The group stages have concluded and the second round is over in one of the most exciting and high-scoring World Cups ever held. The Quarterfinals are ready to get underway tomorrow, leaving us waiting for some mouth-watering matchups.
What Are The Top 4 Remaining National Teams According To FIFA 14's Ratings?
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. I've also looked at the game's ratings for each team and ranked the top four national sides remaining according to their overall score.
The first match tomorrow pits two European giants against one another, with France and Germany set to square off at noon eastern time. The teams have been two of the most impressive at the tournament, and have two of the top four best rosters, but inconsistent play and reports of German flu symptoms leave this one up in the air.
FIFA 15 Trailer Shows Vastly Improved Player Faces, More Realistic Hair And Clothing
FIFA 14 thinks it will be a clear decision, though, and the simulation resulted in a 2-0 France win. Yohan Cabaybe started the scoring 36 minutes in, rifling a shot into the upper corner from the edge of the box. Constant France pressure led to more chances, and a second goal came late through substitute Loic Remy, sealing the deal for young team and keeping Germany off the score sheet.
Just to give EA's engine a chance to correct for a fluke result, I ran the simulation two more times, both of which ended with more French victories. FIFA 14 is strongly declaring its prediction with these results--tune in tomorrow to see if it gets this one right.
