The Netherlands or as some know them as Holland were a class above the United States of America with Louis Van Gaal just being technically and tactically better and more experienced than Gregg Berhalter.
The USMNT (don’t!) did put in a great performance and could have taken an early lead but Louis’ Oranges had a game plan and it played out perfectly.
The victory sets up a great game against Argentina who were dogged against an Australia set up who had heart, passion and grit which is a requisite of Ozland folk but lacked any real footballing promise.
The loveable OzScot and beautiful Wife were in Melbourne on Saturday/Sunday (as it was the early hours in Australia) both for the game and Christmas shopping which in itself is a first whilst a World Cup is on.
John Newsome hopes his present befits a man of one’s taste.
Whilst it was a loss for the Australian team, the Nation can be proud of their Moustache wearing Gold and Greens, who decided at a young age to ask Santa for a pair of Football Boots(or Boo-its as the Yorkshire/Oz folk say) instead of a Cricket Bat or Rugby Ball for Christmas.
Some even preferred Soccer to AFL, Australian Football League, which John Newsome has to admit, hasn’t got a Scooby as to what that game is.
Scooby Doo=Clue!
The game threw up a memory of a trip to the John Smith Stadium to see Huddersfield Town take on Barnsley FC back in August 2016.
Only seems like a couple of weeks ago, where does the time go?
A good mucker at the time, Little H and John went to this game.
Having parked smack outside of the John Smiths in a B and Q car park, one thought a ticket was in the offering but not so.
Barnsley’s Stefan Payne missed a sitter late on that would have equalised, however, the Reds suffered a defeat by a 2-1 scoreline.
Australian Aaron Mooy was the best player on show that Summer afternoon, by a country mile, with all the Reds fans commenting on him.
Aaron was at Man City at the time but on loan at Huddersfield then took the Chinese Dollar.
Now the lad is playing in the Pub League at Celtic, which gives the loveable OzScot, conflicting allegiances to Mr Mooy.
Although a Socceroo, Double-A-Ron is also a Green and White Hoop which Kylie detests.
Live and let love Braveheart.
Life’s too short.
Little H would be up for a trip to Qatar to cheer on the Three Lions but unfortunately, on the day of the Final, it will be exactly 4 years since the Best Guy in the World, passed away aged 51, a great shame for everyone who knew the Maestro.
Rest in Peace (Brother!) H.
Betfred offer the Netherlands at 13/5, the draw at 11/5 and 6/5 for Argentina to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 11/2 that Memphis Depay Scores First and 11/8 that there are Over 2.5 Goals.
Netherlands Win 3-1- Get 40/1 on Betfred & Claim your new account welcome offer!
Saturday, December 10th
MOROCCO v PORTUGAL
15.00 in England
A Morocco victory was predicted in this column, however, in the interest of fairness, it wasn’t by a penalty shootout.
That said, the Moroccans did put in a great shift and thoroughly deserved the win with the Spaniards missing all 3 of their penalties taken.
Achraf Hakimi scored the Morocco-winning spot-kick, coolly slotting the ball down the middle in the Panenka style.
The Spain penalties were reminiscent of the way Luis Enrique’s team played throughout the game, with a couple of the kicks being passed sideways.
This sets up an intriguing tie against Portugal, who smashed a poor Switzerland team to progress to the Quarters gaining a victory by a 6-1 scoreline.
Whilst a great victory, it has to be added that the Swiss were bad so it’s a question as to what contributed more, a brilliant Portugal performance or a very abject display by Switzerland.
Heidi wasn’t happy.
The Portuguese boss, Renato Sanches left out Cristiano Ronaldo from the starting eleven and brought in Gonçalo Ramos, a young 21-year-old Striker who plays for Benfica.
Gonçalo didn’t disappoint and scored a superb hat trick.
Renato must have read this EveryTip column regarding Cristiano, who is not only surplus to requirements at Juventus and Manchester United but it now appears, Portugal too.
As the mantra goes, time waits for no Man, Woman, Cristiano or Belgian.
Piers Morgan is lining up another interview with Mr Ronaldo.
It’s just not fair, is it CR7-2.0?
It did appear that Morocco had their day in the Qatar Sun against Spain and this Quarter-Final could be a last hurrah for the Africans, with Portugal predicted to progress.
Betfred offer Morocco at 9/2, the draw at 3/1 and slight Odds On 4/6 for to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 7/5 that Bruno Fernandes Scores Anytime and 17/10 that Portugal Win To Nil.
Portugal Win 2-0- Get 6/1 on Betfred & Claim your new account welcome offer!
ENGLAND v FRANCE
19.00 in England
The last of the Quarter-Final games could easily be the Final itself with these two Heavyweights facing each other.
The current World Champions are up against the 1966 Winners for a place in the last 4.
A lot are saying that Kylian Mbappe is the main threat to England and rightly so, however, Gareth’s Three Lions have their own Superstars that Didier Deschamps and Les Bleus should be worried about.
Jude Bellingham is fast becoming one of those said English Superstars following the performance put in against the Senegalese on Sunday, which saw goals from Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka, give England the victory to set up this scintillating fixture.
France had gained their place in the Quarter-Finals by inflicting a defeat on Poland a couple of hours earlier.
Hanson Boy, Kylian added another 2 to his tally and sits on his own at the Top of the Goalscoring Chart with 5 goals.
There was a scare for the French with the lad KM not taking part in training on Tuesday, however, this was just precautionary and no doubt Mr Mbappe will be in the starting lineup, come 19.00 hours on Saturday.
This EveryTip column correctly predicted all 8 results of the last-16 so hopefully, the readers earned a few quid to help pay for Christmas or the heating bill.
The Croatia v Japan fixture had been stated that it would finish in a draw by a 1-1 scoreline then a penalty shootout and whilst John Newsome did offer a Morocco shock in sending out Spain, that also went to a spot kick decider, with the Moroccans prevailing.
Now for the Quarter-Finals and although heart will always rule the head, when England are playing, John Newsome can see a Three Lion victory over Les Bleus to knock out the holders and continue the pursuit of the Coveted Trophy.
That said, England’s record against France isn’t too good of late, with just 2 victories in the last 10 meetings.
There was a famous encounter some 40 years ago, at the World Cup in Spain’82, when Captain Marvel, Bryan Robson scored after 27 seconds, with the Three Lions inflicting a defeat on the French by a 3-1 scoreline.
Is it finally coming home?
Betfred offer England at 21/10, the draw at 9/4 and 29/20 for France to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 4/1 that Harry Kane Scores First and Evens 1/1 that there are Over 2.5 Goals.
England Win 2-1- Get 10/1 on Betfred & Claim your new account welcome offer!
Related Reading
Best betting site for accumulators
Bet365 review
Best cash-out betting sites
Best low or no minimum deposit betting sites