Opinion
World Cup season is officially upon us after Friday night’s group stage draw took place in Qatari capital Doha.
We already know this World Cup will be like no other considering its November kick-off, a decision that has already resulted in much debate and scepticism about hosting the tournament in the Middle East. However, the draw has allowed fans to look forward to this tournament like we would any other, and we can now forecast some of the marquee matchups that are locked into the schedule.
Group A
Hosts Qatar sit at the top of Group A and are wildcards considering their World Cup anonymity. This will be the first time the host nation participate in football’s grandest tournament. They are not one to be ruled out, however, as they are the most recent champions of Asia after their 2019 victory over Japan in Abu Dhabi. Qatar’s first challenge will be against 46th-ranked Ecuador, who make their first World Cup appearance since 2014, edging out the usual South American suspects of Colombia and Chile for qualification.
However, Group A’s main contest will likely be between the final two teams, Senegal and Netherlands. Senegal are fresh off continental success in the African Cup of Nations, and the 20th-ranked nation have emerged as a real threat on the global scene. Netherlands are back in the World Cup picture after failing to qualify for Russia, and they will consider themselves fortunate with this group, considering they came from the second pot of nations.
Early predictions for Group A will be for Netherlands and Senegal to finish first and second, with Qatar perhaps utilising the home conditions to edge Ecuador for third.
(Photo by NESImages/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Group B
Group B has once again sparked the #itscominghome wave on social media, with England finding themselves top of a very favourable draw. Fresh off a second-place finish in the 2021 Euros as well as a fourth-place finish in the last World Cup, England have one of their most hopeful World Cup squads for a long time.
Iran are England’s first opponents, and as the highest ranked Asian side in the world, they might be a surprise package for this group.
But there’s much more interest among the remaining teams. The USA are back in the World Cup after the disappointment of not qualifying in 2018, and England fans will be licking their lips at the prospect of a 2010 rematch following that Rob Green goalkeeping howler.
The final spot in this group will go to the winner of the European playoff between Ukraine, Wales and Scotland. Should Wales or Scotland win, we’ll be having ourselves a tasty battle of the United Kingdom with England. But Ukraine shouldn’t be ruled out, having reached the quarter-finals of the Euros last year.
There’s plenty to look forward to in this group, but it’s tough to call considering not all the information is available yet. England are a safe prediction for first, and for now we’ll shoot for the USA for a second-place finish.
Group C
Group C is headlined by Argentina in what might be the great Lionel Messi’s final dance on the grandest stage. Fresh off Copa America success, fourht-ranked Argentina have a relatively straightforward group that should aid their progress in the tournament. First up for them are Saudi Arabia, who topped their qualifying group over the likes of Japan and Australia. However, having escaped the group stage only once before, they might struggle here.
Mexico are next in Group C, reigniting an exciting matchup with Argentina that saw some thrilling fixtures in the 2006 and 2010 world cups. Mexico come into this tournament ranked an impressive ninth.
The final opponent in this group is Poland, a nation without much success in World Cup tournaments but with the quality of Robert Lewandowski up top, you never know. Ranked 26th in the world, they finished second in their qualifying behind England.
Argentina should progress from this one top of the group, with Mexico the most likely for a second-place finish. Poland should get the better of Saudi Arabia for third.
(Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)
Group D
Group D weirdly looks awfully similar to 2018’s Group C, with France and Denmark again finding themselves together, and they’re likely to be joined once again by either Peru or Australia, who they also faced in 2018.
France come into this tournament off the back of a dominant 2018 victory but the subsequent disappointment of the Euros. As a believer in the magic of the World Cup, history would suggest the winner’s curse will be out to get France this tournament. However, it would take something pretty miraculous for them to not get out of this group struggle-free.
Our Australians face an uphill battle to join this group, needing to defeat both the UAE and Peru for a spot. It would be a tall order to progress from this group should we qualify, but that’s nothing new.
The favourite of the neutrals, Denmark, enter this tournament after an inspiring semi-final finish in the Euros, and it’s fantastic to think we’ll be seeing Christian Eriksen on the highest international scene again.
Tunisia round out this group, currently 35th in the world, but might struggle to make headway here. It’s safe to predict France first and Denmark second.
(Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Group E
Group E features a battle of two World Cup titans in Spain and Germany. We’ll be seeing the 2010 winners facing off against the 2014 winners, which is the marquee match of the group stages. This is the closest thing we have to a group of death this year, which is bad news for Japan and either Costa Rica or New Zealand, which is still to be determined via the playoffs.
Japan are a strong side and have always been dominant in Asia, but they’ll struggle to progress with the two European giants in Group E. Should Costa Rica qualify, they proved in 2014 that they are capable of topping the group of death when they headed Italy, England and Uruguay. This might be too uphill of a battle for them this year though.
It’s a flip of a coin for the winner of the two, but it’s safe to presume both Spain and Germany will be progressing.
(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Group F
The Group E scenario, however, means the winner of Group F has a tough fixture lined up for the Round of 16. This can be presumed to be Belgium, who are real enigmas. For years they have been boasting this golden generation of players but have been relatively disappointing on the international scene, peaking with a third-place finish in the 2018 tournament. I can see them topping this group, but getting past Germany or Spain might be pushing their capabilities.
Canada are back for only their second World Cup, the last being in 1986. They have plenty of young exciting talent in their midst and aren’t to be ruled out of a second-place finish in this group.
Morocco, ranked 24th, are a dark horse with plenty of talent, but they will struggle against the European powers of this group, the last of whom are Croatia. Surprise runners-up in 2018, Croatia still boast a heap of talent both old and emerging. Ranked 16th in the world now, they should have the legs to get out of this group.
Belgium are a safe first, with Croatia in second, and I’d back Canada to edge Morocco in their return cup appearance for third.
Group G
Group G is an appetising one, featuring tournament favourite and recent new world No. 1 Brazil, the only team to qualify for every World Cup in history. Brazil have crashed out of recent World Cups in disappointing fashion, and the scars are definitely still there from that semi-final in 2014. A second-place finish in the Copa America and a dominant qualifying period shows they have a good thing going right now and will be hard to stop this tournament.
Serbia are dark horses, having topped their qualifying group ahead of Portugal. Aleksandar Mitrovic is in the form of his life in the Championship and scored the crucial goal to get them to the tournament. They’re 25th in the world coming into this tournament and a good shout to progress.
Another threat is Switzerland, who had a memorable Euros capped with a victory over world champions France on penalties. They also topped their group in qualifying over European champions Italy and are ranked impressively at 14th in the world. They’ve made the Round of 16 in their last two World Cup appearances, and you wouldn’t bet against them to do it again.
Cameroon round out this dangerous group, and while a strong African nation might struggle against this fierce competition, it’s a tough one to call. Brazil should top the group, and my call is for Switzerland to follow behind them.
Group H
Group H is headlined by the other superstar likely making his final World Cup bow, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal. They made tough work of qualifying and really have not had an impressive World Cup tournament since their fourth-place finish in 2006. However, in the Ronaldo era they’ve won the Euros and UEFA Nations League titles, and you can never really count them out when the great man is up top.
They face Ghana first up, a team who edged Nigeria to progress to the tournament, but they dawdle at 60th in the world rankings and may struggle in this group, especially considering the third team is Uruguay. The South American heavyweights have some vendettas against them in this group. Firstly, they eliminated Portugal from the tournament four years ago, so that will be a tasty rematch. And then there’s the Ghana fixture, which was one of the most controversial matches in World Cup history in 2010. Should Luis Suarez net one against Ghana this time around, let’s just say I hope the stadium security is strong.
South Korea round out this intriguing group. Always a solid team in Asia, they’re in with a shout with prime Son Heung-Min in the mix. However, it’s Portugal and Uruguay’s battle in this group, and I’m backing Portugal to edge first spot, which could set up a Brazil vs Uruguay battle in the Round of 16.
No doubt this World Cup is bound to be one for the ages. The countdown is now on for squads to be announced, which will no doubt lead to more debate and conversation. Until then, we’re left to brew on these group stage match-ups.
Have I missed a dark horse? Are there some upsets in the works? Let me know what you think of my predictions.
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