World Cup Preview (Group A)
- QATAR
Since Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup, the coverage of the tournament has been away from the football field. However, the World Cup looks set, and Qatar will take part as the host nation as they will play the first game against Ecuador on November 20th. So what can we expect from the Qatar national team? Well, Qatar does not have any household names of note as every one of their 26-man squad is currently playing in the Qatari Stars League. Qatar may have never qualified for the World Cup, but it's not for lack of trying. They narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 1978 and 1998 editions. They also achieved recent success finishing third in the FIFA Arab Cup and CONCACAF Gold Cup, plus winning the Asian Cup for the first time, beating Japan in the final. Coach Felix Sanchez has the task of delivering Qatar to a place they have never been in the football world, and he has a crop of players that have been together for several years. Nine players have over seventy caps; another five have over a hundred appearances. Their captain Hassan Al-Haydos has 168 caps to his name, the most appearances for the Qatar national team. The key man for the Maroons is striker Almoez Ali. With 40 goals to his name, he's already third in Qatar's all-time leading scorers. He also scored nine goals in their 2019 Asian Cup triumph, winning the Golden Boot and Best Player awards. They are in a tricky group where they are not the favourites to go through, and only South Africa is the only host nation not to go through in a World Cup. Qatar is opening itself to the world, and this World Cup can announce them as a football nation.
Can They Get Through: NO
- The NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands are back in the World Cup. After finishing third in the 2014 World Cup, the Dutch failed to qualify for consecutive tournaments. The 2016 European Championships and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The last time Oranje failed to qualify for multiple showings was in the 1980s, failing to qualify for the 1982 and 1986 World Cups and the 1984 European Championships. They have been rejuvenated firstly under Ronald Koeman and now by Louis van Gaal, who has returned as head coach for the third time. The Netherlands qualified for the 2022 World Cup ahead of Turkey and Norway, who finished narrowly behind them. They suffered only one defeat and scored 33 goals in 10 games. Many of these players will be playing in the World Cup for the first time, a unique situation for van Gaal from his last showing as he had experienced heads in 2014. Their spine is solid from Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt at the heart of their defence, Frenkie de Jong and Marten de Roon in central midfield, and Memphis Depay leading the line in attack. Depay is possibly Oranje's key player, as he was in the 2014 World Cup and has been reliable in an orange shirt, scoring 42 goals. The next highest active scorer is Georginio Wijnaldum. Netting 26 times but will not be available due to injury. The Netherlands are dark horses for this tournament and are heavy favourites to top Group A. If they do get out of the group, they have the potential to go far, but the Dutch usually falter to deceive.
Can They Go Through: YES
- SENEGAL
If there is an African nation that can pull trees this World Cup, it's Senegal. The Lions of Teranga are the highest African team in the FIFA World Rankings at 18th place and won the first piece of silverware earlier this year, winning the African Cup of Nations against Egypt on penalties. A crowning achievement after losing in the previous African Nations Cup Final against Algeria and failing to make it out of the group in the 2018 World Cup. During World Cup qualification, they finished top of their group in the second round to qualify for the third-round playoff. They faced Egypt again over two legs and won on penalties again. Senegal has now qualified for consecutive World Cups for the first time after failing to qualify since their first showing in 2002. Their squad have been familiar with each other for a long time and have been under the tutelage of Alou Cisse, having been head coach since 2015. They have notable players like Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gueye, Abdou Diallo and Cheikhou Kouyate. Sadio Mane is their biggest superstar, already Senegal's all-time leading scorer with 34 goals. Having varying quality in attack, Mane will be vital in Senegal's chances of not just going through but sustaining a run in the knockouts. Possibly the last of this Senegal squad at its apex, they better make the most of it while they can cause it may take a long time to get to this quality again.
Can They Go Through: YES
- ECUADOR
Ecuador is not on the same footing as other South American countries like Chile and Colombia. Despite that, Ecuador qualified for this World Cup. Ahead of the two countries mentioned earlier. Their qualifying campaign was a great success, beating Uruguay, Colombia and Chile in their qualifiers, enabling them to qualify comfortably. Having failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, it is a welcome return for Ecuador as they are making their fourth World Cup appearance. Their last appearance was the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. They have only made it out of the group once, which was in the 2006 edition. The Ecuadorian players are playing far and wide, making this World Cup an opportunity for these players to showcase themselves to a bigger audience. Gustavo Alfaro has been taking the reins for over two years, managing 31 games and sticks with the 4-3-3 formation with a solid midfield to protect the defence, which proved fruitful as they conceded nineteen goals in eighteen qualifier games. Only Brazil and Argentina conceded less. Players to watch are their captain Enner Valencia, currently their all-time leading scorer with 35 goals. One of the few players from the 2014 World Cup squad. Pervis Estupinan is a marauding full-back currently at Brighton, along with holding midfielder Moses Caicedo, whose profile is growing. La Tricolor can throw a spanner in their group, and with an inexperienced squad, it might work or fall flat.
Can They Go Through: NO
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