EA predicts Spain World Cup win News • News • Eurogamer.net

News PC Xbox 360 PlayStation 3

Uses FIFA to simulate entire tournament.

EA Sports has predicted that Spain will win the real-life football World Cup this summer.

How? By simulating the tournament using the 2010 FIFA World Cup game.

After setting up the tournament to include all 32 teams, Spain eventually thumped Brazil 3-1 and thrust the golden trophy into the air. Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas apparently scored the goal that settled the tie after a wonderful counter-attacking move.

Promisingly, the simulation put England in third place. Our local idiots were knocked out by Brazil on penalties (naturally) in the semi-finals after the game ended 2-2. It doesn't say who missed England's penalty, so we'll work on the basis it was John Terry.

Argentina lost the other semi-final to Spain. England went on to beat Argentina 2-1 to clinch third place.

The tournament's top scorer was Spain's David Villa with seven goals, but it was Kaka of Brazil that took home the Golden Ball.

Funnily enough, South Africa was the first team to be eliminated.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

Comments (31) Latest comment 2 years ago

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Stratix #1 2 years ago

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I wonder if they were doing 90 minute games?
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swissorc #2 2 years ago

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load of toss
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chiz #3 2 years ago

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Real football doesn't have bugs though.
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wizlon #4 2 years ago

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I demand to know how each player celebrated their goals
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berryl227 #5 2 years ago

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If england do this well what a great summer we are in for but I think these predictions are about as accurate as mystic megs!
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mcmonkeyplc #6 2 years ago

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Duh!

Also real football has plenty of bugs.
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Gurgeh #7 2 years ago

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Funnily enough last night after the pub I let the computer play England versus the USA on FIFA (not the world cup edition). The USA went 1-0 up, had a man sent off and held on to win.
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geeza2020 #8 2 years ago

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hahaha yeah, FIFA referees never give goals when a player has handled the ball into the net, FIFA referees never miss horrible injury causing tackles, FIFA referees also never get offsides wrong. What a load of crap this is.

Edited by 1 at 03/06/10 @ 15:02
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uglygamer #9 2 years ago

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Real football doesn't have bugs though.

Referees!
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Gartt #10 2 years ago

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Nothing to do with the fact that Spain are by far the strongest team in the game.
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Fab4 #11 2 years ago

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Ofc Spain will win it, they've bribed the refs...didnt you know
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Luckyjim #12 2 years ago

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I used to do that when I was a kid. 100% it was wrong.
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Koborover #13 2 years ago

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At least replay the tournament 25 times to see who's the best on average, EA.
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Vortex808 #14 2 years ago

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Does it mention whether EA are putting it to the test at the bookies?
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Rodchenko #15 2 years ago

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hahaha yeah, FIFA referees never give goals when a player has handled the ball into the net, FIFA referees never miss horrible injury causing tackles, FIFA referees also never get offsides wrong. What a load of crap this is.

not to forget that they never stand in the way and block the ball.
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higganos #16 2 years ago

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What a load of ludicrous nonsense. Everyone knows the Argies or the Jerries will win

Edited by 1 at 03/06/10 @ 15:54
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AllenSpawn #17 2 years ago

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So gonna pit money on Spain now.

I remember playing a mate on pes a couple of years ago, the day before a Chelsea v arsenal carling cup final. I was Chelsea , and said before we started I was gonna put money on the result of the real match , as to whatever our score on pes was. I beat him 2-1. Put £20 on and won £120. Result!!!

Note to EA. If I buy tiger woods, but don't want to go online, can I have the $10 back to put a bet on
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Tonasaurus #18 2 years ago

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I won't bother watching it then.
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darth_paul #19 2 years ago

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lol... i remember the same crap being said about the Champions Legue final, where a game was setup between Inter and Bayern, and Bayern won...
yeah, that right, FIFA's stats are faultless

Edited by 1 at 03/06/10 @ 16:13
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Spekingur #20 2 years ago

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Computerized football only deals with statistics - not emotion, which can have a large impact on players and teams.

Also, Fifa Online has some nice stuff. Go there and play some Fifa on your PC!
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MrsPacMan #21 2 years ago

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Robert...

...joins the knock England before it's even began party because it's fashionable.

Why don't you get behind our team and give them some encouragement you cretin, rather than be a sheep.
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jonsaan #22 2 years ago

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Well that's that settled then.

/facepalm
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skuzzbag #23 2 years ago

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FIFA are the bugs in football.
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GooseUK #24 2 years ago

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saved me going to the pub then. now i can drink at home, save money, and the heartbreak
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Trikk #25 2 years ago

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Pretty sure your average football field has more bugs than a FIFA game.
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Kerome #26 2 years ago

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Art? Life? Art? Hmm...
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Craig0702 #27 2 years ago

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Third place? I'd take that!

Sadly FIFA doesn't seem to simulate the crushing ability we (England) have to choke when the pressure comes along. So let's go for the usual QF then crash and burn.

Spain are a tasty bet though.
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monkeywithnoeyes #28 2 years ago

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chiz - "Real football doesn't have bugs though."

eeeer..3 yellow cards anyone?
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gjgjg #29 2 years ago

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hm, was this played out by the EA Madrid office per chance?
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Globalexpress #30 2 years ago

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Well Spain are in a easy group, so progressing to the next round won't be difficult. They will play Brazil or Portugal in the last 16, if they win, then I'll believe the prediction.
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S8AN #31 2 years ago

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WOW, look at that, they were right (Sort of)
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