With the tournament in Russia now over, our writers look back on their best and worst shouts from a month ago.
Best prediction?
I made 10 predictions, and none of them were right.
The closest I came was tipping Uruguay and England to reach the semi- and quarter-finals respectively.
And worst?
Brazil to win the tournament and Gabriel Jesus to be top scorer. Yeah, that wasn’t great.
Best bet?
While hardly the work of a clairvoyant, Belgium to beat England in third-place play-off and France to win the World Cup felt like buying money at 2/1.
Favourite World Cup moment?
England’s penalty shootout win against Colombia. I’ve never experienced joy like that watching the national team before. I didn’t even realise I cared that much.
What next for England?
I think it’s OK to say that, as enjoyable as England’s run was, there’s plenty of work to do in order for them to improve.
Gareth Southgate’s attention to detail at set pieces was superb, but tactically some of his decisions were questionable. His 3-5-2 system didn’t get the best of the forwards, while the midfield was overrun the first time they faced decent opposition.
That’s fine, though. He and his team are likable, which hasn’t always been the case with England sides of the past, and I’m looking forward to seeing them progress in the Euro 2020 qualifiers and hopefully beyond.
Best prediction?
I said Croatia would top their group, condemn Argentina to a last-16 exit against France, and go on to become the tournament’s biggest overachievers.
And worst?
My predicted winners (Spain) were knocked out in the second round, my runners-up (Brazil) only made it as far as the quarters and one of my losing semi-finalists (Germany) didn’t even make it out of the group.
Best bet?
This 40/1 #BetYourWay for France v Argentina was pretty satisfying, and also paved the way for my Tenner On triumph.
Favourite World Cup Moment?
The celebrations following Harry Kane’s stoppage-time winner against Tunisia were the first sign that this year might just be different, and meant the pub we were in became our base camp for the rest of the tournament.
What next for England?
The next two years should allow England to master Gareth Southgate’s system, become more tactically flexible and blood some more exciting youngsters.
The expansion of the Euros to include more teams and an extra knockout round means there’s no reason why the Three Lions can’t enjoy a similarly kind run in 2020.
Best prediction?
Amid a lot of hot air, predicting Portugal to underachieve seems to have been fairly sensible.
I thought the European champions were lucky to escape Group B, and deservedly lost to Uruguay in the second round.
And worst?
Predicting Spain to win the tournament.
In my defence, the impact of losing their manager two days before their first match cannot be underplayed.
They were not far from elimination from Group B, and were a massive disappointment against Russia in the last 16.
Best bet?
This 25/1 shot for Australia v Peru went well, particularly as the South Americans were a very decent team, who deserved a bit more than they got.
But successfully tipping Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane to make their mark in round one of the group stage was probably my most enjoyable.
Moment of the tournament?
Fifty-two years of hurt never stopped me dreaming, so for England to progress further than Germany for the first time since 1966 was lovely.
After four of the last five world champions have been knocked out in the group, get your money on a shock group-stage exit for France in Qatar.
What next for England?
I don’t think you have to be a doomster to recognise that England enjoyed plenty of luck and did not play great football in Russia.
Of course, just to be winning at all is an improvement, but the real victory for this summer was that warm, fuzzy feeling that everybody embraced.
What excites me more is that Southgate, who prepared his team brilliantly for this tournament, has created a DNA that is producing the best junior teams in the world, and includes a clear pathway to the first team.
England have now tasted some tournament success, and should only improve from here.
Best prediction?
I said Argentina would fall at the last-16 after failing to win their group, and that proved to be the case.
In fact, Jorge Sampaoli’s side were even more dysfunctional than I imagined, and could easily have been on their way home before the knockout rounds.
And worst?
Plenty to choose from here, but Spain to win the tournament was probably my worst shout.
I stuck with La Roja even after Julen Lopetegui’s exit and was made to look pretty silly as they fell meekly to Russia in the last 16.
Best bet?
I landed a 16/1 #BetYourWay in Belgium’s first game of the tournament again Panama.
It’s been slim pickings since then.
Favourite World Cup memory?
I’m tempted to go with something England-related here, but Ronaldo’s stunning equaliser against Spain was probably the tournament’s best moment of individual brilliance.
After a bit of a slow start involving the teams from Group A, that 3-3 draw really signalled that the World Cup was here.
What next for England?
More progress. England weren’t the fourth-best team at this tournament, but they stuck to what they do well and have plenty of players that should only get better.
It’s not inconceivable that they could win Euro 2020, and we would never have thought that six weeks ago.
Best prediction?
Other than the 3-3 draw in their opening game against a Spain side that also underperformed, Portugal’s World Cup never really got going.
They were fortunate to get out of their group and deserved to lose to Uruguay in the first knockout round.
And worst?
There isn’t much I can say to defend this my shout for Germany to win it.
Joachim Low’s side had a dreadful tournament and thoroughly deserved to finish bottom of what should have been a simple group to navigate.
Best bet?
I tipped Panama to be the lowest scorers pre-tournament at 7/1 and they would have been had it not been for a deflected goal against the run of play against Tunisia.
Elsewhere, I landed this treble, having backed Sweden, Belgium and England all to win their opening matches.
Favourite World Cup moment?
From the familiar feeling of resignation after Henderson’s penalty miss to elation in a matter of minutes.
Pickford’s strong left hand to deny Carlos Bacca put England one spot kick away from writing their own history, and made fans think that it would be different this time.
What next for England?
I think the most important thing for England at this World Cup is that they have galvanised a previously apathetic fan base.
Gareth Southgate picked the youngest squad England have ever had at a World Cup, and the united support will have done them wonders.
They will only get better with time and, with the buzz back among fans, the Three Lions can approach the next tournament with optimism.
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