2022 World Cup teams whose strength is greater than their fame - Group A
🇳🇱 Netherlands: Boguis
Although today's Dutch team is no longer the same as the star-studded Dutch team at the beginning, they are still not good in central midfield. After Wijnaldum's injury, no one expected Boguis to become the core of the team's attacking organization. Thanks to his organisation, the Dutch attack was even more fluid, and the soon-to-turn 31 veteran finally proved himself in the national team. After making a name for himself at Alkmaar, Boguis joined Wadford in the Premier League for a disappointing season. He then returned to the Eredivisie and joined Feyenoord and gradually became the face of the team. Boguis, who plays as a winger, has excellent offensive ability with the ball and excellent passing, reaching 15+ goals and 10+ assists for four consecutive seasons. Despite several years of consistent highlights, Boguis has been unable to secure consistent playing time for the Dutch national team, which has a large number of attackers up front. After joining Ajax last season, he has increasingly appeared in the forward position and even the number 8 position, showing his excellent passing vision and organisational skills, and gradually establishing himself in the national team after Louis van Gaal took over. He is highly likely to be a regular in the Dutch team at the World Cup, and his performance will be crucial for the Dutch team.
🇸🇳 Senegal: Blaille Dia
In Senegal, whether 4231 or 433, Braille Dia is the team's main centre-forward. Among the many attackers in Senegal's front, Mane is undoubtedly the core of the team, Ismaili Sarr and Diallo also have strong individual possession breakthrough ability, and Dia is clearly the most inconspicuous one. Compared with the traditional center, his height of 1.80m is not advantageous, but he has more mobility, excellent speed and explosiveness, flexible movement, and the ability to seize opportunities in front of goal. After making a name for himself at Ligue 1 Reims, Dia joined La Liga powerhouse Villarreal, but was never able to secure a main position. This season, he joined Serie A underdog Salernitana and has been extremely impressive so far, leading the team to the top of the table. With Senegal in the World Cup with Mane in the spotlight, Dija's play was crucial.
🇪🇨 Ecuador: Ángel Mena
In the eyes of many people, the reason why Ecuador's team can beat the two strong teams of Colombia and Chile is mainly due to the plateau advantage of their home field. But fans who regularly watch South American matches will find that this Ecuadorian team is very strong, especially in attack. In the South American qualifiers, they scored second only to Brazil and the same as Argentina. Among Ecuador's frontcourt attackers, the 34-year-old veteran Angel Mena is far less famous than Enna Valencia, Plata, Ibarra and Jordi Caicedo. But whether the team uses 4231 or 433, Mena is the absolute workhorse of the team. Standing only 1.68 meters tall, he has a flexible and fast ball style, delicate foot technique, excellent dribbling breakthrough ability, and good organization and passing skills, and he can adapt to the left-handed, left-handed, left-center-right in the front.
🇶🇦 Qatar: Karim Boudiaf
Qatari football has greatly increased its strength after planning a number of powerful players, and in the 2019 Asian Cup, it defeated strong opponents Iraq, South Korea and Japan in a row to reach the top of Asia. As hosts of the 2022 World Cup, they will never be willing to be spectators, and from the perspective of the group, they do have a chance to break out of the group with their home advantage. Under manager Felix Sanchez's 532 tactical system, the team's attack relies mainly on strikers Afif, Moez Ali, and midfield playmaker Haydos, who shone in the 2019 Asian Cup. But Qatar's midfield barrier Boudiaf is the team's most indispensable one. He has excellent physical fitness, a tough style of play, excellent interception and tackle ability, and even against European and American players. Despite being far less famous than the attacking trio up front, Boudiaf's play will be decisive if Qatar wants to make a difference in the World Cup.
