With the advent of technology, betting has taken on new forms, with gamers capable of placing bets online via platforms like bitcasino.io. Sporting events constitute one of the most popular betting categories. With Qatar 2022, the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup only a few weeks away, bettors are doing permutations on the likely tournament winners. This article will analyze four teams likely to come up trumps.
Introducing the Top 4 Favorites for the FIFA World Cup (Qatar 2022)
The “Seleccao” – Footballing Royalty
Any team boasting Neymar, Thiago Silva, Vinicius Junior, and Alisson is a contender for any big football tournament. Thus, Brazil’s national team has the grit and guile to land their sixth World Cup.
Having cruised through qualification, they come to Qatar as one of the bookies’ hot favorites for the win. For the first time since their failed outing at Germany ’06, they once again have a star-studded squad capable of obliterating the most sturdy defenses in the tournament.
All eyes will be on “starboy” Neymar, who has yet another opportunity to lay his hands on the cup and finally put to bed the fierce debate as to whether he’s a true football superstar or an overrated diver and crybaby who crumbles when the going gets tough.
He’ll be supported by a brilliant ensemble of another star in the making, Vinicius Junior, veteran defender Thiago Silva, enforcers Fabinho and Casemiro, and other world-class players. With Brazil boasting plenty of talent in their ranks, only a few would bet against them winning the cup in December.
Les Bleus – The Defending Champions
The French national team has a mixed history at the World Cup. Indeed, bar only a few occasions, their performances have tilted to the extreme ends of the spectrum. That is, they either perform woefully or go on to win outright.
Well, there is cause for concern, as the two midfield lynchpins behind the successes in Russia four years ago, Ngolo Kante and Paul Pogba, will miss the tournament through injury. However, their natural replacements will be Real Madrid duo Tchouameni and Camavinga, whose youth and experience are in doubt, despite their undeniable potential.
However, with Nkunku, Coman, Dembele, Mbappe, and Benzema firing on all cylinders, France is a team capable of defending their credentials.
The Three Lions – The New Golden Generation
The English national team has boasted many world-class players across different positions on the pitch. Each generation is seemingly more talented than the next. However, aside from a single World Cup victory in 1966 spearheaded by legend Bobby Charlton, the Three Lions have often disappointed in subsequent tournament editions.
In the quarter-finals of Mexico ’70, West Germany’s prolific striker Gerd Muller ended their hopes. They failed to qualify for the tournament in the subsequent two editions of the World Cup in 1974 and 1978, only resurfacing in Spain ’82, where they crashed out at the second group stage. Since then, the closest they have come was in Italia ’90 and Russia ’18, where they finished in fourth place after losing semi-final matches.
The current Three Lions bear many similarities to previous generations – high-profile young stars with plenty of quality and hype. However, there’s a palpable feeling that they could go all the way this time.
Portugal – The Dark Horses
In what could be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final world cup, Portugal enters the tournament with arguably the most star-studded team they’ve ever had.
Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva are expected to be the prime, playmaking schemers behind the likes of Leao and co. At the rear, veteran Pepe is expected to partner Ruben Dias, both flanked by arguably the best full-back pair in the tournament, Nuno Mendes and Joao Cancelo. There’s even more firepower on the bench, with the likes of Dalot, Felix, Vitinha, and Renato Sanches all capable of doing damage to any top side.
While the Portuguese aren’t as heavily favored to win as the Brazilians or French, their strength in depth and talisman Ronaldo’s presence mean they cannot be underrated.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! This article analyzes the top 4 favorites for the 2022 FIFA world cup. With eight stunning stadiums within an area the size of Leeds hosting the global showpiece, Qatar ’22 is sure to be an unusual experience for spectators.
Cheers!