In mid June, the last three qualified teams to the World Cup 2022 were found out. Wales beat Ukraine, after the Ukrainians put out Scotland, Australia kicked out United Arab Emirates and Peru – at penalty kicks – and last, but not least Costa Rica beat New Zeeland to gain the last spot. Now, the group stage of the World Cup 2022, held in Qatar is complete and I will put it once more here, using an article written some months ago:
- Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, The Netherlands
- Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
- Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
- Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
- Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
- Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
- Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
- Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
Back then I have predicted that Costa Rica and Wales will make it to the World Cup 2022 alongside United Arab Emirates, not Australia. So, I was right 67%. Not bad. Now, based on the qualified teams and on the schedule – especially considering the tournament will be played in mid season – I will make some short predictions which look, to me, the biggest favorites and why. I will take the knock out table and will discuss it further in November, once it will be for granted.
Round of 16 for World Cup 2022
- The Netherlands – Wales
- England – Qatar
- Argentina – Denmark
- France – Mexico
- Germany – Belgium
- Croatia – Costa Rica
- Brazil – Portugal
- Uruguay – Switzerland
Short comments here. I know that from group A Ecuador and Senegal look better than Qatar, but I can imagine they are not organizing the World Cup 2022 to play only the group stage. Poland won’t make it in front of Mexico in group D, because they usually don’t behave as they could at these kind of tournaments. I foresee Spain losing the battle for second place against Costa Rica, because in world football, at this point, Spain is roughly at the level of Italy and you can see Italy. Belgium won’t be winning against Croatia, as I see the last one a lucky lucky team and the Serbs, like always, will limit themselves to the group stage and the Swiss will go through. Let’s see further.
Quarter finals for World Cup 2022
- The Netherlands – Denmark
- Belgium – Portugal
- Qatar – France
- Croatia – Uruguay
Now, if I would choose a huge surprise in the round of 16, then it will be England for sure. I can imagine, to be honest, Qatar playing like South Korea in 2002, without any hesitation. Also, Denmark I think the only South American team that can make it through is Uruguay. In fact, I really don’t see how can Argentina resist Denmark or Brazil in front of Portugal. As well, Croatia will beat Costa Rica and we will have some interesting quarter finals. But who will win, though?
Semifinals of World Cup 2022
- The Netherlands – Portugal
- France – Uruguay
In my opinion, Denmark, even a nice team, cannot rival with The Netherlands, a squad that has a huge thirst of revenge, since they did not played in the last final tournaments. On the other side, Portugal is quite even with Belgium, but I am thinking that Cristiano Ronaldo’s ambition might push the squad further up and near first World Cup final. Will they reach it? To be fully honest, I don’t think so. I am foreseeing the final to be between The Netherlands and France and I will choose with subjectiveness here. Since The Dutch never won the World Cup, they might do it right away. But, again, since it will be in the middle of the season, France looks to be, though, favorite. Especially because their track to the final in which, apart from Denmark – in the group stage – and Uruguay in the semis, they will have quite week opponents.
To wrap it up I see a final The Netherlands – France with the first winning (subjective), but with France winning (logical). Therefore, the top favorites I see are:
- France
- The Netherlands
- Portugal
- Uruguay
- Belgium
- Denmark
Let us wait and see!
Photo: pixabay.com