Supercomputer predicts how far England will go in the World Cup
A Supercomputer has predicted a return to the bad old days for England, at the World Cup, after Gareth Southgate's recent relative success at tournaments.
Before Gareth Southgate became manager the England men's team they'd only reached the semi final of a tournament twice since the 1966 World Cup, and never got to another final.
Year on year the public would expect to go far in the tournament, and possibly even win it, and without fail they would end up disappointing a nation.
Advert
When Southgate was appointed, in 2016, it was off the back of a second round exit in that year's Euros to Iceland, perhaps the low point of all tournament eliminations.
Since then, the former Middlesbrough manager has led the Three Lions to a semi final of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020, the first time they'd got that far in any tournament since 1966.
However, now the former centre back is under nearly as much pressure as he faced when walking up to take a penalty against Germany at Euro 96.
With a draw against the same opponents under his belt, after a crazy last 15 minutes of the game, perhaps the team will have a bit more optimism, but apparently they shouldn't have.
Betting app SBK have run the numbers on a supercomputer and worked out that England will only reach the quarter finals in Qatar, before being knocked out of the World Cup.
According to SBK, Southgate's men will top the group, in which they'll play Iran, the USMNT and Wales, which will put them against Senegal in the second round.
The African side are in a group with Netherlands, Ecuador and hosts Qatar, and are predicted to finish second in the group to set up the tie with England.
After getting through Senegal, Southgate's men are set to come up against reigning champions France and that's when things will go wrong.
Wales will also get through the group, finishing second behind England, but they will be getting home before their British neighbours, with Netherlands knocking them out in the first knockout round.
The supercomputer thinks that France will go on to the final, after getting rid of England, but will lose to Brazil, with Neymar leading the country to their first success since 2002.
Lionel Messi will miss out in the semi finals, with Argentina beating Belgium in the third place play-off, the game no one really wants to play in.
We'll have to wait to see if how the supercomputer does with its predictions.
Topics: Football World Cup, England, Gareth Southgate, Brazil, France, Wales
Ryan Sidle