The group stages have concluded in one of the most exciting and high-scoring World Cups ever held, and tomorrow fans around the globe will shift their attention to the first knockout round.
How Close Was FIFA 14 In Predicting The U.S. vs Germany Match?
As has been the case through the tournament, I have been simulating the fixtures using FIFA 14's World Cup mode, which is updated to reflect the form and performances of each squad. Tomorrow features the first two of many huge games, with Brazil facing off against Chile and Colombia taking on Uruguay.
The host nation and tournament favorites Brazil are also probably favored for this match, but not by as much as you might have thought at the start of the competition. Chile has hugely impressed, advancing through a difficult group with good performances, and will throw their high-intensity attacking game at Brazil's defense. FIFA 14, though, doesn't think they'll be able to pull it off.
Check Out FIFA 14's Prediction Accuracy So Far
The simulation ended in a 3-1 victory for the hosts--a result that is certainly realistic, even though it wouldn't be too surprising if Chile walked away as winners over an inconsistent Brazil. Chile actually scored first through Alexis Sanchez (of course) at the 35th minute, but Fred equalized on a rebound just before halftime. Neymar, naturally, headed in what proved to be the winner at the 56 minute mark, before Fred scored again in the final seconds of the game to seal the win.
My simulation featured two AI-controlled sides on Legendary difficulty facing off against one another, using the squads expected to start tomorrow's game. There may be one or two differences in the selections or the way the team lines up, but these were approximations that are as close to likely as possible. Tune in tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET to see how accurate FIFA 14's prediction is.