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Who will win the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar?

Who will win the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar?


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Firebat

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The 2022 World Cup is scheduled to begin in Qatar on 21st November, with the final taking place on 18th December. All 32 teams have been confirmed, comprising of 8 groups:

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France are the reigning champions, having defeated Croatia 4-2 in the final at Russia 2018. Previous champions before them include Germany, Spain and Italy, the latter of which will notably not be competing at this year's event (due to a 1-0 loss to North Macedonia), despite being reigning European champions.

Who will win this World Cup? Are France strong enough to claim a 2nd successive title? Can a young England go one step further? Can the most successful World Cup nation Brazil make a resurgence 20 years after their last triumph?

Vote and discuss.
 
This will be England's year! Enough top class players and a coach who has received a lot of kudos - so why not?
 
Under 4 months to go now.

After watching the women's triumph, I'm sure the England men will be motivated to go one step further themselves.
 
This will be England's year! Enough top class players and a coach who has received a lot of kudos - so why not?

I'm feeling very wound up about this!

England have the players to win the World Cup.

But Gareth Southgate is England coach for the same reason that Brian Clough never was, and that Terry Venables only got two years.

The FA want a manager who will wear a tie, not say anything undiplomatic and not upset anyone.

But no club would dream of employing Southgate.

His strategy is to play 5 defenders (excluding Alexander-Arnold for being too creative), plus 2 defensive midfielders, then Mason Mount, Raheen Sterling and the world's slowest centre-forward in Harry Kane.

Maguire's lack of pace leaves the team defending 15 yards too deep, and Kane's lack of pace pulls the forwards 15 yards further away from the midfield. And then we get swamped in midfield.

It's shocking, because the players available are the second strongest squad after France.

And look at England in the last two knockouts for which Southgate gets acclaimed........

COLOMBIA - did not qualify for 2022 - drew.
SWEDEN - did not qualify for 2022 - won through a setpiece.
CROATIA - lost in extra-time.
BELGIUM - lost.

UKRAINE - did not qualify for 2022 - won.
GERMANY - when they were at rock bottom - won.
DENMARK - minus their best player - lost in extra-time.
ITALY - did not qualify for 2022 - won on penalties.
 
This will be England's year! Enough top class players and a coach who has received a lot of kudos - so why not?

To heavily reliant on sterling Kane, lack quality in defence, Grealish, foden, rashford way overrated, for me England round of 16 or quarter final elimination.
 
Expecting the Neymar-Gabriel Jesus duo to excel and carry Brazil far.
 
Going to see 2 Qfs!!

Excited about it - anyone else going?
 
Going to see 2 Qfs!!

Excited about it - anyone else going?
I wish I was - I’m saving my pennies for LA, Seattle and Vancouver in 2026.

By the way, there are very few teams I can see winning in December:

1. Strong candidates
France
Brazil
Argentina

2. Dark Horses
Germany
Netherlands
England

3. Long shots with enough quality if they get a nice pathway to open up
Spain
Uruguay

I can’t see anyone else who can win it.
 
France or Brazil.

England won't win with Southgate in charge. Ultra defensive and inept. I see him as the football's version of Misbah, with the exception that he actually holds coaching qualifications.

No team in the PL would ever hire Southgate as coach and I certainly wouldn't want him if I supported a Championship club. At best, he's a League One coach.

It's a shame because England has so many good players but we have an incompetent manager who doesn't know how to utilise their pace + talent.

He would rather play 3 CBs with 5 at the back + 2 x DMs. It doesn't get more defensive than that.
 
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Not England! Out in the Round of 16.

Brazil to win. Raphinha for player of the tournament.
 
Pak Army to assist Qatar on FIFA World Cup security
The approval was given by the federal cabinet to the Pakistan Army-Qatar agreement on providing assistance

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army will assist Qatar with security in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 being held in the Middle Eastern country.

The approval was given by the federal cabinet to the Pakistan Army-Qatar agreement on providing assistance during the mega football event. The world cup will be played from November 20 to December 18 in Qatar. The Gulf country will be hosting the extravaganza for the very first time.

Earlier. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has said who used to deliver lectures on the law he himself is escaping from it. Marriyum Aurangzeb said this while addressing a press conference here on Monday.

Commenting on the political state of affairs in the country, she said foreign funding against former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has proved wherein they kept on escaping the accountability for eight years and now he is trying to create chaos and unrest in the country by spreading his fake and baseless narrative. She went on to say that their claim of being truthful and honest has now been evaporated as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had declared them as foreign agents, she added.

The minister said that Imran Khan has been caught to be involved in robbery besides the five affidavits. She said when investigation was initiated Imran Khan didn’t present himself for it and contrary to this he threatened a lady judge of dire consequences. Why no suo motu notice was taken on this serious matter, she questioned.

The minister said that cash assistance is being provided to the flood-victims on the directions of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. She said that Rs25,000 cash is being provided to the flood-affected people under the Benazir Income Support Programme. The cash assistance will provide immediate relief to the flood-affected people enabling them to procure medicines and food items on their own, she added.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said the prime minister has also directed the Finance Division to release a fund of Rs5 billion for relief measures in the flood-hit areas. A joint survey in collaboration of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and provincial authorities has begun to assess the damage caused to houses as well as the number of deaths in the flood related incidents, she added.

She said that Rs1 million as compensation is being provided to the bereaved families of every person who died due to the recent floods in the country.

The News Pk
 
Campaigners have criticised the Football Association for the "severe delay" in its statement on human rights in the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

On Wednesday the FA launched an anti-discrimination campaign that will feature a OneLove armband.

It also backed calls for compensation to be awarded for any injury or death related to a World Cup construction project.

But Human Rights Watch has questioned the timing of the move.

"The English Football Association's statement is welcome despite the severe delay," said spokesperson Rothna Begum.

"With just weeks to go before the first football is kicked, it is urgent that all football associations maximise pressure on Fifa and Qatari authorities to commit to and set up a fund that will compensate wage theft, injuries and deaths since they were awarded the hosting of the World Cup in 2010.

"The statement notes that they needed the time to work out what role they needed to play, but we and many others have been calling on them for much longer to step up their support for migrant workers."

BBC
 
Are England still a viable force for the World Cup?

==

England suffered the embarrassment of relegation from their Uefa Nations League group after slumping to defeat against Italy in Milan.

Giacomo Raspadori's stunning 68th-minute strike broke the deadlock in the San Siro as a game that lacked any spark finally came to life after the break, with England's winless streak extended to five games, their worst since June 2014.

Raspadori produced instant control and a fierce right-foot finish which gave goalkeeper Nick Pope, in for the injured Jordan Pickford, no chance.

Manager Gareth Southgate kept faith with Harry Maguire despite his struggles at Manchester United, the defender suffering one anxious early moment when West Ham United striker Gianluca Scammaca beat him in the air at the far post, only for a combination of Pope and the woodwork to keep his header out.

England responded at last, Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma producing a fine double block from Harry Kane, although the home side had chances of their own in a frenetic finale.
 
Germany players will each receive €400,000 ($390,000) if they lift the World Cup, the country's football association announced on Sunday after thrashing out an agreement with the squad.
 
Germany players will each receive €400,000 ($390,000) if they lift the World Cup, the country's football association announced on Sunday after thrashing out an agreement with the squad.

Damn! That's a lot of money.

It doesn't seem like Germany will win it this time. They have become significantly weaker.
 
I have always enjoyed watching Brazil and Spain, but have a soft corner for Argentina since Maradona’s playing days, so I hope Messi can lift the trophy this time around. But Brazil will be very tough to defeat.
 
Morocco's culture ministry has accused Adidas of appropriating Moroccan culture in its new jerseys for Algeria's football team.

Adidas said the design was inspired by the Mechouar Palace in Algeria.

However the geometric blue, teal and yellow design is a pattern called zellige, which is common in Moroccan mosaics, the ministry's lawyer said.

The neighbouring nations have a long history of tensions, as they continue to dispute Western Sahara.

Lawyer Mourad Elajouti wrote on Facebook that he had issued a legal warning to Adidas, on behalf of Morocco's Ministry of Culture.

In a letter to the company's chief executive Kasper Rorsted, Mr Elajouti said the new design was cultural appropriation and "an attempt to steal a form of Moroccan cultural heritage and use it outside its context".

He has demanded the German sportswear brand remove the design within two weeks.

Mr Elajouti added that Algeria's 2022-2023 season kit "contributes to the loss and distortion of the identity and history of these [zellige] cultural elements".

The BBC has contacted Adidas for comment.

BBC
 
Fifty days before the World Cup kicks off in Qatar, workers are pouring concrete and hammering through the night to ready luxury hotels and bargain apartments for a million or more football fans.

Hundreds of migrants are labouring inside the 211 metre (696 feet) high Katara Towers, dramatically shaped like intertwined scimitar swords, where VIP guests of world football's governing body FIFA will stay during the tournament.

The wealthiest will pay thousands of dollars a night for rooms with marble wine cellars and a lobby with one of the world's biggest chandeliers.

Yet mountains of sand sit on the steps and some of the smoked glass windows are yet to be installed at this landmark on the Lusail seafront close to the stadium that will host the final.

"Everyone is working around the clock," said one engineer on the project, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"It will be touch and go whether everything is installed to suit people paying so much," this expert told AFP.

A spokesperson for the Accor group, which will run the Fairmont and Raffles hotels in Katara Towers, insisted they would be ready for "FIFA guests" during the World Cup and then officially open after the tournament.

$50,000 a night chalet

Frenzied work is being carried out across Doha.

Forty kilometres (25 miles) away in Barwa Barahat Al Janoub, another army of labourers works under floodlights at night and scorching sunlight in the day, to ready apartments for fans paying $84 a night for a steel bed in a shared room.

The Barwa complex, out in the semi-desert, is expected to house more than 7,500 World Cup fans and will later be used for the thousands of foreign workers who keep Qatar's oil- and gas-fuelled economy moving.

A source on the project -- which is 10 kilometres from a metro station -- said that hundreds of rooms still need to be finished and that workers were engaged in "a furious race against time".

A spokesperson for the Qatar organising committee said: "All of the accommodation options at the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be ready in good time before fans, teams and officials arrive in Qatar for the tournament."

A "comfortable inventory" exists for teams and fans, this spokesperson added.

Positioned at opposite extremes, the sword-shaped towers and austere workers' rooms will play key roles in housing supporters of the 32 nations taking part in the World Cup from November 20.

Organisers say that more than one million fans will visit and that 130,000 rooms will be usable in hotels, apartments, cruise ships and desert tents.

But some supporters have already complained about prices and the availability of rooms.

Other Gulf cities, especially Dubai, are reporting a World Cup boom driven by fans who are reluctant to stay in Qatar, in part also due to perceptions -- disputed by Doha -- that respect for LGBTQ rights and alcohol will be in short supply.

In Doha port there will be three cruise ships that can handle up to 13,000 people paying between $179 and $800 a night.

For $423 a night some supporters will be in traditional -- but air conditioned -- tents on a beachfront at Al Khor, north of Doha, with en-suite bathrooms, flat screen televisions and other luxury trappings.

One thousand bedouin-style tents are also being put up where fans can experience Qatari-style camping without air conditioning. Organisers have not announced the price.

Some Qatari landlords are trying to cash in on the World Cup, demanding $4,000-plus a night for Doha apartments. One two-bedroom chalet is advertised on booking.com at nearly $50,000 a night.

While 80 percent of Doha's 30,000 hotel rooms are reserved by FIFA, some open market suites are being advertised at $5,500 a night.

"There is a lot of negotiating going on over prices," said one Doha travel executive.

Nasser Al-Khater, chief executive of the World Cup Qatar organisers, stressed in a TV interview this week that official accommodation was being subsidised to keep prices down.

"The private sector also provides housing units and they have the right to determine the price they see suitable," he said.
 
Realistically France should still have enough firepower to defend their title

Wouldn’t rule out Belgium though
 
Realistically France should still have enough firepower to defend their title

Wouldn’t rule out Belgium though

Belgium are the South Africa of soccer.

Great team but somehow doesn't win any world title.
 
Wolves say Portugal forward Pedro Neto will miss the 2022 World Cup as he requires an ankle operation.

The 22-year-old suffered the injury in their 2-0 defeat by West Ham on Saturday, 1 October, when he was substituted after 24 minutes.

The Premier League club said that Neto strained his lateral ligaments.

"Following further evaluation and a specialist opinion this week, it is planned for him to undergo surgery," the club added.

"This means that, unfortunately, he will not be fit for the upcoming World Cup."

Neto has made three appearances for Portugal and, while he was in their squad for recent Nations League games against the Czech Republic and Spain, he did not play in either.

The World Cup will take place from 20 November to 18 December in Qatar.

BBC
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The latest single from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Official Soundtrack has just been released! &#55357;&#57000; <br><br>'Light The Sky' features <a href="https://twitter.com/BalqeesFathi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BalqeesFathi</a>, Nora Fatehi, Manal, <a href="https://twitter.com/RahmaRiad?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahmaRiad</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/RedOne_Official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RedOne_Official</a> ✨ <br> <br>Watch the official music video ⤵️</p>— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1578356225888100356?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
FIFA WC22: PAKISTAN ARMY TROOPS LEAVE FOR QATAR TO PROVIDE SECURITY

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Army troops on Monday left for Qatar for the security of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 — the mega event scheduled from November 21 to December 18.

The Pakistan Army troops comprising officers, junior commissioned officers and jawans will assist the Qatari government during the FIFA WC22.

The Qatari Interior ministry delegation had visited Pakistan in August and requested Pakistan to provide troops for the security of the mega event.

Earlier, an eight-member FIFA team also visited Pakistan and gave training to the Pakistan Army troops before leaving for Doha, Qatar for the security of the mega event.

The approval was given by the federal cabinet to the Pakistan Army-Qatar agreement on providing assistance during the mega football event.

The FIFA WC22 will be played from November 20 to December 18 in Qatar.

ARY News
 
Always support Brazil since I like Ronado.. btw [MENTION=138771]Firebat[/MENTION] add [Poll] on title, poll won't see in mobile mode, you've to switch to full site to vote..
 
Turning World Cup into 'platform of political statements' is 'not right for football', Qatar boss says

Qatar's World Cup chief has told the English and Welsh FAs to focus on their teams rather than demanding compensation for migrant workers.

In a wide-ranging interview in the capital, Doha, Nasser Al Khater also told Sky News that enduring criticism of the tournament could be considered racist.

He said that: Gay fans will be welcome to display affection and rainbow flags;

FIFA will have to decide on captains wearing "One Love" armbands while cautioning against "political messages" by teams;

Special areas will be created for drunken supporters to sober up;

95% of tickets have been sold

The Middle East's first World Cup opens on 19 November - the culmination of a 12-year journey since Qatar won a widely-tainted FIFA vote.

In that time, Mr Al Khater has risen to chief executive of the supreme committee overseeing Qatar's planning and been in the firing line of criticism.

A group of European nations - including England and Wales - has spent the World Cup build-up highlighting concerns about the suffering of migrant workers and claimed inadequacies in Qatar's compensation funding.

Mr Al Khater told Sky News: "A lot of people that speak about this issue on workers' welfare … are not experts in the industry. And they're not experts in what they're speaking about.

"And I feel that they feel obliged, that they need to speak. I think they need to really read and educate themselves a little bit more about what's happening on the ground in Qatar."

Be respectful of the culture

A UEFA working group on labour rights in Qatar held talks at FIFA HQ in Switzerland on Wednesday.

"So when people come out and say, 'Yes, we agree that there needs to be some sort of compensation fund'," Mr Al Khater said. "They're just reading off a piece of paper.

"So let's leave that to the experts … and let us focus on football. Let the football administrators focus on their teams. And let's just leave it at that."

While World Cup organisers insist there have only been three work-related deaths at stadiums, concerns linger that more migrant workers died on wider infrastructure work across Qatar as every fatality is not fully investigated.

Mr Al Khater pointed to Qatar improving labour laws and the introduction of a minimum wage.

But Qatar is not prepared to change anti-LGBTQ+ laws to respond to concerns of visiting fans, while insisting none will be discriminated against during the 29-day tournament and that gay fans can hold hands.

"All we ask is for people to be respectful of the culture," Mr Al Khater said. "At the end of the day, as long as you don't do anything that harms other people, if you're not destroying public property, as long as you're behaving in a way that's not harmful, then everybody's welcome and you have nothing to worry about."

While Mr Al Khater has said fans can display rainbow flags, he said "it's a FIFA matter" whether approval is given for England captain Harry Kane and Wales counterpart Gareth Bale to wear multicoloured "One Love" armbands that highlight discrimination.

95% of tickets have been sold

"From what I understand, there are discussions taking place about the different political messages that are going to be," Mr Al Khater said.

He added: "This is a sporting tournament that people want to come (to) and enjoy. Turning it into a platform of political statements I don't think is right for the sport."

Fans will be attending matches in eight new stadiums built around Doha. Accommodation remains available through organisers but 95% of tickets have been sold, Mr Al Khater said.

To host the World Cup, Qatar has had to open up more areas for the sale of alcohol - including outside stadiums and in fan zones - rather than it remaining restricted to hotel bars.

Mass gatherings of boisterous, drunken supporters is unfamiliar territory for the first Muslim nation to host a World Cup.

Mr Al Khater said: "There are plans in place for people to sober up if they've been drinking excessively.

"It's a place to make sure that they keep themselves safe, they're not harmful to anybody else."

Mr Al Khater sidestepped ongoing concerns about whether vote-buying secured the World Cup hosting rights in the vote in 2010 - feeling Qatar has been unfairly targeted generally.

"We've taken the challenge upon ourselves and we've risen to that challenge," he said.

Asked if he felt criticism was racist, he responded: "I'm not going to get into what the intentions are of other people, I'm not going to get into the minds and souls of other people.

"But you know, who knows, possibly."

MSN
 
Each of the 32 participating teams must submit a preliminary list of players for the World Cup by Friday in order to begin selecting their squads for the tournament in Qatar. According to FIFA standards, all teams must submit a list of at least 35 players and a maximum of 55 players by Friday.

Moreover, the final squad must be drawn from the preliminary list and cannot be changed for three weeks. FIFA will not publish the preliminary selection, although teams may reveal their preferences.

Since Russia's tournament and previous editions, this is the first time a World Cup preliminary list has been expanded to 55 players. This year's squads will include 26 members instead of the standard 23 to accommodate for injuries and the tournament's schedule, which begins amid various football seasons. FIFA will compel all teams to declare their World Cup lineups on November 14, a few days before the tournament.
 
Its always the top usuals of Europe and Latin America making all the way. Really hoping this world cup we could see someone out of the blue and out of imagination winning like South Korea, Iran, Mexico etc. It's boring and predictable seeing the usuals
 
Germany forward Timo Werner is out of the World Cup in Qatar after suffering an ankle injury that will keep him out until 2023.

The 26-year-old was withdrawn after 19 minutes of RB Leipzig's 4-0 Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.

The former Chelsea striker, who has returned to form this term, has scored 24 goals in 55 appearances for Germany

Germany's first World Cup match is against Japan on 23 November.

Werner was part of the Germany squad at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“15,000 deaths for 5,760 minutes of football - shame on you”<br><br>Huge anti-<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar</a> World Cup protests in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bundesliga?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bundesliga</a> this afternoon, including at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HerthaBSC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HerthaBSC</a> & Borussia <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dortmund?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dortmund</a>.<br><br>&#55357;&#56567; <a href="https://twitter.com/FasziFankurve?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FasziFankurve</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bvb?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bvb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoycottQatar2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BoycottQatar2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/7ZX4cCc0Cq">pic.twitter.com/7ZX4cCc0Cq</a></p>— Matt Ford (@matt_4d) <a href="https://twitter.com/matt_4d/status/1588912713962786818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Brazil great Pele backed the team to live up to their billing as World Cup favourites and capture a record-extending sixth title in Qatar, saying he has full confidence in the 26-man squad selected by head coach Tite.

Sharing his thoughts on Instagram alongside a picture of himself wearing a Brazil jersey from his playing days, the 82-year-old -- who led the team to the title in 1958, 1962 and 1970 -- said he hoped to see another star above their crest.

“The last time I wore the shirt of the Brazilian team, we inaugurated the three stars above the crest,” Pele, the only player to have won three World Cups, captioned the picture. “Now we have five. I can’t wait to add the sixth star.”

Pele, who has suffered health issues in recent years but has remained active on social media, said he was confident the team would make the nation proud.

“I’m here to give my vote of confidence to this team and wish good luck to our national team,” he said after Tite named his squad earlier this week.

Brazil’s position at the top of the world rankings and its superb unbeaten run in qualifying have made it the bookmakers’ favourites to win the title in Qatar.

Brazil will start its campaign against Serbia on November 24. It also faces Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G.

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/foot...up-international-football/article66121921.ece
 
Final 4 will be: Brazil, France, Argentina and England.
 
I am hoping for Argentina to win because of Messi and I think they have a really good chance. But I think their South American rivals Brazil are the favourites.
 
I'd like to talk about where the big guns currently stand.

As you all know from my cricket posts, I'm a great believer in youth replacing elderly players. I worry about the likes of Thiago Silva and Diego Godin unless they are surrounded by younger, more mobile team-mates.

I follow South American football closely. It seems as if Brazil and Argentina are the two outstanding teams, but the birth of the Nations League means that neither team has played against top European opposition since the last World Cup (and no, I don't count Italy).

Argentina worry me. They are playing really well, but their balance has been shattered by the loss of Lo Celso, which will mean that Messi can't just stand still for 80 minutes. Messi has looked great at PSG this season - but the fact that Neymar and, worryingly, Sergio Ramos, have too means that we must assume that the French Ligue 1 is just really weak. After all, Benfica topped PSG's Champions League group.

Messi didn't win the World Cup at 31 or 27 or 23. Is he better at 35? I doubt it!

Brazil worry me too. Their squad has great strength in some areas but is terribly weak in others.

Alisson and Ederson are the two best keepers in Qatar. But you can only play one keeper.

They have 9 really good strikers, right down to Anthony at 8th choice and Rodrygo at 9th choice. But you can't play more than 3 of them anyway, and they actually don't have a real number 9, and will probably use Richarlison as a False Nine - and no top club would buy Richarlison.

Brazil's midfield is actually rather weak, when you think their 3 starters are Man Utd's Casemiro and Fred and West Ham's Lucas Paqueta. Are they going to win you a World Cup?

Defence is even worse. Marquinhos is fine, but will be partnered by 38 year old Thiago Silva. And the full-backs are no better - Alex Sandro at left-back and either his Juventus team-mate Danilo at right-back or even Dani Alves who will have his 40th birthday in 6 months!

I worry about how Brazil will beat Serbia. I actually fear for them in the Round of Sixteen against Uruguay or Portugal.

Uruguay are an enigma. The spine of their team is not just strong, it's fast, mobile and powerful. Gimenez, Olivera and Araujo in defence, Betancur, Ugarte and Valverde in midfield and Nunez up front are a frightening prospect. The problem is that the other four will be journeymen (Rochet, a dodgy right-back and a couple of South America-based midfielders).

I'm less pessimistic about Belgium now than I was at the Euros. Finally Wout Faes has refreshed the defence and Tielemans and Onana have freshened up the midfield, and you could say the same about Trossard in attack.

Germany still lacks a Number 9. England is still stuck with a coach playing 5-3-2 without the ball. France's midfield lacks creativity. And Spain are lightweight.
 
Brazil and france looks super strong in paper followed by portugal

The depth of france squad is insane even without pogba and kante...I seriously see camavinga winning the young player award

The only hole in brazil squad are their full backs.Also interesting to see whether they go for 38 year old thiago silva in starting 11.Jesus with neymar and vinicius will be fun

Excluding some second class defensive midfielders portugal has got such high quality players in almost every other positions.But their manager is the biggest problem as he is too defensive for such vibrant players who are more suited in an attacking style of football

Rest all teams looks soo much flawed.Argentina has a bunch of mediocre players and they will depend messi to get anything out of this wc.Belgiums golden generation is long gone,so they wont last long

Germany and spain has got a group of sumptuous players in the midfield but they don't have anyone to score upfront....Someone half clinical as a david villas or mirosla kloses could have made the difference

Not much idea about netherlands.Then england will be england,they might go deep but not winning anything from qatar
 
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I am predicing a Brazil vs France Final and expecting Brazil to win it by a single goal.
 
Open world cup.

Brazil are strong with France.

But I will go for an outside team like Belgium. KDB could be man of the tournament.
 
Brazil and france looks super strong in paper followed by portugal

The depth of france squad is insane even without pogba and kante...I seriously see camavinga winning the young player award

The only hole in brazil squad are their full backs.Also interesting to see whether they go for 38 year old thiago silva in starting 11.Jesus with neymar and vinicius will be fun

Excluding some second class defensive midfielders portugal has got such high quality players in almost every other positions.But their manager is the biggest problem as he is too defensive for such vibrant players who are more suited in an attacking style of football

Rest all teams looks soo much flawed.Argentina has a bunch of mediocre players and they will depend messi to get anything out of this wc.Belgiums golden generation is long gone,so they wont last long

Germany and spain has got a group of sumptuous players in the midfield but they don't have anyone to score upfront....Someone half clinical as a david villas or mirosla kloses could have made the difference

Not much idea about netherlands.Then england will be england,they might go deep but not winning anything from qatar
Brazil is terrific out wide in attack, but they don’t have a Number 9.

They can field nine high quality support strikers and wingers, but no centre-forward.

It’s a weird, weird World Cup when Canada has two players better than anybody in the Brazil starting eleven!
 
Fancy Brazil this time - they look strong everywhere and whilst they don't have a prolific goalscorer apart from Pedro they have goals and pace everywhere. They can select a world class front 3 and replace them with another world class front 3 at half time and we probably won't notice the difference. They are also very aggressive in midfield and are swarming the opposition with their pressing. The only weakness is the full back area so I hope Tite plays Militao at right full-back.
 
Would be surprised if it's not Brazil, Argentina or France.
 
This will be England's year! Enough top class players and a coach who has received a lot of kudos - so why not?
You must be joking!

Other than Harry Kane (who never turns up against the big teams when playing for England - unless he's taking a penalty), how many players do England have who are truly world class?

Goalkeepers? Not a chance.
Back four? With Maguire as a guaranteed starter who's now 4th choice centre half at Man Utd?
Midfielders? Not exactly world beaters.
Forwards? Half decent, but still not capable of beating the best.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Christopher Nkunku is out of the World Cup after picking up a knee injury during the French national team's training today <a href="https://t.co/mxjiYQ1Gyx">pic.twitter.com/mxjiYQ1Gyx</a></p>— B/R Football (@brfootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/brfootball/status/1592642489860628486?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Sadio Mane will miss Senegal's "first games" at the World Cup because of a leg injury, an official from the country's football federation has said.
 
You must be joking!

Other than Harry Kane (who never turns up against the big teams when playing for England - unless he's taking a penalty), how many players do England have who are truly world class?

Goalkeepers? Not a chance.
Back four? With Maguire as a guaranteed starter who's now 4th choice centre half at Man Utd?
Midfielders? Not exactly world beaters.
Forwards? Half decent, but still not capable of beating the best.
Harry Kane is the problem, not the solution.

He’s like an even-slower version of Marco Van Basten. He scores against the Tunisia and Panama level teams, but he hasn’t got the acceleration to get away from top international defenders.

I would play him as a Number 10 because he’s a lovely passer of a football.

But I’d want my Centre-forward to be DCL or Tammy Abraham.
 
Harry Kane is the problem, not the solution.

He’s like an even-slower version of Marco Van Basten. He scores against the Tunisia and Panama level teams, but he hasn’t got the acceleration to get away from top international defenders.

I would play him as a Number 10 because he’s a lovely passer of a football.

But I’d want my Centre-forward to be DCL or Tammy Abraham.

Tammy Abraham isn’t in the squad and DCL is perpetually injured.
 
You must be joking!

Other than Harry Kane (who never turns up against the big teams when playing for England - unless he's taking a penalty), how many players do England have who are truly world class?

Goalkeepers? Not a chance.
Back four? With Maguire as a guaranteed starter who's now 4th choice centre half at Man Utd?
Midfielders? Not exactly world beaters.
Forwards? Half decent, but still not capable of beating the best.

Trippier is having a fantastic season in the right wing back position, Bellingham is a top class midfielder, Saka and Foden are excellent forward players who can play alongside Kane.

I think the defence will cost England in the end, he plays three at the back and we have too many slow centre backs who are easy to pass through and get behind against teams with pace.
 
Trippier is having a fantastic season in the right wing back position, Bellingham is a top class midfielder, Saka and Foden are excellent forward players who can play alongside Kane.

I think the defence will cost England in the end, he plays three at the back and we have too many slow centre backs who are easy to pass through and get behind against teams with pace.

The problems are glaring. Bar kane England lack Goals in them. And as you pointed the defence is awful.
 
<b>World Cup 2022: Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal says event should be held in 'football countries'</b>

Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal has again questioned the decision to award the World Cup to Qatar, although he has praised the organisation and facilities in the Gulf state.

He believes Qatar is too small to host such a big tournament and does not have enough football heritage.

Van Gaal has previously labelled the decision to host the World Cup in the Arab nation as "ridiculous".

"You have to play in football countries," he said.

The 71-year-old van Gaal added: "The aim of Fifa was, at that time, to develop countries and therefore we play here.

"But football countries have more experience with everything and you can also stimulate other countries in another way, the right way."

The Dutchman revealed some of his friends and family have had problems trying to book accommodation for the tournament, which begins on Sunday.

Qatar has a population of fewer than three million people and the eight World Cup stadiums are only spread over an area the size of West Yorkshire.

"This is also a small country. My family and friends have a lot of difficulties to find a place," said former Manchester United boss van Gaal.

"But the organisation and the pitches and everything, the facilities, are very good."

The Netherlands are preparing for their first World Cup for eight years after failing to qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia.

Van Gaal, who is in his third spell as boss, led the team to third place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and believes they are good enough to lift the trophy this time around - even if other sides have more talented individuals.

"I believe we don't have the best players on earth in our team, but I believe in team building and in tactics," he added.

"I believe we can go far, but we also need luck, that is also important. Because of that and because I believe in imagination we could be the world champion at the end of the tournament."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63648645
 
Sadio Mane will miss Senegal's "first games" at the World Cup because of a leg injury, an official from the country's football federation has said.

It would be amazing if an African nation wins this time!

Personally Ive decided NOT to support England. Their propaganda, LGBT fascination is sickening. Those who cant respect others cultures or morals should not be hypocrites and not go. England to be knocked out group stage I hope. :)
 
It would be amazing if an African nation wins this time!

Personally Ive decided NOT to support England. Their propaganda, LGBT fascination is sickening. Those who cant respect others cultures or morals should not be hypocrites and not go. England to be knocked out group stage I hope. :)

I will still support England but I don’t think they will go very far.

It feels like Brazil’s year to me.

Raphinha player of the tournament.
 
I will still support England but I don’t think they will go very far.

It feels like Brazil’s year to me.

Raphinha player of the tournament.

Brazil are rightly favourites.

Add the best keeper in Allison, Best Central Mid in Fabino. :klopp

I hope they win, Brazil are football.
 
Fabino! LOL. No chance the best.

Best Defensive Central Midfielder. A little off form this season but last season most felt this was true. He will be huge in this tournament!

Meanwhile, Brazlians in Qatar but looks like Indians to me. :))

 
Who will win the World Cup?

Alan Shearer: Argentina. It will be a great way for Lionel Messi, the best player in the world, to go out. It could be a defining moment for him - he has probably been the greatest player we have ever seen, but the thing that is always chucked at him when comparisons are made between him and Diego Maradona is that he has never won the World Cup. If he was to win this one, that would pretty much be the end of that debate - and what a story it would be.

Micah Richards: It's Brazil for me. I understand why there is a buzz about Argentina, but this is Neymar's time to shine. He scored eight goals in qualifying and has taken his game to the next level this season. There is the weight of the nation on his shoulders and he has to deal with what Brazil expect from him, but he will be the star of the show.

Chris Sutton: France are the holders and have arguably got the best forward line with Karim Benzema and his Ballon d'Or, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, even Antoine Griezmann too. Yes, they have got some injuries in midfield, but they have got two young stars in Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga of Real Madrid who are already absolutely top class. It's not an exact science but when you think of France at World Cups, they are either all in or all out. This time? I'm saying they will be all in. If they click like they did in Russia, why not?

Alex Scott: I am going with Brazil. Their squad has a great blend of experience with exciting and in-form young players who could have great tournaments, like Vinicius Jr. Neymar is in great form too and, with every team having so little preparation time before the tournament to get key organisation right, it could come down to individual brilliance to settle some games.

Ashley Williams: Your team is always a little reliant on how much firepower you've got and Brazil have got a wealth of attacking options. It will be great for football if they win too. We are all fans of Brazil, aren't we?

Fara Williams: My head is telling me that with the squad Brazil have, they will win it - the depth of their attackers is the best out of all the squads. But my heart is telling me differently. I'm going to predict an England v Brazil final... and we are bringing it home.

Jermaine Jenas: Everyone is always obsessed with the attacking side of things, but defensively Argentina look really solid and, off the back of winning a Copa America in 2021, they will have found a rhythm of what works for them. In the final they beat Brazil, who will be their biggest competitor in Qatar too, but I have a feeling Messi is going to get it done.

Karen Bardsley: Historically, it looks as though clean sheets and conceding the fewest goals is the key to winning World Cups. So which team has the most solid defensive unit, with a good goalkeeper? Then also their ability to manage moments in the tournament and how they will gather momentum in the group stages. My top two are Brazil and Argentina - and I would say Brazil will win because they are fully loaded in every position and defensively they are the strongest I have seen them in many, many years.

Rio Ferdinand: Brazil have got depth in their squad and experience too - as in, all the way through the spine of their team is experience of winning things.

Rob Green: They have some young exciting talents to go with that experience of winning. It's Brazil for me.

Gabby Logan: I'm not going to be sentimental and say Messi will triumph but a South American team will win. Vinicius Jr will be a really important player and the World Cup winners will wear yellow shirts.

Danny Murphy: I can't see past Brazil or Argentina. Both are full of quality and experience and will take some stopping. Maybe Argentina will do it this time, as it seems written in the stars that the greatest ever player will win the World Cup.

Danny Gabbidon: I fancy France. Overall they are a really well-balanced side with so much quality up front, and the biggest problem for manager Didier Deschamps is to find the best system and decide on his starting XI.

Jurgen Klinsmann: With Argentina, the big driving force is Messi. All football fans know his situation and how this has to be his moment if he wants to win his first World Cup at the age of 35. He knows that too, and so do his team - so they will do everything possible to get that World Cup win. Brazil, though, have got so much quality in every position. They are a team I have watched a lot over the past couple of years and I have been very impressed - they are coming to Qatar to win the World Cup and I believe they will.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63607882
 
The grass pitches at the stadiums and training grounds in Qatar have been air-conditioned for the past three months and sprayed with millions of litres of water to get them ready for the World Cup, raising further questions over the environmental impact of the tournament.

Chilled air was blasted at the pitches at eight stadiums, dozens of training pitches and 144 fields where the turf was grown to ensure that the grass is suitable in a country where the rest is desert.

Dr Madeleine Orr, programme director for sustainable sport business at Loughborough University and founder of the Sport Ecology Group, said it was another question mark against claims by Fifa and Qatar that the World Cup will be a carbon neutral event.

“You have to think about what places in the world would be viable with their natural climate to host something like this and Qatar does not fit into that frame,” she said. “They are faced with this challenge where in order to keep it safe for the players it is an extraordinary expenditure of energy and water just to make sure the grass is of adequate length and quality. To produce something like that in a desert environment is very, very challenging.”

Qatar has been importing 140 tonnes of grass seed annually from the United States on climate-controlled aircraft, Reuters has reported. Each pitch requires 10,000 litres of water every day in winter and 50,000 litres in the hot summer months.

The water comes from Qatar’s desalination plants, which remove the salt from seawater. That process requires a lot of energy expenditure — though it is a small cost for the Gulf state, which has vast gas and oil wealth.

One turf expert who worked in Qatar to prepare the pitches for the World Cup told The Times that the air-conditioning of the grass has been used to imitate Qatar’s winter in September, when temperatures can still reach 40C, so that the grass starts to grow again in November when it would usually be dormant.

“We have had to use the air conditioning and a lot of water but we are talking about doing this in a desert,” he said.

Qatar 2022’s Supreme Committee did not comment after being approached.

Turf experts said fields the size of 40 football pitches had been grown as reserves. The grass from those fields can be moved to the stadiums and training grounds and be ready to play on within only a few hours.

Organisers have declined to say how much the turf programme has cost Qatar, a wealthy gas exporter that spent billions on infrastructure over the past decade to prepare for the event.

The organisation Carbon Market Watch has claimed Qatar has vastly underestimated the emissions from building seven stadiums for the event.

Orr added that it was “impossible” to claim carbon neutrality before an event and that claims of offsetting the carbon were dubious too. “Their calculations are crafty to begin with and the offsets don’t hold up either so it falls apart on multiple levels for me,” she said.

Orr said Fifa, the International Olympic Committee and other international sporting federations needed to do more than just pay lip service to sustainability.

“There are some signs they are beginning to take it seriously — Fifa, the IOC and other international federations now have full-time sustainability officers which is a step in the right direction. But they are not investing in it to the extent that is needed to make it a credible claim.”

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...2?shareToken=46e3f89e7cfdada673fdea7ff421ac71
 
A large official fan village, which is expected to house dozens of England and Wales fans in the coming weeks, still resembles a building site less than 48 hours before the World Cup kicks off.

The Rawdat Al Jahhaniya accommodation base, in the shadow of the Ahmad bin Ali stadium where Wales play the US on Monday, had abandoned forklift trucks and a digger next to the hundreds of sea containers that will host supporters when the Guardian visited on Thursday and Friday.

Remarkably the site, which opened on Friday, costs £172 a night for a double cabin for two.
 
Masahallah, so beautiful. This was Surah Rahman, my most favourite.

Love how Qatar is not shying away from showing the world we are Muslims and proud!

 
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