For the last World Cup, I entered a pool with predictions that had France meet New Zealand in the final. I was right... but a year early (and with the wrong shape of ball).

In that spirit, here's my wishful thinking :

A1: Poland
A2: Greece

(Home advantage for the first, having something to prove for the second.)

B1: Germany
B2: Portugal

(Ronaldo ronaldo ronaldo.)

C1: Spain
C2: Ireland

(Completely unable to justify this. Just because.)

D1: France
D2: Ukraine

(Elimination in the group stages is not an option for the Ukraine. They may not be subtle, but they will go through. Think : opponents waking up with boils all over their bodies on the day of the match.)

Q1: Portugal
Q2: Germany
Q3: Spain
Q4: France

(Easy.)

S1: Spain
S2: France

(France are always capable of beating Germany, on a good day.)

F: Spain
(Credulity has been strained far enough.)

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II}