FRA -ESP
ENG- ARG
Winers place next sunday in the Big one
Losers play for 3rd place on Saturday
First a few observations of my own.
As I said in another thread, the semis are almost the same
as at the Euro, with Argentina replacing Holland.
3 of my 4 picks got here, which was the maximum possible,
given that England and Brazil had to meet in the quarters if
both got there. That's less extraordinary than it sounds,
given that, as we discussed elswhere, this year's
semifinalists have been very predictable. Probably some
people here got all 4 right.
Argentina only made it because of the very easy path they had.
In the end their heaviest opponent was Switzerland. Or maybe
Cape Verde ?
Now my predictions
2 - 1 Spain
3 - 1 England
I expect Spain to step it up, I really think they played in
second gear against Belgium. They scored the winner just in
time when they needed it. Against France they're going to have
to give it all they can. Of course it's going to be hard
fought, and France winning won't be a surprise at all, but I
go with Spain.
England are clear favorites in the other match, except if we
see a completely different Argentina and a completely
different Messi. Which might happen, they too might have
played economically so Messi can rest and surprise everybody
in the semis. But so far they haven't been convincing.
The Doctor wrote:
FRA -ESP
ENG- ARG
Winers place next sunday in the Big one
Losers play for 3rd place on Saturday
We might as well do the predictions here, though I would have preferred
a word about it in the title.
First a few observations of my own.
As I said in another thread, the semis are almost the same as at the
Euro, with Argentina replacing Holland.
3 of my 4 picks got here, which was the maximum possible, given that
England and Brazil had to meet in the quarters if both got there.
That's less extraordinary than it sounds, given that, as we discussed >elswhere, this year's semifinalists have been very predictable.
Probably some people here got all 4 right.
Argentina only made it because of the very easy path they had. In the
end their heaviest opponent was Switzerland. Or maybe Cape Verde ?
Now my predictions
2 - 1 Spain
3 - 1 England
I expect Spain to step it up, I really think they played in second gear >against Belgium. They scored the winner just in time when they needed
it. Against France they're going to have to give it all they can. Of
course it's going to be hard fought, and France winning won't be a
surprise at all, but I go with Spain.
England are clear favorites in the other match, except if we see a
completely different Argentina and a completely different Messi. Which
might happen, they too might have played economically so Messi can rest
and surprise everybody in the semis. But so far they haven't been
convincing.
FRA -ESP
ENG- ARG
On Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:47:59 -0000 (UTC), doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca
(The Doctor) wrote:
FRA -ESP
Bookies have a slight preference for France, and I'm sure Infantino is >salivating at an Mbappe vs Messi final. Still, Spain are going to be
very, very tough to beat. I would not be surprised if this ends in a >scoreless draw and is decided by pens. I'll give the edge to Spain.
ENG- ARG
Bookies have an even slighter preference for England (I was surprised,
I expected Argentina to be favored), even though I wonder if that is
dumb money from the English fans, and the odds will narrow as the
sharp money starts pouring in.
Argentina looks flawed, they have struggled much more than necessary
on a relatively easy path. But they have Messi, and they have a
swagger that I'm not sure the English team possesses. 2-1 Argentina.
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