The 2022 FIFA World Cup is about to get underway, and while the controversies surrounding Qatar have put a dampener on the tournament, there promises to be some hugely exciting football over the next five weeks. Most of the greatest footballers on the planet – including Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe – will take the field in Qatar 2022, and there are at least six nations, if not more, with a chance of lifting the World Cup trophy in Lusail on the 18th of December.
The two South American giants – Brazil and Argentina – are the current favourites to win the tournament in Qatar, but who are the other contenders looking to go all the way this winter, and what other surprises can we expect from the World Cup?
Here are our Man’s Life 2022 FIFA World Cup Predictions.
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Argentina and Brazil are the two favourites to win the World Cup, and although the Selecao have a more complete team, I am backing Argentina and Lionel Messi to lift the trophy. Argentina are unbeaten in 35 games in all competitions and ended their drought on the global stage with their victory at the 2021 Copa America.
Additionally, Messi has showcased that he is still the best player in world football in 2022 for PSG and still has the ability to carry his country to the FIFA World Cup title. If all things go as expected, Argentina are likely to meet Brazil in the semi-finals of the tournament, and Lionel Scaloni’s men have had the wood over their South American counterparts in recent history.
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Germany have not been good at the international level since their 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil. The defending champions were knocked out in the group stage of the World Cup in 2018 after suffering defeats to South Korea and Mexico and were narrowly beaten by England at Euro 2020 in the Round of 16.
However, Joachim Low has been replaced by Hansi Flick as manager, and there has been significant turnover in the squad with the likes of Toni Kroos, Mats Hummels, and Jerome Boateng making way for younger blood. Germany have new exciting talent in the form of Jamal Musiala and Youssoufa Moukoko, an incredible spine with Kimmich, Gundogan, Muller, Rudiger, and Neuer, as well as the best tactician at the tournament in Flick.
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Denmark have been one of the best teams in Europe over the past 18 months, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Kasper Hjulmand’s side make it to the final four at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Denmark reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020 without their best player Christian Eriksen and have all the talent and togetherness needed in Qatar to repeat that feat.
Denmark beat world champions France on two occasions in the last six months and are one of the best-coached teams in the tournament. The Danes can press high, sit deep and defend in a low block, attack directly with their pacy wingers or build play patiently. They also have tonnes of elite individual quality, with Eriksen, Hojbjerg, Christensen, Andersen, Maehle, Damsgaard, and Schmeichel, giving them all the ingredients needed to shock a few big teams at Qatar 2022.
Other teams that could spring a surprise at the FIFA World Cup are the Netherlands and Uruguay. The Dutch are incredibly well coached under Louis van Gaal, while Uruguay have tonnes of top-end talent that can be difference makers, such as Darwin Nunez, Fede Valverde and Luis Suarez.
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The usual suspects will be in contention for this prize, such as Harry Kane, Memphis Depay, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe. My pick for the prize is Neymar. The silky Brazilian has eight goals and eight assists for PSG in Ligue 1 this season and is the talisman for the best squad at the World Cup. Brazil also have a group they should dominate, taking on Switzerland, Serbia and Cameroon, and Neymar could be the one that takes them to the finals in his last World Cup for the Selecao.
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Having picked Argentina to win the tournament, you have to back Lionel Messi to win the golden ball prize. Messi was completely unstoppable at his last major competition for Argentina in 2021, contributing nine of the 12 goals the country scored with four goals and five assists. Everything Argentina does begins and ends with Messi, and if Lionel Scaloni’s side is to go all the way in Qatar, you can be sure Messi is at the heart of it.
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There are plenty of countries that are a potential disaster waiting to happen in Qatar 2022. France could implode with their internal politics and infighting, Spain struggle to score goals, Cristiano Ronaldo holds back Portugal, while England are winless in six matches.
However, the one country which could suffer a disappointing exit from Qatar is Belgium. The golden generation of Belgium football is on its last legs with an ageing defence and two of their three superstar forwards – Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku – struggling to keep fit. Thibaut Courtois and Kevin de Bruyne are still at the peak of their powers, but they might not have too much around them to keep the ship afloat, and a round-of-16 exit could be in the works for Roberto Martinez’s side at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
[Featured Image Credit: Copa America]
Shivaan Shah