As the World Cup host, Qatar is determined to put on a show for football fans around the globe and that include on the field.The small gulf nation with a population under three million has invested significantly in it’s national team over the last decade, since it won the right to host the tournamen, with ex-Barcelona youth coach, Felix Sanchez leading the way since 2017.
RANKING :50
COACH: Felix Sanchez
KEY PLAYERS: Akram Afif, Almiroez Ali, Hassan Al-Haydos
NETHERLANDS:
Louis Van Gaal in his third spell in the Netherland hot seat will be hoping to use all his experience to guide the Dutch to the latter stages in a first appearance at the finals in eight years after finishing third in 2014.
Led from the back by Virgil Van Dijk, who is supported by Matthijs De Ligt and with Frenkie De Jong anchoring the midfield, the Orange are sure a team to watch out for.
RANKING: 8
APPEARANCE10
COACH:Louis Van Gaal
KEY PLAYERS: Virgil Van Dijk, Matthijs De Ligt, Frenkie De Jong, Memphis Depay
SENEGAL:
African champions, Senegal did things the hard way to book their place at Qatar 2022 via a penalty shoot-out having beaten Egypt once to claim their first AFCON title in February. Aliou Cisse’s side repeated that feat in the final round of the African World Cup qualifying to ensure a spot in Qatar.
RANKING: 18
APPEARANCE: 2
COACH: Aliou Cisse
KEY PLAYERS: Eduoard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sadio Mane
ECUADOR:
Ecuador went out in the quarter-finals of the last tournament,the Copa America, as they were beaten 3-0 by eventual winners Argentina. Gustavo Alfaro’s team will have to be more ressilient if they are to avoid an early exit. Experience forward Enner Valencia who is his country’s all-time leading scorer will have a significant role to play.
RANKING:44
APPEARANCE: 3
COACH: Gustavo Alfaro
KEY PLAYERS: Enner Valencia,Pervis Estupinan, Carlos Gruezo.
GROUP B
ENGLAND: Having reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World cup and then the finals of EURO 2020 only to lose painfully on penalties to Italy, England will be determined to go one better in Qatar and finally win their first major trophy since 1966.
Gareth Southgate will hope Harry Maguire can recapture his best form ahead of the tournament as Harry Kane will likely have the chance to become his country’s all-time goalscorer.
RANKING:5
WORLD CUP TITLES: 1
APPEARANCE: 15
COACH: Gareth Southgate
KEY PLAYERS: Harry Kane, Declan Rice, Raheem Sterling
USA: The US team will be joining the party at Qatar 2022, barely making it through regional qualifying on goals difference past Costa Rica. This will be the 11th time, the US team has featured on the global stage with their best result been a semi-final run at the inagural tournament in 1930. Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic will be expected to play the main role, while Gio Reyna will provide a creative spark in attack.
RANKING:16
APPEARANCE: 11
COACH: Greg Berhalter
KEY PLAYERS: Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie
IRAN: Iran will appear at a third straight world cup finals as the No-1 ranked national team from the Asian region.They qualified for the 2022 showpiece in emphatic style, winning eight and only losing one of their final fixtures. Porto forward Medhi Taremi, Feyenoord creator Alireza Jahanbaksh and Bayer Leverkusen threat Sadar Azmoun make Iran a strong attacking unit.
RANKING: 20
APPEARANCE: 6
COACH: Carlos Queiroz
KEY PLAYERS: Sadar Azmoun, Alireza Jahanbaksh, Medhi Taremi
WALES: Wales defeated Ukraine on June 5 to secure the final UEFA Playoff berth and a first appearance on the biggest stage since 1958. Wales reached the quarter-finals in that 1958 appearance in their only world cup finals in history.
RANKING: 19
APPEARANCE: 1
COACH: Robert Page
KEY PLAYERS: Gareth Bale, Daniel James, Aaron Ramsey.
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