GROUP G:
BRAZIL: The World’s NO.1 ranked team will face stiff competition from European qualification group winners in Serbia and Switzerland, as well as Cameroun in an intriguing series of matchups at Qatar 2022. It just wouldn’t feel like a World Cup without Brazil, and the Selecao will aim to end two decades of European dominance since their fifth success back in 2002.
RANKING: 1
APPEARANCE: 21
COACH: Tite
KEY PLAYERS: Neymar, Marquinhos, Vinicius.
SERBIA: Serbia failed to make it to EURO 2020 but secured a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by finishing top and unbeaten in a tough qualifying group which included Portugal Indeed it was a late win against Cristiano Ronaldo and company last November that saw the Balkan nation book their place in the finals automatically.
RANKING: 25
APPEARANCE: 12
COACH: Dragon Stojkovic
KEY PLAYERS: Dusan Tadic, Aleksandr Mitrovic, Luka Jovic.
SWITZERLAND: Switzerland finished the World Cup qualification with a flourish beating Bulgaria 4-0 at home to underline their place at the top of Group C as they book an automatic spot in Qatar, going unbeating during qualification. Former Liverpool and Bayern Munich man, Xerdan Shaqiri, now with Chicago Fire in the MLS remains the talisman and the soon to be 31year old will be expected to lead the line and provide the spark in their attack.
RANKING:16
APPEARANCE: 11
COACH: Murat Yakin
KEY PLAYERS: Xerdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka, Manuel Akanji.
CAMEROUN: The Indomitable Lions booked a return to the finals for the first time since 2014 with a dramatic aggregate winner takes all victory over Algeria in March. The Lions will be making an eighth appearance on the World stage and can call upon the experience of captain Vincent Abubakar.
RANKING: 38
APPEARANCE: 7
COACH: Rigobert Song
KEY PLAYERS: Vincent Abubakar, Andre Onana, Karl Toko Ekambi.
GROUP H:
PORTUGAL: Qatar 2022 will see Cristiano Ronaldo compete in what could be his last World Cup finale. Ronaldo and co will be joined by Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in the group stage. Portugal as expected, managed to qualify for Qatar through the playoffs defeating North Macedonia to ensure an appearance at the finals for the eighth time.
RANKING: 9
APPEARANCE: 7
COACH: Fernando Santos
KEY PLAYERS: Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandez, Joao Cancelo.
URUGUAY: The South Americans do produce players capable of individual brilliance and that will be no different in Qatar. Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez and veterans Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez are at opposite ends of their careers, but are more than capable to pose a major threat in front of goal.
RANKING: 13
APPEARANCE: 14
COACH: Diego Alonso
KEYPLAYERS: Darwin Nunez,Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani.
GHANA: Ghana will be present in Qatar following a valiant effort in the qualifying rounds cementing a place in the tournament for the firs time since 2014 by beating Nigeria, on away goals rule in the African playoffs. The Black Stars went so close to reaching the semi-finals in 2010, before losing on penalties to Uruguay in the last eighth.
RANKING: 60
APPEARANCE: 4
COACH: Otto Addo
KEY PLAYERS: Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, Andre Ayew.
SOUTHKOREA: Not since 1982 have South Korea failed to appear at a World Cup and that streak will continue with Paulo Bento’s team competing in Qatar. Son Heung-Min, is SouthKorea’s difference maker, with the Tottenham forward a prolific scorer for club and country.
RANKING: 28
APPEARANCE: 10
COACH: Paolo Bento
KEYPLAYERS: Son Heung-Min, Hwang Hee-Chan, Kim Min-Jae
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