The World Cup starts in two days and we thought we would make some predictions. First, let’s do a quick analysis of favorites, sleepers, and Golden winners. Then we will look at the US Men’s National Team and a path for glory!
Favorites:
Brazil, Argentina, Spain, France
SPAIN From Socioboom.com
FRANCE Tipstrr.com
BRAZIL Courtesy of Nidhi Arora
ARGENTINA (Image from youtube.com/sportsgalaxy)
Right now, Argentina (+500) and Brazil (+400) are both favorites but they could very well meet in one semi-final. France (+600) appears to be the best bet on the right side of the bracket.
Spain (+750) is in an interesting place. They have talent deep at each position. Maybe not the all around type of dominating players, but solid. They could make a run. Their group with Germany must play either Belgium or Canada. They could squeak by into the semis!
Sleepers:
Canada, Uruguay
I like both of these teams, not to win, mind you. But to go far. Canada has a tough early stretch but if they can use their speed, they can get to the quarters! Uruguay has a great opportunity. Again, not to win the tournament, but to get to the semis. They could win their group with Portugal and then have unbelievably favorable matchups with the next rounds all the way to the semis!
Golden Boot (Most goals scored)
Lionel Messi
Photo credit: DOUGLAS MAGNO/AFP via Getty Images
Neyman da Silva Santos Junior
Messi (+1200), Neymar (+1400), Mbappe (+800), Benzema (+1100), Gakpo (+5000)
Messi (Argentina), Neymar (Brazil), and Mbappe (France) are the top players in the world right now. Each team could make it to the finals and get a trophy. Mbappe has a tough road since France are the reigning champions. Always tough to repeat.
But the Golden Boot, awarded for the most goals scored, could be determined in the group stage if teams decide to run up the goals to increase their goal differentials.
So even if they don’t make the semis or finals, you could have a winner early. With this behind us, I like Gakpo with the Netherlands. He would be a major underdog. The Dutchman is in excellent form and can be dominating. What will determine his fate is the fate of his national club and who is the main scorer for the club…him or Memphis Depay. A forward like Depay or the midfielder like Gakpo?
Sorry. Harry Kane won’t win. Period. Karim Benzema is interesting. Left off the France roster in 2018, he could look to take the spotlight off his teammate, Mbappe.
Golden Glove (Best goalie)
Alisson Becker (Brazil), Ederson (Brazil, also!), Thibaut Courtois (France), Emiliano Martinez (Argentina)
The Golden Glove winner at the 2022 World Cup will be ________ 🧤 pic.twitter.com/wjVCvsLJn3
— GOAL (@goal) November 18, 2022
How can Brazil have two of the best goalkeepers in the world? Easy, one plays for Liverpool and one for Manchester City, two of the best EPL clubs in English football. If Brazil makes it to the final, bet on Alisson. He is the best in the world right now.
Thibaut Courtois won the award prior. But with Belgium always attacking and leaving the defense open to counters and Belgium possibly not a favorite to make the round of 16, I like to side with the Argentine goalie, Martinez. The past seven games, they have conceded only one goal. Impressive in their qualifying stage!
Golden Ball (Best overall player)
Messi (+750) and the rest!
Who is winning the Golden Ball in Qatar? ✨🌕 pic.twitter.com/YoE1Yhm39l
— 433 (@433) November 18, 2022
This will be Messi’s swansong. He will go out in glory and stamp his name as the greatest player not just of his generation but all-time. To have the discussion of Pele vs Messi is for another time. The rest are playing for second!
America
Plan accordingly, America. 🇺🇸
All matches on FOX + Telemundo 📺 pic.twitter.com/7W1fN9xvIu
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 19, 2022
So, how can the Americans fare? First, their group of England, Wales and Iran is a group they can move out of and honestly, should move out of. If they finish 2nd, they will have to play the Netherlands, who should breeze through Group qualifying!
If by some chance the US finishes first, then bet on Ecuador being their opponent. Ecuador tied two favorites for this tournament in Brazil and Argentina during the qualifying stages to get into the World Cup. That is NO SMALL FEAT.
If the US gets past that level, then France is staring at them! But here’s the thing: beating France as the former champs would be the greatest win in American history! Then, they’d probably have Belgium, beatable. Can you believe this path to the finals? Impossible? Nah!
Matt Slocum/AP
What will determine this young squad’s success will be their defense. Their two center backs have NOT spent years playing together like Spain or the Dutch. This could be the American’s weakest spot. If Walker and Zimmerman communicate and help Matt Turner, then the USA could have something special in Qatar.
Maybe we should have more belief in this team. Ted Lasso has faith in each player. Check out this billboard for Carter-Vickers!
.@TedLasso’s callin’ Baton Rouge ☎️
📸» r/ussoccer pic.twitter.com/VsHDqWN5li
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 15, 2022
All we need is to believe. Hasn’t Ted Lasso told us that?
Schedule
First game: Sunday, November 20, Qatar (hosts) vs Ecuador, 11:00 AM EST.
First Day:
Monday: Senegal vs Netherlands, 5:00 AM EST.
England vs Iran, 8:00 AM EST.
USA vs Wales, 2:00 PM EST.
Streaming: fuboTV, Fox Sports app, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Peacock
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