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Published 15:33 20 Nov 2022 GMT
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Reuben Pinder: Argentina. Under Lionel Scaloni, the angels with dirty faces finally look like a proper, coherent team. Gone are the days of a stacked attack being let down by a calamitous defence. With a spine comprising Cristian Romero, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro Martinez complemented by the greatest player to ever kick a ball, they boast a combination of solidity and flair most dreams could only dream of. Their Copa America celebrations last summer demonstrated their unity as a group, who are all desperate to finally win this trophy for Messi, having come so close in 2014. It's going to happen.Wayne Farry: A child who believes in a peaceful world. Joking. Yoko Ono knows fuck all about football. I actually believe that the winners of the tournament will be the top ranked nation in the world. That is Brazil. All you have to do is look at their squad. If Neymar doesn’t turn up, Vinicius is there. If Vinicius doesn’t turn up, Gabriel Jesus is there.I could go on.Brazil are really good and have - aside from the best forward line - the most balanced squad at the tournament. They also have the two best goalkeepers in the world. They are very good. So they should probably win. Lee Costello: For so long they, and Messi, had been yearning for an international trophy, and when they finally did it Copa America, you get the feeling that the hoodoo over them is broken a lil. It coud be a case of once they start winning they don't not know how to stop. Pat McCarry: Argentina. Emi Martinez - that under-your-skin, loveable rogue bastard - has made a big difference to these lads. They are niggly, battle-hardened and have genuine stardust, and a top striker in the mix. Can always rely on these lads to play amazingly and win 4-0 in one game and be complete shit-houses for a 1-0 win, when playing cack, in another.
Lee Costello: Going to go for France, they have a history of peaking and then imploding. They won the '98 World Cup, and 2000 Euros, then crashed out of the group stages in 2002 WC. The reached the Euros final in '16 and won the WC in '18 and I just think that team is starting to decline, especially with the known injury problems that they have, and I've always thought that Lloris is good for at least one blunder. - Mbappé will 100% make headlines for the wrong reasons as well in this tournament, I just don't know why yet, gut instinct.Pat McCarry: Was edging towards Wales, but they may escape their group. A team that will have ambitions of reaching the knock-out stages but who, I suspect, will do sweet F.A is Serbia.
Reuben Pinder: Denmark. Last summer demonstrated the power of their team spirit and their tactical flexibility. With Christian Eriksen back and in good form, playing in front of a solid back three, they have every chance of beating France (who are also big contenders for flops of the tournament) and avoiding Argentina in the second round.Wayne Farry: Uruguay are very good and almost always perform greater than the sum of their pretty good parts. Darwin Nunez will lead the line, with Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani ably stepping in when needed, and while their defence have plenty of ‘how the fuck are they still playing?’Guys like Caceres and Godin, they also have talent in Ronald Araujo and Jose Jimenez. Further up they have potentially the world’s best midfielder right now in the form of Fede Valverde, as well as one of the Premier League’s in-form midfielders, Rodrigo Bentancur. I think they are good and will do well. Lee Costello: Belgium are still capable of beating any team in front of them, and although they don't quite have the same golden generation that they had a few tournaments ago, an inspired Hazard, Lukaku and Kevin De Bryne is enough to topple just about any team. Sometimes when club form is struggling you find your form with your country, so Belgium could pull off a decent run here Pat McCarry: Was gung-ho for The Netherlands until I worked out they are likely to face Argentina in the quarter finals. So, going to fall back on a team that should be good fun to watch, as they so often prove in World Cups - Uruguay. If they can get one over Portugal in the group stages, they should avoid Brazil in the Last 16, and anything can happen then.
Rob Redmond: Lautaro Martínez should fill his boots against Saudi Arabia in the group stages and will have Messi teeing him up. The Inter Milan striker has scored 21 goals in 40 games for Argentina, and has 10 in his last 19 games at international level.Reuben Pinder: Raheem Sterling. He's not had the best start to the season at Chelsea, but who has? Sterling's relationship with Kane in an England shirt has been the basis of Gareth Southgate's attack over the past few years, and if last summer is anything to go, there's no reason why he won't turn it on again in Qatar. Wayne Farry: Romelu Lukaku. Belgium’s golden generation have reached the other end of the hill, and are now probably a little closer to Swarowski than any valuable and precious metal. Saying that, they could and will expect to score goals against Canada and Morocco, and an even more ageing Croatia team could be there for the taking. Lee Costello: Vinicus Junior. Although I don't think Brazil will win it, they should get pretty far, and he could really rake up a few in the group stages. I don't think he's been known to be a main starter for Brazil, but he's been brilliant for Real Madrid, I think they will look to him a lot this tournament. Wouldn't be surprised if Messi nicks it though, going by my prediction that they would at least be in the final, he takes the free kicks and the penalties, and sometimes five goals is enough to win a Golden Boot, and you imagine he would get at least one from open play. Pat McCarry: Shooting for the moon here and sticking with my Argentina-to-win vibe. My pick - to win it with six, nay seven, goals - is Lautaro Martínez. Harry Kane will get four in the group stages but run dry, soon after.
Wayne Farry: It’s hard to select a breakout star in a world where every footballer worth their salt is identified by either FM players or scouts by the age of 15. Ironically, I’m going to choose someone who has been well-known well before they ever played professional football: Xavi Simons of the Netherlands. Simons’ move to PSV from PSG was considered something of a shock when it went through during the summer, but he has been phenomenal in a strong PSV side, working beautifully in tandem with another young Dutch star; Cody Gakpo. That partnership could see Simons get plenty of minutes under Louis van Gaal. If that happens, I think he’ll impress a lot of people. And most importantly, prove me right.Lee Costello: Gavi - The 18-year-old is basically the reason that Thiago isn't in the squad, obviously not as experienced as the Liverpool man, but not as injury prone, and a very clever midfielder who finds space in tight areas. The ideal Spanish midfielder, and with so many of the old heads not in the Spain squad for the first time in so long, such as Ramos etc, this might be the perfect opportunity for the new blood to thrive and strut their stuff. Pat McCarry: My pick to be the guy we're all raving about a little more, come the end of this tournament, and year, is Pedri, from that provincial, wee Europa League club called Barcelona. Made his international debut last year, has already amassed 14 appearances and is a real piece of work. Just to hedge my bets, I'd love to see Phil Foden start all of England's group games and see if he can take yet another step up (as he's near top the ladder now, as it is).
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