With the clock ticking 100 days before the World Cup kicks off, here are five things to think about as we wait for the kickoff in Qatar.
We are only 100 days away from the World Cup! As the first Winter World Cup and the first in an Arab country approaches, excitement around the tournament continues to grow.
The start date has been set for November 21, but the organizers I requested changes that would cause the World Cup to start the day before So the host nation can have a special place in the opening match.
FIFA has not made a final decision yet. Meanwhile, the days pass by. As the tournament approaches, speculation is mounting about who can lift the trophy, which black horses to watch and which teams will fail.
It will also be interesting to see if players like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, two of the best players in the world, can shine in what is arguably going to be the World Cup final.
Here are five things to watch to head into the last 100 days.
Who are the favorites to win the 2022 World Cup?
Since the World Cup is not held on European soil and given the Middle Eastern climate, Brazil and Argentina are the favorites to win the World Cup. South American competitors are the favorites, too, due to their stacked rosters and winning traditions.
France, the World Cup holders, is looking forward to iteration. It’s not easy considering that the last team to do so was Brazil, which won back-to-back championships in 1958 and 62. No team has done so since.
Who are the black horses that will participate in the tournament?
Portugal, Germany and Denmark top the list of black horses. Portugal is led by Ronaldo, while the Danes, fresh out of the dazzling European Championship 2021, have shown they have a few surprises up their sleeves.
Meanwhile, Germany is rarely seen as a dark horse and is usually included among the candidates. But the Germans have had to rebuild over the past few years, but they have never ruled them out from digging deeper into any World Cup finals.
Who are the protesters?
The host nation, Qatar, has a low percentage of football and has been inconsistent in recent years. Yes, they will have home support behind them but little else. They could fail to become only the second host nation, after South Africa in 2010, not to advance to the group stage.
Belgium and England are the other two. Belgium’s golden generation is getting older. Meanwhile, England have found ways to play poorly at the highest level since winning their only World Cup in 1966.
What about USMNT opportunities?
The United States, which returned to the World Cup after missing Russia in 2018, has a young squad. The goal for them is to get out of the group stage. It is certainly a possibility.
USMNTV is in Group B along with Wales, England and Iran. The team’s second game, on November 25 (the day after Thanksgiving on Black Friday) against England, will be the biggest game of the group. It is also among the 5 matches that you cannot miss in the upcoming tournament.
Who will win the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer?
Three players quickly come to mind: Neymar, Messi and Karim Benzema. PSG teammates, Neymar and Messi are at their best at the moment. Both are expected to lead Brazil and Argentina, respectively, to the last 16.
The Frenchman Benzema had a great season for the club with Real Madrid, and led the Spanish club to the Champions League title. He also finished the tournament as the top scorer with 15 goals. If Benzema continues to keep up with this level, he will rise to the top of the list of goals in World Cup time.
[ad_2]
