The digital engagement ranking view
The quarterfinal games and the digital leaders
A few days before the World Cup, the science house MrPredictions released a digital engagement ranking of the 32 teams of the competition.
Among the 16 best placed in that digital ranking, 12 ranked among the top 16 in the group phase. The 4 teams that did not qualify are Germany, Peru, Poland and Costa Rica. They were eliminated in the first round against teams that were in better positions in the digital ranking.
Another curious information. Among the 16 contenders for the second round, Croatia, Sweden and Denmark were not among the top 16. Neither in the digital ranking nor in the FIFA technical ranking.
Looking at the top eight teams qualified for the quarterfinals, 6 of them ranked among the best placed in the engagement digital ranking. Only Croatia and Sweden are among the top 8 and were not among the top 16 in the digital ranking. The leaders of the engagement digital ranking continue in the competition (Brazil, England and France). The exception is Mexico that was eliminated by the first place (Brazil).
If they confirm their qualification for the next phases, Brazil and England can make an unprecedented final where the leader of the digital ranking (Brazil) would face the third place (England).
The game Brazil against Mexico was a kind of anticipated decision in terms of social media, since both were practically tied in engagement level. With the Brazilian victory, the tendency is the Brazilian team to consolidate its leadership in popularity in social networks.
Among the 8 selections classified for the quarterfinals Brazil's team is the best placed in FIFA ranking (second place) and in digital engagement ranking (first place).