Sons FC

Kopsy and Cartperson.

Oh, I can't vote for a draw - it has to be GunmaN. Sorry Mutters.

Mutters and GunmaN honours even with a draw. Haguey

Friday 9th December Croatia v Brazil 1-2 Netherlands v Argentina 0-2* Saturday 10th December Morocco v Portugal 1-2 England v France 1-2 Bonuses The total number of goals across all the games - 7 The total number of goals scored in the first half - 4 The total number of goals scored in the second half - 5 The number of games going to extra time - 1 Correctly predicting all the specific games going to extra time - Netherlands v Argentina The number of games going to penalties - 0 The total number of penalties scored (including those in normal game play) - 3 The team which scores the fastest goal - Brazil The team which scores the last goal - Brazil The time of the first goal - 12 mins The time of the last goal - 90+4 The total number of yellow cards - 12 The total number of red cards - 0 The total number of substitutions across all games - 32

@Smaldini,@SouthCoastRed, @Darius1998, @Smallen, @Rob1981,@Symbolic, @ferrarinseb, @av3ry, @Constantine, @chris79, @Whoopy D, @vikeologist, @Timma, @craigcwwe, @Orzelek, @sisyphus, @HOORAY HENRIK, @Tecmo, @SilenceOfTheLahms,@Mr Wallin, @oche balboa, @Marvin, @Pafnus, First call - get your predictions here. No...get your predictions in here.

Two of my favourite prediction league colleagues. How to choose? I'll look at the teams and it will not be personal.

Shame about Kawee, I thought he had a really strong team.

Listen to Jaggie everyone - Jaggie knows.

@Smaldini, @YouReds, @Gizzy, @SouthCoastRed, @Darius1998, @Smallen, @Rob1981, @Mahzun_Savas, @The Golden boy, @oriole01, @VP., @Symbolic, @Jeroen Thijssen, @Lucas, @Hoarau, @ferrarinseb, @av3ry, @Constantine, @chris79, @Pompeyboyz, @Whoopy D, @GunmaN1905, @vikeologist, @cafcrocky, @Timma, @craigcwwe, @Orzelek, @WillHoward42, @sisyphus, @HOORAY HENRIK, @Tecmo, @SilenceOfTheLahms, @The_jagster, @Mr Wallin, @oche balboa, @Marvin, @CFuller, @Pafnus, It's the quarter finals and super points are available across the games and the bonuses...well, just look at the bonuses. Bonuses, bonuses, bonuses!! You can almost forget the games themselves - they won't generate very many points - it's the bonuses that count!! 1,800 bonus points up for grabs - not bad, eh? Scoring Predict any time up to kick off the score of each game (You may change your predictions at any point up to the kick off time by either editing or reposting). Any changes made after the kick off time will be disregarded. Predict each score. 5 points if you get the win/lose/draw right and 10 points if you get the exact scoreline right. It's the return of the nap! - indicate one game for a nap bonus. If you get the exact score right, the nap bonus is a super 50 points. Please mark your nap clearly. Quarter-Finals Friday 9th December Croatia v Brazil 15:00 Netherlands v Argentina 19:00 Saturday 10th December Morocco v Portugal 15:00 England v France 19:00 Bonuses The total number of goals across all the games - 100 points The total number of goals scored in the first half - 50 points The total number of goals scored in the second half - 50 points The number of games going to extra time - 100 points Correctly predicting all the specific games going to extra time - 500 points The number of games going to penalties - 50 points The total number of penalties scored (including those in normal game play) - 100 points The team which scores the fastest goal - 50 points The team which scores the last goal - 50 points The time of the first goal - 200 points for the exact time, 10 points for five minutes each side The time of the last goal - 200 points for the exact time, 10 points for five minutes either side The total number of yellow cards - 100 points The total number of red cards - 50 points The total number of substitutions across all games - 200 points

@Smaldini, @YouReds, @Gizzy, @SouthCoastRed, @Darius1998, @Smallen, @Rob1981, @Mahzun_Savas, @The Golden boy, @oriole01, @VP., @Symbolic, @Jeroen Thijssen, @Lucas, @Hoarau, @ferrarinseb, @av3ry, @Constantine, @chris79, @Pompeyboyz, @Whoopy D, @GunmaN1905, @vikeologist, @cafcrocky, @Timma, @craigcwwe, @Orzelek, @WillHoward42, @sisyphus, @HOORAY HENRIK, @Tecmo, @SilenceOfTheLahms, @The_jagster, @Mr Wallin, @oche balboa, @Marvin, @CFuller, @Pafnus, The end of the round of 16 and some shocks and some not so shocks. Portugal led the way in the non-shocks by beating Switzerland 6-1, with Brazil, France and England also catching the eye for their performances. Shock of shocks goes to Morocco for a brilliantly executed game plan against Spain to take their tie to penalties and to be honest, some of the worst penalties seen at this level of the World Cup from Spain. Japan also looked good before being squeezed out on penalties by Croatia. So, where does this all leave us? The predictions for the games themselves were pretty ho hum with a very limited range of scores and almost no differential between the players - but the bonuses have made a huge difference, as expected, to some of the places. Two of our colleagues scored the crazy (you think that's crazy, wait until the next round!) bonus of 100 points for the total number of penalties scored. I am sure you will be as excited as me at their reward and equally as dismayed that six (six!) of our colleagues did not enter this round and we can all see the consequences in their positions in the table. To all six - there is still plenty of time to come back - super duper bonuses coming up. To the exciting part first - we have a new leader, mentor and hero - Smallen who took advantage of the 100 point bonus to sprint into first place and secure an impressive lead. Very well done to him and I am sure we all share your excitement Smallen. You can parade this in front of family and colleagues! Meanwhile, Gunny GunmaN has been and went and done the same! He scores the crazy bonus too and leaps a mighty 21 places to sit in second position. A fantastic effort Gunners - very well done indeed. Both Smallen and Gunley scored the highest bonus score for the round with a super impressive 140 points. Gizzygoogles remains in the third podium place with a good bonus score but Darius has closed the gap to be equal on points with goggledegooks and he rises one place to joint third. The old git drops a place but a decent bonus score prevents too much damage - and he is still above Pompers! Smaldini our first round leader (they can never take that away from you - that and your freedom apparently) falls a not disastrous five places to six, complicated by the fact that he didn't score any bonuses. Mahzun rises a nice two places to seventh and he won't be disappointed with that, while I slip two places. Rob slides an acceptable one place back, while Lucas starts his move - up an impressive five places to complete out top ten. Slipping out the top ten, YouReds drops nine places (eek) but bonuses you see laddie - bonuses - don't score them, don't move up the table and The Golden Boy who moves down two to 12th, despite his bonus score. Prediction league brother Pompers moves up a handy eight places, while Oriole meets him going in the other direction as he slips three places. Caffers is also a big mover - up a mighty ten places thanks to his bonus haul but VP, Hoarau and Sebs Ferrari move into reverse, dropping four, one and one place respectively. Craig climbs a very decent eight places with good bonuses and Av3ry will see a fall of two places as a minor inconvenience. Big movers - Mr Wallin and Fuller jump up the table with moves of 14 and 16 places thanks to their bonuses and they are well on the way to mount a decent challenge to those higher in the table. Vikie moves up one place and secured an extra five points in the bonuses for the nearest to the total number of goals scored. Whoopy drops two places and will not want to move any lower. The Legend moves up one place, the inspiration that is Jaggie moves up a decent six places, Orzelek and Will move up one and Henrik moves up two. Oh dear. remember we talked about bonuses? I think Jeroen had his ears closed. No bonuses make drops happen and he falls a calamitous 14 places. Bad luck cloth ears. Symbolic drops 18 places - meet me halfway Symbo - enter some predictions but he is not the only non-entrant. Meanwhile, Constantine also had a bit of a disaster. No bonuses resulting in fall of 13 places. The same number for Chris, who didn't complete his predictions. Sysiphus, Oche, Tecmo, Silence of the German and Marvin did not enter this round and other than Oche, who moved up one place, their scores and positions suffered. Special mention for Pafnus who joined us this round and is very welcome. He didn't offer any bonuses but he did get the game prediction round win with a very decent 11 points. Very well done Paffers - remember the bonuses next time. The next round of fixtures will be posted shortly and this time the bonuses will be significant! Player Round of 16 Bonuses Total +/- 1. Smallen 6 140 260 +6 2. GunmaN1905 5 140 186 +21 3. Gizzy 7 40 169 4. Darius1998 10 40 169 +1 5. Southcoastred 5 40 165 -1 6. Smaldini 8 0 163 -5 7. Mahzun_Savas 8 40 159 +2 8. Sons FC 6 40 158 -2 9. Rob1981 4 40 156 -1 10. Lucas 4 80 155 +5 11. YouReds 6 0 137 -9 12. The Golden Boy 8 40 135 -2 13. Pompeyboyz 6 80 131 +8 14. Oriole01 9 40 128 -3 15. Cafcrocky 6* 80 125 +10 16. VP. 6 40 124 -4 17. Hoarau 6 40 116 -1 18. Ferrarinseb 6 40 114 -1 19. Craigcwwe 6 80 111 +8 20. Av3ry 5 40 110 -2 21. Mr Wallin 4 80 110 +14 22. CFuller 10 80 108 +16 23. Vikeologist 6 45 92 +1 24. Whoopy D 7 40 89 -2 25. Timma 6 40 84 +1 26. The_Jagster 9 40 80 +6 27. Orzelek 6 40 79 +1 28. WillHoward42 7 40 79 +1 29. Hooray Henrik 7 40 79 +2 30. Jeroen Thijssen 5 0 78 -14 31. Symbolic DNE DNE 77 -18 32. Constantine 7 0 72 -13 33. Chris79 6* 0 65 -13 34. Sysiphus DNE DNE 32 -4 35. Oche Balboa DNE DNE 31 +1 36. Tecmo DNE DNE 29 -3 37. SilenceOfTheLahms DNE DNE 28 -3 38. Marvin DNE DNE 25 -1 39. Pafnus 11 0 11 * Did not complete their predictions Bonuses How many goals will be scored in the round in total? 40 points for the correct answer, 5 points to the closest if nobody get it exactly right - 28 How many games will go to extra time? - 40 points - 2 How many games will go to penalties - 40 points - 2 ***Crazy Bonus***How many penalties will be scored in total (all penalties, including normal game time and those which go to penalties) - 100 points***Crazy Bonus*** - 9 How many yellow cards will there be across the games? - 40 points - 15 How many red cards will there be across the games? - 40 points - 0 Nobody predicted the exact number of goals scored (28), so Vikie scored an extra 5 points for nearest to the total (29)

Kopsy and Superowl

Mutters and Gunners - I think GunmaN has a very strong team.

Cartperson and Citizen Kane

Rikulek and Kawee

Of course Vikie and it is all taken in the right way!

Good lad. I love running weird and whacky bonuses and for knock out tournaments it is important as the number of games diminish to allow anyone to win regardless of how badly they started. This keeps everyone's interest high right to the end.

I may increase the bonuses for the next round. Does everyone like bigger and bolder bonuses?

It's a tricky balance Vikie. We have fun, fun, fun with the bonuses in the FA Cup prediction league and I like to make them whackier and more absurd as we go on but this is the World Cup and I am conscious of the need to safeguard the integrity of the tournament (which is more than FIFA have done).

Can't call the first game - two decent teams, draw Second game also very close but I have gone with Big V Gunman for the third - with Bliss' arrows I think half his team will end up running off the pitch! Fourth game also very close but I think with scouse taking Mensah wide he is leaving his defence wide open, so, SuperOwl

Bonuses How many goals will be scored in the round in total? - 21 How many games will go to extra time? - 0 How many games will go to penalties - 0 ***Crazy Bonus***How many penalties will be scored in total (all penalties, including normal game time and those which go to penalties) - 100 points***Crazy Bonus*** - 3 How many yellow cards will there be across the games? - 25 How many red cards will there be across the games? - 0 Round of 16 Saturday 3rd December Netherlands v USA 2-1 Argentina v Australia 3-1 Sunday 4th December France v Poland 2-0 England v Senegal 2-0 Monday 5th December Japan v Croatia 2-1 Brazil v South Korea 3-0 Tuesday 6th December Morocco v Spain 1-2 Portugal v Cameroon 2-1

@cafcrocky, @Lucas, @av3ry, @GunmaN1905, @Pompeyboyz, @YouReds, @The_jagster, @craigcwwe, @zakbrown96, @Smaldini, @Constantine, @Darius1998, @Hoarau, @sisyphus, @CFuller, @oche balboa, @Orzelek, @Jeroen Thijssen, @Mahzun_Savas, @Gizzy, @SilenceOfTheLahms, @oriole01, @Whoopy D, @VP., @Timma, @HOORAY HENRIK, @Tecmo, @Symbolic, @Mr Wallin, @ferrarinseb, @Smallen, @Rob1981, @The Golden boy, @SouthCoastRed, @WillHoward42, @chris79, @vikeologist, @Marvin, @Tecmo, @Razzler Our good friend and colleague, Vikie, has reminded me about the proximity of the group stages to the round of 16, which starts TOMORROW. so, speed of speed, fleet of fleet, I have posted the next round fixtures. I have posted the fixtures for the last two groups although we don't know the details yet - I will edit this when the fixtures are confirmed - you can opt to predict now if you wish, or you can predict when we know the exact fixtures. I cannot look at this tomorrow - Mrs Sons FC insists on having a birthday (I know, right) so I will be otherwise distracted. The group stage results will be up as soon as I can manage them, so, Sunday at best, Monday more likely. In the meantime, GET YOUR PREDICTIONS IN!! Scoring Predict any time up to kick off the score of each game by filling in the following template: (You may change your predictions at any point up to the kick off time by either editing or reposting). Any changes made after the kick off time will be disregarded. Predict each score. 1 point if you get the win/lose/draw right and 3 points if you get the exact scoreline right. There will be extra bonuses as we move through the competition. Bonuses How many goals will be scored in the round in total? 40 points for the correct answer, 5 points to the closest if nobody get it exactly right How many games will go to extra time? - 40 points How many games will go to penalties - 40 points ***Crazy Bonus***How many penalties will be scored in total (all penalties, including normal game time and those which go to penalties) - 100 points***Crazy Bonus*** How many yellow cards will there be across the games? - 40 points How many red cards will there be across the games? - 40 points Round of 16 Saturday 3rd December Netherlands v USA 15:00 Argentina v Australia 19:00 Sunday 4th December France v Poland 15:00 England v Senegal 19:00 Monday 5th December Japan v Croatia 15:00 Group G Winner v Group H Second Place 19:00 Tuesday 6th December Morocco v Spain 15:00 Group H Winner v Group G Second Place 19:00 Good luck everyone.

@Smaldini, @YouReds, @Gizzy, @SouthCoastRed, @Darius1998, @Smallen, @Rob1981, @Mahzun_Savas, @The Golden boy, @oriole01, @VP., @Symbolic, @Jeroen Thijssen, @Lucas, @Hoarau, @ferrarinseb, @av3ry, @Constantine, @chris79, @Pompeyboyz, @Whoopy D, @GunmaN1905, @vikeologist, @cafcrocky, @Timma, @craigcwwe, @Orzelek, @WillHoward42, @sisyphus, @HOORAY HENRIK, @Tecmo, @SilenceOfTheLahms, @The_jagster, @Mr Wallin, @oche balboa, @Marvin, @CFuller The end of the group stages. There was mayhem and chaos, bashing and crashing, to-ing and fro-ing, hithering and thithering, turmoil and upset, tears before bedtime, tantrums on the pitch and in the tunnel and when it all settled down, we reached the last 16, who emerge victorious, triumphant, proud and heroic. there were high scores (not yet...wait for it Smaldini), low scores, an abundance of yellow cards and surprisingly few red cards. Huge upsets as well and not just Cavani. The bonuses created some high scores (well, and some low scores for those who didn't manage to score any bonus points) although the points on offer from the predictions themselves were relatively modest, so anyone scoring well in the bonues would score well overall. In the predictions, nobody predicted (how could you?) Japan beating Spain, Cameroon beating Brazil, Saudi Arabia beating Argentina and these are scores that will remain in World Cup legend. Who would have thought that Germany (again) and 2nd placed in the World Belgium would fall at the group stage and we had the highest ever representation from Asia in the last 16 - higher than South America for the first time. Way too many England supporters were modest in their predictions for the game against Wales, where the majority predicted a draw, while the big teams generally attracted the most support. Unsurprisingly, Brazil, France, Argentina, Spain and (ahem) Germany were heavily backed Talking about legends - we have one of our own. Smaldidi!!!! an outstanding achievement to become our noble and beloved leader. A huge bonus haul placing him firmly in first place for all to admire and envy - great round from him and he will be delighted with that - it will put a huge smile on his face and a certain smugness to go with it. It doesn't matter how he ends up now - he will always be able to say he was the first of the first! Very well done. Very well done also to YouReds, who again, thanks to a cracking bonus score confirms second place and with big bonuses to come in future rounds, the possibility to go higher. Completing the podium places is our treasured Gizzy who again, thanks to...what was it again? oh yes, the bonuses! finds himself in third place. Pressing him hard we have the old git two points behind and he will be pleased with that and the fact that he is higher than Pompers. Someon wake him up and let him know. Pressing him hard and only one point behind is Darius, who sits in fifth place, ahead of me and smallen, who had a very handy points haul of 90. Rob sits in eighth place - a revelation for Rob who has been known to struggle in prediction leagues, if truth be told - but not here! Mahzun sits just one point behind him and The Golden Boy completes out top ten - everyone else - are you watching? This is where you need to be. Oriole, VP and Symbolic sit just outside the top ten ready to spring, with Jeroen and Lucas making up a nice mod team in 14th and 15th places. In mid table, Hoarau leads Seb, Av3ry and Constantine, while Chris, prediction league brother Pompers and Whoopy sit in behind them. Whoops-a-daisy is our prediction round winner but you see Whoopsy, you didn't score any bonuses - great credit for the round win though. Getting to the naughty end of the table, GunmaN and Vikie share 23rd position, although Vikie was second best in the actual predictions, followed by Caf, The Legend that is Timma and Craig. Orzelek is just behind Craig. Now then, where have we got to? we've done the top end, we've cleared mid-table...oh dear, I fear we are sinking into the depths of the table and the predictions we said we would never discuss again. Will, Sysiphus and Henrik will feel that they can still pull away (come on, with the generous bonuses anyone can pull away) and mentor and inspiration Jaggie the Jagster will feel the same. Tecmo, Silence of the Germans and Mr Wallin will be hoping for better rounds next time and hopefully score some of the bonuses, while Oche, Marvin the not so Marvellous and poor old Fuller complete the bottom places. Still lots to play for and anyone can still win. Hang on in there and get ready for bonuses, bonuses, bonuses. Player Group stages Bonuses Total +/- 1. Smaldini 25 130 155 2. YouReds 31 100 131 3. Gizzy 32 90 122 4. Southcoastred 25 95 120 5. Darius1998 29 90 119 6. Sons FC 32 80 112 7. Smallen 24 90 114 8. Rob1981 22 90 112 9. Mahzun_Savas 31 80 111 10. The Golden Boy 35 50 85 11. Oriole01 39 40 79 12. VP. 28 50 78 13. Symbolic 27 50 77 14. Jeroen Thijssen 33 40 73 15. Lucas 31 40 71 16. Hoarau 30 40 70 17. Ferrarinseb 28 40 68 18. Av3ry 25 40 65 19. Constantine 25 40 65 20. Chris79 19 40 59 21. Pompeyboyz 35 10 45 22. Whoopy D 42 0 42 23. GunmaN1905 31 10 41 24. Vikeologist 41 0 41 25. Cafcrocky 39 0 39 26. Timma 38 0 38 27. Craigcwwe 35 0 35 28. Orzelek 33 0 33 29. WillHoward42 32 0 32 30. Sysiphus 32 0 32 31. Hooray Henrik 32 0 32 32. The_Jagster 31 0 31 33. Tecmo 29 0 29 34. SilenceOfTheLahms 28 0 28 35. Mr Wallin 16 10 26 36. Oche Balboa 31 0 31 37. Marvin 25 0 25 38. CFuller 18 0 18 Group Stages Bonuses Which player will score the first goal in the tournament? Enner Valencia Who will score England's first goal? Jude Bellingham How many goals will be scored in the Group stages in total? 120 How many goals will England score in the Group stages? 9 Who will be the top scorer for the Group stages? Marcus Rashford, England Álvaro Morata, Spain, Kylian Mbappé, France, Cody Gakpo, Netherlands Enner Valencia, Ecuador How many yellow cards will there be in the Group stages? 195 How many red cards will there be in the Group stages? 2

I know. The timings are very tight but I am planning to give as much notice as possible and compile the groups stage scores. Phew!!

1st game very difficult - very well matched teams - draw Kopsy for the second game - I think he has a very strong team Pompers...because. Mutters, anyone else, anyone and you would have had my vote Marky - of course

Courtesy vote for Cartperson Kawee, who I think has one of the strongest teams in the tournament and has attacking options throughout the side Haguey seems to have a better balanced team Crispydeepfried for more attacking intent