World Cup 2022: from France to Brazil, the contenders under scrutiny
Confidence in Argentina and Brazil, doubts in Belgium, promises in France … The dynamics of the title contenders just under six months from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
– Germany: sent home from the pools in 2018, Germany are undefeated in nine matches since the arrival of Hansi Flick after the Euro. The former Bayern coach is counting on the Munich framework (Neuer, Kimmich, Goretzka, Müller, Sané, Gnabry) to find the heights. The defense is more unstable, with a pair Nico Schlotterbeck-Antonio Rüdiger still fragile. And the centre-forward’s identity is unclear, with Flick having tried fellow Chelsea players Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.
– England: the finalists of the last Euro lack benchmarks. The laborious victory in friendly against Switzerland (2-1) did not bring many lessons, that against Ivory Coast (3-0), quickly reduced to 10 players, a few days later, even less. Harry Maguire’s disappointing season at club level, the physical glitches of John Stones and Kyle Walker or the absence, all season, of Ben Chilwell still make defense the probable Achilles’ heel of Gareth Southgate’s team, which will mainly rely on his attack with Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Mason Mount or Jack Grealish, who seems to have finally digested his transfer to City.
– Argentina: after elimination in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup (3-4 against France) experienced as a disaster, the Albiceleste gradually rebuilt a group, a game identity and a morality under the leadership the unexpected Lionel Scaloni, who had never led a professional team. With indisputable new players, such as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), defender Cristian Romero (Tottenham) or striker Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) alongside Angel Di Maria and Lionel Messi, the Argentinian put an end to to a 28-year wait by winning the Copa America in 2021 against Brazil. All the lights are green and the public enthusiasm is palpable, even if the physique of Messi, 35 years old in June, is a question mark.
– Belgium: quarter-finalists of the last four international competitions (Euro and World Cup), Belgium knows that its chances of snagging a first major trophy are fraying. Like Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, in Real Madrid and Chelsea, his golden generation is looking for a second wind. Some executives (Kompany, Vermaelen, Fellaini) have left the ship, others, such as Vertonghen, Alderweired, Witsel or Mertens, have all passed the milestone of fifty. The Red Devils will have to rely on their two in-form pillars, Thibaut Courtois (Real) and Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), while hoping that the next generation (Tielemans, Saelemaeckers, Trossard, Castagne, Doku, Theate, etc.) will transcend .
– Brazil: the five-time world champions are in great shape, remaining on three victories (on a score of 4-0). Neymar remains the essential headliner of the team: author of 71 goals in selection, he is six units from the record of King Pelé.
Marquinhos and Thiago Silva hold the house in central defense (5 goals conceded in 17 qualifying matches), as does Casemiro in the middle. But the hierarchy is shaken up in attack by young people like Paqueta, Vinicius, Antony or Raphinha, to the detriment of Firmino or Gabriel Jesus. One downside: since the defeat against Belgium in the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup, the Brazilians have contested only one friendly against a European selection, a victory (3-1) over the Czech Republic in 2019.
– Spain: the good course of its young generation at the Euro until the defeat in the semi-finals against the future Italian winners on penalties (1-1, 4-2 pens), just like the final in the League of nations (lost to France, 2-1) reassured the men of Federator Luis Enrique, who is among the title contenders in Qatar. Exit Sergio Ramos and other Gerard Pique: the stars of La Roja are not 20 years old and are called Pedri, Gavi or Ansu Fati. There remain the innkeepers, like Alvaro Morata, Aymeric Laporte or Sergio Busquets, but none are unstoppable.
– France: fallen from above at the Euro (elimination in the 8th), the Blues regained a certain flamboyance in the fall by winning the Final Four of the League of Nations against two formidable rivals, Belgium in the semi-finals (3-2 ) and Spain in the final (2-1). Each time, the French overthrew a badly started party. And, each time, the light came from their doublet of attackers Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappé. Their association, which could be improved in the European championship, has since proved to be sparkling. And they rely on a base of experience (Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann), embellished with new nuggets (Theo Hernandez, Aurélien Tchouaméni).
– Portugal: after a disappointing qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup (qualification in the play-offs), the selection of Cristiano Ronaldo shows a rather poor game. Despite a pool of talent – Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix or the inevitable Ronaldo – the Selecção suffers from a lack of collective strength and a clear game plan, is fragile behind and messy up front. Victim of these uncertainties, Ronaldo has not scored with Portugal since October 2021.
Source: AFP
Confidence in Argentina and Brazil, doubts in Belgium, promises in France… The dynamics of the title contenders just under six months before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. – Germany: sent home from the pools in 2018, Germany are undefeated in nine matches since the arrival of Hansi Flick after the Euro. The former Bayern coach is counting on…