The World Cup Take 2022, Issue 1: The Combatants Enter the Fray

The World Cup now heads to Qatar, where this year's tournament could see the some of the highest quality of play to ever take place at the showpiece event of international football. FIFA's decision to hold the tournament in Qatar made it necessary for the tournament to take place in the middle of the European club season. As a result, the world's best players will be entering the tournament fully in the swing of things and without a hint of rust.

Let's now take a look ahead and go through my pre-tournament predictions.

Surprise Packages

Serbia

This is a team which is being tremendously overlooked; however, Serbia are far more talented than most people realize. Featuring multiple criminally underrated players, Serbia will make a massive splash and put themselves on everyone's radar with a deep run - with ace striker Aleksandar Mitrović perhaps even earning a well-deserved transfer to a top European club as a result. Quarterfinals.

Denmark

It's easy to write Denmark off as nothing more than "another feel-good story" after the way they rallied around midfielder Christian Eriksen following his cardiac arrest at the 2020 European Championships. Denmark are much more than that, though. Having been handed a favourable draw, Denmark are good enough to capitalize on it and make it further than most might initially expect. Quarterfinals.

Underachievers

Uruguay

In spite of their immense talent on paper, this is a Uruguay team with no synergy or cohesion whatsoever - evidenced by the fact that they won just eight of 18 World Cup qualifying matches and barely scraped into Qatar. Throw them into a tough group and you will see why I consider them to be the likely first major casualties of the tournament. Group stage.

Germany

Ever since their World Cup triumph in 2014, Germany have struggled on the international stage. They were knocked out of the 2018 World Cup in the group stage and 2020 European Championships in the round of 16. Even a coaching change which saw Hansi Flick take over in the dugout seems to have done little to improve Die Mannschaft. Round of 16.

Portugal

As of right now, the biggest story surrounding this Portugal team is the controversy around Cristiano Ronaldo's stunning tell-all interview about Manchester United. That, however, is not what will sink Portugal. Like Uruguay, this is a team filled with awkward fits from top to bottom - most notably that of United duo Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes. Couple this lack of synergy with a difficult draw and you have a recipe for an early exit. Round of 16.

France

The "World Cup hangover" is a real thing - but not for any reason you might expect. Today's tactical metagame changes so rapidly that within month's of a team's World Cup triumph, the rest of the world will have begun working on strategies to counter it. Like all reigning champions, France are not immune to this either as proven by their struggles over the past two years. They are also nowhere near as deep as the squad which won it all in Russia four years ago. Round of 16.

Contenders

Brazil

Entering as the pre-tournament favourites, many expect Brazil to leave Qatar with the World Cup for a record-extending sixth time. However, as loaded as they may be, they are somewhat fraudulent. Despite being stacked from top to bottom, this is a team still singularly built around Neymar. The problem is that I do not believe that Brazil can win a World Cup with a team built around Neymar. Quarterfinals.

Netherlands

The Netherlands have bounced back well following their shocking failure to qualify for the previous World Cup and early exit at the following European Championships. They've also been placed in a relatively easy group. However, despite their overall depth, they will be undone by their lack of a true goalscoring threat in international play apart from Memphis Depay. Quarterfinals.

Spain

Spain enter the World Cup without quite the level of hype that they had in previous editions - understandable, given the large number of younger players in a squad almost totally rebuilt from their 2018 team. This is a solid unit that deserves more recognition and will make a deep run. That being said, their lack of a true superstar who can single-handedly carry the team when the chips are down is likely to be their downfall. Fourth.

Belgium

Belgium seem to have all the elements needed to win a World Cup. Quality and depth at every position, a wealth of experience, and an all-time great at the peak of his powers in Kevin De Bruyne. Unfortunately, recent history has shown us that Belgium inevitably falter when the stakes are at their highest and the lights at their brightest. For that reason, they will fall just short once again. Third.

England

The Three Lions bring perhaps their most talented squad ever to Qatar. Building on runs to the World Cup semifinal and European Championship final, this team is absolutely loaded. Despite their pedestrian performance in the Nations League, it should bear mention that not every team was taking it all that seriously. Aided by a generous draw, England could very well make the final for the first time since winning it all back in 1966. Runner-up.

Argentina

I foresee the World Cup trophy heading to Argentina for the first time since 1986. They have tangible and intangible factors in spades: a truly world-class 26-man squad, immense skill and depth at every position, well-crafted strategies and tactics, and the desire to "win one for Lionel Messi" as well as to honour the late, great Diego Maradona who passed away in November 2020. It's almost impossible to build any sort of case against them. Champion.

Here's my complete bracket:

Individual Awards

Golden Ball: Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
Silver Ball: Lautaro Martínez (Argentina)
Bronze Ball: Kieran Trippier (England)

Golden Boot: Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
Silver Boot: Aleksandar Mitrović (Serbia)
Bronze Boot: Lautaro Martínez (Argentina)

Golden Glove: Emiliano Martínez (Argentina)

Best Young Player: Bukayo Saka (England)