The first two days of 2014 World Cup matches are in the books, with plenty more excitement ahead. Using FIFA 14's new World Cup mode, I've been simulating each match to see how EA's engine fares in determining the results.
Did My FIFA 14 Sim Correctly Predict The Netherlands Upset Over Spain?
I've moved on from the entertainment provided by yesterday's matches, looking now to today's first game between Colombia and Greece. This is a somewhat even matchup, though the Colombian side is likely favored by most. The Greek defense is infamously stubborn, however, and Colombia are missing world class striker Radamel Falcao through the injury he picked up months prior to the competition.
All of this leads to the 1-1 result predicted by my simulation, the first draw FIFA 14 is predicting in the tournament. Some intricate passing in the box led to the first goal, volleyed in powerfully from the edge of the box by Carlos Sanchez minutes after half time. Greece scored a late equalizer, with Mitroglou running onto a chipped pass and scuffing his shot, which rebounded fortuitously for Fetfatzidis to hit home.
EA Sports Sim Says Germany Will Lift The Trophy
It's not an unrealistic result by any means, though I might expect Colombia to edge it by one goal. Tune in at 12 p.m. EST to watch the match and see how accurate the game's simulation turns out to be.
As for the simulations of the previous matches so far, FIFA 14 predicted a Cameroon win over Mexico in yesterday's first match, as did I, but the African side simply did not look up for it. They lost 1-0, though Mexico deserved two more goals that were wrongly called offside.
Spain vs. Netherlands was undoubtedly the shock of the tournament so far with the reigning champions being dismantled 5-1 after taking an early lead, but my simulation predicted the correct winner. FIFA 14 also said Brazil would walk away with a victory over Croatia (dubious penalty aside), and simulated a comfortable Chile win.
My simulation featured two AI-controlled sides on Legendary difficulty facing off against one another, using the squads expected to start today'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.
EA's own simulation of the whole tournament using 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil predicted that Germany would lift the trophy in July, which would make them the first European side to win the World Cup in South America.
