The World Cup form table from t-online reveals a series of unexpected outcomes, emphasizing current performance over the sluggish FIFA rankings. Germany performs significantly better than its official FIFA ranking suggests, while Morocco and Japan demonstrate why they are no longer considered dark horses in the tournament.
At first glance, the top of the World Cup form table appears familiar with France leading, followed closely by Spain, and Germany in third place. However, Germany's position is particularly striking given that the team is ranked only tenth in the FIFA standings. Despite this discrepancy, the form table shows Germany outperforming several major teams.
This table is calculated based on three key factors: the results of the last ten international matches (accounting for 60 percent), performance in World Cup qualifiers (30 percent), and current market assessments reflected in betting odds (10 percent). The formula also takes into account the strength of opponents and the margin of victory; older matches are weighted less heavily, and competitive games are prioritized over friendlies.
In the FIFA rankings, Germany is currently positioned as the tenth best among the 48 World Cup participants. However, in the form table, it claims the third spot, trailing only France and Spain. The reason behind this is that the DFB team boasts the highest score among all teams in their last ten outings. With a Last10 index of 86.8, Germany outstrips not only France and Spain but also other heavyweights like England and Argentina. Additionally, Germany's strong qualification index of 79.0 contributes to a commendable overall value of 79.6, despite a less favorable betting odds index.
This is particularly significant as Germany has faced early exits in recent World Cup tournaments. However, the current form analysis presents a different picture: Germany is not a shaky candidate but a serious contender for the title.
Morocco's performance is particularly noteworthy, as the team ranks fifth in the form table, ahead of notable teams such as Argentina, Japan, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Brazil. However, the Moroccan betting odds index is relatively low, indicating that the market has lower expectations for them compared to traditional powerhouses. In contrast, Morocco's sports performance is impressive, with a Last10 score of 75.2 and an outstanding qualification index of 90.1. This suggests that their recent results have been strong, and as a semifinalist in 2022, they could potentially advance even further this time around.
Japan also experiences a significant leap in performance. While the team is ranked 18th in the FIFA standings, it climbs to seventh in the form table. Similar to Morocco, Japan's strength lies in its performance rather than betting odds. With a Last10 score of 76.1 and a qualification index of 81.0, Japan surpasses many more prominent teams.
Conversely, Brazil stands out as one of the losers in this assessment. The five-time world champion holds sixth place in the FIFA rankings but falls to 20th in the form table. Although the market still perceives Brazil as a strong contender, reflected in their betting odds index of 60.4, their performance metrics are disappointing, with scores of 58.6 for the last ten matches and 56.4 in qualification. This is almost embarrassing for a team of Brazil’s caliber.
In addition to Morocco and Japan, two European teams also make a mark: Norway and Austria. Despite being ranked 44th in the FIFA standings, Norway achieves a ninth-place finish in the form table, driven by an impressive qualification score of 93.7—the highest among the top ten. Austria follows closely behind in tenth place, confirming its underdog status with strong Last10 and qualification scores, even though it ranks only 24th in the FIFA standings.
While the form table does not completely overturn the established World Cup hierarchy—France and Spain remain at the top—the positioning of teams like Germany, Morocco, and Japan adds intrigue to the tournament landscape. Germany appears much stronger than its FIFA ranking suggests, while Morocco and Japan are no longer just outsiders but legitimate contenders for a deep run in the tournament. The case of Brazil serves as a reminder that reputation alone does not guarantee success in this evaluation.
As reported by t-online.de.
