At 0:00 Beijing time on November 21, the World Cup in Qatar will be whistled. This is the first time that the World Cup has been held in the Middle East, the first time it has been held in the winter of the Northern Hemisphere, this is the most expensive World Cup in history, it is the World Cup where alcoholic beverages are banned in all competition venues, it is the first World Cup to use semi-automatic offside recognition technology, and it is also the first World Cup in which female referees appear...
Since Brazil's victory at the 2002 World Cup, the Hercules Cup has been brought home by European teams for four editions. When the World Cup comes to Asia again, will the world football map change?
Defenders
France's first enemy was injury
On the morning of November 20, Beijing time, the French team announced that Mr. Benzema, the new Round of Gold, withdrew from the World Cup due to injury. The outside world wailed that "the defending champion is in danger".
After the World Cup draw was released in April this year, the outside world agreed that the French team had drawn a good lot. Especially after last year's European Cup with Germany and Portugal in the same group as the Shura field, the French team seems to see the way to touch the Hercules Cup again. But when it came to kick-off, injuries became France's primary enemy. France's injury squad is more luxurious than many of the team's main squads: N'Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Weasley Fofana, Kimpembe, Nkunku, Meignan and Benzema.
Benzema (left) and Kylian Mbappe (right) in training on November 19. On the same day, France's Benzema suffered a strain on his left thigh during training. The French Football Association then announced that Benzema would not be able to participate in the upcoming World Cup. Xinhua News Agency
From the card point of view, except for a slightly weak midfield, the French team is quite luxurious up front and back, especially the striker led by Mbappe, Griezmann and Olivier Giroud is still star-studded, but full of uncertainties.
Twenty years ago, France competed in the World Cup in Korea and Japan as the winners of the New Branch World Cup and the European Cup. As a result, Pire retired injured before the match, and Zidane missed the team's first two games due to injury. In the end, France did not score a goal and was embarrassed. The "World Cup Curse" began, and the European teams that won the World Cup since then failed to qualify from the group stage in their title defenses.
This year, the World Cup is coming to Asia for the second time, France is once again playing as the defending champions, and they are hit hard by injuries before the game, and they are in a group with Denmark, will the "Gallic Roosters" repeat the same mistake?
challenger
South American teams may welcome a big revival
On 19 November, Brazil's team preparing for the World Cup in Doha, Qatar, held a media open day and invited the media to visit their training camp at the Grand Hamad Stadium in Doha. Xinhua News Agency
From the beginning of the group draw, Brazil has always led the odds table to win the championship. Brazil, the team that has won the most World Cup titles in history, last won the Gold Cup 20 years ago when the World Cup first came to Asia. Although the current Brazilian team is less starry than 20 years ago, the depth of the squad has been further improved compared to the previous two World Cups. Although the two sides of the back line are the weaknesses of the Brazilian team, whether the Brazilian team, which has nine forwards and belongs to the top of today's football, can be upgraded from five stars to six stars is a major attraction of this competition.
Argentina's Lionel Messi in training on November 19. On the same day, the Argentine team trained at the Qatar University in Doha, Qatar, to prepare for the World Cup group stage. It is reported that the Argentine team gave up five-star hotels to live in universities, mainly because universities provide venues for barbecues. Xinhua News Agency
The Argentine team has also become the favorite to win the championship in this half year, and "Messi's last dance dream" is not just a good wish from the outside world. Since the September international break, Argentina is unbeaten in 35 consecutive games in all competitions, just two games short of Italy's record of 37 consecutive unbeaten games. Scaloni led the team for four years and the team has a stable lineup; In terms of logistical support, the Argentine Football Association has simply become a "class representative" in the top 32 with full thought. The team's biggest problem at the moment is also injuries. Previously, Lo Celso was out of the squad due to a torn hamstring, and before the start of the game, Argentina replaced two more people in attack.
England players in training on November 16. Xinhua News Agency
Every time they "look strong" at the tournament, England are widely considered to have drawn "on the spot". But after Southgate announced the squad, the soul torture from Fleet Street was "can the group qualify with this lineup". England's problem is in the defensive line, and under the dual problems of injury and form, even if they stock up on 9 defenders, it makes the outside world feel precarious.
In contrast to England, Spain's slots are concentrated in the forward line. In the past year, Spain has scored more than two goals in just one game in all competitions. During this period, the team's top scorer was Morata, who was often criticized at the club for "double backwards". But coach Luis Enrique may surprise the team, with a paranoid and optimistic Enrique leading the young Matadors to the final four of the European Championship last summer amid boos from local fans.
Germany's Gundogan in a friendly match on November 16. In Germany's 26-man squad, the only players over 30 years old who are over 30 years old are Gotze, Gundogan, Müller and Hoffmann. Xinhua News Agency
Germany, who are in the same group as Spain, are also trapped in the forward line. The biggest problem for Flick's German team is the lack of a strong centre-forward. Timo Werner's injury has given Germany more options up front, but judging from the last warm-up game before the start of the game, the German team's frontcourt construction has not yet found the answer.
'We have a good chance to win the World Cup, not many managers dare to say that, but now I say it. This was what Dutch boss Louis van Gaal said when he unveiled his squad. The Dutch team returned to the World Cup stage after 8 years, and Van Gaal, who was suffering from cancer, led the team for the third time, adding a bit of tragedy to the "uncrowned king". The Dutch team has a dim star forward but has the strongest centre-back partner in 32 teams. It is said that "defending makes a championship", and there is reason to expect an "atypical" Dutch team to go further.
Also feeling his team capable of winning the World Cup is Uruguay coach Diego Alonso. It may sound a little too optimistic, but with a golden generation of veterans such as Suarez and world-class newcomers such as Valverde and Núñez, it is not impossible for this small South American country to make a mark on Qatar after winning two World Cups.
Portugal's Que Ronaldo (top) in training on November 19. On the same day, the Portuguese team trained at Al Shahaniya Sports Club in Doha, Qatar, to prepare for the group stage of the Qatar World Cup. Xinhua News Agency
Portugal, in the same group as Uruguay, is strong on paper and has plenty of manpower at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends. But whether these players can have excellent chemistry remains to be proven. After all, this team did not perform well at last year's European Championship, as well as this year's World Qualifiers and UEFA Nations League. The biggest title ambition in the team is Cristiano Ronaldo, who even said that if he wins the championship, he will retire on the spot. Will Ronaldo, who never admits defeat, lead the Five Shields to go further, or become the X-factor of the team?
Nandu reporter Tao Xinlei Intern Wu Junjie Zhou Yajing