Match 1: England – Panama

This report is focused on the analysis of the match between England and Panama. The team of G. Southgate (FIFA ranking: 12), qualified from the European Preliminaries round, while the team of Hernan Dario Gomez (FIFA ranking: 55), qualified from first time of its history through the Central American Preliminaries round.

Strengths vs Weaknesses

England

Strengths	Weaknesses
Goal –	Interception
Possession	Duels Won

Panama

Strengths	Weaknesses
Aerial Duels Won	Goal –
Interception	Yellow Cards

Team Statistical Profiles:

England

1. England, kept its sheet clean in 8/10 games, getting only 3 goals in the preliminaries round.
2. England is used on winning the ball possession AND shots in average 12 shots per game. As a result it scores 1.8 goal per game. Moreover, it receives in average 1.2 yellow cards per game.
3. When England faces teams of a similar FIFA Ranking with Panama, it usually scores at least 2 goals and receives 1 to 2 yellow cards.

Panama

1. Based on the the Central American preliminaries stats, Panama is used to get at least 2 yellow card per game and 1 goal per game.
2. When Panama managed to have less than 4.3 average shots on target  AND receive at least 2 yellow cards, then definitely it will face difficulties on getting a positive result.

Prediction of the Game:

The following graph illustrates the estimated probabilities regarding the result of this game:

The projected indicators for the game:
The referee is projected to show at least 3 yellow cards. England is more likely to win the ball possession and it has many chances to keep its clean sheet. Finally, England is expected to score at least 1 goal and in the end win the game.

Match 2: Japan – Senegal

This report is focused on the analysis of the match between Japan and Senegal. The team of A. Nishino (FIFA ranking: 61), won its first game with 2-1 against Colombia, qualified from the Asian Preliminaries round, while the team of A. Cisse (FIFA ranking: 27), qualified from the Central American Preliminaries round and has also won its first game against Poland with the same score as Japan.

Strengths vs Weaknesses

Japan

Strengths	Weaknesses
Goal +	Possession
Yellow Cards*	Total Shots

Senegal

Strengths	Weaknesses
Possession	Ball Recoveries
Duels Won	Yellow Cards

* Japan in the preliminaries round had in average 0.5 yellow cards. This is the reason it has the yellow cards in its strengths.

Team Statistical Profiles:

Japan

1. Japan, although that it has a low total shots percentage (almost 8 total shots per game) it is expected to score at least 1 goal (its preliminaries average Goal+ in the was almost 2.4 goals).
2. Japan is not used on playing a ball possession style of football, preferring the counter attack style. Also, Japan receives few cards in its matches.

Senegal

1. Senegal, usually receives at least 1 yellow card per game. In the preliminaries its average rate was 1.8 yellow cards per game.
2. Senegal, used to try too many shots and is expected to score at least 1 goal.
3. Senegal, when it faces teams of a similar FIFA Ranking with Japan, usually wins the ball possession and the duels in the field.

Prediction of the Game:

The following graph illustrates the estimated probabilities regarding the result of this game:

The projected indicators for the game:
Senegal is expected to win the ball possession in the game and it is predicted to try more shots than Japan, hoping to score at least 1 goal. Moreover, Senegal is expected to receive more cards than Japan.

Match 3: Poland – Colombia

This report is focused on the analysis of the match between Poland and Colombia. The team of A. Nawalka (FIFA ranking: 8) lost its first game from Senegal with 1-2, has been qualified from the European Preliminaries round, while the team of J. Pekerman (FIFA ranking: 16), had also lost its first game and has been qualified from the Central American Preliminaries round.

Strengths vs Weaknesses

Poland

Strengths	Weaknesses
Duels Won	Goal –
Fouls Won	Clean Sheets

Colombia

Strengths	Weaknesses
Goal +	Yellow Cards
Possession	Interception

Team Statistical Profiles:

Poland

1. Poland is used to receive at least 1 yellow card per match.
2. It also receives easily 1 goal. During, 10 preliminaries matches, Poland had an average Goal – value 1.4 goals. Additionally, if Poland has ball possession rate less than 54.2% (this is its average ball possession rate) AND simultaneously has few shots on target, then is expected to face difficulties on receiving a positive result.
3. Poland when faces teams of a similar FIFA Ranking with Colombia if it is going to receive at least 1 yellow card AND to lose the ball possession by shoting simultaneously few shots on target, then is expected to face difficulties on getting a positive result.

Colombia

1. Colombia, based on the preliminaries stats, scores at least 1 goal and receives 1 goal as well. Moreover, it usually receives 2 yellow cards (its average value was 2.05 cards per game). In the games, that Colombia is not getting a positive result it might get almost 2 more yellow cards.
2. When, Colombia’s shots on target is less than its average (4.7 shots) AND its ball possession is less than its average rate (51%) it might get difficulties on getting a positive result.

Prediction of the Game:

The following graph illustrates the estimated probabilities regarding the result of this game:

The projected indicators for the game:
Statathlon predicts that both teams will be banned with at least 1 yellow card and the referee will show at least 3-4 yellow cards during the game. Finally, it is expected that both defenses will play a key role during the game and Colombia is expected to have more shots on target than Poland.