I was actually going to note that the Netherlands might as well be grouped with the 8 winners since they were runners-up 3rd time, but then thought nah, they’re not as strong as their recent WC squads. However, they looked excellent today. Kind of similar to the Argentina-Italy game Wed, Netherlands looked as dominant as Belgium looked past its prime.
Conmebol protecting its tournaments? What was CA Centenario 2016 then? Dude, Conmebol officials are willing to sell their own relatives to highest bidder if the price is right. Those geniuses want to bump ECU off the CA schedule, again, so they can party in 2024 with their sugar daddy Concacaf. I tell you man, Conmebol just wants to line its pockets while precipitating its decline at the world stage.
From 1990 until 2018 Germany and Italy reached every at least the final of every Euros or World cup with exception of the years of the new champions that was 1998 2004 2010 and 2016. Germany did in 1990 1992 1996 2002 2008 and 2014.Italy did in 1994 2000 2006 2012 . Italy made up for not reaching the final of 2018 world cup by reaching the final of Euro 2020 by taking Germany final place in Euro 2020 .Germany wont reach the final of this particular world cup but will take Italy supposed Euro final place in 2024 by at least reaching the final.
I am neither making "assumptions" nor reaching "conclusions" I am only rejecting the conclusion that you and many others have reached, to wit that the next World Cup winner will necessarily be one of the 8 previous winners. In each of the recent tournaments, we have witnessed early casualties among past World Cup winners, including those who had never failed previously. No historic heavyweight comes to Qatar (and Italy will be absent once again) without serious blemishes in its historical records and achievements. Not France (who have twice failed to advance from their group since their first title in WC98). Not Germany after their debacle in WC18. Not Spain, whose first WC title in 2010 was also the last time they made it to the quarterfinals. Not England, with their history of past failures ever since their home title in 1966, until recently after their first semifinal appearance in WC18 in a very long time. (In fact, among the UEFA teams with a title, the trajectory and trends arguably only favor the previous target of ridicule, namely England. The best on paper, France, not only has to overcome the curse of the defending WC champions, but its own penchant to often be so unconvincing in victory never mind losses such as last night). That then leaves us with the 2 Conmebol heavyweights, Brazil and Argentina. Both look very good right now. But both had forgettable World Cups in 2018, especially Argentina, and if there is a side that can commensurate with Saudi Arabia getting thrashed 8:0 by Germany in WC02, it is Brazil as hosts in WC14! In other words, if either of the two do well in 2022, it won't because of a pedigree that has been seriously tarnished and blemished recently. It will be mostly (either because of the level of opposition or because they are simply that good) due to the fact that they are the only sides (besides England) still showing sufficient consistency in their results. For me, there is only about a 50/50 chance one of the sides I have highlighted will lift the trophy in Qatar. Teams like Holland, Portugal, and frankly many others who are in Qatar without any WC trophies, make up a longer list of teams that combined have roughly the same odds.
If there's a new winner which I highly doubt I'd consider only the Dutch. They look to me very good as a team.
My three World Cup favourites France, England and Spain have started all their NL adventure with dissappointing results while Brazil and Argentina keep destroying what is infront of them. Yet nothing has changed for me. The three UEFA powerhouses I mentioned remain favourites to lift the World Cup in Qatar for obvious reasons. The earliest I change some favourites tags can be at the end of the Nations League group stage in September when I'll reconsider everything.
We have a completely inept manager in Gareth Southgate. We just lost to 1:0 to Hungary who haven’t beat us for 60 years ! They could have won by 3 or 4 really . They completely outplayed us for 94 minutes ..
Everyone in Europe has their off days. Nothing bad about that. Unlike in South America roughly 25 teams in UEFA are able to play on a high level on their day. Hungary is part of them.
We have one good/great game every FIFTEEN games We just need a competent manager ., Check out Southgate’s successes on Wikipedia .. Zilch He’s just a steady Eddie who won’t cause any upset or scandals
He's bang average of a manager. But we can't discard England because they got the most talented and cohesive squad in quite some time.
My prediction based on what I have seen I’m this order: 1st Tier France Brazil England Argentina 2nd Tier Spain Germany 3rd Tier Belgium Netherlands Portugal Denmark
1st Tier - France 2nd Tier - Brazil, Germany, Spain, Argentina 3rd Tier - Netherlands, England, Portugal, Belgium
I might throw Uruguay into those third tiers, they are looking pretty good with their new manager. They have been better than Portugal in each of the last three world cups.
*Bigsoccer UEFA fanboys when ARG wins Copa America and coasts through the qualys: "Argentina only looks good because they play CONMEBOL and CONMEBOL is weak, they havent really been tested" *Argentina plays UEFA teams: 8-0
Tier 1: France, Portugal Tier 2: Brazil, Argentina Tier 3: England , Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Uruguay Not sure why Portugal is overlooked… they have a great collection of players. Today they were absolutely dominant against Switzerland. Maybe they’ve underperformed recently but if they click they will be a top fav for the Cup … really great side. Also I think their coach is better than many give credit. Nuno Mendes is terrific, solid defence, good midfield options, plethora of dynamic attacking options. Don’t be surprised if they win it all. Rafael Leao is a young gem.
I believe we'll see some sort of deep run by a dark horse from the Group G and Group H pairings. Serbia or Uruguay can make it far.
Portugal don't fit the age criteria. Same as Brazil and Argentina. I rather stick to a "typical" winner who has all the atributes necessary.
Uruguay isn’t a dark horse I have them in tier 3. Neither is Portugal who imo Are tier 1 with France but people here don’t seem to rate them. If they keep up what they showed today … I think Serbia Has dark horse potential. Uruguay is very underrated but they are still amongst the best teams
what age criteria? In todays football older players in their 30s are lasting longer than ever. Better diets better nutrition and stem cells etc. Pepe and Ronaldo are fine examples and are fine specimens of human beings . Messi has looked as sharp as ever lately for argentina at age 34.
Also , let’s not forget this World Cup is played in November December imo this is better for older players. Less games in their system. Older players will shine this tournament