Gulf News | Brazil is a leading candidate in the midst of the sinking of European teams

Paris – AFP: The Brazilian national team appears to be the most likely candidate to improve their record in terms of number of titles in the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar (5 times), while having drawn more than A question mark on the level of the gigantic European teams that suffer several injuries in their ranks. What has happened in the past may not matter, especially as the next release will be the first in the Middle East and the first in November and December, in the middle of the European season.

History may also play a role because Brazil’s last four world trophies have all come out of Europe, having secured their first title in Sweden in 1958, knowing that European teams have dominated the title since 2006. Brazilian international came under pressure at home in 2014, when they suffered a historic defeat to Germany 1-7 in the semi-finals, and did not achieve the desired performances in Russia 2018. But it is in the midst of the next edition after a series amazing and with a strong rose that does not depend only on the Paris Saint-Germain star Germaine Neymar. The latter will attract even more attention, but coach Tite has a great squad starting with Alisson Becker in goal, passing Fabinho and Casemiro in midfield, and Vinicius Junior’s pace in attack.

“Brazil”, Cafu, the captain of Brazil recently told “Globo Esporte” during his last coronation at the 2002 World Cup. Today I am more prepared and experienced. Don’t depend on a player.

We have a team that will allow this player to excel. I think Brazil are doing well and have a great chance of winning the World Cup ”. However, the big question mark surrounding Brazil is that they haven’t played with European elite teams since losing to Belgium in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Russia four years ago.

Argentina, on the other hand, beat Europe champion Italy 3-0 in a match between the two continents, champions of Europe and South America. Argentina, 1978 and 1986 world champions, are in the middle of the World Cup in good shape, having not lost in 35 straight games since their fall in Brazil in Copa America 2019.

Argentina are third in the world rankings but coach Lionel Scaloni doesn’t have the same thickness in his squad as Brazil, but there are enough good players to get the best out of Lionel Messi who has scored nine goals in his last three friendly games for his country.

Messi’s last dance

After turning 35, the Qatar edition looks like Messi’s last chance to win the World Cup and this could be the strong motivation. “Yes, it is very likely that”. Messi recently told ESPN It will be my last participation in the World Cup. “

The seven-time World Player of the Year added: “We are playing the World Cup with a strong and well-equipped squad, but anything can happen. Every match is very difficult and the favorites don’t always win the title ”.

Can France defend the title?

We only have to look to France in 2002, when they participated in the Asian World Cups in South Korea and Japan under the guidance of the injured Zinedine Zidane, as defending champion and European champion, but left the group stage without scoring any goals. Two decades later, the French national team won their second title, but all is not well. In the squad the coach Didier Deschamps. Kylian Mbappe was worried about the news of his desire to leave Paris Saint-Germain, in When numerous injuries to the national team of cocks caused Deschamps to have a headache. France will enter the World Cup in the absence of an influential midfielder, N’Golo Kante, and Paul Pogba suffers from being in top form.

However, Deschamps has two trump cards on the front line, Karim Benzema, the holder of the Golden Ball, and Mbappe. “I hope to be in the squad,” said Benzema, injured at the end of October in Qatar, to go to the World Cup and do everything to win it. “

At least France will be present at the football wedding, unlike Italy, which failed to qualify after a year of European Cup victories. On the other hand, England’s level has dropped a lot, and the best proof of this is their failure to win in their last six games and their right-back Reese James, one of their best players, will miss them due to injury. . It is unclear whether Germany is really better than the team that exited Euro 2020 in the round of 16, despite the appointment of Hansi Flick in place of Joachim Loew as coach. The Netherlands are back, but along with neighboring Belgium they look like potential World Cup winners? Portugal on the need to reduce star Cristiano Ronaldo’s role and give more space to his younger strikers. Whether Spain has a solid defense or an effective offensive remains to be seen.

The question is also: can we see surprises from other European teams such as second-placed Croatia? 2018, in particular from the national teams of Denmark or Serbia? Another question also, can Senegal lead from Sadio Mane to go far armed with victory in the last African Cup?