World Cup 2022: Group B Preview
Denied his World Cup dream 4 years ago, can Christian Pulisic, “the LeBron James of soccer,” lead the U.S. to new heights in Qatar?
England
FIFA Rank: #5
Qualified as: 1st place in UEFA Group I
The Skinny
Ever since their unexpected semifinal run in the 2018 World Cup, England have had to get acclimated to an unfamiliar position: optimistic frontrunners. Manager Gareth Southgate faces consistent criticism for his preferred style of play, but the Three Lions’ agonizingly close brush with the Euro Cup trophy last summer proved that it’s nothing if not effective. That said, after a topsy-turvy last year which included dominating their World Cup Qualifying group but also an embarrassing flameout in the Nations League, this feels like the epitome of a “high ceiling, low floor” tournament for England.
The Best XI
Without a doubt, the most contentious discussion regarding the England squad over the last several years has been Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold and whether his undeniable talent trumps his lack of fit in Southgate’s system. Fortunately for the manager, it shouldn’t be hard to avoid that controversy this time around, as injuries to other defenders necessitated a call-up for Trent, but his form is unquestionably inferior right now to that of Kieran Trippier’s, who will surely start. As for the rest of the lineup, I can’t imagine this is the XI that will trot out in Qatar (it leaves out many lads that have been mainstays in the Southgate era) but this particular personnel would maximize the talent on this deep squad, and institute a good balance between talent and experience.
Iran
FIFA Rank: #20
Qualified as: 1st place in CAF Group A
The Skinny
Iran has become a mainstay in the World Cup, qualifying out of the Asian confederation for 6 of the last 7 tournaments, including the last 3, but have never progressed the group stage. They’ve proved an increasingly tough out in the tournament, however, inching closer to the knockout stages each time— in 2018, one more goal against one of heavyweights Spain and Portugal would have seen Team Melli advance ahead of them. With their highest-ranked squad yet, one that waltzed through AFC qualifying, might this finally be the time for them to stun the world and make that leap?
The Best XI
Carlos Quieroz certainly wins the award for most bizarre final squad selection. Not only did he only choose 25 players instead of the allotted 26, four of the aforementioned 25 are goalkeepers (generally, teams see fit to bring three at the absolute most). Still, while the vast majority of this squad plays in the Iranian league, there is plenty of talent in European leagues among the 25. They are richly blessed with attacking talent, as they could feasibly start a forward tandem of stars Sardar Azmoun (Bayer Leverkeusen) and Mehdi Taremi (Porto), who could be flanked by attacking midfielders Ghoddos (Brentford) and Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord). In fact, looking towards a back line that will surely be helmed by captain and AEK Athens star Ehsan Hajsafi, it's not out of the question that Iran start an entirely European-based XI, although Persepolis' veteran Beiranvand is the most likely to start at keeper.
United States
FIFA Rank: #16
Qualified as: 3rd place in CONCACAF 3rd round
The Skinny
Five years after the national embarrassment that launched an all-time rant from Taylor Twellman, and months— if not years —of soul-searching from the U.S. Soccer Federation and its fanbase, The Yanks are back in the World Cup. Their play away from home (they scored only one away victory during World Cup qualifying, at last-placed Honduras, and got 1 point from 6 in recent Europe-based friendlies vs. Japan and Saudi Arabia) is cause for concern, but simply qualifying for this tournament was the main goal. Besides, their incredible 2021, which saw trophies at the expense of Mexico in the Nations League and Gold Cup both, friendly wins over fellow World Cup teams, and a bright start to qualifying, speaks to the high ceiling of this generation of players, perhaps the most talented collection of American footballers in history.
The Best XI
Gregg Berhalter has a tendency to lure you in with familiarity, and just when you think you’ve figured him or his style out, give you a shock to the system. Such was the nature of his squad selection, which was short on surprises, but those few surprises were BIG surprises, leaving off expected names like Ricardo Pepi, Zack Steffen, Jordan Pefok, Reggie Cannon and Malik Tillman. In that vein, I think the lineup he’ll roll with will look similar to this XI, but with Jesus Ferreira, Timothy Weah and Aaron Long at striker, winger, and CB, respectively. (Most of the XI, such as Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, Juventus’ Weston McKennie, Leeds’ Tyler Adams, Fulham’s Jedi Robinson, Milan’s Sergiño Dest and Arsenal’s Matt Turner, are shoo-ins.) However, maybe he’ll surprise us all by, say, agreeing with me that we need to find a spot for Leeds’ Brendan Aaronson, who has been dynamic in the Premier League and the U.S.’s best goalscorer throughout qualifying, for Dortmund wunderkind Giovani Reyna, and for Tim Ream, the wily vet who is consistently captaining a Top 10 Premier League side in Fulham.
Wales
FIFA Rank: #19
Qualified as: 2nd place in UEFA Group E, defeated Austria and Ukraine in playoff
The Skinny
Wales return to the World Cup 64 years after their only other appearance in the tournament. Their long absence from the Cup might suggest they are underdogs, but between a team littered with Premier League starters and impressive runs in the last two Euro Cups, overlook The Dragons at your own risk.
The Best XI
Wales captain Gareth Bale is surely past his electric prime, but there's no way the talismanic forward won't start for his nation in their first World Cup appearance in the modern era, especially fresh off scoring the game-winner in the 2022 MLS Cup Final. Fellow vets Kiefer Moore (Bournemouth) and Aaron Ramsey (Nice) will bolster the attack, as well the dynamic young Fulham attacking duo of Daniel James and Harry Wilson. A solid back line is flanked by Tottenham vet Ben Davies and Liverpool academy prospect/current Nottingham starter Neco Williams, and though old dog Wayne Hennessey is likely to start at keeper, I personally would opt for Leicester City's Danny Ward.
Group Prediction
As I wrote over the summer, I actually think this is the toughest group of the tournament-- the Group of Death. England is the favorite, and should win, but is beatable and no team in this group will be an easy out. It’s a free for all for 2nd place, in truth. That said, I think (and obviously hope) the U.S. is best equipped to navigate out of the group.
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