#Hashtag: Google will use statistics to ‘predict’ World Cup game winners

Google has announced a new tool for the Qatar World Cup that measures the probability of winning, losing or drawing in tournament matches. The feature compares the performance of teams over the last four years, which makes measurements available before the ball even rolls.

After the start of the matches, the probability numbers start to vary in real time, according to statistics on goals, ball possession and red cards, for example. The selections data comes from partner providers not specified by Google, which measure the “most accurate reflection of the impact of these activities on the game”, the company says.

According to the tool, the Brazilian team has a 67% chance of winning in its first match at the World Cup, against Serbia on the 24th. There is a 13% chance of defeat and a 24% chance of a draw.

Brazil’s favoritism extends to the other group stage games. Against Switzerland on the 28th, they have a 64% chance of winning, and against Cameroon, the number reaches 74%.

Home owner Qatar should lose every game, according to the tool. Germany, four-time world champion, and which is in the group with Spain, Costa Rica and Japan, is more likely to be third and not qualify,

Google explains that the mechanism does not offer a guaranteed result of the matches, only a statistical analysis.

The feature is part of a package of new tools announced for the sporting event this Friday (11), which promises more information in real time and adapted to local realities. To access it, simply search for information about the World Cup in the search tool, access the main panel and click on the games of interest.

Another novelty is the “emotion level” mechanism, which promises to map the evolution of matches, as well as audience numbers, and mark those that are most “exciting”. In this case, criteria such as comebacks (in which one team surpasses the other in number of goals and passes ahead on the scoreboard) and probabilities of victory, according to the company, compete. Users may receive an alert about games that are “heating up”.

Google will also provide information about local bars and restaurants that will broadcast the competition games. To appear in the searches, merchants must fill out a form with the information of the establishments.

Aiming at generation Z, Google also closed a partnership with streamer Casimiro, to broadcast the games on a new YouTube channel called CazéTV. The partnership also involves Live Mode, which acquired the rights to broadcast the streaming with FIFA.

For the Cup, alongside names such as Ronaldo Fenômeno, he will make 20-game lives, best moments from all 64 matches and ‘reacts’ (videos in which he is shown commenting on the videos) of the best plays of the games.

Excerpts of the broadcasts will also be shown on the Cortes do Casimito channel and on Youtube Shorts, a platform similar to Reels on Instagram.

“Youtube is increasingly becoming a home for live broadcasts”, says Eduardo Brandini, head of TV and Films on the platform, when talking about the project.

Casimiro is the face of a new wave of sports broadcasting that has been gaining ground on the Google platform and displacing TVs. The communicator has already commented on other sporting events such as the match between Flamengo and Fluminense at Carioca 2022, which broke an audience record on Twitch with 600,000 spectators.