Coming into the Quarterfinals the Total Soccer Index had been 100% accurate in predicting the Knockout stage winners:
When removing Cavani player performance, for Uruguay, prior to the Quarterfinals, the Total Soccer Index had been 100% accurate in predicting the quarterfinal winners:
That ends up seeing the TSI being 12 for 12 in predicting the next stage winners. Still waiting for Audi or Fox Soccer to be my sponsor. 😉
Now with the semi-finals upon us here’s what the tea leaves show in the Total Soccer Index:
I’m an England supporter and the numbers are pretty bloody close; 8.83 for Croatia and 8.41 for England – squeaky bum-cheek tight to be sure.
A couple of things could influence the outcome – most assuredly the fitness of the players and any lingering issues with injuries – especially for the Croatian goal keeper – Subasic.
For Belgium, their number, 11.04 remains highest in the index – as they have the entire World Cup competition – just like Germany, who won the Cup in 2014.
In closing:
My odds on favorite to take the World Cup since group stages were completed has been Belgium – I don’t waiver from that as they are playing the best ‘team’ soccer of anyone else.
That said, I want England to win it all so I can listen to this song for the next 24 hours:
- Football’s Coming Home
- Recommend skipping the ad.
- Course, the video and audio will need to be updated as appropriate. 🙂
As a reminder – the Total Soccer Index was developed to account for the ‘bell curve’ of team activities in a game. Apart from secret formulas the primary statistics used to create the index include:
- Possession
- Passing Accuracy
- Penetration
- Creation
- Precision, and
- Finishing
- For both teams in attack and how successful the opponent is in attacking.
Best, Chris
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