The favourites to win the World Cup - ranked
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is on the horizon and predictions for the tournament are in full swing. Group victors, shock early exits, dark horses; we've got it all figured out...until we don't.
While many are rightfully decrying the Qatari World Cup, there's no doubt that the football on the field at least will be entertaining.
We've got a multitude of potential contenders for World Cup glory in 2022. Sure, there are favourites but there are a number of teams that could feasibly triumph in Qatar.
Here's a ranking of the current favourites to win the 2022 World Cup.
10. Uruguay
Uruguay are heading into Qatar with several of their key players bang in form. Midfield tandem Federico Valverde and Rodrigo Bentancur are playing some of the best football of their young careers, while the chaotic Darwin Nunez is bound to cause a few issues for teams.
Veteran forwards Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani remain serviceable options, and their presence will be key for this relatively youthful Uruguay squad.
The balance of Diego Alonso's team has thrust them into this top ten and they should be buoyed by the returns of star defenders Jose Maria Gimenez and Ronald Araujo. Left-back Matias Oliveira is developing nicely at Napoli, also.
Uruguay are certainly a side to keep an eye on.
9. Denmark
Denmark may not be blessed with the talent of the world's strongest footballing nations, but they're coached like a club side and their squad breeds harmony.
Kasper Hjulmand has done an excellent job with the national team and he'll be looking to build on their semi-final finish at Euro 2020.
Denmark are one of the form nations heading into the tournament. Their verticality and intensity has the capacity to overwhelm opponents - presuming they can maintain the energy levels they've often displayed over the last few years.
8. Portugal
Not too many people are talking about Portugal as a potential favourite, but their squad is laden with world class talent.
Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, and Bernardo Silva make up a Manchester City dominated spine - which is never a bad thing. Those three are complemented by budding superstar Rafael Leao, Bruno Fernandes, and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manager Fernando Santos is a CR7 loyalist and the maligned Manchester United forward will start every game in Qatar. Whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen.
7. Netherlands
Like Denmark, the Netherlands emanate unity but they're blessed with superior personnel and a manager with World Cup experience in Louis van Gaal.
While the Dutch failed to qualify for the tournament four years ago, they boast an impressive World Cup record without ever winning the competition.
Van Gaal is blessed with the talismanic Memphis Depay in attack, a versatile midfield, and a talented defence marshalled by the great Virgil van Dijk. They're going to be a tough nut to crack in Qatar, that's for sure.
6. Germany
Hansi Flick's revolution with Die Mannschaft has somewhat stalled. While Germany are undoubtedly better now than what they were during the backend of Jogi Low's tenure, they perhaps aren't in the position they wanted to be in heading into the World Cup.
Jamal Musiala is poised to enjoy a standout tournament, but the form of Flick's other forwards heading into the competition will concern supporters.
Are Germany blessed with the requisite firepower to go all the way?
We're not so sure.
5. Spain
Spain surprised a fair few by just how good they were at Euro 2020. It hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows since, but Luis Enrique remains, arguably, the best coach in international football and he's collected a group of players that are all willing to buy into his ideals.
Spain are capable of playing with the telepathy of an elite club side - that's what we saw at the Euros. However, they do lack a reliable outlet and are vulnerable in defence. They're reliant on Enrique's excellent structure to ensure a rather uninspiring backline is kept out of danger.
Their midfield is majestic, however. The technical supremacy they possess in the middle of the park means they can control any game they're involved in, and that goes a long way to winning football matches.
4. France
France's talent and the depth they possess in certain positions is just absurd. The 2018 champions are understandably among the favourites but there are a couple of reasons why they don't crack our top three.
Firstly, do you know how hard it is to win a World Cup? Let alone two in a row. We haven't seen a back-to-back winner since 1962.
It just doesn't happen anymore.
Moreover, mutiny never seems to be too far away from breaking out with the French squad at a World Cup, and Didier Deschamps will be heading into the tournament without the engine room that steered them to glory in Russia.
Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante are both huge losses to this French side.
3. England
'ENGLAND THIRD!? DID YOU NOT SEE 'EM IN THE NATIONS LEAGUE?'
Relax guys, the ludicrously scheduled 2022 UEFA Nations League shouldn't be taken for gospel heading into the tournament. Yes, England were dire throughout the recent campaign, but Gareth Southgate's side are built to win tournament football matches.
It's functional and bereft of style despite their excellent personnel, but Southgate's pragmatism has helped the Three Lions reach the semi-finals and final at their last two major tournament outings.
2. Argentina
There's little to separate the two current favourites, who both come from South America.
There's nothing a romantic football fan wants more this winter than to see Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup aloft to officially crown himself as the greatest footballer we've ever seen.
Messi's side are well-placed to do so and they should benefit from a rather kind group stage draw. This is the best Argentina side in decades and they'll be looking to round off a golden era - which started with the capture of the Copa America in 2021 - in Qatar.
1. Brazil
There's a distinct and growing feeling that this may well be Brazil's time. The Seleção haven't lifted the World Cup in 20 years and have disappointed at the tournament ever since.
However, Tite is blessed with a group of players that'll be determined to not let that happen this time around.
The Brazilians play with an exuberance and synergy that very few can match, but they're also compact in midfield and defensively sound. Brazil are a formidable outfit and rightfully many people's favourite to go all the way in Qatar.