What a World
Cup this has turned out to be! All expectations and predictions ahead of the World Cup 2018 have
gone for a toss and all the World Cup fan favourites have stumbled and lost in
major upsets to teams that carry the ‘underdog’ tag. That has been the theme of
this World Cup from the beginning, with home country Russia impressing everyone
with their form and the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Portugual and
Germany failing to make it to the semi finals.
With Croatia, an
underdog that has stretched their third game in this World Cup to extra time,
reaching the finals, thereby dumping another fan favourite – England – out of
the World Cup, it remains to be seen if they can take on former World Cup
winner France – the only team from the list of strong contenders that hasn’t
dropped out yet. Could Croatia win their first World Cup or will France
continues to take on underdogs like Belgium and triumph.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Café asks fans
of teams that participated in the World Cup to predict who they think will win
the final battle on Sunday:
From ‘it is coming
home’ to now they knowing that ‘they are going home’, this has been a whirlwind
of a World cup and till the second half, I was sure this team would not only
win the match but the finals. However, as much as I am upset with Croatia
defeating England, I do not want to see France winning the World Cup and so I
go with Croatia, who has fought against the odds so far.
RHYS FERNANDES, England
fan
I have been a fan of
Croatia ever since Davor Šuker, when he won the Golden Boot in 1998 for scoring
six goals in seven matches and the Silver Ball as the second best player of the
tournament behind the Brazilian Ronaldo. While this team’s players’ names are
amusing, they play for some of the best clubs in the world and they showed
character and held their nerve to two win penalty shootout so far. They can
make history!
ANKIT NAIK, Croatia
Fan
I was supporting
Brazil all the way and could not see any other team winning. I am so sad and
still can’t get over the fact that Brazil is out of the World Cup; I have lost
interest in the World Cup. However, France to me is Brazil’s rivals as they
beat Brazil to win the WC earlier and so I cannot support France for the
finals. Croatia seems to have a golden generation this WC and maybe it is,
indeed, their year.
ALLWYN DE SA, Brazil
Fan
Every World Cup it
has always been Portugal and this team may have been written off but still went
on to surprise many. That has been the theme and Cristiano Ronaldo gave it his
best. How he played in the first game simply proves why he is the greatest
player in the world. After they lost, every team I tried supporting lost. I
have been impressed with how France dismantled Argentina and Lionel Messi, so
I’m supporting them now.
NICOLE COLACO, Portugal
Fan
Belgium has been in
dazzling form and they were ripping other teams to shreds. I think maybe the
nerves got the better of them but even in the semi finals, in the first half,
they played well. This could have been their year and with the likes of Hazard,
De Bruyne, Lukaku and Courtois, they were easily one of the most formidable
teams in the World Cup. France is their neighbour and rivalry is intense so I
got to go with Croatia.
SANKET DESSAI, Belgium
Fan
If you follow the La
Liga, you are going to be a fan of Spain. The same would apply for England to
some but I have always liked the Spain team even before they won the World Cup.
They went into this World Cup as the favourites and I still think it was their
inability to score more that let them down. I like the history of teams in
World Cups, Italy, Germany, Holland etc and will be supporting France.
DEEPAK PRABHU, Spain
Fan
If you are part of
the generation that watched Maradona single-handedly win the World Cup for
Argentina, you will be an Argentina fan for life. Even in this World Cup, he
had his theatrics and Messi has that skill and guile. Unfortunately, this team
that left some good players behind can’t seem to win the big trophies and had a
faltering start. I supported Spain, Portugal and even Brazil. So it’s Croatia
now as I don’t want France to win.
MAVERICK CARDOSO, Argentina
Fan
Germany has always
been a force to reckon with at every World Cup and they have that sense of
discipline and aggression that make them one of the best. If the South American
teams have that passing style and wonder goals, Germany is just accurate and
strong. This German side let down the country’s footballing legacy. Maybe it
was the curse of the defending champions that saw them get knocked out so
early. Croatia for the finals.
JAYESH
KERKAR, Germany Fan
