Football
Can Messi and Ronaldo face each other in Qatar World Cup final?
With some world-class superstars in the squad, Argentina and Portugal are two of the favourites for Qatar 2022. If some outcomes play out as expected, both teams may even face off in the final. If that happens, football fans can witness a final where Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo compete to win the World Cup for their respective countries. Let's explore the possibility of Argentina and Portugal facing off in the Qatar World Cup 2022 final.
How Argentina and Portugal can compete in the 2022 Qatar World Cup final
Fans are currently arguing over which teams will fare better in the FIFA World Cup 2022. A large part of them wants Argentina and Portugal to play in the final. Naturally, the main reason for this desire is to see the two superstars of football, Messi and Ronaldo, fight in the final for their respective teams to win the World Cup.
Read More: Who Will Perform in Qatar World Cup Opening Ceremony?
A few days ago, Lionel Messi said that Qatar 2022 would be his last World Cup. On the other hand, Ronaldo recently said in an interview that he would retire happily if he could win the World Cup for Portugal. So football lovers want to witness these two greatest players square off in one final match.
A possible scenario of the Qatar World Cup groups shows that a final between Argentina and Portugal is very much possible. But in that case, both teams have to finish atop their respective groups and then reach the finals by winning the knockout stage matches. Here’s how both Argentina and Portugal can play the Qatar World Cup 2022 final on December 18 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
Argentina’s route to the FIFA World Cup 2022 final
Lionel Messi’s Argentina will play in Group C. The opponents they will face in the group stage are Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland. The Argentine side is way stronger than their group phase counterparts. They expected to win all three matches in their group and finish at the top of the points standings.If Argentina win their group, they will face the winner of Group D, which will most likely be either Denmark or France. The Albiceleste could well face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals and Brazil in the semifinals, given the early predictions. If Argentina overcome all obstacles in the knockout rounds, they will face Portugal in the final.
Read More: Portugal Squad Analysis for 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar
Portugal’s route to the FIFA World Cup 2022 final
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will play in Group H, which is considered the death group by many experts. They will take on Ghana, Uruguay, and South Korea in this group to earn a place in the Round of 16. Portugal will have to top their group to meet Argentina in the final.
If the Portuguese side finish top in their group phase points table, they will likely face the runner-up of group G, which could be Serbia, Switzerland, or Cameroon. Portugal’s next opponent could very well be either Belgium, Croatia, Spain, or Germany in the quarterfinal. Their semifinal opponent then could be France, England, or Denmark. The Portuguese side will meet Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final if they overcome all the hurdles in the knockout stage.
Bottom Line
Many fans envision Messi and Ronaldo competing against one another for their respective nations in the 2022 Qatar World Cup final. According to the brackets for the group stage and knockout rounds, Argentina and Portugal could face each other in the championship game. But in that case, both teams must be at their absolute peak from the start of the competition and finish first in their respective groups.
Read More: Argentina Squad analysis for 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Who Will Perform in Qatar World Cup Opening Ceremony?
The FIFA World Cup opening ceremony will take place on November 20 prior to the host nation Qatar's match against Ecuador in Group A. The opening ceremony will start at 17:00 AST (GMT+3) / 09:00 ET, one hour before the game. The Al Bayt Stadium located in Al Khor city will host the World Cup's opening ceremony. With a capacity of accommodating 60,000 people, Al Bayt Stadium will be the venue for one of the semifinals in this Football World Cup tournament. Let's take a look at who will perform in the opening ceremony of the FIFA Football World Cup 2022.
Musicians and Artists to Perform in 2022 World Cup Opening Ceremony
The list of opening ceremony performers for the main event has not been revealed yet. However, rumors claim that a few of the possible performers include:
-Jung Kook, member of BTS, a K-pop group-Nora Fatehi, an actress and dancer-Black Eyed Peas, an American musical trio.-J Balvin, a Colombian singer.-Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, a musician from Nigeria-Lil Baby, an American rapper.
Read More: Meet Laeeb: Mascot of 2022 FIFA World Cup Football Tournament in Qatar
Jung Kook
The South Korean pop superstar Jung Kook, a member of the popular boy band BTS, will perform during the FIFA World Cup 2022 opening ceremony. In 2017, Jung Kook paid a transient visit to Qatar. It stoked rumors about whether or not he will attend the opening ceremony. The Twitter hashtag #WelcomeToQatarJungkook was just beginning to gain popularity at that time.
Black Eyed Peas
The American musical act Black Eyed Peas is also scheduled to appear on the lineup. The American band has previously performed at the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Grammy-winning group will take over the official F1 Tracks later this weekend and create an exhilarating soundtrack for the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Fergie's role as lead vocalist for The Black Eyed Peas contributed significantly to their popularity in the late 2000s. Elevation, the ninth studio album from The Black Eyed Peas, seeks to be a straightforward improvement over Translation.
Read More: 10 Smart TVs Under Tk50000 in Bangladesh to Watch World Cup Matches
Nora Fatehi
Nora Fatehi tops the list with the most eagerly anticipated performance. In this tournament, Bollywood star Nora Fatehi will represent India on a global scale. She will reportedly perform during the 2022 World Cup opening ceremony. She had previously appeared in the music video for "Light the World," the official FIFA anthem for this year, with other prominent stars like Nicky Minaj.
The hymn "Light the sky," which will be performed by Nora, has already been recorded by Moroccan singer RedOne, who has previously collaborated with Brazilian musician Shakira on the songs "La la la" and "Waka Waka."
J Balvin
Colombian artist J Balvin is also scheduled to play in the Qatar World Cup Football ceremony. Reggaeton musician and entrepreneur J. Balvin is one of the greatest Latin artists of all time.
Read More: 5 Host Cities of FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022: A Travel Guide
Balvin has surpassed barriers across cultures in music by winning titles in Latin Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, and Billboard Music Awards. Although he hasn't performed at a World Cup, Balvin did the NFL kickoff this year.
Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie
Patoranking (actual name Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie), a reggae-dancehall musician from Nigeria, together with DJ Aseel and Hassan Shakosh, are expected to perform at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Lil Baby
According to FIFA, Lil Baby, an American rapper, performer, and composer, will also perform at the 2022 World Cup Opening Ceremony. Lil Baby also contributed to the world cup 2022 song "The World Is Yours To Take."
Read More: Bollywood diva Nora Fatehi finally arrives in Dhaka
Numerous elite football players, including Messi, Neymar Jr., and Raheem Sterling, were featured in the song. Lil Baby will now shock the stage with his singing and musical instruments.
Portugal Squad Analysis for 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar
Portugal announced the 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The World Cup craze has already started. As a result, thousands of football fans were waiting for the announcement of one of the biggest stars of football, Cristiano Ronaldo’s team. The wait is over, and Portuguese coach Fernando Santos announced the World Cup squad on November 10. Almost all experienced and regular faces have been called into the team.
Portugal Squad Announced for FIFA Qatar World Cup
Table: 26-member Portugal Team
Role
Players
Goalkeepers
Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton), Rui Patricio (AS Roma)
Defenders
Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Danilo Pereira (PSG), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfielders
Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Mario (Benfica), Matheus Nunes (Wolverhampton), Otavio Monteiro (Porto), Vitinha (PSG), William Carvalho (Real Betis)
Forwards
Andre Silva (RB Leipzig), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Ricardo Horta (Braga).
Source: CBS Sports
Read More: Argentina Squad analysis for 2022 World Cup in Qatar
All the well-known stars of the team, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandez, and Joao Felix, are expected to get a place in the 26-member team for the World Cup. Captain Ronaldo is going to play in the World Cup for the fifth time.
Fernando Santos announced a very balanced team in defense, midfield, and attack. Each position has multiple top players. 19-year-old Antonio Silva got a place on the team. In addition, 39-year-old defender Pepe has also been called up to the World Cup squad.
However, Liverpool’s forward Diego Jota has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury while playing for Liverpool against Manchester City. Renato Sanchez, the young midfielder who had an excellent performance in the last World Cup, did not get a chance in the team. He could not shine in PSG this season.
Read More: Qatar Squad analysis for 2022 FIFA Football World Cup
Analysis of Portugal Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022
Goalkeepers
Portugal is in Group H, along with Uruguay, Ghana, and South Korea. At least in Qatar, Santos will have to worry about the team’s goalkeeping. Portugal has three goalkeeper options, Roma’s Rui Patricio, Wolves’ Jose Sa, and Porto’s Diego Costa.
Diego Costa has no experience playing on a big stage like the World Cup. Jose is yet to make his debut in the national team; therefore, senior player Rui Patricio leads the trio. Despite having an experienced goalkeeper, Santos will have concerns.
Defenders
This time Portugal contains a solid defense led by Man City’s Ruben Dian. In addition to that, Dian might get support from experienced Pepe. For the right-back position, Joao Cancelo will be the top choice. But, might face difficulties playing in the starting lineup as Santos has a better option Diogo Dalot.
Read More: Brazil Team Analysis for 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Diogo has been very consistent for Manchester United. Nuno Mendes might be added to the starting squad for the left position. However, there are some other options, too, such as Dortmund’s Raphael Guerreiro.
Midfielders
Portugal also has balanced options at the center of the field. But Bernardo Silva, Ruben Neves, and Bruno Fernandes should start the games. Other options are Matheus Nunes, Vitinha and William Carvalho. While Carvalho has in-depth experience in midfield, Vitinha and Matheus Nunes are energetic and young.
Attackers
You know the must-include names for the attacking position of Portugal. The man with the most international goals in men’s football, Cristiano Ronaldo, will lead the forward position as well as the squad. He will get support from Joao Felix and AC Milan’s Rafael Leao.
Read More: Qatar World Cup: 5 Hot Favorites to win the trophy
Other options are Andre Silva, Goncalo Ramos, and Ricardo Horta. However, the ruling out of Diogo Jota and Pedro Neto might put the team into difficulties. Also, Rafa Silva’s retirement from international football in September may put pressure on CR7’s shoulder.
Key Players
Team Portugal has full of young, energetic, and experienced players. Hence, they have a few key players who can make a difference.
Cristiano Ronaldo
He is the football superstar of the present time, with countless fans around the world. Ronaldo made his debut in the national team against Kazakhstan in 2003. In 2006, Ronaldo played the first World Cup in Portugal’s jersey. Played in 4 World Cups.
Read More: Qatar World Cup: 5 Dark Horses to look out for
He also holds the record for most goals in international football, with 117 goals in 191matches for the national team, 36 of which came in World Cup qualifiers. He played 17 matches in the World Cup and scored 7 goals. Ronaldo will be playing on the World Cup stage for the 5th time in his career in Qatar.
However, Ronaldo has never won the World Cup. He is 37 now. By the time of the next World Cup, he will be 41. So, it is very likely that this is going to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup. However, has maintained his fitness so far, and fans can be hopeful for another World Cup appearance.
CR7 has been having a hard time this year in league matches. He scored only 3 goals in all completion in 16 matches The top goal scorer in international football was in the starting XI in just four matches in the Premier League.
Read More: Argentina or Brazil: Which team's prospects look better in Qatar World Cup?
Even though he did not score any goals in the last three World Cups, his coach trusts Ronaldo. But Portugal won the Euro in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 under his leadership.
Joao Cancelo
Ranked 5 in Premier League, Defender Cancelo is another key player for Portugal. He appeared in 14 matches in the 2022/23 Premier League and helped keep 4 clean sheets, and has 28 tackles with a 71% success rate.
However, whenever he gets a chance, Cancelo can also play well in an attacking position. He already scored 2 goals for Man City this season. This 28-year-old defender will be a great wall for Portugal.
Read More: Messi or Ronaldo: Who has better chance at leading team to FIFA World Cup win?
Conclusion
So far, we have analyzed the Portugal Squad for FIFA Football World Cup in 2022. Portugal is going to start their World Cup campaign against Ghana on November 24. The team will play against Uruguay on the 28th after this match. Portugal will end their group stage campaign against South Korea on December 2. However, some of the experienced players are not in great form ahead of the World Cup. It is expected that they will come back at the right time.
Kushtia divided by Argentina, Brazil as World Cup fever grips Bangladesh
With one of the most eagerly anticipated World Cups just around the corner now, supporters of Brazil and Argentina have already started challenging and bickering with each other with the speculation of who is going to the final.
The flags of Argentina and Brazil fly everywhere.
Like football fans from all over the world, football lovers in Bangladesh's Kushtia are also excited.
To make this World Cup memorable, supporters of Brazil and Argentina from Bakchi Satpankhia of Kumarkhali's Jagannathpur Union and Shyamganj of Gopgram Union of Khoksa Upazila aln being htheir favorite team's flags on the trees and poles on both sides of the roads for a month.
Football lovers here are carrying out various activities including flying banners, erecting festoons, hoisting flags at various places to show their support and love for their favourite teams.
As a part of this work, they made two giant flags of Brazil and Argentina.
Among them, the Argentine flag is about 1050 hands long while Brazilian fans hang about 850 hand-long flags.
Read more: Argentina Squad analysis for 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Since 2010, the local residents have been creating such flags.
People of different ages from different areas are flocking to Gopgram to have a glimpse of these flags.
Argentina supporter Shamim said, "This year, the players of the favorite team, Argentina, are playing well. I hope we will beat Brazil in the final and take the cup.'
On the other hand, Rashidul, a supporter of Brazil, said, 'We are five-time champions. This time we will take the cup. But I want to see Argentina as a rival in the final.
Read more: Right backs, left backs are Brazil’s weak spots at World Cup
Syed Ashiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Khoksa police station, said, there is no problem with that people will support their respective teams but care should be taken so that the law and order situation does not deteriorate.
"Law enforcers are aware of this," the OC added.
Qatar World Cup: No alcohol sales permitted at stadiums
World Cup organizers will ban the sale of all beer with alcohol at the eight stadiums used for the soccer tournament, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.
The decision comes only two days before games start in Qatar.
Non-alcoholic beer will still be available for fans at the 64 matches, the person said.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because organizers have not yet announced the decision.
Right backs, left backs are Brazil’s weak spots at World Cup
When Brazil coach Tite uttered the name of veteran Dani Alves in his call for the World Cup squad, reactions around the country spanned from anger to disappointment.
The Brazil coach, who has faced little criticism in his six years on the job, described his pick in a paused, not-so-confident tone.
“The criteria for Daniel Alves is the criteria for all,” Tite said. “It is about rewarding individual skill, his fitness and his mental aspect. Just like the others.”
Alves himself, however, recognized that many didn’t want him in the squad for Qatar.
“I am not here to please everyone,” he said in a video.
The rancor has nothing to do with the right back’s brilliant past, but the presence of a 39-year-old player who has struggled to play for any club in the past year laid bare the lack of options Brazil has on both flanks of the defense.
Tite’s most likely options to start at the World Cup are right back Danilo, who has become more of a central defender at Juventus, and Alex Sandro, a player with little background as a typical Brazilian left back that runs from box to box.
Neither Danilo nor Alex Sandro are regarded as two of the best in the world in their positions, such as predecessors Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Marcelo and the peak Alves of 10 years ago were. At the same time, the duo has not caused Brazil much defensive trouble, being part of a team that conceded only five goals in South American qualifying.
Read: Qatar World Cup: 5 Dark Horses to look out for
Alves and Alex Telles are expected to be on the bench in Qatar, with Eder Militão also capable of playing as a right back and midfielder Fabinho as a left back.
“They are OK,” former Brazil left back Junior, now a TV commentator, said this month about Tite’s options. “They are not players who will be up front all the time. They are more cautious. But I don’t see any other choices that would be better to start at this time.”
Over the last year, Tite lost another two options that could have helped.
Fagner, a 33-year-old right back who replaced an injured Alves four years ago in Russia, had a poor season at Corinthians. Former Sevilla left back Guilherme Arana picked up a knee injury in September, ruling him out of the World Cup.
Brazil’s coach also found little reason to bring back Renan Lodi, who was loaned to Nottingham Forest after struggling at Atletico Madrid.
Lodi was blamed for Brazil’s 1-0 loss to Argentina in the 2021 Copa America final, with goal scorer Ángel di Maria saying he knew the Brazilian “slept a little” during matches. The left back didn’t find any sympathy from Tite after he missed a callup earlier in the year because he wasn’t vaccinated against COVID-19.
Brazil’s right back at the World Cup, whoever he may be, could also face increased pressure playing alongside 38-year-old defender Thiago Silva.
Silva has been less consistent than usual at Chelsea, highlighted by a dreadful performance in the 4-1 loss to Brighton in the Premier League last month. A right back that can also run for an aging Silva could be key to avoid conceding goals in Qatar.
Read: Qatar World Cup: 5 Hot Favorites to win the trophy
Cafu, who was on Brazil’s World Cup-winning team in 2002, said protecting Silva is one of the reasons why Tite will eventually use Militão as a starting right back during the World Cup. He also trusts Brazil to do well in Qatar regardless of the lack of options at the back.
“I don’t know why we have this shortage of players for those positions. But it is not only for the national team, we see that in clubs, too,” Cafu said in an interview last month. “Coaches are adapting midfielders to that position because they don’t know how to specifically work with right and left backs.
“Also, it is unfair to compare these players with us. Anyone playing as a right or left back today has a lot of responsibility. They have to replace people who made history for Brazil.”
Infantino unopposed to get 4 more years as FIFA president
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is getting four more years in charge of soccer’s governing body after no candidate stepped up to challenge him.
FIFA said Thursday the 52-year-old Swiss lawyer was the only person to enter the race by the time the deadline passed overnight — exactly four months before election day on March 16 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Infantino won a five-candidate race in 2016 to replace Sepp Blatter, and was re-elected unopposed in 2019. He’s now set to stay in the job beyond the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Infantino’s upcoming re-election to the $3 million-per-year job may not be his final term in office. FIFA rules allow him to run again to stay in power for another World Cup cycle until 2031.
A quirk of FIFA’s statutes means the first three years of Infantino’s presidency — when he completed an unfinished term started by Blatter — does not count against the 12-year limit agreed to in reforms passed during a prolonged corruption crisis before his first election.
Read: Qatar World Cup: 5 Hot Favorites to win the trophy
Outside of soccer, one political threat to Infantino’s leadership is an investigation by two special prosecutors in Switzerland into his three undocumented meetings with then-attorney general Michael Lauber in 2016 and 2017 during American and Swiss federal investigations of soccer officials.
It is currently unclear how that case, which is being overseen by the Swiss parliament, is proceeding or how much jurisdiction it has over Infantino as a private citizen who could be accused of having sought an advantage from a public official. He has denied all wrongdoing.
Infantino’s current term in office, which started in June 2019, saw FIFA dip into its $2 billion-plus reserves and oversee emergency legal measures to help stabilize soccer through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The global health crisis almost entirely shut down World Cup qualifying games in 2020. The final tournament in Qatar starts on Sunday.
Infantino did not get approval for the biggest idea in the current presidential term — doubling the number of men’s World Cups to every two years in a planned overhaul of the calendar for national teams. That plan was blocked last year by the continental soccer bodies of Europe and South America, UEFA and CONMEBOL, who teamed up to threaten a boycott of a biennial World Cup.
Tensions persist between FIFA and the two traditionally powerful continents, though they declined to propose or publicly support a challenger. Candidates need pledges from five federations and to have been active in a formal soccer role for at least two of the past five years.
Infantino has shored up his voting base in the 54-member Confederation of African Football, which has been led since March 2021 by his close ally, South African mining magnate Patrice Motsepe.
Read: Qatar World Cup: 5 Dark Horses to look out for
The 2026 World Cup in North America, the first with 48 teams instead of 32, will hugely raise the tournament records for attendance and revenue for FIFA, which is on track to earn nearly $7 billion in its four-year commercial cycle tied to the World Cup in Qatar.
Infantino has consistently staked his presidency on raising FIFA’s income to steer more money toward federations worldwide. He wants other countries to close the gap on Europe and South America, which have provided every team to play in all 21 World Cup finals.
Europe and South America will field competing bids to host the 2030 World Cup, which is set for a vote by FIFA members in 2024.
Ukraine was added in October to the co-hosting bid by Spain and Portugal, while 1930 host Uruguay is part of a centenary celebration bid with Argentina, Chile and Paraguay.
Infantino still needs to pass an integrity and eligibility check carried out by a FIFA-appointed review panel chaired by a judge from India, Mukul Mudgal. That should be a formality in the weeks ahead.
Ind Cup Football: Dhaka Mohammedan reach quarterfinal beating Fortis FC 3-1
Dhaka Mohammedan SC reached the quarterfinal of the season’s curtain raiser soccer meet, the Bashundhara Group Independent Cup Football 2022 from Group A beating Fortis Football Club by 3-1 goals at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla on Thursday.
This was the 2nd consecutive win for the Dhaka Mohammedan SC in the meet after beating Bangladesh Navy by 2-0 goals in their first match.
Mohammedan will play Sheikh Russel KC on November 21 to decide the Group A champions.
In the day's match, all the four goals were scored in the first half.
Read more: Ind Cup Football: Sheikh Jamal DC outplay BFF Elite Academy 3-0
Mali striker Souleymane Diabate put the traditional black and white team ahead in the 6th minute (1-0) while Brazlian forward Luis Carlo leveled the margin for Fortis FC in the 14th minute (1-1).
Mohamedan again took lead in the 26th minute by a goal from Brazilain player Oliveira 2-1) and local booter Jafor further sounded the Mohammedan margin in the 39th minute (3-1).
In the day's other match, Sheikh Russel KC tasted the first victory in the tournament beating all losers Bangladesh Navy by 2-0 goals at Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Thursday
Sheikh Russel KC played 1-1 draw with Fortis FC in their first appurtenance.
Read more: Ind Cup Football: Dhaka Abahani Ltd makes good start beating Uttara FC 2-0
In the day's match, Ibrahim scored for the Sheikh Russel KC in the very 2nd minute while Mapuku confirmed the Sheikh Russel victory scoring one more goal in the 12th minute.
Argentina Squad analysis for 2022 World Cup in Qatar
By ending the long wait of millions of fans, Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni revealed his World Cup squad last Friday (November 11). The Albiceleste had a disappointing campaign in the previous edition, losing 3-1 to eventual winner France in the Round of 16. This time, Argentina are well prepared to end their 36-year trophy drought. Let's take a look at the squad analysis of Argentina for the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Argentina squad announced for 2022 World Cup in Qatar
A 26-member Argentina squad was announced for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup 2022. Take a look at the players who were called up for the Qatar 2022 tournament.
Read More: Brazil Team Analysis for 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Table: Argentina’s 26-member team for FIFA Football World Cup 2022
Role
Players
Goalkeepers
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal), Franco Armani (River Plate)
Defenders
Nahuel Molina (Atletico de Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), German Pezzella (Real Betis), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla)
Midfielders
Leandro Paredes (Juventus), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico de Madrid), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton), Alejandro Gomez (Seville), Enzo Fernandez (Benfica), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards
Lionel Messi (PSG), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City), Angel Di Maria (Juventus), Paulo Dybala (AS Roma), Joaquin Correa (Inter Milan), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina)
Two-time champions Argentina has announced a 31-man squad, which comprised 46 players initially. Later, manager Lionel Scaloni cut the list to 31, eliminating 15 players. And finally, he announced the final squad comprising 26 players.
Scaloni announced the squad through a video from the Argentina Football Federation’s Twitter account on social media on Friday, November 11. Argentina will start its world cup mission on November 22 against Saudi Arabia. Their other two opponents in the ‘C’ group are Mexico (November 26) and Poland (November 30).
There are no surprises in Scaloni’s squad. Rulli won the duel with third goalkeeper Juan Muso. Martinez and Rulli were the manager’s first choice as goalkeepers, while Armani joined the team as the third goalkeeper.
Paulo Dybala has been included in the 26-man squad despite injury concerns. Despite doubts, Juan Foyth is also going to Qatar. Angel Correa and Joaquin Correa were both on Scaloni’s radar, but eventually the latter was picked for the main event. Giovanni Lo Celso was a first-choice midfielder who was ruled out due to injury. Exequiel Palacios was picked as his replacement.
Read More: Qatar World Cup: 5 Hot Favorites to win the trophy
Injured Star Players Included in the Argentina’s World Cup 2022 roster
Although Argentina announced a balanced team, some key players were injured but included in the team as they have been recovering fast.
Paulo Dybala
After nearly a month out due to injury, Paulo Dybala returned to the field with AS Roma’s match against Torino in Serie A on November 13. The Argentinian forward came on as a substitute in the 70th minute and put good pressure on Turin’s defense. Dybala has recovered well from his injury, but now he needs to regain his momentum. The Argentine campaign is hopeful that he will work his best for the ultimate tournament.
Angel Di Maria
Di Maria has recovered from an injury suffered in mid-October, playing three matches for Juventus last week. However, he was used as a substitute in all three games. The veteran Argentine winger has started to regain his rhythm, and hopefully, he will reach his best possible shape before the tournament kicks off.
Cristian Romero
Argentine central defender Cristian Romero didn’t appear in the last few matches for his club Tottenham Hotspur. He was suffering from muscle injury and has already recovered from it. But Romero is coming into the World Cup without having played any matches in the last two weeks, which should be a major concern for coach Lionel Scaloni.
Juan Foyth
Juan Foyth played the second match on November 14 for Villarreal, returning to the team after being out for almost a month. Played 60 minutes in the Copa del Rey match against Santa Amalia. The Argentine right-back assisted on two goals in the team’s 9–0 win, indicating that he is gaining his rhythm. Foyth is expected to be fully fit by November 22 for Argentina’s match against Saudi Arabia.
Read More: Qatar World Cup: 5 Dark Horses to look out for
Argentina team analysis for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Goalkeepers
Argentina’s No. 1 goalkeeper in the tournament will be Emi Martinez, who has gained trust after a masterclass performance in the Copa America 2021. Geronimo Rulli and Franco Armani are thought to be the second- and third-choice keepers for coach Lionel Scaloni, respectively.
Defenders
Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi are the two first-choice center backs. Lisandro Martinez’s recent form with Manchester United would certainly make for strong competition for a place in the backline. Fullbacks Nahuel Molina and Marcos Acuna have won the coach’s trust last year by showing consistency for the national side. Overall, the current Argentine defense is better balanced than it was a few years ago.
Midfielders
Losing midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso will be a big miss for Argentina. However, the rise of Enzo Fernandez this season could potentially bring success for Argentina during the World Cup. Enzo can be considered a like-for-like replacement for Lo Celso and could play as a double pivot. However, the man who will be the most key player in the Albiceleste’s midfield is Rodrigo De Paul. He will have to make a strong connection with defensive midfielder Leandro Paredes. Both De Paul and Paredes have been in sublime form with the national team in recent years, and they were expected to continue to thrive in the World Cup as well.
Forwards
Lionel Messi could play as an attacking midfielder, creating opportunities for the strikers. Messi may well be seen to play deeper to strengthen the Argentine midfield. Therefore, Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez will have to take on the main responsibilities of finding the back of the net, and veteran Angel Di Maria could pose a real threat to the opposition's defense through the left wing. Besides, Dybala is a great player upfront but may not be seen in the starting XI because he plays the same position as Messi’s.
Read More: Argentina or Brazil: Which team's prospects look better in Qatar World Cup?
Key Players
There are several key players in Argentina's squad. Among them, some will play a vital role in the quest for their third World Cup glory. Here are the three crucial players for Argentina.
Lionel Messi
This could potentially be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup. Considered one of the all-time great players, Messi has achieved almost everything except the World Cup. Therefore, all eyes will be on him during the main event. Messi did not have a good season for PSG last year. But this football superstar is in a great mood this season. He scored 12 goals in 19 matches in all competitions for the French giants and assisted 14 goals.
Leo is also running at a great speed for the national team. Last September, Argentina won 3-0 against Honduras and Jamaica in international friendly matches. Messi scored two goals in both matches. With this rhythm, Diego Maradona’s worthy successor is attending the World Cup in Qatar.
Rodrigo De Paul
Rodrigo De Paul has become the heart of Argentina’s midfield since making his senior debut in 2018. De Paul is an integral part of Argentina’s 35-match unbeaten run. What’s more important is that he can make a strong linkup with Messi and Paredes, the two important players in Argentina’s game plan. Therefore, this tall and stout midfielder will be a vital player to watch in the Argentina squad.
Cristian Romero
Cristian Romero is considered the best center-back Argentina have produced over the last decade. This talented player won the Serie A Best Defender Award in the 2020–21 season during his time at Atalanta. He has been one of the best defenders in the Premier League since joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2021. Romero has brought solidarity to Argentina’s defense in the last year or so. He will play an important role in tackling and discarding opposition opportunities for Argentina during the World Cup 2022.
Read More: Qatar Squad analysis for 2022 FIFA Football World Cup
Final Words
Argentina ended a 28-year title drought by winning last year’s Copa America, then beat Italy to win the 2022 La Finalissima. On the way to this success, Messi wants to overcome the biggest regret of his career by winning the Qatar 2022 event. Many in the football world believe that this talented Argentina squad has enough potential and is considered one of the hot favourites to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Qatar World Cup: 5 Hot Favorites to win the trophy
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is in full flow. The 22nd edition of football's most prestigious competition will be held in Qatar, the first Arab country to do so. With all of the teams participating in the Qatar World Cup announcing their squads, many pundits and journalists have laid out their favourites for the big event. In this article, we will be showcasing our five picks who could go on to claim the greatest prize in the sporting world. Without further ado, here are our five hot favourites to win the trophy.
Five top contenders for the FIFA World Cup 2022
France
The reigning champions would have been favorites for the World Cup at the start of the tournament. However, their unbalanced squad and subsequent massive injuries have seen them get replaced as the top dogs in many minds.
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With an unbalanced midfield that will be missing N'golo Kante, Paul Pogba, and Christopher Nkunku through injury, France will be relying on young superstars Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.
However, an easy group featuring Australia and Tunisia, along with their packed defense and exciting attack featuring the likes of Benzema, Mbappe, Coman, Dembele means that Le Bleu will not be against fancying themselves for number three in Qatar.
Spain
Luis Enrique will be going to Qatar as one of, if not the most accomplished, managers taking part in the World Cup. In charge of the technically gifted Spain squad, he will be looking to deliver the elusive trophy to La Furja Roja.
Although Spain will be missing the likes of Sergio Ramos, Thiago Alcantara, Marc Cucurella, Brahim Diaz, Iago Aspas, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Pablo Fornals. They will have plenty to get excited about as superstars Dani Olmo, Rodri, Pedri, Aymeric Laporte, and Pau Torres will don the famous Spanish jersey in Qatar.
Experienced heads such as Sergio Busquets, Cesar Azpilicueta, Jordi Alba, and Dani Carvajal will make sure that Spain lacks in no department. However, with a group that includes Japan, Germany, and 2014 surprise quarterfinalists Costa Rica, early hiccups are to be avoided for a deep Spanish run.
England
The most expensive squad going to Qatar, England, divides opinion as always due to their recent international form. However, their performances in their last two major international tournaments cannot be chalked off. Gareth Southgate's men managed to become World Cup semi-finalists in Russia and reached the Euro 2020 final, losing to Italy on penalties.
Southgate has left out talented players such as Fikayo Tomori, Ivan Toney, Tammy Abraham, and Jadon Sancho to name a few, but he will be able to call on the likes of 2018 World Cup Golden Boot winner Harry Kane, Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling, and Marcus Rashford in attack. Their defense also has balance with John Stones, Kyle Walker, inform Ben White and Kieran Trippier in the squad along with duo Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips in the heart of midfield.
The likes of Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire will provide the experience in this young and exciting squad. Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden will also be looking to light up the World Cup, giving The Three Lions their best shot of winning the World Cup since 1966.
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Argentina
Argentina are coming to the World Cup as the favourites in many minds. Their more than impressive qualification run, which saw them stay undefeated throughout the process, along with their triumph at the 2021 Copa America, has put them at the top of the favourites' ladder.
Missing the likes of Giovanni Lo Celso, Emiliano Buendia, Angel Correa, and Giovanni Simeone. La Albiceleste have a star-studded squad which includes legendary players such as Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria along with superstars such as Lisandro Martinez, Rodrigo De Paul, Papu Gomez, Joaquin Correa, and Paulo Dybala, to name a few.
Although the absence of Giovanni Lo Celso will be a big miss for the Argentinians, they'll be looking to follow through on their promise to deliver number three. Closing in on a record unbeaten run with 35 matches, Leonel Scaloni has been given the unenviable job of delivering Argentina their third World Cup victory in what will be Messi's last dance.
Brazil
Although Argentina had a record-breaking run in their world cup qualifying, they still finished second behind arch nemesis Brazil. As record champions, the blue and yellow of Brazil are synonymous with the World Cup. The only team to appear in all 22 World Cups, the Selecao, will go again in their search for number six.
Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Magalhaes, Phillipe Coutinho, Matheus Cunha, and Gabriel Barbosa will be cheering their nation from home as manager Tite has decided to instead call upon the likes of Allison, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Lucas Paqueta, Bruno Guimaraes, Vinicius Junior, Neymar, and so on and so forth.
A balanced squad in most parts, Brazil may be lacking in the full-back area, where they will have to rely on old heads such as Dani Alves, Danilo, Alex Sandro, and Alex Telles. But a squad filled with Samba stars, La Canarinhas, will be exciting to watch at the World Cup as they still seek redemption after the 2014 Maracana Tradegy.
Read More: Qatar Squad analysis for 2022 FIFA Football World Cup
Verdict
It has always been difficult to predict the winner of any competition, let alone the biggest one in sporting history. However, top footballing nations will challenge for the Qatar World Cup 2022 trophy, and the aforementioned five teams are considered hot favourites to go all the way to the final.
Overall, in the spirit of the beautiful game, it rewards the team that gets people excited and on the edge of their seats as well as the team that scores the most goals at the end of 90 minutes. The beautiful game is once again taking over the world.