With a renewed and talented generation, England can be considered the great force of Group B of the Qatar Cup. The English Team’s main hope for success has a first and last name: Harry Kane, the top scorer of the World Cup in Russia (2018). Wales and the United States dream of a possible qualification for the round of 16, while Iran are the underdogs in the group.
England
Undefeated in the European Qualifiers, current continental runner-up and wanting to shout that “football is coming home”, England arrives at the Cup as favorites. The English Team, currently number five in the Fifa ranking, will hardly have problems ranking first in the group.
Good vibes only for @England ??#FIFAWorldCup ?? #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/jPT5amJ1bP
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 17, 2022
The English were champions only once, in 1966, when they hosted the competition. In the last edition, in Russia, they finished in fourth position. More recently, the team led by coach Gareth Southgate did not make it past the group stage of the League of Nations.
England’s great hope for goals is Harry Kane (Tottenham). The 29-year-old striker was top scorer at the World Cup in Russia, with six goals.
Will
This will be the sixth World Cup for the Iranians, who never got beyond the first round. The first participation was in Argentina (1978), having then disputed the editions of 1998, 2006, 2014 and 2018.
?? Iran@TeamMelliIran ?? #FIFAWorldCup (16/33) pic.twitter.com/TYHPJGyajN
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 16, 2022
In Qatar, Team Melli opens on November 21 against England. The competition in Qatar separated a special reunion with the United States. Because it was precisely against the Americans, in the World Cup in France (1998), that the Iranian team lived its best moment in World Cups, as it beat its rivals by 2-1.
The experienced full-back Ehsan Hajsafi, from AEK Athens, is the highlight of the team, which occupies the 20th position in the FIFA ranking. Football is loved in Iran, but only in 2019 did the local government allow women to enter stadiums, even then in limited numbers.
United States
The US national team plays its 10th World Cup in Qatar. Despite the frequent presence in world cups, the North Americans never lifted the mug.
?? USA@USMNT ?? #FifaWorldCup (32/33) pic.twitter.com/jfPXlqs223
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 16, 2022
The first participation of the North Americans in the World Cup was in 1930, in Uruguay, when they reached the third position, until today the best campaign of the team in the history of the competition.
Attacking midfielder Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) is one of the highlights of the team led by coach Gregg Berhalter. It is also worth keeping an eye on Sergiño Dest, who is only 22 years old. Dutch-born American, the right-back currently defends Milan. The team occupies the 16th position of the FIFA ranking.
Wales
Wales has participated in only one Cup so far, in 1958, in Sweden, when they reached the quarterfinals. Interestingly, the Welsh were eliminated by Pelé’s Brazil, who scored the only goal of the game, the first of the King of Football in World Cups.
???????? Wales make their #FIFAWorldCup return for the first time since 1958! #WCQ ?? @Cymru pic.twitter.com/KB1kml4LLK
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 5, 2022
The highlight of Wales is Gareth Bale, who played for Real Madrid for several seasons. Today, the 33-year-old striker plays for Los Angeles FC. After a 64-year hiatus, and occupying the 19th position in the Fifa ranking, the Welsh return to a Cup. To reach Qatar, they defeated Ukraine 1-0 in the European play-off and took the last spot on the continent.
At the World Cup, the Welsh team will be led by coach Robert John Page.
