With the FIFA World Cup 2022 starting tonight The Telegraph does a bit of crystal ball-gazing to get a sense of which team stands where in the scheme of things.
Group A
Comprising Senegal, Ecuador, Netherlands and hosts Qatar, Group A promises to be entertainment. In preparation for their debut, Qatar have been at the drill over the last five years. Having won the Asian Cup in 2019, they have been performing consistently at international tournaments, reaching the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the FIFA Arab Cup. Spearheaded by the dynamic attacking duo of Akram Afif and Almoez Ali, it will be interesting to watch the hosts in action. Senegal, who have been on a high since winning the AFCON 2021 can boast a trove of high-profile players who will certainly bring in experience and sparks of brilliance into their gameplay. Chelsea goalie Eduoard Mendy will be between the sticks and standing strong in defence will be Kalidou Koulibaly. An injured Sadio Mane will be sorely missed though. Ecuador are the underdogs but have an exciting pool of talent charged up to move the ball around. The giants of the group, Netherlands, after missing the last edition, are out to seek redemption. Van Gaal’s men have a team sheet which, on paper, looks like one of the strongest in Qatar. Will they be able to break their runner’s curse and take a long-awaited step closer to the Grail? Destiny is in their hands.
Group B
A group that has England, Wales, USA and Iran is certain to make major headlines every time there is a match. Each of the teams is capable of reaching the next stage. Up the pecking order stands the Three Lions led by enigmatic forward Harry Kane. England have an enviable squad with deep bench strength, spoilt for attacking options among Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Callum Wilson. For Gareth Southgate’s men, it will just be about maintaining composure and keep at it till the very end. All the dots connect well and 2022 could just be the final chance for Southgate to get close to the glory that has kept eluding them. Providing stiff competition will be Wales, who in after 64 years.
It is now or never for Gareth Bale spearheading the Welsh team in Qatar
Gareth Bale’s name will certainly be doing the rounds although he seems to have come off his peak. When with his national side, however, he is of a different gravy. Supporting him will be the very experienced Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen. If the USA team can utilise their strengths properly and craftily capitalise on the chances, they are in for a treat. Having known faces on the roster like Sergiño Dest, Weston McKennie, Giovanni Reyna and Christian Pulisic, the USA squad has the arsenal required to turn their dreams into reality. The final team are the Asian giants Iran, who have the troika of Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbaksh spearheading the attack. It will be interesting to see how it pans out for Group B.
Group C
As Argentina, Poland, Mexico and Saudi Arabia face off in Group C, all eyes will be on Lionel Messi, who will be leading his team in the World Cup for possibly the last time. Extending the unbeaten streak to 36 matches, Argentina walk into Qatar as one of the favourites. Gumming seamlessly with quick transition and links between defense and offense, the Albiceleste have it all in place to course their way through the knockout stages.
With the golden touch, Lionel Messi will be leading the Albicelestes
With Messi, Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martínez in sublime form, Argentina will bank heavily on the frontline to get them through. Giving them a tough fight would be Poland under the captaincy of the lethal Robert Lewandowski. With talent spread across positions, Poland will also be buoyed with the presence of players like Kamil Glik, Piotr Zielinski and Lewandowski leading the defense, midfield and attack respectively. Also looking to have an undeterred sail into the knockout rounds are Mexico.
Back to the camp is Hirving Lozano whose strike against Germany in 2018 sent the Mexican capital to a earthquake frenzy. Keeping true to their physicality and propensity to counter-attack, Mexico will give it their all. With the fabled Guillermo Ochoa guarding the goal, the likes of Hector Moreno, Edson Alvarez, skipper Andres Guardado and certainly, Lozano will look to steer the ship. The underdogs would certainly be Saudi Arabia who will have to work on a few glaring pitfalls to keep hopes afloat. If the experienced and clinical forward Salem Al-Dawsari delivers, it will be good news for the Asian team.
Group D
Reigning champions France go against Denmark, Australia and Tunisia in this group. Following the taste of dominance that has lingered since 2018, the last few months since the devastating loss at Euro 2020 have been tricky for Didier Deschamps’ men. And yet, that does not change the fact that France are one of the favourites to lift the cup this time too. Out there to break the World Cup curse of the previous winner’s exit after the group stage, the Les Blues’ attack will be in the safe hands of 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, all of whom are in sparkling form this season.
France will be missing out on the duo of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, but have the young guns Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga manning the midfield. Probably the most loved team in the world over the last year, Denmark, will be the ones to look out for. Following their impressive run in the Euro 2020 campaign. Kasper Schmeichel between the bars and Simon Kjaer leading from the back, Denmark have two bonafide leaders. Pierre-Emile Hojberg, Christian Eriksen and Skov Olsen will connect the defence with an attack having Kasper Dolberg or Yussuf Poulsen up front. Australia have been pumped up through the qualifying matches.
For the Socceroos, it is about playing to their strengths. Skipper Matt Ryan, defender Harry Souttar, Jacob Irvine and Ajdin Hrustic weaving the midfield together will lead the charge as they walk into the tournament. Tunisia will certainly not be an easy fixture for the other three teams. With players like Aymen Dahmen, Aymen Talbi and Ben Slimani, Tunisia might just sprinkle some surprises in the group.
Group E
This is probably this World Cup’s group of death. Group E has Germany, Spain, Costa Rica and Japan facing off. For Hansi Flick’s men, it has been a tricky couple of months leading up to the World Cup. However, Germany in the World Cup is always a different breed and it will be interesting to see the young blood and the old guards coming together in an attempt to recreate the 2014 magic.
Germany will look to recreate their 2014 magic run
With the ever-dependable duo of skipper Manuel Neuer and Ter Stegen guarding the bars, Germany seem to have little to worry about. Antonio Rudiger stands as the wall in defence. To look out for will be the duo of the uber-talented teenagers Jamal Musiala and Youssofa Moukoko. Contesting the pool of young talent will be Luis Enrique’s Spain with names like Pedri, Gavi, Balde and Ansu Fati, along with the experienced Asensio, Morata and Olmo.
All eyes will be on Pedri in Spanish colours
Aymeric Laporte, Pau Torres with full backs Alba, Carvajal and Azpilicueta will be holding the base and flanks while skipper Sergio Busquets anchors the midfield. Japan and Costa Rica are not teams which can be swept away easily. Japan has the likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Takumi Minamino and Takefusa Kubo while Costa Rica has Keylor Navas, Juan Pablo Vargas and Joel Campbell, who can be headaches for any opposition. There will always be surprises waiting here.
Group F
Belgium, somehow, have failed to break the jinx and place themselves on the wall of fame despite being ranked near the top. Quarter-finalists in 2014 and semi-finalists in 2018, Qatar would have them reach for the Holy Grail. With one of the strongest teams on paper, Belgium need to keep their intensity unsoiled and connect through the course of the entire stretch with players of supreme quality like Dries Mertens, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel, Romelu Lukaku, Yannick Carrasco, Leandro Trossard, Yashin Trophy winner Thibaut Courtois and, certainly, the inimitable Kevin De Bruyne. However, fans across the world are waiting for a redemptive moment on the grandest stage of them all for skipper Eden Hazard. Canada, appearing only for the second time, their first since 1986, have their hopes pinned on a range of exciting talents. They are spearheaded by the blistering wing-back Alphonso Davies and the Club Brugge duo of Clye Larin and Tajor Buchanan. For Morocco, the primary names on the list would certainly be Achraf Hakimi manning the right flank with the dynamic Noussair Mazraoui and Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri leading the attack. For 2018 runner-up Croatia, this will be another test of their grit and intensity. With Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic securing the midfield, Nikola Vlasic and Ivan Perisic would look to slot and go for glory.This will certainly be the other group to look out for.
Group G
With Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon locking horns, it will be interesting to see what chaos and surprises ensues. For the Seleçãos, it has been 20 years since their last World Cup glory, but now they have a team that is almost unanimously considered favourites to take the Cup back to the home of Jogo Bonito. Brazil's attacking arsenal the strongest across groups with the likes of Rodrygo, Vinicius, Raphinha, Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and the inimitable Neymar, for whom this will likely be the last World Cup. Switzerland have a squad which showed the world its chops after defeating France at the Euros. Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri holding the midfield efficiently, Fabian Schar and Manuel Akanji will man the defense line. With the outstanding Yan Sommer in goal, the Swiss are certainly no write-offs if they stick to their guns. For Serbia, it's about players who are capable of turning the game around at any point. With the likes of Dusan Tadic, Filip Kostic, Dusan Vlahovic, Sergej Milinkovic Savic and the lethal Aleksander Mitrovic, Serbia are the dark horse. Cameroon led by coach Rigobert Song, has been a energetic team .With Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in form, Cameroon can look to upset a few equations.
Group H
The final group will have four impressively strong teams -- Portugal, Uruguay, Ghana and South Korea play it out in the group stage. Portugal have one of the strongest squads on paper with incredible bench strength. But all eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo as he walks into his fifth and, in all probability, final World Cup. Joining their skipper are world-class talents like Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Bruno Fernandes and others in their quest for glory. The team bonds well, but has choked under pressure in the past.
For Uruguay, hopes are pinned on the maverick Luis Suarez in what will be his and veteran fellow forward Edinson Cavani’s final World Cup. Another interesting connection to watch out for would be among Ronaldo Araujo, Fede Valverde and Darwin Nunez — three of the finest players of the new generation. Ghana have an interesting talent pool as well with names like Inaki Williams and Thomas Partey bringing in quality and charge. Ghana, along with South Korea, which is led by the gifted poster boy Son Heung-min, will certainly exploit all chances to the fullest to upset the expected results.