Teams that Could Surprise in the 2022 World Cup
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar has several candidates, but also other countries that could surprise. We tell you which are the most outstanding.
Photo: IG-chriseriksen8, TW-LaTri
LatinAmerican Post | Ariel Cipolla
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Leer en español: Equipos que podrían sorprender en el Mundial 2022
The groups for the 2022 Qatar World Cup have already been drawn. Talking about who the favorites are implies referring to some powers, such as Brazil, Argentina, Germany or France. That is, all countries that have a long World Cup tradition, as well as being really competitive teams.
Now, you could also ask yourself the other way around: what are the teams that don't have much experience, but that live a great present? Next, we will tell you which are those countries that could surprise in the maximum soccer event of 2022 , which we will experience at the end of the year.
Denmark
Denmark appears as the "small" European team with the greatest potential for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Now, what are the arguments for this? First of all, the great generation of players that they can take advantage of, many of whom will surely be called up for the event.
???????? Christian Eriksen volvió con la Selección de Dinamarca tras casi un año de ausencia tras sufrir el infarto. ¡Admirable y un ejemplo para el deporte! ???? pic.twitter.com/1B5qlTyjAH
— AS México (@ASMexico) March 28, 2022
For example, talents like Kasper Schmeichel, Jannik Vestergaard, Simon Kjær, Andreas Christensen, Joakim Mæhle, Thomas Delaney, Daniel Wass, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Kasper Dolberg, Yussuf Poulsen, and even Christian Eriksen. That is to say, all professionals who are based in big European teams.
The problem? They will share the group stage with France. If they go through, they could possibly surprise in the round of 16.
Japan
Japan appears as a country that always generates fights in the group stages of the World Cups. However, so far, the Japanese have not been able to generate great results in the final rounds. Now, this could be the year they give some of the best countries on the planet a serious fight.
???????? ¡JAPÓN SIGUE SUMANDO TRIUNFOS!
✔️ Ya clasificado a la tercera ronda, goleó 4-1 a Tayikistán por la fecha 9
⚽ Furuhashi, Minamino, Hashimoto y Kawabe los goles del triunfo
???? Suma 7 triunfos en 7 partidos en las Eliminatorias de Asia para el Mundial de #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/mum6L1pjzQ
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) June 7, 2021
Directed by the Brazilian Roberto Sedinho, Japan has young promises who play in the best teams in the world. For example, Takumi Minamino (Liverpool) or Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal). Also, others are added, such as Kawashima, Nagatomo, Sakai, Yoshida or Endo.
They share a group with Spain and Germany, so they will have to give the "surprise" to qualify for the decisive instances, but they can do it.
Also read: Qatar 2022: Which teams will compete for the last World Cup quotas?
Senegal
Surprisingly, the African team will open the World Cup in the match against the Netherlands, after changes in programming. Well, many might consider that they are not a powerful team, but they are wrong. In reality, they have great elite players line by line.
✅6/2: Senegal???????? derrota 4-2 por penales a Egipto???????? y gana la Copa Africana. Mané pateó el penal decisivo.
✅29/3: Senegal???????? derrota 3-1 por penales a Egipto???????? y clasifica al Mundial. Mané pateó el penal decisivo.51 días entre un partido y otro. pic.twitter.com/zrrxrUXJ2Y
— VarskySports (@VarskySports) March 29, 2022
For example, Édouard Mendy (Chelsea FC), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Fodé Ballo-Touré (AC Milan), Bouna Sarr (Bayern Munich), Abdou Diallo (PSG), Idrissa Gueye (PSG), Mendy (Leicester City), Pape Gueye (Olympique de Marseille), Boulaye Dia (Villarreal) or Sadio Mané (Liverpool , among others.
It's been years since such a powerful African country has appeared in a World Cup. It remains to be seen if they can meet those expectations.
Ecuador
Let's move on to the South American area. After some great Qualifying rounds, Ecuador achieved the passage to Qatar 2022. The truth is that, since the arrival of Gustavo Alfaro, this country has achieved significant solidity in all its lines, so they will have to revalidate this level in the tournament that will take place. will play at the end of the year.
????”Es una responsabilidad mayor pero muy linda”, Gustavo Alfaro sobre jugar el partido inaugural en el mundial de Qatar 2022.
*Grupo A:
Qatar
Ecuador ????????
Senegal
Países Bajos pic.twitter.com/GPzL1fpTHU— Colores Sports.ec (@coloressportsec) April 1, 2022
Of course, there will be several players who will be able to achieve a good performance. For example, Piero Hincapié, Pervis Estupiñán, Angelo Preciado, Joao Rojas, Jeremy Sarmiento, Michael Estrada or Enner Valencia could be strongholds of the team. However, they will need not to stumble in the first games.
They share a group with Qatar, Senegal and the Netherlands. It will not be easy for them to reach the round of 16, but if they do, they could continue advancing.
USA
Lastly, the United States will also emerge as a team that could achieve good competitiveness at Qatar 2022. One of the points in favor of this team is that, in recent years, MLS has acquired a higher level, especially in terms of the appearance of local talent.
¡YA ES OFICIAL! ???? Estados Unidos???????? vuelve a un mundial luego de su fracaso rumbo a Rusia 2018. Los de Gregg Berhalter han clasificado a su 8ª cita mundialista. Una generación que promete mucho. Pulisic, Mckennie, Dest y compañía irán a competir a Qatar???????? 2022. Gran eliminatoria. pic.twitter.com/cITTWpbn1u
— 365Scores (@365ScoresApp) March 31, 2022
However, there are also some high level players in Europe. For example, Zack Steffen, Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Giovanni Reyna, Ricardo Pepi or Jordan Pefok. Now, they are a fairly young team, which aims to get stronger for future sporting events.
They will have to face England, Iran and Ukraine/Scotland/Wales in the group stage. Without a doubt, they will seek to achieve passage to the round of 16.
In short, which do you think could be the teams that become the revelation of Qatar 2022?