Sports Talk

Confusing World Cup ahead

Posted 11/15/22

The world descends upon Qatar this coming week leading up to the World Cup opening match on Sunday between hosts Qatar and Ecuador.

While that may not be the most exciting matchup to begin the …

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Sports Talk

Confusing World Cup ahead

Posted

The world descends upon Qatar this coming week leading up to the World Cup opening match on Sunday between hosts Qatar and Ecuador.

While that may not be the most exciting matchup to begin the next month of games, if the tournament is even close to as chaotic as the scenario in which Qatar got hosting rights and stadiums/infrastructure built, then we may be in for an intriguing tournament.

As it’s likely to be both Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup, both Argentina and Portugal may throw everything at the tournament to win their respective greatest player of all time the ever elusive title.

Starting out with group A, I feel like if any teams besides the Netherlands in first and Senegal second make it out ahead of Qatar and Ecuador then it would be a travesty.

Heading into group B it appears clear cut that England will make it through the group unscathed, while the United States, Iran and Wales will battle it out for the second spot.

Despite being in abysmal form and not even taking the top scorer in qualifying that got the USA to the tournament, I have to give the USA the slight edge to take second spot due to overall team talent.

Argentina is the hottest team coming into the tournament on a 35-game unbeaten streak and should win its group, with Poland and Mexico likely battling it out for the second spot ahead of Saudi Arabia.

I have to give the slight edge to Poland with Mexico dipping in overall form in recent years, ending its streak of Round of 16 qualifications.

Group D should see France and Denmark cruise in first and second ahead of Australia and Tunisia. Despite this, beware of the champion’s curse for France — with the two previous World Cup champions being knocked out in the group stage.

Spain and Germany should be the top two teams of group E, but they face difficult competition in Japan and Costa Rica. I still feel Spain will place first and Germany second with just enough firepower to escape the group.

Belgium should win group F, with Canada, Croatia and Morocco being the final three to battle for second place.

I feel like Croatia has just slightly too old of a squad with an up and coming Canada squad snagging second.

Brazil will cruise in group G, with Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon battling for second. If Dusan Vlahovic is healthy I have to give the advantage to Serbia, but can see any of those three teams advancing in second.

Portugal will top group H, with Uruguay in close behind. South Korea and Ghana do not have enough firepower, especially with Heung-min Son potentially not being at full strength at the tournament for South Korea.

In the round of 16 I would have the Netherlands over the USA and Argentina over Denmark to start. Then I have Senegal upsetting England while France defeats Poland.

Spain should have enough to get past Canada, and Brazil will defeat Uruguay in a South American battle.

Belgium will have one last run with its golden era beating Germany, while Portugal defeats upstart Serbia.

Argentina defeats the Netherlands in its quarterfinal and Brazil beats Spain to set up a Copa America rematch in the semifinals.

France defeats Senegal and Belgium defeats Portugal to set up an all European semi final.

Argentina defeats Brazil in another classic match, while France beats Belgium to set up a rematch from the tournament four years ago in the finals.

Brazil takes third, while France edges out Argentina to end its unbeaten streak.

Despite missing significant talent in its midfield due to injury from the last World Cup, the young midfield from France will shine through to compliment its ridiculous attack and defense to make France the first back-to-back world champions since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

Enjoy the World Cup as it should be some of the best football of this era, but please remember or research the corruption and atrocities that went on behind the scenes to make the entire tournament happen in Qatar.

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