World's biggest Cabo Verde fan here, reveling in my (Googles nickname quickly) Blue Sharks taking Spain to a 0-0 draw on Monday, and dropping Spain to No. 3 in the FIFA world rankings behind now No. 2 France. Just to let you know how unlikely that is ... someone made a $100 bet on the score being 0-0 (at +4000 odds) and additional $100 bet on no goalscorers (at +3000 odds) and made $7,000.
Tuesday should bring goals, and specifically, goals from Golden Boot candidates, as France (with Kylian Mbappé), Norway (with Erling Haaland), and Argentina (with Lionel Messi) all enter the arena.
We, of course, now have Cabo Verde helping to activate the very real possibility of Spain playing Argentina in the Round of 32 in either L.A. or Miami. But I still feel like both France and Argentina will find their way back to the final, even with the possibility that Argentina would have to get past the No. 3 team in the world while France is facing the 3rd place from Group C/D/F/G/H team, which currently projects out to Scotland, Australia, Sweden, Iran, or Saudi Arabia.
But first, we have some group stage matches to deal with. Let's get into that.
Group I
Predictions
- Projected winner: France (2)
- Projected runner-up: Senegal (16)
- Projected 3rd-place team: Norway (31)
- Projected 4th-place team: Iraq (57)
Today's matches
- France vs. Senegal, Tuesday, June 16, 2 pm (East Rutherford, N.J.)
- Iraq vs. Norway, Tuesday, June 16, 5 pm (Foxborough, Mass.)
Future matches
- France vs. Iraq: Monday, June 22, 4 pm (Philadelphia)
- Norway vs. Senegal: Monday, June 22, 7 pm (East Rutherford, N.J.)
- Norway vs. France: Friday, June 26, 2 pm (Foxborough, Mass.)
- Senegal vs. Iraq: Friday, June 26, 2 pm (Toronto)
Most compelling narrative
As a France fan who rooted for France in the 2022 final when seemingly every neutral on the planet wanted to see Messi finally pull the sword from the stone, I'm very invested in how far France goes, which I think is winning it all. (The only think keeping me from rooting for France in the final is if France is playing either the U.S. or Canada.) So that's where I'm invested.
But, also, I want to see how much shop-wrecking Erling Haaland can do in the group stage.
Player to watch
Between Mbappé and Haaland, goals will be scored.
Group J
Predictions
- Projected winner: Argentina (1)
- Projected runner-up: Algeria (27)
- Projected 3rd-place team: Austria (24)
- Projected 4th-place team: Jordan (65)
Today's matches
- Argentina vs. Algeria, Tuesday, June 16, 8 pm (Kansas City)
- Austria vs. Jordan, Tuesday, June 16, 11 pm (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Future matches
- Argentina vs. Austria: Monday, June 22, noon (Jerryworld)
- Jordan vs. Algeria: Monday, June 22, 10 pm (Santa Clara, Calif.)
- Jordan vs. Argentina: Saturday, June 27, 9 pm (Jerryworld)
- Algeria vs. Austria: Saturday, June 27, 9 pm (Kansas City)
Most compelling narrative
In a group that most soccer fans will regard as Argentina and everyone else — and one that Argentina should win relatively easily — I'll be looking to see how supporting-cast players like Julián Alvarez and Lautaro Martínez fare next to Messi, and how convincing they look as a team that, per my prediction, will land in the final (though given how 2022 ended up, will be happy to be proven wrong).
Player to watch
He certainly gets an outsized share of publicity, but pointedly not watching Messi puts you in danger of missing something magical.
Where to watch
Research led me to this Alliance Francaise d'Austin, family-friendly event celebrating two French-speaking nations, France and Senegal, playing one another. Also, Easy Tiger at the Linc (Tigre Facile?) will be France HQ for the tournament.
What to read
Someone bet $1 million that Spain would win its opener. Oops.
Also, learn more about Cabo Verde hero Vozinha (and why his mom couldn't be there to witness history).
World's biggest Cabo Verde fan here, reveling in my (Googles nickname quickly) Blue Sharks taking Spain to a 0-0 draw on Monday, and dropping Spain to No. 3 in the FIFA world rankings behind now No. 2 France. Just to let you know how unlikely that is ... someone made a $100 bet on the score being 0-0 (at +4000 odds) and additional $100 bet on no goalscorers (at +3000 odds) and made $7,000.
Tuesday should bring goals, and specifically, goals from Golden Boot candidates, as France (with Kylian Mbappé), Norway (with Erling Haaland), and Argentina (with Lionel Messi) all enter the arena.
We, of course, now have Cabo Verde helping to activate the very real possibility of Spain playing Argentina in the Round of 32 in either L.A. or Miami. But I still feel like both France and Argentina will find their way back to the final, even with the possibility that Argentina would have to get past the No. 3 team in the world while France is facing the 3rd place from Group C/D/F/G/H team, which currently projects out to Scotland, Australia, Sweden, Iran, or Saudi Arabia.
But first, we have some group stage matches to deal with. Let's get into that.
Group I
Predictions
Today's matches
Future matches
Most compelling narrative
As a France fan who rooted for France in the 2022 final when seemingly every neutral on the planet wanted to see Messi finally pull the sword from the stone, I'm very invested in how far France goes, which I think is winning it all. (The only think keeping me from rooting for France in the final is if France is playing either the U.S. or Canada.) So that's where I'm invested.
But, also, I want to see how much shop-wrecking Erling Haaland can do in the group stage.
Player to watch
Between Mbappé and Haaland, goals will be scored.
Group J
Predictions
Today's matches
Future matches
Most compelling narrative
In a group that most soccer fans will regard as Argentina and everyone else — and one that Argentina should win relatively easily — I'll be looking to see how supporting-cast players like Julián Alvarez and Lautaro Martínez fare next to Messi, and how convincing they look as a team that, per my prediction, will land in the final (though given how 2022 ended up, will be happy to be proven wrong).
Player to watch
He certainly gets an outsized share of publicity, but pointedly not watching Messi puts you in danger of missing something magical.
Where to watch
Research led me to this Alliance Francaise d'Austin, family-friendly event celebrating two French-speaking nations, France and Senegal, playing one another. Also, Easy Tiger at the Linc (Tigre Facile?) will be France HQ for the tournament.
What to read
Someone bet $1 million that Spain would win its opener. Oops.
Also, learn more about Cabo Verde hero Vozinha (and why his mom couldn't be there to witness history).
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