The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be played from November 20 to December 18 in Qatar despite a series of controversies. With several teams looking better than ever, who are the top five nations that will battle it out in the 22nd edition of the competition?
South American giants Argentina are the top favorites to win the World Cup despite Brazil being the number one ranked team in the world. In form, Leo Messi’s Argentina, Karim Benzema’s France, The Belgian Golden Generation, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal are on the frontline to battle Brazil for World Cup glory.
The Draw
Earlier this year, the draw for the World Cup was drafted and eventually concluded after an initial delay due to the crisis in Ukraine, with Wales, Australia, and Costa Rica joining the list en route to Qatar.
Group A
Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, and Netherlands
Group B
England, IR Iran, USA, and Wales
Group C
Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Group D
France, Australia, Denmark, and Tunisia
Group E
Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, and Japan
Group F
Belgium, Canada, Morocco, and Croatia
Group G
Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon
Group H
Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, and the Korea Republic
Portugal, Belgium, France, Argentina, Brazil, and England look set to go past their group stage challenges, all things being equal. So here, we take a look at the top teams that could become eventual winners at the end of the tournament.
England
England will head to Qatar in underwhelming form but would look to turn things around in the Nations League to revive their chances of winning the competition. This will be a far cry from their tenure in the 2020 Euros where they lost out to Italy in the final, after a very overwhelming run.
England has a highly talented squad but has always fallen at the final hurdle in recent years. They are blessed with the likes of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Jude Bellingham, and several upcoming top prospects. They will beat the lower-ranked teams handsomely but lack the courage, nous, and tactical know-how to trouble the leading sides.
Portugal
Portugal has always flattered to deceive in recent years but with the right mindset, they will stroll to the World Cup. Fernando Santos has built a side with experience and flair in equal measure.
Roma’s Rui Patricio takes over the duties between the posts with heavy competition from Diogo Costa but it would not be a surprise to see the former Porto keeper between the sticks.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the captain and organizes a sparkling attack with Diogo Jota, Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Rafa Silva, Ricardo Horta, and Rafael Leao. Midfield sees the likes of Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Mario, Matheus Nunes, and Vitinha to supplement the attack and a formidable backline marshaled by the experienced Pepe.
The biggest negative against them is their inconsistency, which can be bypassed in numerous ways.
Belgium
Belgium will forever be taken seriously as a Round of 16 team or potential quarterfinalists, but not as potential winners. That credit will not change in 2022, especially with their aging superstars.
Individually, they have some of the world’s best players. Kevin De Bruybe has been one of the best midfielders on the planet for over three years. Eden Hazard has the skill, tenacity, football intelligence, and the fearsome goal-scoring Romelu Lukaku spear heading the attack. They will bring a vastly experienced team to the World Cup but when it comes to the biggest stage, they never seem to learn from their mistakes.
France
France, led by Kylian Mbappe, is one of the scariest teams in the world. The Les Blues were in superb form in the previous World Cup where they became eventual winners. As always, they are tough and resilient and don’t depend on the dark arts of football to grind out victories.
Didier Deschamps has assembled an excellent team who are incredibly tough to break down across midfield and defense. Their one superficial ability is consistency and brilliant options in attack, and for this, they’ll be relying on their goal output to lead them to the trophy.
France is super experienced and capable of changing systems and formations from game to game, which is quite unusual in international football.
Argentina
Argentina will head to Qatar as many people’s favorites to lift the trophy in what is the great Lionel Messi’s last international outing. Argentine football is now the center of attention in Europe following its recent success in Copa America.
The South American outfit has built an incredibly formidable team physically, technically, and mentally. Not only will they arrive in Brazil with a variety of riches on the playing field, but they will also come as one of the best-prepared nations in the tournament.
From Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez between the sticks to Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez leading the defense. A midfield equally impressive, and an electric frontline comprising of Lautaro Martinez, Lionel Messi, and Angel Di Maria.
Brazil
Brazil is the favorite to win the World Cup and now with their recent surge in talents, they have more than cemented their place in the bookmaker’s ticks as the favorite to seal the World Cup.
Neymar, after years of scrutiny and comparisons with football greats, the Brazilian is in form this year and finally ready to show his potential in grand style.
From a point where Brazil has a cohesive defensive unit in Marquinhos and Thiago Silva who were former teammates at PSG, a midfield that is susceptible to tactical and formation change boasting several players with technical intelligence and abilities, and a front line that has continued to cause trouble across Europe in their several domestic leagues.
Alongside Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Casemiro, Lucas Pacqueta, Thiago Silva, and even either Allison Becker or Ederson Moraes, are all good enough to command a place in any team in world football and would be willing to transform their domineering presence to the national side.
