World Cup 2022: Group A Preview
Can Qatar star Almoez Ali replicate his 2019 Asian Cup and 2021 Gold Cup form, and lead the host nation to unprecedented heights?
Qatar
FIFA Rank: #66
Qualified as: Hosts
The Skinny
If Qatar is going to avoid being only the 2nd hosts in history to fail to progress out of Group Play, they're going to need to count on some major upsets. The Maroon are almost indubitably the weakest hosts ever, notching their first ever appearance with this one, and entering as the lowest-ranked of any side in the tournament.
The Best XI
I’ll confess, I mostly went by total caps here to make this XI, because I know very little about Qatar’s squad. Honestly, I expect that will be true of all their opponents, which the hosts might be hoping to use to their advantage. Given that the entire squad plays in the Qatari league, and many players came up together in the same “re-nationalizing” program, they won’t hurt for synergy. From watching some of Qatar’s successes in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and 2021 Gold Cup, I know that their attack, spearheaded by star forward Almoez Ali and veteran striker Hassan Al-Haydos, is one to be feared.
Ecuador
FIFA Rank: #44
Qualified as: 4th place in CONMEBOL
The Skinny
Ecuador continue their tradition of alternating World Cup cycles between missing the final tournament (2010,2018) and qualifying for it (2006, 2014, 2022). La Tricolor will have a difficult task ahead of them, being grouped with the hosts and two very good teams in Senegal and The Netherlands. However, any team that can make it through South American qualifying without even needing the playoff is one that is not to be trifled with.
The Best XI
In terms of talent alone, this squad has little on the 2006 and 2014 World Cup teams, the former of which nearly progressed to the quarterfinals. But their strong qualifying campaign would suggest there is still plenty to fear from this team, and sure enough, a closer look at the roster shows some big-name clubs represented on Las (nickname). A trio from Premier League upstarts Brighton in Estupiñán, Caicedo and Sarmiento. Bundesliga players Piero Hincapié (Bayer Leverkusen) and Carlos Gruezo (Augsburg). And of course, leading the line will be the greatest goalscorer in Ecuador’s history, Besiktas’ Enner Valencia.
Senegal
FIFA Rank: #18
Qualified as: 1-1 (3-1 pens.) winners over Egypt in CAF 5th Round
The Skinny
Four years ago, the hosts’ group featured a tough African opponent whose fortune in this tournament hinged on the injury recovery of their star forward. In 2022, history repeats, but the team and player in question are Senegal and Sadio Mané, rather than Egypt and Mohamed Salah. In Bayern Munich’s last match before the World Cup, Mané, who recently finished 2nd in the voting for the 2022 Ballon d’Or, exited with an injury and it was immediately announced he would miss the Cup. Then, in an unexpected about-face, Senegal included him in their final squad, accompanying reports that the injury may not be as serious as was feared. Obviously, if he is ready to go, the reigning African champions' status as a sleeper pick to make a run in this tournament would likely be restored.
The Best XI
Again, if Mané is good to go, it gives Senegal a whole other level of quality, but the good news for The Lions of Teranga is that they’ve got a darn good team without him. Between a Premier League midfield trio in both Gueye and Kouyaté, Watford’s Sarr and Moncao's Diatte in attack and Chelsea’s pair of Koulibaly at the back and Mendy between the sticks, the reigning African champions may subtly be one of the best African sides in some time.
The Netherlands
FIFA Rank: #8
Qualified as: 1st place in UEFA Group G
The Skinny
It’s been a rough 8 years in the wilderness for the Dutch since nearly making it to the 2014 World Cup Final. The Oranje would miss the next Euro Cup and World Cup in embarrassing fashion, and their return to major international tournaments last summer didn’t exactly go to plan, as they flamed out of Euro 2020 in the Round of 16. They will be eager to get back to winning ways, and seemingly have the horses to make some real noise in this tournament.
The Best XI
Barcelona duo Memphis Depay and Frankie de Jong will lead the line and control the midfield, respectively, but Holland’s real strength comes in the back line. Their personnel there sets up perfectly for the 5-at-the-back system that manager Louis Van Goal prefers to play, with Ajax vet Daley Blind and Inter Milan breakout star Denzel Dumfries flanking an intimidating trio of center-backs in Manchester City’s Ake, Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt, and Liverpool’s imperious Virgil van Dijk.
Group Prediction
The smart (and, most would argue, easy) money is on the Dutch and Senegal in this group. But, whether it's that so little is known about their team, the fact that most of their players have played together for over a decade now, their home-field advantage, or their-- ahem --ability to throw money at problems... I just feel like Qatar is going to surprise everyone. Though, on paper, The Netherlands are the stronger of the two favorites, I actually think Senegal's consistency and cohesion make them the less likely victim of the upset here.
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