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Qatar 2022 is just around the corner: favorites and playoffs?

Image source: Photo by Rhett Lewis on Unsplash

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar kicks off on Monday, November 21, with the pre-match at Al-Bayt Stadium between the host nation and a lucky Ecuador.

Seven months before the tournament, the consensus is growing about the teams and players that will prevail. With all this information, the wait can be very tiring, because the World Cup in Qatar is much more than just soccer. After analyzing the favorites, the Cinderellas and the underdogs of this tournament, we just have to start the countdown to November, and to make sure that doesn't take too long, a conversation with Swiss4win Bonus Code in the meantime relieve our boredom.

The teams of the 2022 World Cup

I. THE FAVORITES

Brazil
With five World Cups, no team has won the tournament more times than Brazil, but the last title was 20 years ago. The Seleção but arguably has the strongest team since 2002. Brazil has been to the Copa América final twice (2019) and survived the notoriously difficult Conmebol qualifying campaign without defeat (17 wins, three draws, 40 goals scored and only five allowed).

France
Reigning world champions France got through their qualifying group without defeat thanks to three-headed monster Kylian Mbappé, Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann (together responsible for 14 of France's 18 goals). Critics will see Les Bleus' early exit at the Euros as a sign of weakness - where they squandered a 3-1 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining against Switzerland - but the team bounced back nicely to win the 2021 UEFA Nations League.

England
Fourth at the 2018 World Cup and second at Euro 2020, England expect nothing less than to take the final step in 2022. The Three Lions had an easy time in qualifying with eight wins and two draws, while Harry Kane was the second highest scorer in the entire European qualifiers with 12 goals.

II. THE CHALLENGERS

Germany
After the early elimination from the European Championship, the Germany by his longtime coach Joachim Löw. But former Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick immediately brought our boys to life when they became the first nation to qualify for Qatar. The goals came from a wide variety of sources in qualifying (Serge Gnabry, İlkay Gündoğan, Timo Werner, Leroy Sané, Kai Havertz, and Thomas Müller), highlighting the variety of ways this team can destroy you.

Belgium
Belgium was the world's No. 1 team for nearly four years until Brazil clinched the title in March. With their quarterfinal exit at Euro 2020, the 2018 World Cup bronze medalists have fallen short. Kevin De Bruyne is a midfield genius, but what form will Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens take to Qatar?

Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo's fifth World Cup headlines, but he's certainly no one-man band, with many of his teammates - including Bernardo Silva, Diogo Jota, Rúben Dias and Rafael Leão - all playing exceptionally well for their club teams.

III. THE OUTSIDERS

Denmark
After Christian Eriksen's terrifying collapse at the European Championship, Denmark kept the whole world on tenterhooks by making it to the semifinals. The Danes proved that this was no fluke by winning nine in a row in qualifying to become the second nation (after Germany) to qualify. Moreover, Eriksen is back and quickly finding his best form.

Croatia
The 2018 runners-up have lost Mario Mandžukić and Ivan Rakitić to retirement, but 36-year-old captain Luka Modrić hasn't aged a day in four years and 33-year-old Ivan Perišić is still as willing and committed as ever. The team can still play with anyone on their days, but those days are increasingly rare now.

Uruguay
It wasn't easy, but Uruguay finished third in the Conmebol thanks to Luis Suárez's eight goals. His 35-year-old strike partner Edinson Cavani scored only two goals, but 27-year-old Flamengo attacker Giorgian de Arrascaeta emerged as a real threat for the Celeste with five goals of his own.

IV. THE CINDERELLA

Poland
Two-time FIFA's best player, Robert Lewandowski, is currently the best goal scorer in the world. After his goalless performance at the 2018 World Cup, he will be highly motivated to make his mark.

Qatar
Qatar has essentially gone through a 12-year process to get its national team ready for the World Cup. When the country was awarded the tournament in 2010, Qatar was ranked 113th in the world. Since then, the country has improved its ranking with a squad ranked 51st, won the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and reached the semifinals of the 2021 Gold Cup as a guest.

Wales
Heading into the playoffs, Wales will face the winner of the Scotland-Ukraine game in Cardiff. There is every reason to hope that Gareth Bale can lead the Dragons to their first World Cup appearance since 1958.

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