[ad_1]
Tlisted below are 159 days till the 2022 World Cup in Qatar kicks off with the Netherlands and Senegal doing battle on the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha.
The match will kick off 28 days of footballing bliss by which 32 groups will search to take the trophy that France lifted on the Luzhniki in Moscow again in 2018. All of the teams are actually set after Costa Rica, Australia and Wales booked their tickets within the play-offs.
The favourites
Of the seven world champions, solely Italy won’t be competing in Qatar. For the second event in a row, the Azzurri and their 4 trophies will watch the World Cup from residence.
The remaining (Brazil, Germany, France, Uruguay, Argentina, Spain and England) will likely be current at a event by which the reigning champions are massive favourites.
France
Didier Deschamps has so many high quality gamers out there to him that he may make two groups able to difficult for the World Cup.
The 2018 champions (Mbappe, Griezmann, Kante, Pogba, Lucas Hernandez, Varane, Pavard, Lloris, Kimpembe, Dembele, Lemar…) have been joined by Maignan, Konate, Kounde, Theo Hernandez, Tchouameni, Nkunku, Coman, Diaby…and a Benzema who has returned to the nationwide workforce with a bang.
They’re the workforce to beat, although their performances on the final European Championship (eradicated by Switzerland within the spherical of 16) and Nations League (out of the ultimate 4 after 4 rounds) reveals they don’t seem to be invincible.
Argentina
Lionel Scaloni took over in August 2018 after Argentina have been eradicated by France within the spherical of 16 of the World Cup.
Initially given the interim title, he is turned that function right into a everlasting one and been profitable.
The tactician has created a aggressive workforce round Lionel Messi because of the likes of Di Maria, De Paul, Lo Celso and Otamendi, together with new gamers in Julian Alvarez, Molina, Romero and Lautaro.
The Albiceleste head to the World Cup for Messi’s final dance after profitable the Copa America, their first title in three many years.
Brazil
Tite’s Brazil hasn’t hit its stride since taking on in 2016. A Copa America win in 2019 was adopted by defeat in 2021, whereas the Selecao have been knocked out within the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup.
Rodrygo, Vinicius, Antony and Raphinha have been added to an assault that already consists of Gabriel Jesus, Richarlison and a Neymar trying to cross Pele because the nation’s all-time main goalscorer.
In midfield, Fabinho, Bruno Guimaraes and Casemiro paved the way in entrance of Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Militao and Alisson.
Spain
Luis Enrique has made it clear his Spain will not change their type for anybody.
Drawn in a bunch with Germany, Japan and Costa Rica, the tactician will look to construct on a facet that misplaced to Italy on penalties within the Euro 2020 semi-finals and France within the Nations League remaining.
Barring any accidents, Enrique’s facet will characteristic Simon, Robert Sanchez, Raya, Carvajal, Azpilicueta, Laporte, Eric Garcia, Inigo Martinez, Diego Llorente, Pau Torres, Rodri, Busquets, Soler, Llorente, Koke, Gavi, Pedri, Ansu, Ferrran, Morata, Dani Olmo and Sarabia.
A combination of expertise and youth as La Roja look to take that subsequent step ahead.
Germany, England, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium?
Germany are present process a full rebuild with veterans (Muller and Neuer) enjoying alongside established names (Gnabry, Goretzka, Sane, Gundogan) and kids (Havertz, Musiala, Adeyami).
England, who made the semi-finals on the final World Cup and got here up simply quick on the Euros, look to have made that remaining step ahead underneath Gareth Southgate, who can rely on Kane, Foden, Mount, Sterling and Rice.
Portugal will lean on Cristiano Ronaldo, together with Bernardo Silva, Leao, Pepe and Joao Felix in what will likely be a remaining shot on the World Cup for a number of veterans.
The identical could be mentioned for Belgium as time is operating out for Lukaku, De Bruyne and Hazard.
Their neighbours from the Netherlands return after lacking Russia 2018, and whereas they do not have many stars (Van Dijk, De Jong, Depay), they could be a menace.
Likewise for Uruguay, who’ve kids like Valverde and Darwin Nunez to assist Luis Suarez and Cavani.
Outsiders
A number of nations want to be the Croatia of 2018, which was led by Modric. Senegal, the reigning champions of Africa, have prime gamers like Mane, Sarr, Gueye, Koulibaly and Mendy.
Euro semi-finalist and Nations League leaders Denmark proceed to impress with Eriksen again int he fold. Serbia and their assault (Vlahovic, Tadic, Mitrovic) are all the time powerful to beat, whereas Mexico and United States can put up a battle.
Different groups like Poland, South Korea and Wales have stars (Lewandowski, Son and Bale) that may cause them to success.
Stars
There will likely be no scarcity of stars in Qatar. Mbappe, Benzema, Griezmann, Neymar, Vinicius, Casemiro, Messi, Lautaro, Dybala, Lewandowski, Mane, Modric, Cristiano, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix, Kane, Foden, Hazard, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Darwin, Luis Suarez, Van Dijk, De Jong, Vlahovic, Bale, Pedri, Kimmich, Havertz, Son… will battle it out for World Cup glory.
Absences
Italy and their nice gamers (Donnarumma, Verratti, Chiesa) will not be there, together with Haaland (Norway), Salah (Egypt), Mahrez (Algeria), Alaba (Austria), Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Luis Diaz (Colombia), Oblak (Slovenia) and Alexis Sanchez (Chile).
Gamers to Watch
Identical to each World Cup earlier than, a number of names will grow to be family names.
Piero Hincapie, 20-year-old centre again for Ecuador and Bayer Leverkusen, Brennan Johnson, 21-year-old Welsh winger from Nottingham Forest, Luka Sucic, 19-year-old Croatian midfielder from RB Salzburg, Mohamed Daramy, 20-year-old winger for Denmark and Ajax, Manuel Ugarte, 21-year-old midfielder for Uruguay and Sporting Lisbon, Pape Matar Sarr, 19-year-old midfielder for Senegal and Tottenham, Ricardo Pepi, 19-year-old striker for Augsburg and USA, Kamaldeen Sulemana, 20-year-old winger for Ghana and Rennes are a number of the names to keep watch over.
Along with ‘recognized’ kids comparable to Gavi (Spain), Musiala and Adeyemi (Germany), Gravenberch (Netherlands) and Julian Alvarez (Argentina).
World Cup info
The World Cup will likely be held in an Arab nation for the primary time, with all eight venues inside 70 kilometers of one another.
Will probably be held in autumn within the northern hemisphere – between November 21 and December 18.
Qatar’s would be the shortest event since Argentina 1978 (28 days) and the longest between competitions since Brazil 1950 – there have been no tournaments in 1942 and 1946 due to World Battle II.
The ball hasn’t been kicked in a World Cup for 1,590 days as it has been 4 years, 4 months and 6 days since France was topped in opposition to Croatia (4-2) in Moscow on July 15, 2018.
Qatar would be the solely nation making its debut in a event with six Asian groups – Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the hosts and Australia, which competes in Asia. Solely Europe (13) has extra.
As well as, Wales and Canada return after 64 and 36 years of absence. Brazil have made all 22 World Cups, with Germany (18 in a row), Argentina (13) and Spain (12) following.
It would even be Messi and Cristiano’s fifth World Cup, equaling the file set by Germany’s Matthaus, Italy’s Buffon and Mexico’s Carbajal and Marquez.
Their compatriots Ochoa and Guardado may additionally hit that mark if they’re known as up.
[ad_2]
Source link
