Very soon in Russia will begin the world championship on football of 2018. Many will follow this event, including the bookmakers, who have tried to predict the outcome of the championship. Together with them, these results tried to predict and scientists. In this they were helped by artificial intelligence, and combining well-known approaches to predicting outcome of sporting events. Was written a voluminous work.
Work was done by Andreas Groll from University of Dortmund, Christoph LEU and Hans van Eserved from the University of Ghent and Gunther Schauberger of the Technical University of Munich. They analyzed the approaches bookmakers use to determine odds.
How bookmakers work with forecasts
This one bookmakers simulate the matches of all teams. Based on these data, we can say that Brazil will win the world Cup finals in 2018 with a probability of 16.6%, Germany 15.8%, Spain 12.5 percent.
Other bookies use a statistical model based on four factors: the Elo rating, the results of the qualification matches, the success in previous world Championships and home advantage. Based on these data, the sportsbooks give 24 percent of the German victory, 19.8 percent of Brazil and 16.1 percent in Spain.
Another method of forecasting, which is well-proven, the model uses a Poisson regression. Thus the simulated number of goals, who can score, the team in each League match.
How do the forecasts of scientists
Scientists had to combine the advantages of all methods of forecasting and to create his own, superior way. They began with the collection of data about the previous world Cup, which took place from 2002 to 2014. At the time of collection attention was paid to the following factors:
- Economic factors (population and GDP per capita);
- Sports factors (probability of win from bookies, FIFA rankings);
- Home factor (whether or not the team in your own country, on their continent or in their Confederation);
- Team factors (the average age of players, number of mates, number of players in the Champions League, the number of foreign players);
- Coaching factors (age, nationality and career longevity).
In total there were 16 variables. Now a team of scientists was necessary to use different methods for forecasting.
- Random forests is a machine learning algorithm;
- Regression – a method in which dozens of teams were considered as independent variables;
- Ranking using a Poisson model to determine the current abilities of the teams.
All three methods were combined to form the final prediction.
The prediction for the football world Cup 2018
In forming this prediction takes into account data from 7000 matches 228 teams. The combination of forecasting methods has allowed to predict the result of each match of the League and to the probability of victory for each team. Looking ahead, we say that with probability 17.8% of the Cup will receive the Spanish national team. The probability is high, but declining, respectively, for national teams of Germany, Brazil, France and Belgium. Below is a table of probabilities for each team.
As you can see, the probability that Russia will become the world Cup champion this year is 0.1 percent. With a probability of 50.4%, our national team will advance from the group, but the quarterfinal game pass, most likely, will not succeed.
It is interesting to highlight the fact that the chances of Spain and Germany to win the tournament is almost equal, but Spain has more chances to reach the final. According to the forecast, Spain will play in the match with Uruguay, Russia, Saudi Arabia or Egypt, while Germany will meet stronger opponents (Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia or Costa Rica).
The prediction was made for the group stage. You can see it below.
And here is the most likely scenario at the world championship on football of 2018.
To obtain these data were used in all the benefits of the various approaches to forecasting and there were 100 thousands of simulations of the tournament. But we will still cheer for their favorite teams.
Artificial intelligence predicted the results of world Cup 2018
Ernest Vasilevskiy