Perhaps the best World Cup ever begins. The fact that it takes place in winter and finds players and teams at the peak of their form is a reason to believe that we can see the best football we have ever seen in a world cup and the most goals ever scored in the final phase of such a competition. Over the next few days and until midday we will analyze the 32 finalists, see who their big stars or big absentees are, their coaches and their form. What can we expect from each of them?
GROUP A:
The group has a big favorite. The Netherlands. And to question how and by whom this title? Particularly strong are the three other contenders for the challenges with Ecuador and Senegal claiming at least the second qualification position on paper. Qatar will be the absolute miracle if it doesn't have a completely supporting role.
Catarrh
Coached by the unrecognizable Spaniard Felix Sanchez Bas and all their players competing in the domestic league, that is, with little experience and almost zero performances from international football in recent years. This Qatari team cannot convince that it would be possible to claim anything other than their maiden appearance in the final stage. Its star and top scorer is 26-year-old Almoez Ali (85/42). Of course, as an organizer, she did not participate in qualifiers, she only played in friendlies and won against particularly weak opponents (Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Albania, etc.).
Equator
Boss in the technical leadership is the Argentine Gustavo Alfaro. That he spent participating in the ever-hot South American group alongside Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and others says it all. Unbeaten in pre-season friendlies having beaten Nigeria and drawn close to mediocre opponents (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Japan). Renewed its roster in which Arboleda of Sao Paulo and Estrada of Cruz Azul stand out (first scorer with 8 goals), but also its stars, the young Caicedo of Brighton and the participation record holder Valencia (35 goals).
Senegal
Aliou Cisse commanding from the sideline has brought calm and success to the Senegal dressing room. Which in 2022 counts only two defeats, from Egypt and Zambia in March and July respectively. Other than that only wins and draws (6 in number). He does not have a big absence to deal with the experienced federal who certainly bet a lot on the big star of the team and one of the best regional strikers in the world, Sadio Mane (34 goals). He is also flanked by big names of European football, such as its captain, Everton's midfielder Gueye (95/7) and Monaco's half-back. Olympiakos back Pape Cisse is also present in the mission.
Netherlands
"bad Lou", the well-known and not-so-great Louis van Gaal, is lucky enough to coach a perfectly balanced team who this time have their heads down, unlike in previous major competitions where many expected too much from the Dutch and this it cost Now they are a solid underdog, but an underdog perfectly capable of achieving more than any other Tulip team in recent decades. He has a year and a half to lose, since the 0-2 against the Czech Republic in June 2021 in the last Euro.
GROUP B:
England
Of course, the reins of the "lions" are still held by their most successful coach in recent decades, Gareth Southgate. And since "its coming home" they have now arrived from the permanent leaders of European football to be considered as a team that can be among the favorites for distinction in the world cup. Which should be one of the favorites according to what I threw in the last competitions at least. In the last matches, not everything went to the right of England, which has not won since the March friendly with Ivory Coast 3-0. And six Nations League matches followed with a record of 0-3-3 and 4-10 goals. He enters the World Cup without a friendly, but also without serious problems. Spearhead, of course, the 512-goal hurricane Harry Kane with Liverpool midfielder Henderson as his vice-captain.
Wales
And if the English have Kane up front, the other representative of the United Kingdom, Wales throws in the final phase of the big tournament the other player of the British Isles in the last 10 years, Gareth Bale. Who may now make his living in the United States but with 40 goals and his vice-captain Aaron Ramsey with 20 are a serious problem for any opposition defence. Coach Rob Page saw his team in the last five games, those for the nations league, make four defeats and one draw and their last win was against Ukraine in the World Cup qualifying playoffs.
USA
The third English-speaking team in the group, the cousins from the other side of the Atlantic, have Greg Burholter on the bench. They lost 3-4 players from the final stage of the World Cup due to injuries and this changes their plans but also clearly lowers expectations, since they were players with a role and potential in some cases of younger aces of the star team. Full-backs Cannon, Paredes, Robinson and Lennon were knocked out, as was midfielder Djordje Mihajlovic, while striker Ariola (10 goals) was also banned. The big names of the present team are of course Pulisic (52/21) but also Morris (49/11), Acosta (midfielder, 53/2), McKenney (37/9).
Iran
A group full of Protestants completes the all-Muslim theocratic ...shop of the Middle East, Iran. But religions don't come into play here, the ball comes into play here. And in purely footballing terms, they saw it as the most likely partner of this quartet. Our familiar rooster and pink are on the bench. The Portuguese has missed just two games in the last year and will lead his side to their second World Cup run. In the four friendlies that Iran played for its preparation, it lost only to Algeria 1-2, while it beat Nicaragua and Uruguay with the same score 1-0 and drew 1-1 with Senegal. Its strongest card is the midfielder Alireza of Feyenoord (64/13) and its top scorer the heavy artillery of 41 goals, Azmoun of Leverkusen with their partner Taremi of Porto (28 goals) and... our own Ansarifard of Omonia (29 goals).
GROUP C:
In a group that includes Argentina, any talk of qualification favorites is certainly about second place in the ranking. But who can accompany Messi and his company in the next phase?
Argentina
Everyone considers Argentina one of the favorites. Others anoint it the absolute favorite for the title, others simply one of the strong teams that will get to claim the trophy and certainly the distinction. Former La Coruña ace Leo Scaloni is the boss on the bench for Argentina who certainly have a supreme leader on and off the pitch. Lionel Messi. In the last World Cup of his long career, one of the best footballers in the world and for many one of the best of all time, will seek once and for all to exorcise the demon of his lack of appearances with the national team. Obviously, those who think that by winning a Copa America he succeeded, they are ignorant. Messi rests all his hopes for national acclaim in football history on Qatar. And in his quest to succeed he is not alone. Di Maria, Dybala, The terribly in-form Lautaro Martinez, Paredes, de Paul in midfield and the tireless Otamendi, Tagliafico, Acuña in defense really give the impression that the "Pambas" are more complete than ever and a huge favorite.
Saudi Arabia
With Evre Renard on the bench, Saudi Arabia goes to neighboring Qatar. Which compared to any other team of the lower capacity, has a huge advantage. When all the teams in the tournament will struggle to come to terms with the region's climatic conditions, humidity, wide temperature swings and other oddities of the desert, for the Saudis it will be...Wednesday afternoon. Fully familiar with the conditions they will encounter but also with six world cup experience in the last 28 years. With the last previous one, that of 2018, where he achieved a victory, 1-0 in Egypt. Star players? Let's say how Salem Al Dausari stands out with a record of 70/17 in the national team. Other than that, only roller players who all play within borders. The fact that he has 18 consecutive Under (!), is a betting paradox that deserves attention.
Poland
Czeslaw Michniewicz has a huge task to perform in the Polish national team. He has to give 101% from his big star, Lewandowski, but he also has to find solutions in his absence, to prepare for the next day when "Leva" leaves. And it's not easy, when the former Bayern ace and current Barcelona gunner has been a one-man show for years. But is he the only one … too big for a ball? Chesny, Skorupski, Djedrejczyk, Glik, Berezinski, Krykowiak, Grosicki, are also 30+ but only two of them are goalkeepers. Fortunately for them, the tournament is not the end of the season.
Mexico
Gerardo Martino's Mexico is a curious case. She always, almost always attends the big tournaments. But she has never, or almost never, managed to stand out. However, it has to be recognized in Mexico that, along with Brazil, they are the only teams to have made it past the group stage in each of the last seven competitions. Not one was left out so early. But his best placing is the eight, which he achieved only twice since '94, when he plays in a series in the final stages of the World Cup. This year he wants to do at least the same course and is betting on the strong defense that the Argentinian national team has set up for the "sombreros". In which Wolves' Raul Jimenez figures as a leading figure, with his 29 goals in 94 appearances. Leader and absolute national idol, 36-year-old Andres Guardado (Betis) who has so far made 177 international appearances and scored 28 goals. Pineda of AEK also plays ball in Qatar with the colors of Mexico, of course.
GROUP D:
And as above there is the Argentina and the others, in the XNUMXth group the bean is France and the others. Because it cannot be seen how two of Tunisia, Australia or Denmark will perform the miracle.
France
With the crown from the last World Cup on their head and Mbappe ready to reaffirm why he is considered the best player in the world at the moment, the "tricolor" start the tournament as one of the 2-3 absolute favorites to win the trophy. Of course it has losses. Two or three very strong names on which many people and technical staff were betting did not join the team due to injuries. First of all Kade of course, but also Kibebe who was on a mission and was cut yesterday. And Boubacar Kamara and Lucas Digne. But there are still striker players such as Benzema, Giroud, Griezmann, Encuncu next to Bape, Coman, Kamavinga, Tswameni, Rabiot in midfield among others, but also bronze backs like Varane, Lucas Hernandez, Konate, Pavard. And how can you ignore this group?
Denmark
Always outsiders and always almost driving people crazy with their performance, the Danes have Kasper Hulmant on the bench, a not particularly well-known technician who has only left credentials with Norgeland and a year in German Mainz was not justified by the results. The leader of Denmark, the man for whom the whole planet cried when in the middle of a match for the Euro, he lost consciousness and fought for his life due to an undiagnosed heart problem. Now 100% healthy, he stands perfectly in the midfield of a team that stands out for that. For what it is a team and not based only on individual talent. However, there are players with a long career and successes at individual and team level, such as strikers Poulsen and Braithwaite or even Kasper Dolberg. But also Delaney of Sevilla, of course Hoibierg of Tottenham and the backs Kjaer, Mele or the goalkeeper Schmeichel (now in Nice).
Tunisia
One of the three semi-European countries of Africa, Tunisia. That's how they say, how it plays roughly European, like Algeria to some extent and Egypt. Tunisia, with good names and Jalel Kadri on the bench, wants to go one step further, after all, they were the first African team to win a World Cup, back then, in 1978 with a 1-0 win over Mexico. She wants to be the first to take the dream course and stand out more than any other in the past. But the lottery girl wasn't exactly kind to her. However, with the likes of Montpellier's Khazri, Odense's Djebali, Cologne's Skerry and Brodby's Ben Slimane, he will surely fight tooth and nail in every match. with them and our own Kehrida, of Atromitos.
Australia
Graham Arnold on the bench and the "kangaroos" in the final phase of a World Cup for the 6th time, for the 5th time in a row. But the achievement of qualification from a group, he achieved it only once. In Germany in 2006. This year he aims to displace Denmark and Tunisia to follow France and in the ranks are Matt Leckie and Martin Boyle, Moy of Celtic, Hrustic of Verona and 2-3 good backs. No big deal and it will be a surprise if he makes it. Decent, but not that far.
E' GROUP:
Group open in several versions. Ok, maybe Germany and Spain are by far the big favorites to get to the next stage, but neither Costa Rica nor of course Japan are negligible quantities that one can prejudge in advance that they are incapable of achieving the big result and to bring the group up and down.
Spain
With 1 defeat in their last 10 games (and two draws) the Iberian team comes to the World Cup and on the bench to endure despite fierce criticism, Luis Enrique. A coach who has not achieved anything great with Furias Rochas so far. On his side, however, Fernando Torres was added to the technical team, perhaps to balance the Madrid and the Catalans who were fighting for Enrique's selections. The exclusion from the team of Gerard Moreno, last year's top scorer of the primera division and Villarreal's ace, has already caused a huge surprise. Who may suffer from injuries but had returned to active action 15 days ago. In the current selection, the first violins in the attack seem to be for Enrique the always controversial Morata and Ferran Torres, while in the midfield stand out at 34 Busquets and Rodri of Manchester City.
Germany
Germany, whether they start as favourites, second-tier contenders or absolute underdogs, are always one of the teams that those I know from football claim to be a strong pole in the cup battle. This is certainly happening this year as well, with Hansi Flick's team coming completely on deaf ears, but having in their ranks players or no one to take a game by themselves. Like Gotze who may seem like a veteran to the ear, but he is only 30. Or Goretzka and Kimmich, among the leaders and in Bayern, Havertz from Chelsea and the player Gundogan (City). At the back there are always players like Gunter, Sule, Rudiger and others, in the goalposts Ter Stegen and Neuer are a duo of absolute respect, while in attack, despite the misfortune of Timo Werner who was also the first choice for a thoroughbred forward, there is always evergreen Miller, Gnabry, Sane and don't underestimate the young Adejemi.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica went to the World Cup with Luis Fernando Suarez on the bench, a coach with a rich career in Latin America and stints on the bench of Ecuador and Honduras among others. And Costa Rica have managed it very well with just one loss and two draws in the last 12 games, whoever the opponent was, however weak they might be. Its star, or at least among its stars, is goalkeeper Keylor Navas, formerly of Real and now of Paris, while always on the roster are the living legends of Costa Rican football, Brian Ruiz (146/29 in the national team) and Celso Borges (155/ 27). And of course at the top of the attack is Joel Campbell (119/25) who also has a transfer from Greece and Olympiakos in 2013-14.
Japan
A team that is an example to follow in terms of commitment, concentration and discipline is led to the World Cup with bench boss Hazime Moriyyasu. In 15 – 20 games, Japan has even lost three times, which has beaten, among others, not completely powerless opponents, for example USA, Ghana, Paraguay and Australia in the last six months. And she goes with dreams to this World Cup in which she is held aloft by the star of Monaco, Takumi Minamino. What the friends of Japan knew was the shock exclusion from the squad of Celtic super striker Kyoko Furuhashi, especially since there are not many options in his place and certainly not better than those of Ueda (Circle Bridge) or Masino ( Sonan Belmare). Computer, of course, will either vindicate or condemn the Japanese federalist's strategy, which is already strongly contested at home,
F GROUP
Ever-coming and still-on-the-road Belgium, 2018 finalists Croatia, Afro-fantasy Morocco and Canada usurping the US's top scepter in North America make up a highly competitive foursome.
Belgium
Roberto Martinez is expected to be playing his last major tournament as Belgium international, not because he has failed, but because he hasn't. And because a cycle is now closing in Belgium after the World Cup and it is considered certain that any renewal will be done by the next day's federation. Back Denager, midfielders Salemaekers, Prae and strikers Benteke, Origi and Januzaj among others were left out. Its big guns are ready for battle anyway, both the virtuoso De Bruyne, and the charismatic Eden and Torgan Hazard who are also full of strength, Lukaku, Batshuayi and Martens or Witzel, Carrasco and one of Europe's top full-backs. Aldeweireld, Vertonghen, Meunier. However, the recent results are not exactly encouraging. He lost to Egypt and the Netherlands and heads to Qatar without a friendly.
Croatian
Zlatko Dalic has a heavy load, he takes his team to the World Cup and the legacy of 2018 is certainly useful, but hardly overwhelming. What has changed in the team since then? Apart from the federal coach who is himself, Croatia's team includes from the '18 team the leader virtuoso Modric, the back Lovren, the central defender of AEK, Vida, the attacking midfielders Brozovic, Perisic and others. Favorite of the few for qualification sotis "16" but the position he will occupy and the crossing will show where he can reach.
Μαρόκο
On the bench is Valid Regragui and the captain of the team is the bronze back of Besiktas, Romain Saiss. A team full of players who play in Europe and have a position from a player to a superstar. A typical example is the IEK bronze medalist who has had a look in England and is now playing for Chelsea, as well as Fiorentina's excellent midfielder Amrabad. Of course, the biggest name in the current composition of the team is none other than the star of the primera division, En Nesiri of Sevilla with 50/15 in the national team, or even the back of Paris Saint-Germain, Hakimi! Only defeat in the last 15 matches in regular time, the 3-0 loss to the USA in a friendly in June.
Canada
Herdman is Canada's federal coach and the hopes for distinction are greater than ever. Are they justified? It remains to be seen, however, the last friendlies and the pre-World Cup image presented by Canada are not ideal. In 15 games, he has four defeats, one draw and two canceled matches. You call that far from ideal, even if the victories include 2-0 against the USA. From then on Curacao and Qatar are not a measure of comparison. Its top players are the strikers Larin, Cavallini and Afonso Davis, the midfielders Hutchinson and Osorio, but also the backs Adekoogbe, Johnston and ours, Cornelius of Panaitolikos.
GROUP G:
A group of two Brazils. The normal and the… European. Serbia. Wasn't that what they used to call the Yugoslavs? Brazilians of Europe? The group is completed by the always competitive Cameroon, one of the top teams in Africa for decades, as well as the top quality and capable of the best Switzerland. Curls are predicted!
Brazil
With Tite on the bench, a bunch of not-so-fantastic but ideal team players on the roster and Neymar hopefully in the prime of his career, the Cariocas traveled to the Middle East with dreams of returning to the fold after 20 exactly years. Firmino (attacker 17 goals) and Coutinho (average, 21 goals) were left out of the mission, as weapons that were not included in the strategic plans of the federal coach. Which means that a serious problem does not exist in Brazil, which as the tip of the spear certainly has super-form strikers Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal, 19 goals), Richarlison (Tottenham, 17 goals) and Neymar with his 75 goals threatening the record of Pele in the national team! Brazil is extremely strong in the midfield, with the more aggressive Vinny Junior, Rodrigo, and the more restrained Ribeiro Paquetas, Casemiro forming a formidable five. Even at the back, however, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Militao and other players know tons of football, even the 39-year-old Dani Alves! A record of 27-3 goals in 8 matches in 2022 (7-1-0) is no fluke.
Serbia
With a good team presence, excellent individual qualities and the unforgettable bench player Dragan Stojkovic commanding immense respect, Serbia return to the world cups hopeful that they can achieve something good. Of course, the first goal is to get out of the group, which will be particularly easy with the opponents he has to face. Especially if she doesn't improve her defensive behavior. In nine games in 2022 he has a 5–1–2 record and 19–9 goals against. There is no serious loss in Serbia, whose leader is undoubtedly the striker Saša Mitrović and the Ajax player Dusan Tadic. Both of the most dangerous players of the tournament and with their supporters Jovic-Vlahovic on the one hand, Milinkovic-Savic and Djuric-Kostic on the other. And our own Zivkovic (PAOK) is also on the roster.
Cameroon
Rigobert Song is on the bench of the Cameroonians and Sammy Eto'o is on the command of the federation, so there are serious hopes that this time administrative or other type of disagreements and problems will not cast gray the blue hopes of the "indomitable lions" for an excellent course in this world Cup. At Song's disposal first class violins, of course, Tsuppo-Moting (19 goals) of Bayern and Toko Ekabi of Lyon (12 goals). There are no serious absences, he bets more on teamwork than on individual talent as in the past.
Switzerland
Zuber (AEK) and Botani, who were left out of the mission due to injuries, do not dramatically change Murati's plans for the one who saw with satisfaction his big stars being put at his disposal ahead of the World Cup. Before taxiing everyone, of course, the leader Tsaka and his also of Kosovar origin dioskuro, Sakiri. At 30-31, they want the perfect tournament more than ever. And they are flanked by particularly skilled players such as strikers Seferovic (25 goals) and Embolo (11 goals), or midfielders Djibril Shaw (Eintracht) and Remo Frouiller.
GROUP E:
Some spoke when the draw was made of odds cut to perhaps exactly four. However, it seems that Portugal has a clear lead and the other three, Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea will fight it out, with more or less hope of course.
Portugal
The whole group is Ronaldo's ambition to end his career with the ultimate success a footballer could receive, conquering the top of the world. Obviously, he himself is not in the competitive condition he would like, he is 37 years old, but he has a complete team to support him. + 1 coach who is like a father and knows how to get the best out of him every time. The Santos we all adored. Fernando Santos left Moutinho, now 36, out of the options, but he has at his disposal all the heavy cards of his team. From Andre Silva and Raf Leao or Joao Felix in the attack line next to CR7, to Joao Mario, Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva in midfield. And Guerreiro, Menes, Cancelo at Back. And Rui Patricio in the goalposts. Portugal is full and ready to overcome this.
Ghana
With Otto Ato on the bench and natural leader Jordan Agiou after his 19 goals, Ghana go into the World Cup with ambitions but also clearly with perhaps the most error-prone and losing team in decades. He always has Andrea Ayew and Thomas Partey in midfield, but defensively he suffers as well as in the goal posts. And it's no coincidence that her mediocre as bad record with only 3 wins in 14 matches in 2022 (3-5-6 record with 13-19 goals).
Uruguay
Once their attacking mainstay, now a cornerstone of their bench, Diego Alonso leads Uruguay to the World Cup. aging team, many say. And how can you blame them when Suarez and Cavani are now 36, Lazio's Vesino is on his way to 32 and at 37 the leader in defense, Godin but over 30-32 and the Caseres, Coates who flank him or the goalkeepers Sosa and Muslera! This year, however, this Uruguay lost only one game. And that one friendly with too many changes 1-0 from Iran to Austria.
South Korea
Korea has had its fair share of footballing times, but it has not won a serious distinction in the World Cup so far. Something that it will seek to achieve this year with the experienced Portuguese Paolo Bento on the bench and Ou-Jo from Olympiakos as its first striker (16 goals). Its natural leader is the captain, midfielder Heong-Min of Tottenham (104/35 in the national team), but also the other Olympian, Huang (37/4). Many experienced faces and in defense but without performances, apart from Min-Yahe of Napoli.
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