GROUP E:
SPAIN: Spain remain in something of a transitional phase heading into Qatar 2022, as they look to emulate the last success they enjoyed on the global stage in 2010. The emergence of prospects such as Pedri, Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati, bodes well for the future. But it remains to be seen whether Spain will be strong to go all the way Qatar.
RANKING: 7
APPEARANCE: 15
COACH: Luis Enrique
KEY PLAYERS: Pedri, Rodri, Aymeric Laporte
GERMANY: Germany will be keen to make amends for a nightmare showing when trying to defend their title at the 2018 edition, as they enter a major tournament without Joachim Low for the first time in two decades. Low served as assistant to Klinsmann, when they got to the semi-finals on home soil in 2006, before beginning his own acclaimed 15 year tenure as head coach.
RANKING:11
TITLES: 4
APPEARANCE: 19
COACH: Hansi Flick
KEY PLAYERS: Joshua Kimmich, Kai Havertz, Serge Gnabri
JAPAN: Japan’s national team has never gone beyond the round of 16 stage at the world cup, but will be hopeful of enjoying a lengthy run at this year’s tournament. Japan boast players with Premier league credentials and many fans around the world will already be familiar with Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu and former Liverpool man, Takumi Minamino.
RANKING:24
APPEARANCE: 7
COACH: Hajime Moriyasu
KEY PLAYERS: Takumi Minamino, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Maja Yohida.
COSTA-RICA: Costa-Rica’s fate was decided by the intercontinental playoff after finishing fourth in CONCACAF qualifying.Veterans Keylor Navas and Bryan Ruiz managed to top New Zealand with a 3rd minute goal from former Arsenal striker Joel Campbell. Attack is where Costa-Rica’s strong point is, and it remains to be seen if they have the wherewithal at the other end of the pitch to keep out some of the stronger nations.
RANKING: 31
APPEARANCE: 5
COACH: Luis Fernando Suarez
KEY PLAYERS: Bryan Ruiz, Joel Campbell, Celso Borges, Keylor Navas.
GROUP F:
BELGIUM: Belgium can no longer lay claim to be the NO.1 ranked team in the world, having been replaced at the top by Brazil, but they can still call upon some key players of their golden generation and will be expected to go far in Qatar. Coach Roberto Martinez can rely on the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard to provide the goals.
RANKING: 2
APPEARANCE: 13
COACH: Roberto Martinez
KEY PLAYERS: Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard
CROATIA: Croatia surprised many at the last edition in 2018 by reaching the final where they lost to France. Despite his advancing years, midfielder Luca Modric remains a superb player and talisman. The 37year old will be determined to impress in what is likely to be his last World Cup.
RANKING: 15
APPEARANCE: 5
COACH: Zlatko Dalic
KEY PLAYERS: Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric, Domagoj Vida.
CANADA: Canada will be participating in the World Cup for the first time in 36 years following an impressive qualification campaign that led all the way to the winner’s spot in the CONCACAF standings.Canada will need Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies to be firing on all cylinders to have any hopes of advancing in the competition.
RANKING: 43
APPEARANCE: 1
COACH: John Herdman
KEY PLAYERS: Jonathan David, Junior Hoilett, Alphonso Davies.
MOROCCO: Morocco are regarded as one of the strongest team on the African continent and will boast plenty of star power at Qatar 2022. Much hopes rest on Achraf Hakimi and the returning Hakim Ziyech, as they would want to improve on their performance at the AFCON where they were knocked out by Egypt in the round of 16.
RANKING: 23
APPEARANCE: 5
KEY PLAYERS: Sofian Boufal, Achraf Hakimi, Ayoub Al-Kabi.
Discussion about this post