middle-east
Qatar World Cup's tight schedule worries players, clubs
There has never been a World Cup match schedule like this one.
The first World Cup ever played in November and December — to avoid Qatar’s desert heat — is just the starting point for other unique features.
For players and fans in Qatar, and viewers worldwide, the games come around early and often on a more intense schedule than any previous group stage. Four separate kickoff time slots are needed to make this tournament work, though they were used on the first Saturday of previous tournaments.
In Qatar, there will be back-to-back-to-back-to-back games for seven straight days to squeeze this World Cup into only 29 days.
That’s three total days fewer than were used to play the 2018 tournament in Russia and the 2014 edition in Brazil.
A 32-day tournament using five full weekends wasn’t available this time because of the deal FIFA had to strike with European leagues and clubs in 2015 to drop the World Cup into the middle of their domestic season.
The European Leagues group had warned of “very severe damage” being done to its members’ sporting and financial interests by shutting them down for at least six weeks.
While storied clubs and stars like Erling Haaland take an extended break or head to training camps, World Cup players have an intense time ahead.
Teams in Groups G and H, like Brazil and Portugal, have the fewest possible rest days. To win the title, they will have to play seven games in only 25 days. The World Cup doesn’t even pause between the group stage and the round of 16.
“This will be a very tiring tournament, and it’s true we start later,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said after the draw on April 1.
“The only advantage I see is starting on the 24th,” he said, noting that teams which play on Nov. 21 — England, Netherlands, United States — have fewer days to prepare.
Santos, who wants those extra pre-tournament days for practice, pointed to the dilemma facing most of the 32 coaches at a World Cup where typically 75% of selected players are employed by European clubs.
European domestic leagues were mostly playing games right up to Sunday on the last day before players had been mandated by FIFA to be with their national teams.
That leaves only one week of official preparation time instead of at least two weeks before a normal World Cup.
In the Premier League on Sunday, Ecuador players Moisés Caicedo and Pervis Estupiñán were on the field for Brighton exactly one week before their national team opens the World Cup against Qatar.
When the clock in Doha ticked past midnight into Monday — FIFA’s Nov. 14 deadline for players to be on national-team duty — squad members from Argentina, Brazil, France, Poland and Serbia were still on the field in Italy, where the Juventus-Lazio game finished close to 11 p.m. local time.
“We don’t have time to prepare the team, just seven days,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić said in April. “It will not be easy for us.”
There was no perfect solution when FIFA confirmed the inevitable switch of dates in 2015, accepting the World Cup could not be played or organized in June, when temperatures in Qatar reach 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit).
Read more: Players who will be absent from Qatar World Cup including Haaland, Salah
Seven years ago, the favored European option of a January 2022 tournament was dismissed by FIFA’s then-leaders because of a direct clash with the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
“It is, of course, not an ideal situation to play in November and December,” then-UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino (now FIFA president) said in March 2015, “and we would have preferred to play in January because it would have had less of an impact.”
Still, the agreement to play in November and December did create a five-month delay that proved essential when the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc with international soccer. Nearly all World Cup qualifying games scheduled in 2020 were postponed.
When it came to finalizing World Cup dates, one red line was ensuring the Premier League would have its traditional Dec. 26 games.
The happy solution for Qatar was staging a four-week tournament with a traditional and auspicious Sunday final — the emirate’s National Day on Dec. 18
Read more: Qatar World Cup 2022: Viewer's guide
Brothers end up on different teams at Qatar 2022
Brothers, teammates and, now, World Cup rivals.
Athletic Bilbao forwards Iñaki and Nico Williams are set to become the latest brothers to play for different countries in a World Cup.
Iñaki Williams was selected by Ghana on Monday, and his younger brother Nico Williams had been picked by Spain last week.
They will be repeating the feat of the Boateng brothers, who played for different nations in 2010 in South Africa and in 2014 in Brazil. Jerome Boateng was a central defender with Germany, while the older Kevin-Prince Boateng was an attacking midfielder with Ghana.
The Boatengs, who played against each other in both tournaments, were born to a Ghanaian father and were raised by separate mothers in Germany. The Williams brothers were born in Spain from Ghanaian parents who made the long journey to Europe looking for a better life.
To make it to Spain, they had to ride on the back of a crowded truck and walk barefoot through the Sahara desert, according to Iñaki Williams. His mother was already pregnant with him when the couple were detained while trying to enter Spain. They eventually received political asylum after taking advice from a charity worker who told them to say they had fled a civil war in Liberia.
The couple moved to the Basque Country region where both boys were born. It didn’t take long before Iñaki Williams, now 28, joined the youth academy of first-division club Athletic. Nico, now 20, eventually did the same.
“I always say that everything we do is for our parents, for everything that they did for us,” Iñaki Williams told the Spanish daily Marca. “It’s like being able to somehow give it back to them for their sacrifice, to let them see their kids fulfil their dreams.”
The brothers are among the few Black players to ever play for Athletic, the traditional Spanish club that signs local-born players or those who have come through the soccer academies of teams in the Basque region.
Iñaki Williams last season broke the Spanish league record for most consecutive appearances with 203. He hadn’t been called up for Spain since making an appearance in a friendly in 2016, so he decided to accept the call from Ghana as the African nation aggressively recruited players in the run-up to the World Cup in Qatar.
The speedy forward made his debut with Ghana in September against Nicaragua, and later played in a friendly against Brazil.
Nico Williams, who was raised in part by Iñaki because their parents often had to be out working, was a surprise late addition by Spain coach Luis Enrique, with his first call-up coming in September. He made his debut in a Nations League match against Switzerland, and in his second appearance coming off the bench, the youngster set up a goal by teammate Álvaro Morata to send Spain into the last four.
Teammate brothers
There are a few examples of siblings playing for the same national team in World Cups, including the three Palacios brothers with Honduras in the 2010 tournament.
Ghana had brothers Andre and Jordan Ayew — sons of three-time African player of the year Abedi Pele — play together at the 2014 World Cup, and they will be back to play in Qatar this month.
Ivory Coast played with Yaya and Kolo Toure in 2010 and in 2014, while Jonathan and Giovani dos Santos played for México in 2018, as did Eden and Thorgan Hazard for Belgium.
Twins Frank and Ronald de Boer were in the Dutch team in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, reaching the semifinals in 1998. Another pair of Dutch twins — Rene and Willy van de Kerkhof — made the final twice, in 1974 and 1978, both times coming up short of the title. Erwin and Ronald Koeman were not twins but in 1990 also played with the Netherlands.
The Danish national team had Brian and Michael Laudrup in the 1998 tournament, while England counted on Jack and Bobby Charlton in the 1966 and 1970 World Cups.
Spain and Ghana are in different groups in Qatar, so the Williams brothers won’t be able to play against each other at least until the quarterfinals.
“Hopefully it will happen,” Iñaki Williams said, “and that Ghana wins...”
“We’ll see about that,” Nico Williams said. “But for sure we will be exchanging shirts after the match.”
Read more: Players who will be absent from Qatar World Cup including Haaland, Salah
Ronaldo's career at Manchester United may be over
Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive TV interview with Piers Morgan seems certain to end his Manchester United career.
It is hard to see a way back for the 37-year-old forward, who said he does not respect manager Erik ten Hag and feels “betrayed” by the club.
The question now is whether Ronaldo can secure a transfer in January after failing to leave for a Champions League club before the start of the season.
United was already planning for life without him before excerpts from his interview began circulating on Sunday night – but that process is likely to be speeded up after his latest public show of dissent.
Ten Hag already had to censure him for leaving a pre-season friendly early – and cut him from his squad last month when he refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham.
Ronaldo displayed an element of contrition on social media later and held clear-the-air talks with Ten Hag before being welcomed back into the fold.
But these fresh comments threaten to be a final strike in terms of the Portugal World Cup forward’s relationship with his manager.
“I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me,” Ronaldo told the Piers Morgan Uncensored TV show. “If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you.”
Ronaldo also claims there is an attempt to push him out of the club.
That comes despite the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s own desire to leave earlier in the year.
Ten Hag was reluctant to let him go in pre-season, not least because of a lack of viable replacements either within his squad or on the market. And that problem remains going into January, when United’s pursuit of a new center forward will be further complicated by the typically inflated prices during the midseason transfer window.
United’s recruitment team would prefer to do their business at the end of the season – and Ten Hag was prepared to make Ronaldo part of his plans for the remainder of the campaign even after the incident against Tottenham.
The feeling at United on Sunday night was that Ronaldo’s actions would not be allowed to detract from the positivity generated by Alejandro Garnacho’s late winner in the 2-1 victory at Fulham.
Yet the opposite is true – and the former Real Madrid and Juventus forward’s off-field behaviour has too often been an unwelcome distraction during Ten Hag’s four months in charge.
The timing of the interview also ensures it will hang over the club while the Premier League pauses for the World Cup.
Morgan has refused to confirm when it was conducted, which only adds to the impression that it was a premeditated and stage-managed attempt to gain maximum impact.
“The club will consider its response after the full facts have been established,” United said on Monday. “Our focus remains on preparing for the second half of the season and continuing the momentum, belief and togetherness being built among the players, manager, staff and fans.”
That statement, itself, suggest the club’s hierarchy was caught by surprise.
The interview could also be interpreted as a message to potential suitors - and Ronaldo will have to hope more come forward than in pre-season.
His reputed salary of around £500,000-a-week ($587,000) rules out the majority of clubs in Europe.
If Ronaldo’s desire is still to play in the Champions League then the number of possible clubs shrinks further, with that competition now down to the last 16.
Another problem is his unconvincing form this season – with just three goals in 18 appearances.
A good World Cup could see interest in the veteran striker grow.
In terms of a replacement, the picture is hardly any clearer for United than it was during the last window.
Red Bull Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko was a serious consideration, but he signed a pre-contract with RB Leipzig, while Darwin Nunez was another target before he joined Liverpool.
So small was the pool of potential forwards that United even explored the possibility of signing veteran Bologna striker Marko Arnautovic, which sparked a furious response from fans.
There is an acceptance among elite clubs that there are precious few emerging players of the profile of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
That was underlined by Bayern Munich and Barcelona, who both signed strikers in their 30s as they pursued top-class goalscorers earlier this year.
Bayern signed 30-year-old Sadio Mane after selling 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona. Meanwhile, 34-year-old Karim Benzema continues to lead Real Madrid’s attack.
Ten Hag hopes Anthony Martial can overcome the fitness issues that have disrupted his United career and is trying to help Marcus Rashford develop into a prolific scorer.
He may have to rely on that pair until the end of the season at the very least, with Ronaldo’s comments surely signalling an acrimonious end to his time at Old Trafford.
Read more: Man United respond to Ronaldo's comments in Piers Morgan interview
Ronaldo says Manchester United “betrayed” him, senior figures tried to force him out
Cristiano Ronaldo has blasted Manchester United and manager Erik ten Hag in an incendiary TV interview, saying he feels “betrayed” by the club and that senior figures have tried to force him out of Old Trafford.
The interview is set to be broadcast this week on Britain's TalkTV but advance clips were released late Sunday — just hours after United's final game before the World Cup. Ronaldo was left out of the squad for the second match in a row after the club said he had an undisclosed illness, although the Portugal's star latest comments will increase speculation that he has played his final game for the club.
Read more: Ronaldo back in contention for Manchester United
When asked on the program “Piers Morgan Uncensored” whether United’s hierarchy was trying to force him out of the club, Ronaldo said: “Yes, not only the coach, but another two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed.”
When quizzed again if senior club executives were trying to oust him, the 37-year-old Portugal star said: “I don’t care. People should listen to the truth.
“Yes, I felt betrayed and I felt like some people don’t want me here, not only this year, but last year too.”
Read more: Forbes Highest-paid Footballers 2022: Mbappe overtakes Messi, Ronaldo
United made no immediate comment.
Ronaldo has been in and out of United's starting lineup this season and refused to come on as a substitute in last month’s win over Tottenham. That led to him being banished from the squad for the subsequent trip to Chelsea, although he then returned to the fold.
Ronaldo inflamed the relationship with Ten Hag even further by saying: “I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me. If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never going have respect for you.”
Read more: Ronaldo controversy overshadows United's victory over Spurs
Ronaldo also claimed United had not progressed as a club since the departure of manager Alex Ferguson in 2013, and criticized the hiring of Ralf Rangnick as interim manager last season after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was fired.
“This guy is not even a coach," Ronaldo said of Rangnick. "A bigger club like Manchester United brings (a) sports director — surprised not only me but all the world, you know.
Messi or Ronaldo: Who has better chance at leading team to FIFA World Cup win?
All-time greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have won every possible trophy at club level and also clinched continental championships after reaching their 30s. However, neither of the players won the World Cup, the most prestigious football competition. With age catching up to both of them, the upcoming edition may be their final opportunity to lift the trophy. Let's see who has the best chances of winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 with their respective teams.
How Argentina and Portugal fared in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualification
Lionel Messi’s Argentina had a dominant FIFA World Cup qualification, winning 11 matches and drawing six in 17 outings. The Albiceleste finished second in the point standings, just behind Brazil, and booked their place in the main event.
Read More: Meet Laeeb: Mascot of 2022 FIFA World Cup Football Tournament in Qatar
In contrast, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal had to take part in the second round after failing to finish top of Group A’s points table in the UEFA region. The Portuguese side overcame Turkey by 3-1 in Path C’s second semifinal contest and sealed their place in the World Cup after beating North Macedonia 2-0 in the final.
Argentina’s chances of winning the Qatar World Cup 2022
Argentina are ranked third in FIFA's world rankings, and they have shown continuous progress over the last year or so. The team combination, player camaraderie, and coach’s philosophy all favour Argentina to thrive in the upcoming World Cup main event.
The situation was not as favourable for Argentina a few years ago, even captain Lionel Messi was considering quitting international football after their disappointing performance in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. But after a few months of a hiatus, he returned to the national side, and since then, he has been having a great time for Argentina.
One of the main reasons Argentina have been playing great football in the last few years is because of head coach Lionel Scaloni. The former Argentine national team player was appointed after the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Under his guidance, the Albiceleste won the 2021 Copa America in Brazil last year by beating the hosts 1-0 in the final. They also won the 2022 Finalissima last June by beating European champion Italy 3-0. Argentina's national men’s team has remained undefeated in 35 matches and is only three matches shy of surpassing Italy’s longest unbeaten record of 37 matches.
Given their current form, Argentina are considered one of the top favourites to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Argentina will be playing in Group C, where they will meet Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland. As it seems, Albiceleste’s Round of 16 qualifications should be easy. If Argentina can maintain their form from the group stage, they could advance to the final by defeating their opponents in the knockout rounds.
Read More: FIFA World Cup 2022: Argentina’s confirmed squad
Argentina’s World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez, Franco Armani, Geronimo Rulli
Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, German Pezzella, Nicolas Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Tagliafico, Juan Foyth
Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Guido Rodriguez, Alejandro Papu Gomez, Enzo Fernandez, Exequiel Palacios
Forwards: Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Nicolas Gonzalez, Joaquin Correa, Paulo Dybala, Lionel Messi
Portugal’s chances of winning the FIFA World Cup 2022
Portugal are ninth in FIFA's rankings, but they are not as strong as their talented players. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will be in the race for the Qatar World Cup 2022. However, they are not thought of as one of the strong favourites to win the trophy. Cristiano is unlikely to have a big impact on the team this time given his age and subpar club performances in the ongoing season.
Portugal sometimes struggle to put up their best effort on the field because of a lack of cohesion among the players. The Portuguese side’s head coach is Fernando Santos, who is sometimes criticized for not utilizing his resources properly.
Even though Portugal won the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 under the guidance of Fernando Santos, but in the last year and a half, Portugal have found it difficult to excel in big games. Clearly, this indicates that coach Fernando Santos' pragmatic approach is not helping the team perform to their full potential on the field.
Portugal have some world-class players on their roster and should be the favourite to win the forthcoming big event. However, a lack of cohesiveness within the squad could stymie their progress in the World Cup, and it could begin in the group stage. Portugal will meet Ghana, Uruguay, and South Korea in their Group H fixtures, and qualifying for the Round of 16 would be a real challenge for them.
Read More: 5 players who can win the Golden Boot at Qatar World Cup
Portugal’s World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Jose SA, Rui Patarico
Defenders: Joao Cancelo, Diogo Dalot, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Danilo Pereira, Antonio Silva, Nuno Mendes, R. Guerrerio
Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Neves, William, Palhinha, Vitinha, Otavio, Matheus Nunes, Joao Mario
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Rafael Leao, Ricardo Horta, Andre Silva, Goncalo Ramos
Aftermath
Having an easier group than Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal offers Lionel Messi's Argentina an early advantage to progress to the Round of 16. As a result, Lionel Messi has a better chance than his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo of winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 while representing Argentina. But Portugal may become even stronger as the tournament progresses since they have to play tougher opponents right away.
Meet Laeeb: Mascot of 2022 FIFA World Cup Football Tournament in Qatar
Every FIFA World Cup tournament’s official mascot represents a unique character. World Cup Willie was the official mascot of the 1966 FIFA World Cup event. It was one of the first mascots to be connected to a major sporting event, which started the pattern.
Generally, the concept and artwork of a mascot represent a feature of the country that is hosting the event of the FIFA World Cup. The unique feature can be connected to the nature, animals, or attire of the host nation. The design typically features one or more kid-friendly anthropomorphic figures that correspond with cartoons and related products.
Read More: Brazil Team Analysis for 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Laeeb: Offical Mascot of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Laeeb or La'eeb is the mascot of the FIFA World Cup 2022 tournament, which will run from November 20 to December 18, 2018. Qatar and FIFA have unveiled the mascot officially. the Arabic word la'eeb represents a Super-talented player. He is a member of a mascot verse that exists in a parallel universe but his appearance is open to interpretation.
La'eeb will be renowned for his vivacity, bringing happiness and assurance with him wherever he goes. La'eeb exhorts everyone to have confidence with the slogan "Now is All." Everyone will enjoy football thanks to him.
Read More: Is the FIFA Football World Cup Trophy Made of Solid Gold?
La'eeb comes from a dimension where mascots for sporting events exist. It's a universe where everyone's imaginations and creative ideas serve as the foundation for the characters that inhabit it.
Every previous FIFA World Cup tournament has been attended by the inspirational and brave La'eeb, who has participated in some of the most illustrious moments in football history and scored a number of historic goals.
Read More: 5 Host Cities of FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022: A Travel Guide
La'eeb will be present everywhere, welcoming visitors, encouraging young supporters, and applauding the play during FIFA’s Qatar World Cup 2022 tournament.
FIFA World Cup 2022: Argentina’s confirmed squad
Argentina's head coach, Lionel Scaloni, was awaiting updates from several key players before making his decision on the FIFA World Cup 2022 squad. He finally made up his mind and revealed the major event's final roster on Friday (November 11). With the exception of a few surprises, all of the anticipated names were included on the squad.
Argentina’s final Qatar World Cup 2022 roster
It’s been understood that Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, had made up his mind on certain players long ago. However, he had to wait a little longer to announce his final squad because of injuries to certain players.
Read More: 5 players who can win the Golden Boot at Qatar World Cup
Paulo Dybala, Angel di Maria, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso, and Juan Foyth were in serious doubts due to fitness issues. However, except for Giovani Lo Celso, Lionel Scaloni included the rest of the four players in the final squad. Lo Celso underwent an operation for a muscle injury, so Scaloni had no other choice but to exclude him from the roster. Exequiel Palacios has been included in place of the injured Lo Celso.
Scaloni has taken a bit of a risk by picking Paulo Dybala and Juan Foyth for the tournament, as both are yet to reach their full fitness. Besides promising youngsters, Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez have impressed everyone with their consistent club performances. Therefore, their inclusion was almost certain. Angel Correa and Giovanni Simeone did not make the final squad, but Inter Milan's Joaquin Correa was chosen by Scaloni.
Read More: FIFA World Cup: 5 players who can win the Golden Ball in Qatar
Argentina’s 26-man FIFA World Cup 2022 squad
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez, Franco Armani, Geronimo RulliDefenders: Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, German Pezzella, Nicolas Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Tagliafico, Juan FoythMidfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Guido Rodriguez, Alejandro Papu Gomez, Enzo Fernandez, Exequiel PalaciosForwards: Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Nicolas Gonzalez, Joaquin Correa, Paulo Dybala, Lionel Messi
Two-time World Cup champions, Argentina last won the tournament in 1986 in Mexico. Diego Armando Maradona inspired the Albiceleste to win their second World Cup trophy. Argentina have not won a World Cup trophy in the last 36 years. They played in the final in 1990 and 2014 but lost to Germany 1-0 on both occasions.
Read More: 5 rising stars to watch for in FIFA World Cup 2022
The present Argentina national team has remained unbeaten for more than 30 matches, and last year they won the Copa America 2021 in Brazil. This Albiceleste squad is considered one of the strongest and one of the favourites to win the FIFA World Cup 2022. Argentina will start its Qatar World Cup 2022 campaign against Saudi Arabia on November 22.
5 players who can win the Golden Boot at Qatar World Cup
The World Cup Golden Boot is given to the player who has scored the most goals in that edition of the tournament. There are a few players who are considered strong favourites to win the award this time. Let’s take a look at five players who can win the Golden Boot at the Qatar World Cup.
Five front-runners for the Golden Boot award at the FIFA World Cup 2022
Legends of the game such as Eusebio, Gerd Muller, Florian Albert, Gary Linekar, Ronaldo, and Miroslav Klose have all won the prestigious award. In recent years, superstars such as Harry Kane, James Rodriguez, and Thomas Muller have achieved the esteemed accolade. The designated set piece taker of a team is more likely to be their top scorer, so that has been taken into consideration when picking the players. Here are five players that could win the Golden Boot in Qatar.
Read More: FIFA World Cup: 5 players who can win the Golden Ball in Qatar
FIFA World Cup: 5 players who can win the Golden Ball in Qatar
The World Cup Golden Ball is given to the outstanding player at that edition of the tournament. In most cases, it is given to the most important player of the winning or runner-up team, but in rare cases, it is also given to the player who was by far the best performer at the tournament. Let's take a look at five players who could win the Golden Ball award in Qatar following the final of the 22nd FIFA World Cup.
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: Focal points of selection criteria
The Golden Ball was first given in 1982 to Italian forward Paolo Rossi. Since then, legends such as Diego Maradona, Romario, Ronaldo, and Zinedine Zidane have claimed the prestigious accolade. In the more recent editions, Diego Forlan, Lionel Messi, and Luka Modric have been the recipients of the award. Who can actually win it this time?
Read More: Brazil Team Analysis for 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Judging by the recent winners, the recipient of the award is, nine times out of ten, an attacking player. German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn was the only non-attacking player to win the Golden Ball award in 2002, a testament to his brilliance.
In addition, the player's nation must at least reach the semifinals. The player must also be one of the focal points of their team. He could either be their most important player, their top scorer, their most creative player, or the player most likely to get them out of sticky situations.
Brazil Team Analysis for 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Five-time world cup champion Brazil won their last world cup in 2002. After that, they appeared in four more tournaments, including one in their home in 2014. However, the champs have failed to win another Cup, even though they participated with their top-performing team each time. Now, Brazil is heading to another FIFA World Cup tournament in Qatar in 2022. The event is going to start on November 20. Brazil’s coach announced the 26-member team on Monday (November 07, 2022) with those who are in the rhythm. Let's take a look at the squad analysis of Brazil for the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Brazil Squad Announced for 2022 FIFA Football World Cup
Table: Brazil's 26-member Team for FIFA Football World Cup 2022
Role
Players
Goalkeepers
Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras)
Defenders
Dani Alves (UNAM Pumas), Danilo (Juventus), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Alex Telles (Sevilla), Bremer (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
Midfielders
Bruno Guimares (Newcastle United), Casemiro (Manchester United), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United)
Forwards
Antony (Manchester United), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Neymar Jr. (PSG), Richarlison (Tottenham), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid)
Source: CBS Sports
Read More: Which Countries have Won FIFA Football World Cup Trophy?
Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino and recently injured Aston Villa playmaker Philippe Coutinho were left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad. Firmino’s omission is a big surprise. Although this Liverpool star has been in good form this season, Tite did not consider him for the team. Apart from Firmino’s omission from the team, there are no big surprises in the Brazil team.
With an aim for the sixth title, Brazil will begin their World Cup tour with a match against Serbia on November 24. Five-time world champions Brazil has been waiting for another World Cup for 20 years. The Latin giants have not benefited much from European dominance in recent times. In 2014, Brazil reached the semi-final, which was their highest achievement after the 2022 World Cup win.
Brazil team analysis for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Goalkeepers
There is no shortage of stars in this year’s Brazil team. Two of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, Alisson, and Ederson will fight for the goalkeeper position, while Waveraton is another key goalkeeper this year.
Read More: 5 Host Cities of FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022: A Travel Guide
Defenders
In defense, Danilo, Alex Sandro, and Thiago Silva were predictable. However, there was some confusion about whether veteran defender Dani Alves would be on the team at the end. In the end, it seems Tite trusted Alves’ years of experience. Dani Alves has made history by becoming the oldest player in Brazil’s World Cup squad. He turned 39 last month.
Midfielders
Manchester United duo Casemiro and Fred will be in charge of midfield. In addition to that, Fabinho’s inclusion adds more value to Brazil’s squad. With these top-notch players, as always, Brazil’s midfield is good. So there should be no doubt that Brazil will be in control of the game.
Forwards
In the attacking position, Brazil means Neymar! This happened in the previous two World Cups in 2018 and 2018. In the 2014 World Cup, Brazil’s game strategy revolved around Neymar. It is the same in the 2018 World Cup. Neymar is the biggest star of the team.
Read More: Is the FIFA Football World Cup Trophy Made of Solid Gold?
However, this time Brazil is no longer a team dependent on Neymar. The five-time world champions are not dreaming of winning the sixth World Cup depending on Neymar alone. Apart from Neymar, there are stars like Vinicius, Rodrigo, and Richarlison on the team.
Key Players
Although the final team will consist of 11 players, there will be some key players. And definitely, the whole world will have eyes on them.
Neymar, forward
Although PSG’s start has been in the news for one controversy or another, his record for team Brazil has always been inspiring. He has six career goals in the World Cup tournament. But Neymar may pass Pele’s international goals (77goals) if he can score three more goals in the world cup. Currently, Neymar has 75 international goals in his basket.
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In recent days, Neymar has been in excellent form and scored seven goals in his last nine international outings, while he already crossed double digits for PGS in the 2022-23 season. Winning a World Cup trophy will make him one of the greatest of all time.
Vinícius Júnior, winger
The 2021-22 season ended up being the breakthrough that the world had been waiting for from Vini. While he was in his fourth year at Real Madrid, the 22-year-old led the club to a La Liga title with 17 goals and 10 assists besides scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final against Liverpool. However, he only scored one goal in his 16 appearances for Brazil.
So, he will have to improve his goal score for the national team to become one of the best wingers in Brazil. And Qatar is definitely a good chance for him.
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Thiago Silva, center back
Any preceding Brazilian captain may remain on a higher pedestal, but Thiago Silva has been outstanding because of his youthful age and years of superb gameplay. In his career, he has played an integral role in boosting the Brazilian central defense.
At 38 years old, it is remarkable that Thiago Silva is playing for the Brazilians while famous at an age when many other people are benched. While at Chelsea, most counted him out due to his age, but he shone in the last two-plus seasons. This World Cup will be his last appearance.
Final Worlds
Ahead of the World Cup, FIFA, the governing body of international football, has set a deadline of November 14 to announce the team. However, Brazil’s coach Tite is reluctant to delay the announcement of the World Cup team.
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So far, we have analyzed the Brazil Squad for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Many people are giving different opinions after seeing the Brazilian team. Experts are analyzing the areas of strength and weakness. There are also divisions over who should have been kept and who should not have been taken. But, Brazil’s coach Tite seems, does not care about those criticisms. So, we have to wait until the end of the World Cup to see whether Tite was right or wrong.