SEBASTIAN CHEEK
EDITOR
PORTFOLIO ADVISER
Score prediction: CROATIA 2 – CZECH REPUBLIC 3
INVESTMENT INSIGHT:
Given its location on the Mediterranean, between Greece and Italy, it really should not come as a surprise that Croatia is home to an abundance of wine producers.
The country has about 300 official wine regions and two-thirds of the 700-plus varieties it makes are white.
Among a host of familiar names – such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Merlot – are an intimidating array of local grape varieties. These include Grk, Graševina, Pošip and Plavac Mali.
The wine is still predominately consumed in Croatia, but international appetite has been growing since the country joined the European Union in 2013. Lying outside the Schengen zone has done little to discourage growing numbers of tourists from visiting the country.
The Croatian habit of diluting their wine – with at best water (still and sparkling) and at worst cola – might raise a few eyebrows. But wine lovers should not take this as a reflection of its quality.
While it may still struggle to compete with the German Rieslings, French Merlots, Spanish Riojas and Portuguese Alvarinhos – Croatian wine is developing a following in Europe.
EELCO UBBELS
CONSULTANT
ALPHA RESEARCH
Score prediction: CROATIA 1 – CZECH REPUBLIC 0
INVESTMENT INSIGHT:
The Czech Republic has a parliamentary democracy and to get into parliament, people have to work together – or, so to speak, they have to form a team.
The football team of the Czech Republic will have to play like a perfect team to win against Croatia.
Why will it be an exciting game? The quantitative analysis begins, just like fund selection, with a ranking. Then the bookmakers start talking. Last but not least, we look at history, or the track record, of the last matches played against each other.
Croatia is clearly higher on the UEFA country ranking, which is disadvantageous for the Czech Republic. At the time of writing the bookmakers give Croatia 45% chance of winning and giving the Czech Republic 27%. These two countries played each other three times before. The Czech Republic lost twice and one time it ended in a draw.
Investing is dealing with uncertainties and without a strategy it is difficult to achieve a good performance. Football is no different. The Czech Republic will therefore have to be very consistent in dictating their own strategy on the pitch.
Let us end this piece of writing with some words by Johan Cruijff and feel free to turn the word ‘football’ into ‘fund selection’:
- Football is a game of mistakes. Whoever makes the fewest mistakes wins.
- If you don’t know how to win, you have to make sure you don’t lose.
- Playing football is very simple, but the hardest part is playing ‘simple football’.
