On Friday, April 1st, the world watched in anticipation during the World Cup 2022 draw. Unconventionally, the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be played between November 21st and December 18th due to the extreme summer heat of Qatar.
As The MVP Blog’s only soccer analyst, I’ve taken it upon myself to provide a brief description of each team which has qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
Let’s kick things off with Group A.
Group A
Qatar
As the host nation, Qatar were automatically placed in Group A at the start of the draw. In the second round of their World Cup qualifiers, Qatar made quick work of a weak group, coming in first place with 7 wins, 1 draw, and 0 losses in 8 matches. If recent history tells us anything, it’s that host nations typically perform well at the World Cup (Russia’s quarterfinal appearance in 2018, Brazil’s fourth place finish in 2014, Germany’s third place finish in 2006, and South Korea’s fourth place finish in 2002). Thankfully for them, Qatar has wound up in an easy group, so they have a real shot of making the knockouts.
Ecuador
Ecuador defied the odds to come in fourth place in CONMEBOL, punching their ticket to the World Cup for the first time since 2014. There are a few decent players in the squad, but for the most part, Ecuador is able to frustrate opponents with their ultra-physical, defensively compact style of play. It might be difficult to reach the knockout stage for them, but at least they’re not in a Group of Death.
Senegal
Senegal enter the World Cup riding high after winning the 2021 African Cup of Nations on penalties over Egypt. Ironically enough, they punched their ticket to Qatar after defeating Egypt on penalties in the Third Round of the World Cup Qualifiers. Led by Liverpool’s star winger Sadio Mane and Chelsea’s outstanding goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, Senegal have a talented squad which is poised to reach the knockout stage for the first time since 2002.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is back at the World Cup after failing to qualify in 2018. This is arguably a golden generation of talent for them, with Virgil van Dijk and Frenkie de Jong headlining an outstanding crop of individual talents. However, Louis Van Gaal, the Dutch national team’s manager, has just announced that he is receiving treatment for an aggressive form of prostate cancer. The MVP Blog hopes that Van Gaal makes a speedy and full recovery. Despite this unfortunate and saddening news, the Netherlands is widely expected to win this group in comfortable fashion.
Group B
England
Is football finally coming home? That is the question on the lips of an entire nation after England’s fantastic run to the Euro 2020 Final ended in defeat as Italy won on penalties at Wembley Stadium. England’s manager, Gareth Southgate, has an incredible crop of talent to choose from when it’s time to pick his squad to take to Qatar. Naturally, as the manager of a country with such a fervent fan culture as England, he will come under fire for who he brings along and who he leaves home. There are the obvious stars who will play at the World Cup, particularly Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, and Phil Foden. However, Southgate’s other selections will be crucial to the potential success of the team. Regardless, expectations are high for England, as they are tipped to top the group and advance to the knockouts with relative ease.
Iran
Iran has quietly become the most dominant team in the Middle East. After putting up a valiant effort despite their group stage elimination at the 2018 World Cup, which included a 1-0 win over Morocco and a 1-1 draw against Portugal, they’ve booked their ticket to Qatar. In their World Cup qualifiers group, they registered 8 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss with a goal difference of +11. Iran have a wealth of acrobatic attackers, with Medhi Taremi of FC Porto and Sardar Azmoun of Bayer Leverkusen leading the line. Iran could play spoiler in this tough group and potentially even make the knockouts for the first time in their history.
USA
The United States of America and their new generation is full of young talent. Christian Pulisic is the best of the bunch, but Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams are dynamic midfield talents which can’t be ignored either. There are a few concerns to be had, though. First and foremost, they lack experience. In fact, they are the youngest team to ever qualify for the World Cup. Further, America lacks size and physicality all over the pitch. Finally, head coach Gregg Berhalter has not inspired confidence with his inconsistent tactics and his tendency to frequently rotate the squad, which can disrupt the chemistry of the team in the process. The goal for the USA at the World Cup is simple: qualify for the knockouts. That alone would be a successful campaign.
UEFA Playoff Winner (Winner of Scotland/Ukraine v Wales)
For the final spot in Group B, Wales will play the winner of a match between Scotland and Ukraine.
Group C
Argentina
In what could be Leo Messi’s last chance to finally win the World Cup, Argentina might have the strongest supporting cast for their incredible captain. In fact, Messi finally lifted his first major trophy for Argentina when the team won Copa America 2021, beating their Brazilian rivals in the process. Argentina are unbeaten in their last 31 matches in all competitions, and the squad is finally balanced, with goalkeeper Emi Martinez and center back Cristian Romero providing a defensive spine for Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez to roam the attacking third with Messi. This could finally be the year where everything comes together for Argentina, especially since their fixture list for the group stage isn’t exactly a group of death.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia may have qualified for their second straight World Cup, but their form as of late hasn’t been pretty. In the past 4 months alone, they’ve lost to Jordan 1-0, drew Palestine 1-1, lost to Morocco 1-0, lost to Japan 2-0, and drew 1-1 to China. Ultimately, they were able to beat Australia 1-0 to qualify, which is impressive, but there isn’t much cause to be optimistic for Saudi Arabia. They’ll likely crash out of the group stage once again, especially given the strength of Group C.
Mexico
Mexico may be ranked as the 12th best national team in the world according to FIFA, but their inconsistent form says otherwise. In the last 6 months, they’ve lost 3-2 to Ecuador, 2-0 to the USA, and 2-1 to Canada. They’ve consistently beaten the bad teams in CONCACAF (Jamaica, Panama, Honduras, and El Salvador), but they’ve only managed draws against Chile and Costa Rica. Further, they’ve been on the losing end of their rivalry with the USA lately, especially after their 1-0 loss in the 2021 Gold Cup Final and a 3-2 loss in the 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Final. Mexico will have to turn it around in Qatar if they want to make the knockouts.
Poland
Ever since the conclusion of Euro 2016, Poland’s entire philosophy has been hoping that Robert Lewandowski scores enough goals to take them somewhere. Recently, that philosophy has not been successful. Poland failed to reach the knockout stage at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020. As a result, manager Paulo Sousa was sacked and Czeslaw Michniewicz was appointed in his place. Poland qualified for World Cup 2022 by beating Sweden 2-0 in convincing fashion, but at the end of the day, their success will be dependent on whether the rest of the team can adequately support Lewandowski in Qatar.
Group D
France
France are the defending World Cup champions, and they’re still the most talented squad in the world, at least on paper. Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe are two of the world’s best attackers right now, and the rest of the team is full of stars young (Eduardo Camavinga) and old (N’golo Kante). However, after an early flameout at Euro 2020, losing against Switzerland in a penalty shootout after a thrilling match, there is some uncertainty surrounding Didier Deschamps’ team. Either way, it’s a good thing that they have a very easy group to work with.
AFC v CONMEBOL Playoff Winner (Winner of UAE/Australia v Peru)
For the final spot in Group D, Peru will play the winner of a match between the United Arab Emirates and Australia.
Denmark
Denmark’s meteoric rise to reach the Euro 2020 semifinal was, without a doubt, the best sports story of the year. They’ll hope to build on that success in Qatar with a similar squad which sees the return of Christian Eriksen. Eriksen has fully recovered from his heart attack and has been outfitted with a heart monitor to ensure his safety moving forward, and he recently joined Premier League side Brentford. Further, Eriksen’s form at Brentford has been spectacular as of late, and his first touch back in the Denmark team was a goal. They’re firmly the second best team in Group D (at least on paper), and they’ll look to advance to the knockout stage for the second straight World Cup.
Tunisia
Tunisia qualified for World Cup 2022 in style, winning 4 of their 6 matches in their qualifiers group and conceding just 2 goals along the way. At the African Cup of Nations, Tunisia pulled off a huge upset of Nigeria to reach the quarterfinals before losing 1-0 to Burkina Faso. There aren’t many notable names in their team, but they’ve defended very well during this run of form which could make Tunisia a tough team to beat.
Group E
Spain
Spain boast an interesting blend of youth and experience in their squad, which is managed by Luis Enrique. Enrique is a former Barcelona manager who is widely regarded as a great manager for both club and country. At just 19 years old, Pedri has already established himself as one of the world’s best midfielders, and his cerebral play style is wise beyond his years. Group E is tough, but Spain’s fans will expect them to get to the knockout stage and beyond.
CONCACAF v OFC Playoff Winner (Costa Rica v New Zealand)
For the final spot in Group E, Costa Rica will play New Zealand.
Germany
After crashing out of the group stage at the hands of South Korea in the 2018 World Cup, Germany will look to redeem themselves in Qatar. Veteran stalwarts like goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer still litter the starting XI, but the key difference is the man at the helm. Hansi Flick, who managed Bayern Munich to a superb season in 2020, lifting the Bundesliga and the Champions League, took the reigns for Die Mannschaft in August of 2021. Since he took over, Germany has won 8 games, drawn 1, and lost none in all competitions. It will be interesting to see whether Germany can continue their impressive play at Qatar.
Japan
After a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat at the hands of Belgium at the 2018 World Cup Round of 16, Japan will look to reach the knockouts again in Qatar. However, with Spain and Germany in their group, it won’t be easy. Japan took care of business in World Cup Qualifiers, which included 2 separate wins over Australia and a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia, but their team is less talented (at least on paper) than they were in 2018. It will be an uphill battle for them in Group E.
Group F
Belgium
This is Belgium’s last chance to win a trophy to immortalize their golden generation. Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens, and Eden Hazard have been mainstays for the Belgian Red Devils for almost a decade, but so far they have nothing to show for it other than a third place medal at World Cup 2018. Despite all of their talent, they haven’t been able to clear the final hurdle. Time will tell if they can change their fortunes at the World Cup in Qatar.
Canada
For the first time since 1986, Canada is headed to the World Cup. They’ll hope that this is just the beginning for their youthful golden generation. Led by Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies and Lille’s lethal striker Jonathan David, Canada were in scintillating form on their road to qualification. They beat Panama 4-1, Mexico 2-1, and USA 2-0 before destroying Jamaica 4-0 to finally book their spot in Qatar. While they obviously lack experience, Canada has a real chance to make some noise at World Cup 2022.
Morocco
Morocco, much like Canada, is looking to capitalize on a golden generation of their own in Qatar. PSG right back Achraf Hakimi is one of the best players in the world at his position, and his ability to get forward and create chances is second to none for a defender. Further, he’s got a rocket of a right foot in dead ball situations, which he deployed to great effect at the African Cup of Nations. Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech is a skillful, tricky player with a magic wand where his left foot should be. Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou is in the prime of his career, and his heroics will be crucial to neutralizing the attackers of these other talented teams in Group F. Morocco lost 2-1 to Egypt in the African Cup of Nations quarterfinal, but they won all 6 of their matches in their World Cup qualification group, scoring 20 goals and conceding just 1. Morocco are heading to Qatar with something to prove.
Croatia
Croatia’s golden generation came up just short at the 2018 World Cup, losing in the final to France. They surpassed every expectation to make their country proud, and Luka Modric was rewarded for his excellent play with the 2018 Balon D’or. However, since the conclusion of that tournament, Modric’s midfield counterpart, Ivan Rakitic, retired from international duty, and the players who remain from Croatia’s golden generation are well past their prime at this point. It might be unwise to count out Croatia from a trip to the knockout phase, but it’s probably unrealistic for them to make another deep run.
Group G
Brazil
Brazil have been in great form since their loss to Argentina in the Copa America final. Their squad is full of superstars, as per usual. Neymar is still one of the world’s best players, Casemiro is an absolute force in midfield. Vinicius Junior and Antony two very promising attackers. They will look to take their signature samba style to Qatar and win their first World Cup since 2002. With the exception of Cameroon, Group G is the exact same as Group E from World Cup 2018, and it still seems like a weak group where Brazil should finish on top.
Serbia
Surprisingly, Serbia outperformed Portugal in their World Cup qualification group, going unbeaten in 8 matches (6 wins, 2 draws). They have an intriguing blend of experienced veterans with some young stars, exemplified by the strike partnership of Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic. Vlahovic, who is 22 years old, secured a $90 million transfer from Fiorentina to Juventus in January 2021, and this season he’s scored 21 goals in 29 Serie A matches. Mitrovic, who is 27 years old, has scored 38 goals in 37 matches in the Championship (England’s second division), shattering the previous record of 31 goals. If those two strikers can find the back of the net in Qatar, Serbia has a great chance to make the knockout stage.
Switzerland
Switzerland were one of the dark horses of Euro 2020, pulling off a huge upset against France on penalties. The best player in this team is goalkeeper Yann Sommer. The undersized shot stopper has played the hero for Switzerland many times, and he is the backbone of a Switzerland defense which only conceded 2 goals in 8 matches during their World Cup Qualifiers. The rest of the squad is solid and well rounded, but Switzerland’s relative lack of attacking talent could hold them back in Qatar.
Cameroon
Cameroon pulled off a shocking upset over Algeria, stealing their plane tickets to Qatar in a dramatic 2-1 win. Karl Toko Ekambi’s winning goal came in the 120th minute of the match after their World Cup Qualifier went to extra time. As the hosts for the African Cup of Nations, Cameroon lost in the semifinals to Egypt on penalties. Cameroon has some talented players, including Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana and former FC Porto star Vincent Aboubakar, so it will be interesting to see what they can do at World Cup 2022.
Group H
Portugal
Despite their immense talent, Portugal were only able to qualify for the World Cup through a playoff round in World Cup Qualifiers after failing to finish at the top of their initial qualification group. However, it’s hard to count them out considering the talent they have on display. Cristiano Ronaldo is the obvious headliner here. His leadership and ability to perform in big games (i.e. his hat trick in the Portugal vs Spain match at World Cup 2018) have historically been keys to Portugal’s success. Bruno Fernandes and Joao Cancelo are fellow Premier League stars who will look to make an impact in Qatar. Despite their wild inconsistency, the sky is the limit for Portugal.
Ghana
Ghana vs Uruguay will be one of the most intense matches in World Cup history. Given the context of Luis Suarez’s handball against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals, it’s easy to see why. This Ghana team isn’t their most talented in recent memory, but they work very hard and are they aren’t afraid to use physicality to disrupt their opposition. Ghana is an interesting boom-or-bust team to watch in Qatar, especially in this Group of Death.
Uruguay
This is Uruguay’s last chance to win it all with their aging duo of star strikers. Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani have been finding the back of the net for Uruguay for over a decade, but they have never really had the supporting cast to match. They were able to reach the quarterfinals in 2018 before falling to eventual champions France. With the Group of Death to get through before the knockouts, it will be a tough road for Uruguay to finally cash in on their generational strike partnership.
South Korea
South Korea have consistently been one of Asia’s best teams, and this squad is no different. Tottenham’s fantastic attacker Hueng-Min Son has been the country’s best player by a country mile for a while now, and his fantastic performance against Germany earned his country a famous 2-0 win at the 2018 World Cup. However, they’ll be forced to play spoiler if they have any hope of making the knockout stage in this incredibly difficult group they find themselves in.
Which nation is the biggest dark horse for the 2022 FIFA World Cup? Let us know in the comments!
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Author: Ben Pawlak
Published: 4/7/22 at 6pm EST
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Sources/Works Cited:
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