One dream, 32 nations, eight groupings. The Qatar Soccer World Cup 2022 draw took place on Friday, April 1. United States will play England and Iran, Mexico will face with an old foe in a complicated group whilst Canada was paired with Belgium and one of the previous World Cup finalists. This is how the groups were paired:
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
An interesting group. Netherlands appear to be the overwhelming favorite to win the group, with Senegal -the current African champions-, the South Americans, and the Cup hosts vying for the remaining slot.
Group B: England, Iran, United States, Wales/Scotland/Ukraine
A beautiful group. If Scotland or Wales advance for the remaining European playoffs (that includes Ukraine), the winner will face England in a British classic. On the other side, Iran and United States meet again. The previous challenge was 24 years ago in France 1998, when Iran defeated USA 2-1 on June 21.
United States and England will face each other in a World Cup for the first time since South Africa 2010. A howler from English goalkeeper Robert Green gave USA the 1-1 draw that time. The Americans return to competition after an absence in Russia 2018.
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
A spicy group. Mexico will face their old nemesis Argentina in a World Cup after 12 years. Argentina defeated Mexico 2-1 with a golazo from Maxi Rodríguez in extra time to eliminate El Tri in the Round of 16 of the 2006 Germany World Cup.
Four years later, the Argentine team led by Diego Armando Maradona repeated the dose in the Round of 16 and left Mexico out of the competition, with a brace by Carlos Tévez and a goal by Gonzalo Higuaín. Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández discounted for Mexico to leave the score 3-1.
A special moment will be held when Poland and Argentina play in the Qatar Soccer World Cup. Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski, one of the best strikers of the world will be face to face when their National anthems are played. Many fans and pundits think the Polish should have won the Ballon D’Or in 2021. France Football awarded the Argentinean superstar.
On the other side, for Mexicans Guillermo Ochoa and Andrés Guardado, as well as Argentine Messi, this will be their fifth World Cup competition.
Group D: France, Peru/Australia/United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Tunisia
A reiterative group. If Peru or Australia qualify for the intercontinental playoff in June, 75 percent of the Russia 2018 group phase C will be completed.
Both France and Denmark have a recent common history in World Cups. They competed in the group phase in France 1998, Korea-Japan 2002, and Russia 2018, winning one game, drawing one, and losing one.
The last four European World Champions (France, Italy, Spain and Germany) have been eliminated in the group phase of the next FIFA World Cup. Will it happen again?
It might interest you: Los CDC frenan a Djokovic: Estará ausente de los Masters Indian Wells y Miami
Group E: Spain, Costa Rica/New Zealand, Germany, Japan
A historic group. Spain overcame Germany in the Euro 2008 final and the World Cup semi-final in 2010, but it seems like a long time ago.
The Xavis, Iniestas, Lahms, Kloses, and Schweinsteigers are retired and Spain no longer plays Tiki-taka. Both La Roja and Die Mannschaft have a plethora of talented footballers eager to make a name for themselves following the Russia 2018 disaster.
If Costa Rica finally qualify, they will face Germany again in a World Cup after the 2006 edition. The Ticos aim to repeat the performance of Brazil 2014, when they topped a group containing Italy and Uruguay and made their way into the quarter-finals.
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
An elite group. This one contains half of the top four teams from Russia 2018. The eventual World Champions, France, overcame Belgium 1-0 in the semi-finals of the Russia 2018 tournament, while Croatia was thrashed 4-2 in the final by Les Bleus.
Qatar Soccer World Cup will be the second for Canada after the Mexico 1986 tournament, and the sixth for Morocco. The Africans best performance was in Mexico 1986, when they reached the Round of 16.
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
A repetitive group. For Brazil, Serbia, and Switzerland, this will be a reedition of the Russia 2018 group E. Four years ago, the Scratch and the Swiss qualified.
Brazil finished first in the Conmebol World Cup qualification campaign with a near-perfect record. The South Americans led by Tite and with players like Neymar Jr., Vinicius, and goalkeeper Allison Becker., are chasing their sixth World Cup title, a trophy they haven’t won since Korea-Japan 2002.
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
A funny group. Portugal, Ghana and South Korea have all one thing in common. All of them have been defeated by Uruguay in World Cups in recent times.
- South Africa 2010, Round of 16: A brace from Luis Suárez proved enough for Uruguay, who overcame South Korea 2-1.
- South Africa 2010, quarter-finals: Suárez stopped with both hands, on the goal line, a ball that would have left his country out of the Cup in the last minute of extra time. After the hand and expulsion of Suárez, Ghanaian player Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty. Regulation time ended, they went to penalties and Uruguay won a historic match, ended with a Panenka shot by Sebastián ‘el Loco’ Abreu.
- Russia 2018: Uruguay defeated Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Portugal 2-1, with a brace from Edinson Cavani.
Speaking of Ronaldo, the Portuguese superstar will also be competing in his fifth World Cup tournament.
Noticias Newswire
