Strongest underdogs at the 2022 World Cup
The World Cup is the pinnacle of international football and is usually won by one of the strongest football nations, but there have been plenty of examples of underdogs succeeding over the years.
The North Koreans in England in 1966 and Cameroon at Italia 90 both pulled off major shocks, and since the first tournament was played in 1930, nations as diverse as Algeria, the USA and Northern Ireland have grabbed global headlines for their World Cup exploits.
Right now, there are nations ranked low down in all the World Cup betting markets ahead of the 2022 tournament, yet they have the potential to go further in the tournament than anyone expects. Here are three of the strongest World Cup underdogs for Qatar.
Canada
Canada have not been part of the World Cup since 1986, but this time they have qualified in style, topping the CONCACAF qualification tournament and in the process climbing from 59th to 38th in the FIFA rankings, which suggests that they are well placed to make an effective challenge.
Back in 1986, Canada scored only one goal and were knocked out after finishing bottom of their group, but they are set to do much better this time, thanks to the players in a young and talented squad, particularly in the forward positions, who could all have an impact.
Striker Jonathan David has been in top form with Lille in Ligue 1, scoring 30 times for the French club since joining them in 2020, and his pace and power will pose a significant threat to teams in Qatar. Alphonso Davies is technically a defender, but he is most often seen flying down the wing for Bayern Munich, using his pace and ball skills to supply goalscoring opportunities, while winger Tajon Buchanan also offers the same combination of pace and ball control.
Canada have ended up in a tough group, alongside Belgium, Croatia and Morocco, but the Canadian squad are full of confidence at the moment and will relish the chance to upset the odds.
Senegal
Considered the champions of Africa after winning AFCON 2021, Senegal are one of five African teams in the tournament, and are arguably Africa’s best hope of success.
The only African team ranked inside the FIFA rankings top 20, Senegal have plenty of top-tier talent in their squad. The leading star is of course Sadio Mané, who was part of the Premier League and Champions League winning team with Liverpool and who is now with Bayern Munich.
It was Mané who scored the winning goal against Egypt in the AFCON final and he provides a level of ball control, pace and experience that will keep opponents on their toes in Qatar. Senegal are not all about Mané, however. Kalidou Koulibaly, who plays his club football for Napoli, is a defender with an immense reputation, while Idrissa Gana Gueye plays alongside Neymar and Lionel Messi at PSG.
Senegal have also been relatively fortunate in the World Cup draw. They are in Group A, along with the Netherlands, Ecuador and hosts Qatar. Given their talent and experience, Senegal will be confident of beating Qatar and getting at least a draw against Ecuador, which would be enough to take them through. In the knockout stages, their defensive resilience and cutting edge in attack could make them dangerous.
Wales
Wales reached the quarterfinals at the 1958 World Cup but have had a long wait for a second appearance at the top table of world football. In recent years, they have become an increasingly competitive international team, reaching the semifinals at Euro 2016 and also making the knockout stages of the 2020 Euros.
The standout star for Wales is obviously Gareth Bale. The former Tottenham and Real Madrid winger who now plays for LAFC in MLS would get into most international teams, and his combination of athleticism, ball control and lethal long-range shooting make him a single-handed match winner in the same class as Cristiano Ronaldo, with whom he played in Madrid.
Bale, who has long prioritised international football over the club game – rare for a modern superstar footballer – will be supported by another experienced top-level player in Aaron Ramsey, now playing for Nice in Ligue 1, and several Premier League-level performers. The fact that Wales have been drawn in the same group as England will provide even higher levels of motivation for the squad, and with winnable games against the USA and Iran lined up, they have a great chance of reaching the knockout stages.
Read all news »Published on: 12-09-2022 20:01 | Updated on: 12-09-2022 20:01 | By: Patrick
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The World Cup is the pinnacle of football and is usually won by one of the strongest football nations, but there have been examples of underdogs succeeding.
About the author of 'Strongest underdogs at the 2022 World Cup'
Author of this content is Patrick. I have been playing soccer for more than 25 years and follow the daily news closely. My hobbies include playing football, running and maintaining various websites, in addition to my job as a financial professional.
I do not work for any related company or institution, so the information is reliable and independent. The information has been collected accurately from reliable sources and is regularly updated.