2018 FIFA World Cup: Group G

Ladies and gentlemen!

The 2018 FIFA World Cup is Russia has already begun and we have already seen some fireworks of the beautiful game. I still want to analyze the two groups that haven't played yet. Today, I will analyze the teams in Group G. Enjoy and leave a comment if you like!

Team: Belgium

Strengths: Belgium might have the strongest squad it has ever had, a so-called golden generation. A look at the players' names lets any soccer fan's mouth water. Chelsea F.C.'s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is one of the best of his kind. F.C. Barcelona's Thomas Vermaelen and Manchester City F.C.'s Vincent Kompany are among the most experienced and skilled defenders in the world. Manchester City F.C.'s Kevin De Bruyne is one of the most creative midfielders in the world. Manchester United F.C.'s Romelu Lukaku and Chelsea F.C.'s Eden Hazard are technically impressive strikers with solid records. The last time Belgium lost a match was back in September 2016, a 0-2 defeat against Spain. Since then, Belgium beat teams like Costa Rica, Egypt and Japan which also participate in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Weaknesses: The decision to sack passionate coach Marc Wilmots after the 2016 Euro and to hire a rather inexperienced Spanish coach with Roberto Martinez still seems quite risky too me. I doubt he has the capacities to lead such a strong team to its first title. Belgium has never ever won a major tournament so far.

Prediction: Belgium will win this group and could go very far in the tournament. A lot of experts even give them considerable chances to go all the way and win the 2018 FIFA World Cup. I believe the team will make it to the quarter-finals but not further yet. If the team's impressive development continues however, they could very well win the 2020 Euro.

Team: Panama

Strengths: Panama participates in a World Cup for the very first time which was became one of the most important historical events in the country. You will hardly find a more dynamic, motivated and passionate team. Panama's team spirit is very strong and they want to show the world that they deserve to play with the best squads in the world. The entire country will support them with boundless enthusiasm.

Weaknesses: Enthusiasm isn't enough to win against the world's greatest soccer teams. The team's only notable success is winning the Copa Centroamericana back in 2009 and finishing as runners-up in 2007 and 2017. None of the players in the squad plays in any important European league. Captain Felipe Baloy plays for Municipal in Guatemala. Experienced thirty-six year old goalkeeper Jaime Penedo who has one hundred thirty-one caps plays for Dinamo Bucharest in Romania. Midfielder Gabriel Gomez has the highest number of caps with one hundred forty-four and plays for Atlético Bucaramanga in Colombia. Strikers Blas Pérez from Municipal in Guatemala and Luis Tejada from Sport Boys Association in Peru have scored forty-three goals each. Panama has also only won one of its last five exhibition matches, losing against teams like Denmark, Norway and Switzerland.

Prediction: The team's lack of experience is more important than its enthusiasm. Panama won't survive the group stage.

Team: Tunisia

Strengths: Tunisia hasn't lost any of its last nine matches, drawing against respectable opponents such as Portugal and Turkey and winning against Costa Rica, Egypt and Iran.

Weaknesses: Tunisia hasn't participated in the last two World Cups and has never survived the group stage in its four previous appearances. The team's only big success was winning the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations. The team's current squad is largely inexperienced with many players having less than ten caps. The best players are with French clubs that aren't exactly dominating Ligue 1 and only defender Yohan Benalouane plays for a relatively big team with Premier League's Leicester City F.C.. Head coach Nabil Maaloul has only been in charge for a little bit more than a year and his previous stint as national coach was very short and not exactly successful.

Prediction: Tunisia should be able to beat Panama but I can't see them competing with either Belgium or England. That's why the team won't survive the group stage.

Team: England

Strengths: The last time the motherland of soccer has lost a match was more than one year ago against France. Since then, the team has defeated respectable opponents such as Costa Rica, Netherlands and Nigeria. The squad is quite homogeneous with all players having contracts in the Premier League and knowing one another very well. The team has one of the best strikers in the world with Tottenham Hotspur F.C.'s Harry Kane who has also become the captain of the national team.

Weaknesses: Head coach Gareth Southgate doesn't have much experience since he has only coached Middlesbrough F.C. and the England national under-twenty-one football team before being in charge of the senior national team. The team is also lacking an experienced goalkeeper as all three keepers nominated for the tournament have less than ten caps and play for rather weak teams like Burnely F.C., Everton F.C. and Stoke City F.C.

Prediction: England will finish second in this group and advance to the round of sixteen. However, I don't see the team going any further because of its inexperienced goalkeepers and coaching staff.