Last Updated on July 28, 2022 by Author
When a country qualifies for the 2022 World Cup, it must do so through qualification, but which team is likely to be the best in the tournament? Gabriele Marcotti and Mark Ogden assess each country’s chances of qualifying, and they give some predictions for the Group of Death. For the most part, the European giants are favourites to qualify, but a number of countries may struggle to make it past their group.
While the Netherlands and Portugal are the clear favourites, there are a few teams in Group G that might give the Europeans a run for their money. Senegal, for example, has an experienced side with a number of star players and a good defensive record. While they haven’t had much success in qualifying, they do boast a stout defence and Sadio Mane, a top striker in the world. Ecuador, on the other hand, were a disappointment in qualifying, finishing third. They’ll need to rely heavily on the experience and skill of their leading striker, Enner Valencia, as well as their defenders, to make the tournament a success.
France: The French aren’t a bad bet despite their lack of star power. France isn’t particularly talented, but the French were a surprise in the World Cup final and won the tournament in Sweden. France is another team to watch for a long time – they finished fourth in qualifying and then reached the quarterfinals in the World Cup, while Italy finished fourth. The United States will be the underdogs, but France has some promising young players.
