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 kicked off yesterday with two huge matches, and today's teams are ready to go.
What Did FIFA 14 Predict For The Argentina vs Belgium 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. 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.
Yesterday's games are done and dusted, with Germany taking a 1-0 win over an uninspired French side and Brazil defeating Colombia while losing Neymar to injury. Argentina and Belgium are currently underway, and I've moved on to the later game between Netherlands and Costa Rica.
FIFA 14 Predicted The Hosts Would Go Through Against Colombia
This one is a bit more lopsided than the other match, though Costa Rica have already surprised everyone by making it this far, or even out of its difficult group--don't write anything off at this point. That said, FIFA 14 is predicting a 2-1 win for the Dutch, with Van Persie scoring the first goal just before halftime. The Costa Ricans didn't make it easy, though, equalizing through Campbell 56 minutes in. They couldn't hold on against mounting pressure, though, with Robben scoring the winner in the 77th minute.
My simulation featured two AI-controlled sides on Legendary difficulty facing off against one another, using the squads expected to start the game. You would expect the Dutch to walk away with this one, having a much stronger roster on paper and some more impressive performances throughout the tournament. Still, anything can happen--tune in at 4 p.m.
