The word passes to the field. The World Cup in Qatar, after years in the spotlight for non-football issues, opens its doors with a tournament which, apart from the environment (the last, in chronological order, came from the "fake" fans hired by the government to create atmosphere), promises a show of absolute level. 32 national teams were present (unfortunately not Italy, but this is another story that we know, alas, all too well) at the hottest moment of the season, not in a climatic sense (even if temperatures in Qatar are not joking) but technically , as the players arrive there in the best shape possible. So, while waiting for the inaugural challenge between the hosts and Ecuador, let's try to get to know them better teams participants, trying to divide them into favourites, outsiders and possible surprises.
Qatar 2022, the favourites: Brazil, Argentina and France
Il Favourite number one, as confirmed by bookmakers from all over the world, is the Brazil of Neymar, called to bring home the Cup after 20 years of waiting. A lot for the Seleçao, which in the meantime even suffered the shame of failing the 2014 home World Cup, which closed with a sensational (at the level of the famous Maracanazo of '50) 1-7 defeat by Germany. This time, however, Tite's team arrives at the World Cup with the right amount of pressure, but above all with a large and balanced squad, in which the stars stand out Neymar e Vinicius and the luxury "gregari". Casemiro, Fred, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos e Danilo. Great expectations on theArgentina of Scaloni, who after the semi-disaster of four years ago in Russia (group passed by a post and elimination in the round of 36) wants to go back to taking a cup that has been missing for XNUMX years. The roster seems less complete than that of the hated Brazilians, but people like Messi, Lautaro e Of Maria it should never be underestimated.
On the podium of the favorites there are also the reigning champions of the France, probably the strongest of all in terms of staff, despite some heavy absences such as those of Pogba, Kante and Nkunku, to which it could also be added Benzemastopped due to a muscle problem. Deschamps' type eleven would still see people like Mbappe, Griezmann e Theo Hernandez, with a bench that, among others, could count on Dembele e Coman, but it is clear that the presence or absence of "Karim the dream", fresh ballon d'or, moves a lot, in one direction or another. And then there's the usual discourse on a group full of talents, but always reluctant to rules, discipline and team spirit, as well as satiated (perhaps) by the World won 4 years ago.
The outsiders: Spain, Germany, England, Portugal and Belgium
- outsider they are many and all in Europe. It goes from Spain by Luis Enrique at Germany of Flick, moreover inserted in the same group, until theEngland of Southgate, al Portugal by Ronaldo et al Belgium by Lukaku and De Bruyne. If one of these (or even more than one) were to go all the way, we couldn't cry out in surprise, given that we are talking about very strong national teams with a great history, but the feeling is that none of them start in the front row like the three upstairs.
The red furies of Spain, after the glories of the past decade, are trying to build a new cycle with the veterans Morata, Jordi Alba e Carvajal and excellent exclusions of Sergio Ramos e De Gea, just like Germany's flick, which will have to cancel the disasters made both in 2018 and at the European Championship with the “usual Müller e New to drive Sane, gnabry e havertz.
For the English, the usual discourse applies: on paper they are strong and quite a lot, but they must be able to overcome the sort of curse that has accompanied them since 1962, the year of the last (and only) international trophy. Southgate almost succeeded a year and a half ago, but luckily we know how the final against Italy went. A terrible blow for the Lions, who not surprisingly struggled in the Nations League: a Kane, Sterling e Foden the task of canceling Wembley and finally conquering the first major victory after 60 years.
Attention also to Portugal e Belgium, very competitive beyond their stars (which we'll talk about shortly). The team of Fernando Santos overflows with talent, so much so that Lion will only be in the starting lineup thanks to the injury of Diogo Jota, however, a lot will revolve around the usual Ronaldo, arrived at the last World Cup of his career in the most difficult moment. Similar speech for the Belgians, for a long time first in the Fifa ranking (now they are second behind Brazil) despite the total absence of trophies: to the "golden generation" of Hazard, Lukaku e De Bruyne the task of transforming a beautiful group into a winning one.
Qatar 2022, possible surprises: Holland, Serbia, Denmark, Croatia and Uruguay
We now come to the possible surprises, among which theHolland di Van Gaal. The days of A Clockwork Orange are over, which is why it seems difficult for this team to go all the way, but the quality is high and international experience, despite the young age of some, is certainly not lacking. Serbia, on the other hand, teases for the presence of "Italians" Vlahovic, Milinkovic-Savic e Costic, even if the iron group (Brazil, Switzerland and Cameroon) will be complicated to pass: should it succeed, the men of Stojkovic they could really surprise everyone.
Attention also to the Denmark di Eriksen (how nice to see him again on such a stage after the near tragedy a year and a half ago!) e Kjær, semi-finalist at the European Championships, as well as at Croatia of the usual Modric, Brozovic e Perisic (the talent is undoubted, but age advances) and at theUruguay di nunez, Suarez e Cavani (here too the line is anything but green).
Qatar 2022, the most awaited stars: Messi and CR7 in the last lap, Mbappé and Neymar on the shields
The world will stop to see above all them, that is to say the most awaited champions. It is undeniable that Qatar 2022 revolves around Messi e Ronaldo, the great stars of the last 10-12 years who have reached the last world championship. It must be said that the two arrive at "the last dance" in diametrically opposite conditions: those of Pulce are excellent, determined to seize the last opportunity to grab Maradona, those of CR7 are very bad, struggling with a probable dismissal for just cause by the Manchester United, furious after the bombshell interview given to the Sun. The two will give 100% to end on a high note, there is no doubt about this, but they will also have to deal with the others, as good as them and even younger . Mbappé and Neymar are hungry, both on a team and individual level, and are ready to steal the scene from the two big names to take it from them and mark the beginning of a new football era.
Qatar 2022, the great absentees: from the Azzurri to Haaland, how many tops at home!
Then there is a long list of great champions forced to watch the tournament on TV, some due to the misfortune of being born in a country with little footballing tradition, some due to injury, some simply because of them. The third category includes Italian players, even if only Donnarumma, perhaps, would play starter in many other teams. In front of him, in a hypothetical ultra-offensive and spectacular 4-2-4, there would be Cuadrado, Skriniar, Alaba e Robertson, with Pogba e Verratti in midfield and a fearsome attack with kvaratskhelia, Haaland, osimhen e Salah, Without to forget Moon e firmino, one recently injured, the other excluded from his coach. A lot, a lot of stuff, to the point of making us think that this team could even win the World Cup, when instead they will have to be satisfied with seeing it only on television.
