Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 16
The Athletic Picks France, Argentina in 2 Headline Matchday 6 World Cup Games
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 16

The Athletic Picks France, Argentina in 2 Headline Matchday 6 World Cup Games

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 16

Summary

  • France and Argentina were The Athletic’s marquee Matchday 6 picks, with its experts backing both favorites to beat Senegal and Algeria in two of the day’s four World Cup games.
  • Norway and Austria were the outlet’s other predicted winners against Iraq and Jordan, while the algorithm matched those four picks exactly; only subscriber Fabrizio called a draw in Argentina vs Algeria.
  • Stanley the Dog diverged most sharply, forecasting a draw for France vs Senegal plus wins for Iraq and Jordan, while six-year-old Wilfred sided with France, Norway and Argentina but took a draw in Austria vs Jordan.
  • The predictions follow a chaotic Matchday 5 in which all four games ended level — including Cape Verde’s 0-0 shock against Spain — leaving The Athletic’s experts, readers and algorithm tied on 44% accuracy with seven correct picks.

Insights

Is data finally conquering the beautiful game's unpredictability as an algorithm matches experts in World Cup predictions?
How does a team’s World Cup journey, like Cape Verde's, tell a deeper story about a nation's global identity?