SBN Reacts: Carty Free readers predict World Cup, Golden Ball winners
· Yahoo Sports
Last week I asked you to take a fun survey provided by the Benevolent Overlords at SB Nation, part of the SBN Reacts campaign, where you could predict the winner of the 2026 World Cup and the winner of the Golden Ball. Well, we have the results, and they’re pretty much exactly what I would’ve expected from this group of Spursy football miscreants. (I kid, I kid. …Mostly.)
First — the World Cup winner.
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No real surprises here. In a World Cup expected to be dominated by about 5-6 teams, Carty Free readers went with the overall favorite, Spain, with 31% of the vote. Maybe you’re all pragmatists, maybe everyone is still riding high from the Pedro Porro contract extension news. But y’all picked the Spaniards and it’s not a shock. Wonder if you’re changing your minds now that they just drew against Cape Verde? France coming in second is also not much of a surprise — they frequently do well in major international competitions and have a very strong team this year.
The other (not-so) surprising result is England coming in third with 27%. Obviously this likely has as much to do with Carty Free being a Premier League blog. COME ON ENGERLAAAAAAAAND, etc. etc.
Let’s move on to the Golden Ball.
This is a Tottenham Hotspur blog. But seriously, maybe some of you were swayed by my recent piece on the SB Nation mothership about Kane and his prospects? I do think Kane is the best striker at the tournament, easily. I am very worried about England’s purported tactics under Thomas Tuchel, with him admitting he is setting up the Three Lions to play Arsenal-style defensive tactics that will focus on set pieces and meatwall corners. Seriously, Thomas — you’ve got the best English striker of his generation coming off one of his best seasons of production in his career, and you’re going to meatwall? In a normal system of occasionally-going-for-it tactics, Kane feasts and scores a crap-ton of goals. I am worried about his production now and think Mbappe might be underrated. I do like, however “The Field” taking 10%, and that’s probably a smart pick. In international tournaments you never really know who’s going to get hot. Just as long as it’s not Kai Havertz, amirite?
There you go! This poll and the graphics are sponsored by Fanduel.