Top teams to watch out for in the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Regardless of the complexities, Qatar is set to be a fantastic tournament. But which teams are we expecting to make an impact and have a chance at winning for 2022?
Belgium
When looking at the World Cup odds, Belgium is often up there with the top teams. Although people consider their “golden generation” to have passed, they are still a formidable international squad. They have some amazing talent, including Courtois, Hazard, Lukaku, Vertonghen and Alderweireld.
Provided that players such as Lukaku find their form, Belgium should be a major contender in the 2022 World Cup. The major threat in their group is Croatia, but they should really beat Canada and Morocco to progress to at least second place.
Spain
Spain has been quietly improving and should arguably have won Euro 2020. Since their former glories in the 2010s, their squad has drastically changed, but they still have the same beautiful style of flowing play.
They dominated their qualifying games and have also shown great form in competitions such as the Nations League, so we can expect them to be a top contender in Qatar too. The only downside is that Spain has a group with Germany, so they may not have the easiest route to the knockout stage.
England
Since 1966, England has failed to recapture their former World Cup Glory – much to the English public’s disgust. Regardless, they remain a tough contender in international football and have a brilliant squad of young and upcoming talent.
Finishing fourth in the 2018 World Cup, the squad has grown and matured since then, although their recent performances have been hit and miss. Who knows which England will turn up to this tournament?
Argentina
Argentina has tasted World Cup success on two occasions before, could this be their third triumph? Could this be the year that Lionel Messi receives virtually the only accolade left he hasn’t won?
Many tout Argentina as the number one contender for the 2022 World Cup. This is mainly due to their incredible form, and the fact that they appear to have a developed a team that doesn’t need to rely on Messi. With other stars such as Rodrigo de Paul and Angel Di Maria, Argentina has a solid squad, and hasn’t lost an international match since 2019.
Brazil
Like Argentina, Brazil is enjoying excellent international form and has only lost one match since 2020. Their squad is packed full of talent with players such as Neymar, Vinicius Jr and Lucas Paqueta, and the overall talent is off the charts. Next to Argentina, Brazil is usually the next favourite to claim their sixth World Cup title.
The Netherlands
Holland have never quite won big on the international stage, but many believe the 2022 World Cup could be their year.
They have a talented squad of players, including Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong and Daley Blind, who all seem to excel when wearing their orange kits. Furthermore, with coach Louis van Gaal once more in control, we can expect the team to be organized and play tactically.
These are regularly listed as some of the top contenders for Qatar 2022 and you may be surprised at some omissions. For example, surely the reigning champions France should be on this list? Unfortunately, not. Their recent form has shown they have struggles, and whether they can regain their form remains to be seen. We can expect, however, the above teams to put on fantastic performances and provide us with some memorable games this November