IOL Sport - Fifa World Cup 2022

COVER STORY GUARD MOUNTING

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be chasing an elusive World Cup title in Qatar, but the new generation of Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior may yet usurp them.

Pictures: Reuters | AFP | EPA

EDITOR’S NOTE

“Marhaban Bikum Illaa Qatar” as the locals would say. “Welcome to Qatar everyone”, writes Zaahier Adams.

PHOTO BOOTH

Football fans from all over the world will descend on Qatar in a blaze of colour.

GROUP A

Hosts Qatar have to get past Ecuador, Senegal and Netherlands if they are to progress to the second round.

GROUP B

There are long-standing rivalries aplenty in a group that contains England, Iran, USA and Wales.

GROUP C

The battle for second place will be hotly-contested between Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia with Argentina expected to top the group.

GROUP D

Even without some of their mainstays of four years ago, France will be looking to kickstart their World Cup defence by easing past Australia, Denmark and Tunisia.

GUARD MOUNTING

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be chasing an elusive World Cup title in Qatar, but the new generation of Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior may yet usurp them.

18

WORLD CUP WALLCHART

The full World Cup package including fixtures, groups, stadiums and a myriad of other interesting facts.

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

IOL Sport Live Editor John Goliath, who is heading to Qatar, hopes this World Cup will create similar golden memories as South Africa 2010 had for all of us.

FAB FIVE

There have been some fantastic goals scored at the World Cup over the years, but these five have earned legendary status. 24

GROUP E

Spain and Germany might be favourites to qualify from Group E, but Japan and Costa Rica will want to cause an upset. 26

GROUP F

Croatia and Belgium should advance to the next stage, but Canada and Morocco are looking to turn the tables.

GROUP G

Five-times champions Brazil and Serbia are primed to advance, although Cameroon and Switzerland will not go down without a fight.

GROUP H

This may be the last group, but certainly not the least with pundits dubbing it the “Group of Death” such is the quality of all four teams.

COVER: Timothy Alexander / African News Agency (ANA)

DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Timothy Alexander / African News Agency (ANA)

ACTING IOL SPORT DIGIMAG EDITOR: Zaahier Adams | zaahier.adams@inl.co.za

IOL SPORT LIVE EDITOR: John Goliath | john.goliath@inl.co.za

ACTING EXECUTIVE IOL SPORT EDITOR: Thulani Mbatha | thulani.mbatha@inl.co.za

PUBLISHER: Vasantha Angamuthu vasantha.angamuthu@inl.co.za

PRODUCTION: Renata Ford | renata.ford@inl.co.za

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Keshni Odayan | keshni.odayan@inl.co.za

SALES: Charles Reyneke | charles.reyneke@inl.co.za

EDITOR’S NOTE

“MARHABAN BIKUM ILLAA QATAR”

Doing something for the first time often stirs up highly contrasting emotions. The apprehension of a first day at a new school. The pride of being the first to graduate in the family. The excitement of holding your first-born. We, South Africans, know all about that first time. Like when we were the first country on the African continent to host the Fifa World Cup in 2010. Everyone thought we couldn’t do it. The doomsayers, particularly from “First World” countries, never gave us a chance. How could a country, just 16 years into its democracy, open its doors to the world?

Twelve years on, and there are still people with “Waka Waka” as their mobile ringtone, in memory of when they embraced an African World Cup. For me, Qatar 2022 will be no different. The fear of the unknown is often what holds us back from truly life-enriching experiences.

All the negative media attention leading up to the first Fifa World Cup in the Middle East, related to human rights violations in the building of the stadiums, is entirely justified. And hopefully with the global spotlight having firmly been cast on the Gulf nation’s migrant labour policies, there will be gross reform going forward. But from hereon, once arriving in Qatar, and the first whistle blows at the 60 000-capacity Al Bayt stadium for the opening game between the hosts and Ecuador, football fans will be treated to hospitality like no other. “Marhaban Bikum Illaa Qatar” as the locals would say. “Welcome to Qatar everyone!”

The Qataris have gone to exceptional lengths to produce a first-world experience for everyone both on and off the field. Having last visited the Arab state in 2019, I can personally attest to the first-rate hospitality I experienced.

Ultimately, though, it’s the football on the field that everyone is there for. And with it also being the first time a Fifa World Cup will be held mid-European season, we can expect an extraordinary show with players in peak condition and not suffering from postseason fatigue.

In this edition, we preview all 32 teams’ chances across the eight groups, and focus our cover story on whether Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s “Last Dance” will end in a blaze of glory with Portugal and Argentina respectively or will the young guns Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jnr steal the show with France and Brazil? We also reminisce with IOL Sport Live Editor John Goliath, who will be on the ground in Qatar, about “The Beautiful Game” back in 2010 when we all lived our best life.

Enjoy

Zaahier Adams

Zaahier Adams | @ZaahierAdams | zaahier.adams@iol.co.za

GROUP A

SMISO MSOMI

QATAR

QATAR will participate in its first ever World Cup campaign after being handed the rights to host the biggest sporting event in the world. They head into the showpiece tournament as the lowest ranked in their group in 50th. The Maroons have proven to have the requisite infrastructure to ensure a successful event but they are yet to prove their pedigree where it matters most, which is on the field. Their only piece of silverware was acquired back in 2019 when they beat perennial winners of the Asian Cup, Japan, to mark an unprecedented growth in the nation’s football level.

Hosts Qatar have to get past Ecuador, Senegal and Netherlands if they are to progress to the second round.

IMAGES: BackpagePix | EPA

ECUADOR

ECUADOR will partake on the world stage for the fourth time in its history after previously appearing in 2002, 2006, and 2014 editions. La Tri (The Tri Colours) were the youngest team to qualify from the South American section, with an average age of just over 25, qualifying for Qatar by finishing fourth in the South American section, two points ahead of Peru. The biggest name expected on the Ecuador team sheet is Moisés Caicedo, better known to his mates as “Niño Moi” (middle right). The Brighton and Hove midfielder has become an indispensable figure for both club and country, providing balance, aggression, and offensive threat.

SENEGAL

The current African champions are expected to go deeper than all the continent’s representatives. They have played two Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in the last three years, dispatching continental giants Egypt, including Mohammed Salah, as they won their first-ever crown earlier this year.

The Lions of Teranga are in their best form for a very long time having won four, drawn two, and lost just one game in the run-up to the World Cup. Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane is, of course, Senegal’s star player and talisman, but the Bayern Munich striker recently limped off his team’s 6-1 Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen casting doubt on his participation in Qatar. They will certainly need Mane’s (top left) charismatic influence and goals if they are to match the Class of 2002 who reached the quarter-finals in South Korea and Japan.

NETHERLANDS

In terms of squad quality and World Cup pedigree, the Netherlands are heavy favourites to qualify as group winners. They have proven vulnerable to injuries, though, in recent months with their main creative players, such as Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay suffering muscle problems. With Gini Wijnaldum already ruled out, it will be interesting to see how they manage the entire tournament. The Dutch hold the record for playing the most World Cup finals without ever winning it - a record they’re looking to put right.

GROUP B

There are rivalries aplenty in Group B that contains England, Iran, USA and Wales.

HERMAN GIBBS

ENGLAND are the favourites in this group, but in the run-up to Qatar endured a disastrous Nations League campaign that may have dented the confidence. However, as Euro 2020 finalists and 2018 World Cup semi-finalists, the Three Lions have the recent major tournament experience to advance beyond the group stage. Their major source of goals will once again be captain Harry Kane (left), but impressive youngster Phil Foden will be hoping to lighten the burden on his skipper. England’s only World Cup success is, of course, their 1966 victory at Wembley Stadium, but the Class of 2022 will be hoping they can finally bring football home again.

ENGLAND

IMAGES: Reuters | AFP

IRAN

IRAN are the decided underdogs of the group. Team Melli have made five World Cup appearances and each time, they were knocked out at the group stage. This will likely happen again in Qatar.

In Russia, four years ago, they caused a stir in their opening game against Morocco by recording a rare World Cup win thanks to an injury-time own-goal. The experienced Carlos Queiroz (top right) will be at the helm and his objective will be to spring an element of surprise with each outing, particularly in their opener when they face group favourites England.

UNITED STATES

THE United States were not too convincing in the qualifying rounds, but the Americans will be fielding a youthful team packed with potential and will be considered England’s biggest threat in the group. The US are on the comeback trail in Qatar after missing out on Russia four years ago.

The Stars and Stripes’ preferred style of play requires pace and a sound passing game, and it might suit their young players. Many of the USA’s players ply their trade in Europe at some of the biggest clubs. This could prove a big plus for coach Gregg Berhalter’s team, who won’t mind the underdogs’ tag.

WALES

WALES have finally managed to make it to a World Cup - 64 years after their debut appearance. The Dragons open their group assignment with a testing tie against the US. After they play Iran, all eyes will be on the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on November 29 when they take on England in a “Battle of Britain”.

Wales’ challenge will be spearheaded by veteran winger Gareth Bale (middle left), who finally gets to showcase his talent on the biggest stage. The team is largely inexperienced at this level, but they adopt a fearless approach. Wales achieved some excellent results in qualifying and will command respect from group opponents.

GROUP

The battle for second place in Group C will be hotly-contested between Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia with Lionel Messi’s Argentina expected to top the group.

ESHLIN VEDAN

ARGENTINA

THIS will be the final chance for a 35-year-old Lionel Messi to win the World Cup with Argentina. The South American giants have arguably their best squad since the turn of the century, and along with Brazil, are one of the pre-tournament favourites to win the event. Also, for the first time since pre-2010, Argentina have a team capable of beating the big guns of world football without the presence of Messi. Messi will receive support in attack from the likes of Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala, while veteran Angel di Maria, Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo de Paul should pull the strings in midfield. Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez is likely to start in goal, with his backline comprising of 34-year-old Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Acuna and Nicolas Tagliafico.

SAUDI ARABIA

ON paper, the Saudis should be the whipping boys of the group. Herve Renard’s men will be making their seventh Cup appearance, but have only advanced from the group stage once, in the US in 1994, before being beaten in the Round of 16 by Sweden. With the Saudis pushing money into football and even businessmen from the oil-rich country now buying elite football clubs such as Newcastle United, a strong showing at the World Cup could see football explode in the Gulf nation. Renard’s squad in Qatar is almost certain to be made up entirely of locally-based players.

IMAGES: BackpagePix | EPA

MEXICO

IN a way, Mexico are one of the most consistent teams at the World Cup, but not in a way they would like. At every World Cup since 1994, El Tri have advanced beyond the group stage, but been eliminated in the last 16. The aim for Gerardo Martino’s side will be to once again get to the knockout stage, and beating Saudi Arabia and Poland is definitely an achievable target for the North Americans. Three important players for Mexico will be midfielder Edson Alvarez, who is the team’s best player, Napoli attacker Hirving Lozano (middle right) and Guadalajara winger Alexis Vega.

POLAND

POLAND have not gone beyond the group stage since 1986, but this group is navigable for them as they face the Saudis, whom they will be expected to beat easily, and an out of-form Mexico, although beating Argentina will be too tough of a task. Poland have been anything but convincing recently, and it is difficult to see them doing well in Qatar without good performances from key player Robert Lewandowski. Lewandowski (bottom right) is one of the best players in the world, but he is required to do a bit more on the international stage, compared to club level with Barcelona. Being required to drop back regularly could potentially limit the amount of goals Lewandowski scores in Qatar, but he should still bag his first World Cup goal.

GROUP D

Even without some of their mainstays of four years ago, France will be looking to kickstart their World Cup defence by easing past Australia, Denmark and Tunisia.

SMISO MSOMI

LE BLEUS are one of the favourites heading to Qatar as an opportunity to create history beckons. The French national team will look to join an illustrious list that includes Brazil and Italy as the only two nations to have successfully defended a World Cup title. The defending champions have had a few setbacks approaching the World Cup with influential players Paul Pogba, Ngolo Kante and Raphael Varane all being ruled out of the tournament through injury. However, that should not fool anyone as France are untouchable in terms of squad depth with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Olivier Giroud in their ranks. They will be favourites to qualify top of the group.

FRANCE

IMAGES: Reuters | AFP | EPA

AUSTRALIA

THE Socceroos took the hardest route to this World Cup as they required a playoff match against Peru, which they edged through penalties. Australia are heading for the sixth participation at the grand spectacle, having qualified for the 1974, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 editions, with Aussie legend Tim Cahill scoring one of the greatest goals in World Cup history. Head Coach Graham Arnold’s squad is predominantly made up of home-based talent and will need the expertise of starman Denis Genreau who plies his trade in Ligue 1 for Toulouse.

DENMARK

THE Danish, boosted by the return of star man Christian Eriksen (middle left) will look to build on their miraculous run in the last edition of the European Championship. Denmark drove themselves to Wembley in spite of the obstacles placed in their way after losing Eriksen through a cardiac arrest. Their run was inexplicably ended by hosts England at the semi-final stage, an indication of the kind of threat they’re bringing to France. Having already beaten France twice in the last six months in the Uefa Nations League, head coach Kasper Kjulmand will be confident of upsetting the odds once more.

TUNISIA

THE Carthage Eagles are part of the few African teams that have kept up their World Cup participation as they look to engineer a way past the group stages at the sixth time of asking. Coach Jalel Kadri has been very vocal about his ambitions to make history and qualify for the knockout stages and will look to the likes of Youssef Msakni and Wahbi Khazri to help his side achieve that. The North African nation will, however, require a much improved performance to their last major tournament as they sneaked through the group stages at Afcon 2022, only to be knocked out by Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals..

GUARD MOUNTING

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be chasing an elusive World Cup title in Qatar, but the new generation of Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior may yet usurp them.

ZAAHIER ADAMS

LIONEL Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Superstars that have graced football stadia the world over and brought millions and millions of fans unbridled joy and delight.

But yet they have only tasted personal despair at the Fifa World Cup. They are undoubtedly modern-day greats, but to truly sit alongside the pantheon of legends of the ilk of Pelé and Diego Maradona then Qatar 2022 is the one final shot at immortality.

Messi, 35, will once again don the iconic Argentina No 10 shirt, while “CR7” will want to prove with Portugal that at even 37-years-old he is not a spent force like his club Manchester United may think.

Whoever manages to lift the golden Jules Rimet trophy could actually finally settle the “GOAT (Greatest Of All

IMAGES: Reuters | AFP | EPA

Time) debate once and for all.

But while everyone’s focus will be on the great rivals’ “Last Dance”, there are two young stars that could easily steal the show in Qatar.

Kylian Mbappé (France) and Vinícius Júnior (Brazil) are ready to take over the mantle. And Mbappe, 23, has already touched greatness by powering France to World Cup glory four years ago in Russia.

Aged just 19, the looselimbed attacker became only the second teenager, after Pelé, to score in a World Cup final in France’s 4-2 win over Croatia.

On the basis of this feat, Mbappe is already one of the most sought-after and well-paid footballers in the world at his Paris St Germain club. The Frenchman has unmatched raw pace, potent finishing and intelligence beyond his years.

Another consecutive World Cup triumph here in the Gulf nation,

and it may yet be Mbappe that is heralded as the “GOAT” in years to come.

Enter Vinícius Júnior. The 22-year-old, who plies his trade at Real Madrid, already ranks among the world’s top five players. Last season was a breakthrough year for the flying Brazilian winger, where his sizzling performances down the Santiago Bernabéu touchline earned Los Blancos a record-extending 14th Uefa Champions League title and him the inaugural Young Player of the Season award.

Like Mbappe, he is blessed with scintillating pace and remains unphased by tight marking with his nifty footwork often getting him out of small spaces.

Vini Jnr will form part of a potent Brazilian forward line that also includes Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Pedro, Raphinha and Richarlison which is likely to leave many a defender floundering in their slipstream.

Mbappe has the pedigree of handling the pressure of delivering a World Cup. Messi and Ronaldo have been left floundering before. And now Vini Jnr will find out what it means to have 214 million Brazilians waiting at home for a record sixth title.

It’s certainly going to heat up in the Arabian desert over the next month.

1966 World Cup, it was found in a rubbish heap by a dog called Pickles

England’s Harry Kane (right)

2018 Golden Boot winner

scored 12 goals in qualifying matches. Surpassed by Cyle Larin (inset) with 13 goals, as Canada reached first World Cup

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

IOL Sport Live Editor John Goliath, who is heading to Qatar, hopes this World Cup will create similar golden memories as South Africa 2010 had for all of us…

JOHN GOLIATH

I’M genuinely intrigued how the Fifa World Cup 2022 is going to play out because of all the controversy surrounding the awarding of the tournament to Qatar and the subsequent reports of migrant labour and human rights abuses related to the building of the stadiums.

It’s certainly not going to be a “normal” World Cup - a first in the Middle-East - where your average football fanatic or LGBTQ+ community member may find it hard to, well, live their best life.

I’m going to be in Qatar, courtesy of SuperSport, attending four matches in a whirlwind five-day trip. It’s going to be my first Fifa World Cup in 12 years. And to be honest, I had those same butterflies in my stomach back then.

Could we, as the first African host nation, pull off the biggest sports event in the world? Would football lovers feel safe in our country? What about our fragile public transport system? And would the stadiums be ready?

Just over 12 years later and we all know the answers. It was here, and we felt it!

South Africa 2010 turned out to be the best month of my life, and quite possibly yours.

I had a front-row seat as the Cape Times football correspondent.

IMAGES: ANA

And being a young man, who didn’t need a lot of sleep to tick over, the days and nights in that glorious month flowed into one. But it wasn’t always graceful. Most days were as chaotic as the Orange River gushing down the Augrabies Waterfalls.

A typical pre-game day kicked off with a red-eye 6am flight from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth (now known as Gqeberha) - the two cities where I was based during the World Cup.

Pre-match press conference. Tick. File copy for the AM newspapers. Tick. Heavy drinking and partying with complete strangers from all across the globe. Tick. Arrive home in the early hours. Tick. File more copy for the PM papers with eyes virtually closed. Tick. Fall into bed for two hours. Tick. And then head to the stadium for the big game. TikTok!

And that’s how it went for virtually 30 days non-stop. But that wasn’t all.

Post-match and the party would re-start. Here is when I would hook up with my friend and colleague Zaahier Adams, who while still

working in the Cape Town office, but managed to get to the Bay by any means possible, watch a match, join in the festivities and still be be back at his desk within a 24-hour period.

He had even less sleep than I did. Basically a few winks on my hotel bed after another epic night out while I was busy filing copy before catching his lift back to Cape Town.

But Adams helped me live my best World Cup life, because, in those days before Uber, it was a significant bonus to have a wing man who doesn’t touch alcohol.

He was the designated driver and the only guy who really remembers anything that happened after midnight during that tournament.

My fondest memory of the World Cup, though, was giving a bunch of Brazilian fans a lift from the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Julia Stuart, now of SuperSport fame, and I shared a rental that day - in her guise as Daily Voice Sports Editor back then.

These Brazilian fans didn’t know us from a bar of soap, and could hardly speak any English. All I heard was ‘Fifa Fan Fesh’, so we figured we must take them to the Fifa Fan Festival, where we were also going to watch a match at St Georges’ Park on the big screen.

The other sentence those guys uttered in the car was ‘Dunga, son of a b*tch’, but they were so happy that we helped them, they bought us beer all night.

I wonder if people attending this World Cup in Qatar will leave with similar memories? Of course, not the drinking so much, but the camaraderie and joy of sharing this beautiful game, which divides us, but also pulls us closer as fans.

I’m hoping my five days in Qatar will be spent enjoying the World Cup to the max, much like we did at home in 2010.

FAB FIVE

There have been some fantastic goals scored at the Fifa World Cup over the years, but these five have earned legendary status.

DIEGO MARADONA VS ENGLAND (MEXICO, 1986)

ARGENTINA defeated England 2-1 in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal. Maradona (right) scored both Argentina’s goals, and both goals found their way into the history books. However, his first goal is revered as the greatest World Cup goal ever, having been voted ‘Goal of the Century’. Maradona’s dribble through almost the entire England team is unlikely to be ever repeated again. He gained possession in his half, worming his way past five England players, before slipping the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton. His second goal, famously known as the “Hand of God” goal, remains one of the iconic and controversial goals in World Cup history.

HERMAN GIBBS

IMAGES: EPA | Reuters

THE Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo scored a sensational free-kick against Spain in a group match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Spain were leading 3-2 with two minutes of playing time left when Portugal were awarded a free-kick [Ronaldo had scored twice earlier]. His kick looped head-high around the Portuguese defensive wall and then just grazed the inside of the upright as it entered the goals. Spain’s goalkeeper David de Gea remained rooted to the ground as he watched the ball enter the net. Ronaldo (top right) to complete a rare World Cup hat-trick and force a draw against neighbours Spain.

A penalty can hardly be considered an iconic World Cup goal, but French superstar Zinedine Zidane’s strike in the 2006 final remains one of the World Cup’s greatest-ever goals. His Panenka-style (slow motion) penalty, in the seventh minute, hit the underside of the crossbar, while the Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon dived full-length to his right. The ball ricocheted off the bar and bounced just inside the goal line. Although the final was eventually decided on a penalty shoot-out (which Italy won 5-4), Zidane (middle right) was not around - having been red-carded during extra time for infamously headbutting Marco Materazzi.

SIPHIWE TSHABALALA VS MEXICO (SOUTH AFRICA, 2010)

A memory that will last forever in the minds of South African football fans. Tshabalala (middle left) had a nation in raptures when his sweet strike raised the roof in the tournament’s opening game at FNB Stadium. The dreadlocked Tshabalala ran onto a crossfield kick before unleashing a rasping drive across the face of the goal. The shot thudded off the top corner of the post and into the net to set off celebrations from Polokwane to Pacaltsdorp. The aerobatic Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Perez ended up clutching fresh air as he tried to parry the shot.

PELE VS SWEDEN (SWEDEN, 1958)

At the 1958 World Cup, the world was first alerted to the outrageous talents of the 17-year-old Brazilian striker Pelé. After scoring four goals before Brazil reached the final against Sweden, Pelé (bottom left) added two more. His first goal, however, was one of the greatest World Cup goals. He met the ball on his chest after it was kicked into Sweden’s goalmouth. As it was about to bounce, Pelé flicked the ball over the head of a defender who had closed in on him. Next, he ran around the defender and cracked the ball on the volley to give Brazil a 3-1 lead.

GROUPSpain and Germany might be favourites to qualify from Group E, but Japan and Costa Rica will want to cause an upset.

MIHLALI BALEKA

SPAIN

AFTER winning their first global showpiece in 2010, Spain were tipped to add another crown sooner than later, given the emerging talent at their disposal. But they stuttered, crashing out in the group and knockout stage in 2014 and 2018. Enter Luis Enrique.

The 52-year-old has been a breath of fresh air. Since taking over the reins late in 2019, Enrique has injected new blood with a dash of senior players, such as Barcelona’s captain Sergio Busquets, 34.

But it was Pedri (right) that shone at the delayed 2020 European finals for La Roja who were semi-finalists. And that’s why he’ll be expected to set Qatar alight.

IMAGES: BackpagePix | EPA

GERMANY

THE winds of change have been blowing across the German national team since their disastrous campaign in Russia four years ago when the defending champions failed to emerge from the group stages.

However, under new boss Hansi Flick, the Germans were the first team to qualify for Qatar, which has given everyone renewed faith in the national team.

Flick has also not been afraid to discard previous stalwarts such as veteran defender Mats Hummels and Marco Reus to infuse the squad with youthful talent such as Borussia Dortmund’s 17-yearold strike sensation Youssoufa Moukoko (top right) in his World Cup squad.

JAPAN

HAVING qualified for the last seven World Cups in a row, Japan will be eager to make a telling statement in this edition and try to finish in a respective spot. The squad is made of players that are only hitting their peak now, having let go of seniors such as Keisuke Honda who has had a very decorated career. But not to worry. Their relatively new-look team boasts a wealth of European experience, including defender Tekehiro Tomiyaso who plays for Arsenal. Striker Takumi Minamino (middle right) will also bring a wealth of experience into the team, after exploits with English giants Liverpool before he moved to Monaco.

COSTA RICA

COSTA RICA will be wearing the underdogs tag in the group, given that they only qualified for the finals after winning the play-offs against New Zealand. They do not boast renowned players, except for captain and keeper Keylor Navas who made a name for himself at Spanish giants Real Madrid.

But now at Paris Saint German, where he’s rubbing shoulders with the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, Navas (bottom left) should bring them hope.

GROUP F

Croatia and Belgium are favourites to take the top two spots, but Canada and Morocco are looking to turn up the tables.

ESHLIN VEDAN

CROATIA

THE Croatians have been in brilliant form since June and have won four games on the trot which included beating France and Denmark twice.

The team will be led by 37-yearold Luka Modric who has confirmed that he will be playing in his final World Cup. Though now close to 40, Modric (left) remains on top of his game and played a vital role in helping Real Madrid win the La Liga and Champions League double last season.

With question marks hovering around the mentality of Belgium, Croatia could even back themselves to win the group.

IMAGES: BackpagePix | EPA

BELGIUM

THIS will be the final time that the Belgian “golden generation” comprising the likes of Eden Hazard, Toby Alderweireld, Kevin de Bruyne (top right), Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku all play together.

They have underachieved on the international stage and are arguably at their weakest since bursting onto the scene in the 2014 World Cup.

However, in Courtois, the Red Devils do have the best goalkeeper in the world. They will still be the favourites to win Group F. Belgium have the quality to go far in Qatar but there are doubts over the mentality of the team.

CANADA

CANADA will be making their first World Cup appearance since 1986 and have been one of world football’s most improved nations in recent years. Coached by John Herdman who boasts the rare distinction of having also coached the Canadian women’s team, Les Rouges placed first in North American qualification for Qatar, impressively beating continental heavyweights Mexico and the United States.

In Cyle Larin, Jonathan David (bottom right) and Alphonso Davies, the Canadians have three players who can cause trouble against any side in world football. Advancement beyond the group stage for Herdman’s side is not outside the realms of possibility.

MOROCCO

ARMED with a squad who mainly play in Europe, the Atlas Lions will be aiming for nothing less than advancement beyond the Group Stage in Qatar and they have the quality to do so. The Moroccans have looked organised in their recent games and are unbeaten since their 3-0 defeat to the United States in June.

In their last two games, the North Africans also claimed a win over Chile and a draw against Paraguay, two physical teams that are never easy to play against. In Achraf Hakimi (middle left), Youssef EnNesyri and Hakim Ziyech, Atlas Lions tactician Walid Regragui has the resources available to progress beyond the group stage.

GROUP G

BRAZIL

BRAZIL , the most successful country with five World Cup titles, will arrive in Qatar as the world’s No 1 ranked country. That will raise expectations among its population of 214 million people who will be dreaming of a sixth title. They will rank among the favourites. The star-studded Brazil team have had a superb sequence of wins in matches, stretching back to 2021. Half of the squad ply their trade in Europe’s top-flight leagues, and several players are in excellent form. Some of the squad’s stars include Neymar, Vinicius Junior and Fabinho, as well as two of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers in Alisson and Ederson.

HERMAN GIBBS

Five-times champions Brazil and Serbia are primed to advance, although Cameroon and Switzerland will not go down without a fight.

SERBIA

SERBIA will fancy their chances of advancing from the group stages after defeating the highly rated Portugal in their qualifying group. The team’s attack will be spearheaded by one of the Premier League’s most in-form forwards Aleksandar Mitrovic (top right), as well as Juventus hotshot Dusan Vlahovic. The squad is brimming with confidence, and they believe the best is yet to come. They’re banking on extending their recent stellar form into the World Cup. At the 2018 World Cup, Serbia finished third in their group, winning one game. The technical staff felt they learned a few valuable lessons there, and hope to be far better prepared this time.

SWITZERLAND

SWITZERLAND had a good run in the qualifying to finish as Group C winners after commendable draws home and away against European Champions Italy. At last year’s European champs, Switzerland scored an upset win over France and then ran Spain close after losing the penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals. Switzerland have made a habit of punching above its weight on the world stage. In Russia, Switzerland surprised by reaching the last-16 round and then were defeated by Sweden. In 2014, they caused a major upset by defeating the highly fancied Argentina in the first knockout round. They will have a dogfight with Serbia for the group’s runner-up slot behind Brazil.

CAMEROON

CAMEROON’S Indomitable Lions will be making an eighth appearance at a World Cup. Their Roger Milla-inspired team were the upstarts at Italia ‘90 where they miraculously beat defending champions Argentina, led by the great Diego Maradona. They reached the quarter-finals where they succumbed to Bobby Robson’s England in extra time. It was the first time in history that an African team reached the World Cup quarter-finals. They could spring a surprise or two again. They have topflight players with plenty of Uefa Champions League and Europa League experience under their belts, among them Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting of Bayern Munich, Karl Toko Ekambi of Lyon, Andre Onana of Ajax and AndreFrank Zambo Anguissa of Naples.

GROUP H

This may be the last group, but certainly not the least with pundits dubbing it the “Group of Death” such is the quality of all four teams.

MIHLALI BALEKA

GHANA have been the continent’s World Cup flag bearers over the recent years. So much so that Africa, as a whole, was fully behind “BaGhana BaGhana” in 2010.

But after a disappointing performance in 2014 and missing out on the 2018 edition, it is time the Black Stars find their groove on the big stage again. They have an opportunity to avenge their painful 2010 quarter-final defeat, courtesy of Luis Suarez’s antics at FNB Stadium, when they face Uruguay again 12 years later.

GHANA

IMAGES:

URUGUAY

THE Uruguayan national team that reached the 2010 semi-finals have largely been replaced, but the pantomime villain Luis Suarez remains ready and available for selection. Suarez, 35, spent the entire season at his native Uruguay keeping fit, while he’s still weighing up his options following the finals in Qatar. But after most of the seniors left the national team, the responsibility also will lie on fellow veteran Edinson Cavani to drive the South Americans forward. The Uruguayans have a potent striking force, but their defence and engine room units are equally solid with Federico Velverde’s marshalling it.

PORTUGAL

IS this the swansong? That must be the question that Portugal fans are asking as this could be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup. The 37-yearold has won every available accolade throughout his stellar career, but a World Cupwinners medal still eludes him. There are quality players in the Portuguese squad, including his Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo, who can help “CR7” go out in some style.

But they haven’t been in good form of late and will need to hit the ground running in this tightly-contested group.

KOREA REPUBLIC

THE Koreans have been regulars in qualifying for the finals, but like their Asian counterparts, Japan, they’ve failed to leave their mark in recent years. And that won’t come easy for them. They are still sweating over the fitness of captain Heung-min Son, who sustained an injury at Tottenham Hotspur. But the Koreans won’t sit around and surrender to being early packers. They’ll believe that they can beat any nation they’ll cross paths with.

With soccer fans eagerly awaiting the World Cup kickoff in Qatar on November 20, DStv has come to the party to heighten the excitement levels by watching matches in ultrahigh definition with DStv 4K.

This new offering from the subscription platform gives viewers an opportunity to watch all 64 matches of the 2022 Fifa World Cup, in a way that makes it feel like they are witnessing all the live action from the stadium itself.

Most 4K devices have around eight million pixels, meaning every moment of every match will be displayed in brilliant detail.

Viewers who watch via their decoders will require an Explora Ultra, a 4K television (connected with the HDMI

supplied with the decoder) and either a Premium, Compact Plus or Compact subscription.

And fans who stream the tournament, either via Showmax Pro or DStv, will also be able to do so in 4K, provided they have a 4K television (or 4K-supporting media or TV box), and either a Premium, Compact Plus or Compact subscription. Customers who stream in 4K can adjust video quality to manage data usage.

CLICK HERE TO STREAM ALL YOUR FIFA WORLD CUP

MATCHES

HERE ON DSTV

THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 4K OFFERING:

· You will need a line speed of 15Mpbs but an uncapped connection is recommended. If you are using a media or TV box (like DStv Streama), you will need to be 4K capable.

· Only English commentary

is available on the 4K channels.

· If you are getting an E48 or E16 error, contact support for assistance.

Marc Jury, SuperSport chief executive, confidently claims that this is the platform’s most varied and dynamic World Cup offering yet.

Additionally, SuperSport’s offering will include World Cup action for access subscribers via SuperSport LaLiga on DStv channel 204.

Even if your partner or friends are not into soccer, you can still get your popcorn and drinks ready to enjoy the live action as 32 teams battle it out in four rounds of 16 matches, two quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place playoffs and a final.

Get your vuvuzelas ready, put on your favourite team’s jersey and get into the World Cup spirit.

For more information on Ts & Cs, CLICK HERE