Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has given his predictions for the World Cup group stage.
The showpiece in Russia gets underway in eight games time with the opening game between Russia and Saudi Arabia and Mourinho will be covering the tournament for Russian TV station RT.
Credit: RT
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In preparing the feat of footballing action that comes every four years, Mourinho was tasked with picking the outcome of each group - giving his thoughts on the winners and runners up in all eight groups.
In Group A, he reckons Uruguay will top the group, with the hosts Russia getting that second spot and qualifying for the knockout stage.
Spain and his country Portugal are the two teams he fancies progressing in Group B, in what is probably the easiest group to decide.
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France, one of the favourites for the competition, will top their group according to 'the Special One', who also believes Australia will finish second in Group C - ahead of Peru and Denmark.
Mourinho reckons Argentina will reign supreme in Group D, with Nigeria pipping Croatia and Iceland to the runners up spot.
Then, in Group E, the two-time Champions League winner fancies Brazil, but also made the controversial call that Switzerland will finish second ahead of Serbia - his reasoning being that Nemanja Matic needs a holiday. Fair enough.
Reigning champions Germany and Mexico will secure passage in Group F as per Jose, while he made the bold prediction that England will win Group G ahead of Belgium.
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The final Group H features some surprise selections: Mourinho opted for Senegal and Poland to go through at the expense of Colombia and Japan.
If Jose is right, here's how the last 16 ties will look like:
Uruguay vs Portugal
France vs Nigeria
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Brazil vs Mexico
England vs Poland
Spain vs Russia
Argentina vs Australia
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Germany vs Switzerland
Belgium vs Senegal
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