WCF: Fixture
The World Cup Football (WCF) 2018 fixture has been prepared in such a way that co-favourites Brazil and Germany will not meet each other before final if they finish top of their respective groups in the round robin league. But if any of them become champions and the other runners-up, they will have to clash in the round of 16, meaning early elimination of either Olympic Champions Brazil or the defending Champions Germany.
On the other hand, if Argentina and Germany secure top positions in their respective groups, they will play against each other in semifinals. If Russia, Spain, France, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, England and Columbia become group champions and pass the round of 16, the quarterfinals line-up will be (1) Russia versus France, (2) Spain versus Argentina, (3) Brazil versus England, and (4) Germany versus Columbia. The semifinal line-up will be winners of match No. 1 versus winners of match No. 3; and winners of match No.2 and winners of match No. 4.
It will be easy for us if we divide the eight group champions and eight group runners-up in two imaginary zones. One zone will comprise champions of groups A, C, E, G, and runners-up of B, D, F, H. The second zone will have champions of B, D, F, H and runners-up of A, C, E, G. One team from each zone will fly into the final.
A friend of mine predicted that Russia and Uruguay from Group A, Spain and Portugal from Group B, France and Denmark/Peru from Group C, Argentina and Iceland/Croatia from Group D, Brazil and Serbia from Group E, Germany and Sweden from Group F, England and Belgium from Group G, and Colombia and Poland from Group H are likely to cruise into the round of 16.
However, results of a match depend much on the role of referees and assistant referees. If they are neutral, spectators will watch many amazing results. Kaka scored a brilliant goal against Holland in 2010 World Cup, but it was disallowed. Hungary’s third goal against Germany was disallowed in 1954. Both Brazil and Hungary suffered for referee’s mistakes.
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka
