In December, Reuters Breakingviews editors used its statistics and analytics skills and applied them to the World Cup, declaring “Germany is going to win the soccer World Cup.”
On Sunday, that prediction proved accurate, when Germany beat Argentina 1-0 in the final.
Breakingviews editors used their “Soccernomics” calculator, based on players’ transfer value, countries’ economic and social factors, to crunch the numbers. Of the 32 national teams in the tournament, Germany had all-round strength, Breakingviews said.
Across the four criteria in the calculator, Germany topped the list, according to Reuters Breakingviews predictions in December.
Check out the “Soccernomics” calculator here. It did have Brazil finishing second. Brazil finished fourth.