The much awaited 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup has already commenced with Qatar becoming the first host country to lose their opening game. Ecuador kicked off their campaign with a deserving 2-0 win over Qatar and will look to carry the momentum forward.
Gareth Southgate’s England have been drawn with the United States, Wales and Iran in Group B, while Portugal find themselves alongside Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in a tricky Group H. Delving deeper into the group stages and we have got plenty of mouthwatering fixtures to be served for the fans to enjoy.
That being said, here are 10 fixtures we think every football fan will want to make sure they don’t miss.
Qatar taking on Ecuador was the curtain-raiser of the World Cup but it’s Group A’s second game—Senegal vs Netherlands—that really sets the tone.
Senegal are the strongest of the five African representatives in Qatar, as proven by their triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year and their two-legged victory over Mohamed Salah’s Egypt to reach the World Cup finals. The Netherlands, under Louis van Gaal’s tutelage, are a strong unit who will look to make it up for missing the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The winner of this encounter will be in a commanding position to advance from Group A.
Canada find themselves at the biggest stage of the footballing event for only the second time, after making its debut back in 1986, and their first act comes against one of the best teams on the planet—Belgium.
The ‘golden generation’ of Belgium are a fantastic side under Roberto Martinez but they don’t have a trophy to show for it yet. While the Red Devils are overwhelming favourites to win their Group F opener against Canada, John Herdman’s team built on its attacking and fearless football have the talent to cause a shock.
Ghana head into the World Cup with high hopes after defeating Switzerland 2-0 in a friendly fixture earlier this week. In players like Thomas Partey, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Mohammed Kudus, Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo and a couple more, Otto Addo has individuals who can turn the games upside down in a blink of an eye.
This will be Portugal’s first game in the World Cup 2022, and a team led by Cristiano Ronaldo will be pumped up to prove their mettle and send a statement across the tournament.
Brazil enters the showpiece event in Qatar as overwhelming favourites to win the tournament after enjoying the most successful CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying campaign ever.
In a squad managed by Tite that is filthy rich in attacking talents, the Selecao defence must stand up and show it can stop Serbian stars such as Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Tadic, Dusan Vlahovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and the rest of the team that impressively beat Portugal to clinch an automatic berth in the World Cup.
England has not beaten the USA in their two previous World Cup meetings despite possessing an enormous wealth of talent. Gareth Southgate’s team have not enjoyed the best of World Cup preparations as they endured a dismal Nations League campaign and were relegated at the hands of Italy in September.
The United States have an awful history in the world’s biggest showpiece event, with their best result coming in 2002 when the team reached the quarter-finals in Japan and South Korea. Now coached by Gregg Berhalter, who has talented players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson among others, they will look to change USA’s fortunes in Qatar.
The defending champions vs European Championship 2020 darlings—is sure to be a cracker.
The French side faces their toughest Group D assignment in Denmark, who have scaled greater heights in big tournaments over the last few years. Christian Eriksen potentially returning to the national team for the World Cup adds a layer of interest, and with Denmark having beaten Les Blues twice in the Nations League this year, Kasper Hjulmand seems to have Didier Deschamps’ number.
Two of the strongest nations with a wealth of footballing heritage cross swords in their final Group E game and it has all the makings of a classic World Cup encounter.
Spain has won just two World Cup games since being crowned the 2010 World champions, while Germany suffered a disastrous campaign four years ago under Joachim Low in Russia. As a result, both Spain and Germany have a point to prove.
It promises to be a riveting contest as one of the tournament’s favourites Argentina takes on the experienced Polish side.
All eyes will be on Lionel Messi as he looks to take Argentina to glory in his fifth and what could be his final appearance at the World Cup. However, the South Americans will need to be wary of Robert Lewandowski, who has been in sublime form for Barcelona this term.
So, a high-scoring showdown is very much on the cards!
Two home nations going head to head is always a fixture to look forward to—a game that should be filled with intrigue, drama, emotions and uncertainty.
Wales beat Ukraine 1-0 in the playoff to qualify for the Qatar World Cup, its first since 1958. In Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, the Dragons have two genuine match-winners who can produce moments of magic out of nowhere.
And given England, regardless of a team filled with quality in every area of the pitch, are not in their best moments heading into the World Cup, Rob Paige’s Wales may sniff an upset.
The memories of 2010 will be renewed with his fixture. Ghana was on the brink of making it to the semi-finals of the World Cup, only for Luis Suarez to deliberately save Dominic Adiyiah’s header with his hands in the extra time.
Suarez was given a red card but Asamoah Gyan missed the subsequent penalty; Ghana lost the penalty shootout and the rest is history. The wounds of 2010 are yet to heal and the Ghanaians will be raring to avenge their heartbreak against the South Americans this time around in Qatar.
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