Host Carl lewis is joined by coach and analyst Grant de Smidt and punter David Kappel to preview the FIFA World Cup 2022 action in Group G and H on Thursday 24 November 2022.   We have a practical analysis, preview, betting tips and predictions for:   Switzerland v Cameroon, Portugal v Ghana, Brazil v Serbia & Uruguay v South Korea 

 

Host Carl lewis is joined by coach and analyst Grant de Smidt and punter David Kappel to preview the FIFA World Cup 2022 action in Group E and F on Wednesday 23 November 2022.

First up, Morocco v Croatia and then the two Group E matches, Germany v Japan and Spain v Costa Rica. We end the podcast with Belgium facing Canada.

Group E is an intriguing group with two of Europe's powerhouses in Spain and Germany.

 

Host Carl Lewis is joined by coach and analyst Grant de Smidt and punter David Kappel.

They preview Group C and D match including Argentina v Saudi Arabia, Denmark v Tunisia, France v Australia & Mexico Poland.

We have a tactical preview and betting tips and predictions

In another edition of our daily World Cup betting podcast, host Carl Lewis is joined by coach and analyst Grant de Smidt and punter David Kappel to preview England v Iran, The Netherlands v Senegal and Wales v USA.

The podcast includes a tactical preview, betting tips and predictions.

The Three Lions arrive here as one of the competition favourites then, with Gareth Southgate’s men breezing through the qualification phase to book their place at the finals. England avoided defeat in all ten matches (W8, D2) whilst scoring a scintillating 39 goals and conceding just three; that was the best group-stage goal difference for any European qualifier (+36).

Players to watch: England’s Kane scored two of their most recent four goals and is chasing history here as he hopes to become the first player to be a top/joint-top scorer in two separate World Cups. No Iran player was involved in more goals during third-round Asian World Cup qualifying than Mehdi Taremi (G4, A2), who also secured two goals and one assist across his last three club appearances.   Senegal should enter this tournament in high spirits after lifting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy for the first time earlier this year, albeit they did have to qualify for this World Cup via the play-offs, both of which came at the expense of Egypt! Whilst Senegal have been tipped as a side that’s capable of a solid run in this tournament, they will face a selection headache as star-man Sadio Mané is set to miss the whole tournament due to an “injury in the right fibula” according to manager Aliou Cissé. Having missed out on the 2018 edition altogether, Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands are making their long-awaited return to football’s biggest stage looking to go one better than their third and second-placed finishes in their last two participations. Still unbeaten in 2022 (W6, D2), the Oranje will be hoping for a strong start in this tournament to justify their favourites tag for topping Group A.   After missing out in 2018, the USA return to the FIFA World Cup stage in Qatar. Automatic qualification for the finals was secured by the skin of their teeth, finishing above Costa Rica on goal difference alone to seal their place. But now they have made it through, the Stars and Stripes could be filled with confidence considering their previous good record at the World Cup, progressing out of their group in four of their last seven tournaments. Gregg Berhalter’s men chose not to have a warm up friendly, so they come into this tournament in indifferent form after failing to win any of their last three internationals (D2, L1), scoring just once in the process. Perhaps facing Wales will increase morale though considering the USA have never lost a H2H against their opponents (W1, D1), but they also have a miserable recent record at the World Cup against European opposition, failing to win any of their last nine meetings (D4, L5).

In the first of our daily FIFA World Cup 2022 betting tips, host Carl Lewis is joined by coach and analyst Grant de Smidt and punter David Kappel.   The podcast includes a tactical preview, predictions and betting tips.   Qatar is the smallest country to ever host the FIFA World Cup but easily the most controversial; accusations of bribery and corruption surfaced soon after FIFA awarded them hosting rights in 2010, and since then they’ve faced intense pressure over several issues including their treatment of migrant workers and environmental concerns. With the country’s human rights record and anti-homosexuality stance making headlines, ex-FIFA President Sepp Blatter admitted earlier this month that awarding them the tournament was “a mistake”. Whatever the rights or wrongs, for the first time nations must play a World Cup in November and December, making this unfamiliar territory for everyone and uncomfortable for many.   Under their coach of five years Félix Sánchez, the Qataris have opted for continuity and prepared for their World Cup debut by playing numerous friendlies this year, with their current six-match unbeaten run (W5, D1 – includes unofficial friendlies) starting with a creditable 2-2 draw against Chile. They’ve proved themselves in tournament football too by finishing third in last year’s Arab Cup as hosts while they won the last edition of the Asian Cup in 2019.   That experience, as well as Copa Ámerica and Gold Cup appearances, should help them against an Ecuador side making their fourth appearance at a World Cup finals and who finished fourth in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualification standings (W7, D5, L6). They’ve been steady in their subsequent games too (W2, D4) but with all four of those draws ending goalless, Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro will need to find the key to unlocking their attacking potential if they’re to become the first side to beat the host nation in a World Cup opener.   Another dull stalemate would be unusual as not since 1978 has the World Cup begun with a goalless draw and the era of hosts playing the first game (2006 onwards) has usually provided plenty of entertainment. Qatar will now seek to emulate Germany (W 4-2 v Costa Rica in 2006), Brazil (W 3-1 v Croatia in 2014) and Russia (W 5-0 v Saudi Arabia in 2018), who all pleased their fans while getting the tournament off to a flier.

Carl Lewis and football writer Zach Lowy discuss players to watch in Group H of the World Cup in Qatar.

Ghana

World ranking: 61
Coach: Otto Addo
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen), Danlad Ibrahim (Asante Kotoko), Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Abdul-Rahman Baba (Reading), Alexander Djiku (Racing Strasbourg), Tariq Lamptey (Brighton & Hove Albion), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Denis Odoi (Club Bruges), Mohammed Salisu (Southampton), Alidu Seidu (Clermont), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax), Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (Freiburg), Elisha Owusu (Gent), Thomas Partey (Arsenal), Salis Abdul Samed (Lens), Daniel Afriyie (Hearts of Oak), Andre Ayew (Al Sadd), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade), Issahaku Abdul Fatawu (Sporting Lisbon), Antoine Semenyo (Bristol City), Kamal Sowah (Club Bruges), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Rennes), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)

Ghana will be without first-choice goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott at the World Cup after he suffered a finger injury before his final club game ahead of the tournament. Thomas Partey is one of five Premier League players.

 

Portugal

World ranking: 9
Coach: Fernando Santos
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Patricio (AS Roma), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Nuno Mendes (Paris St-Germain), Pepe (Porto), Danilo Pereira (Paris St-Germain), Antonio Silva (Benfica), William Carvalho (Real Betis), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Mario (Benfica), Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Matheus Nunes (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Otavio (Porto), Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Vitinha (Paris St-Germain), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Ricardo Horta (SC Braga), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Andre Silva (RB Leipzig)

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of ten Premier League players included in Portugal’s 26-man squad. Naturally, Wolves feature heavily for a nation who are without Liverpool’s Diogo Dalot through injury.

 

South Korea

World ranking: 28
Coach: Paulo Bento
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Kim Seung-gyu (Al Shabab), Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan Hyundai), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Motors), Kim Min-jae (Napoli), Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk Motors), Hong Chul (Daegu FC), Kim Moon-hwan (Jeonbuk Motors), Yoon Jong-gyu (FC Seoul), Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Tae-hwan (Ulsan Hyundai), Kwon Kyung-won (Gamba Osaka), Cho Yu-min (Daejon Citizen), Jung Woo-young (Al Sadd), Na Sang-ho (FC Seoul), Paik Seung-ho (Jeonbuk Motors), Son Jun-ho (Shandong Taishan), Song Min-kyu (Jeonbuk Motors), Kwon Chang-hoon (Gimcheon Sangmu), Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Hwang In-beom (Olympiacos), Jeong Woo-yeong (Freiburg), Lee Kang-in (Real Mallorca), Hwang Ui-jo (Olympiacos), Cho Gue-sung (Jeonbuk Motors)

Son Heung-min has been included despite suffering a fractured eye socket playing for Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League earlier this month.

 

Uruguay

World ranking: 14
Coach: Diego Alonso
Confirmed 26-man squad
Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Sergio Rochet (Nacional), Sebastian Sosa (Independiente), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Sporting CP), Diego Godin (Velez Sarsfield), Martin Caceres (LA Galaxy), Ronald Araujo (Barcelona), Guillermo Varela (Flamengo), Jose Luis Rodriguez (Nacional), Mathias Olivera (Napoli), Matias Vina (Roma), Lucas Torreira (Galatasaray), Manuel Ugarte (Sporting CP), Matias Vecino (Lazio), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United), Nicolas De La Cruz (River Plate), Agustin Canobbio (Athletico Paranaense), Facundo Torres (Orlando City), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Flamengo), Maxi Gomez (Trabzonspor), Luis Suarez (Nacional), Edinson Cavani (Valencia), Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)

Alonso is yet to find the right blend since he replaced Oscar Tabarez last year. Uruguay can call upon Suarez, Cavani and Nunez but time is running out to find a formula to get the best out of the trio – it certainly didn’t work in the shock defeat to Iran.

Carl Lewis and football writer Zach Lowy discuss players to watch in Group G of the World Cup in Qatar.

Group G at the 2022 World Cup contains five-time champions Brazil, World Cup regulars Cameroon and two potential European dark horses in the form of Serbia and Switzerland   

Brazil

World ranking: 1
Coach: Tite
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras), Dani Alves (Club Universidad Nacional), Danilo (Juventus), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Alex Telles (Manchester United), Bremer (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Casemiro (Manchester United), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United), Antony (Manchester United), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Neymar (PSG), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (FC Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid).

Head coach Tite has decided to leave out Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino and Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes. Gunners duo Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus have made the cut, though.

 

Cameroon

World ranking: 43
Coach: Rigobert Song
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Devis Epassy (Abha Club), Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Marseille), Andre Onana (Inter Milan), Jean-Charles Castelletto (Nantes), Enzo Ebosse (Udinese), Collins Fai (Al Tai), Olivier Mbaizo (Philadelphia Union), Nicolas Nkoulou (Aris Salonika), Tolo Nouhou (Seattle Sounders), Christopher Wooh (Stade Rennes), Martin Hongla (Verona), Pierre Kunde (Olympiakos), Olivier Ntcham (Swansea City), Gael Ondoua (Hannover 96), Samuel Oum Gouet (Mechelen), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli), Vincent Aboubakar (Al Nassr), Christian Bassogog (Shanghai Shenhua), Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting (Bayern Munich), Souaibou Marou (Coton Sport), Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford), Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu (Young Boys), Jerome Ngom (Colombe Dja), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Besiktas), Jean-Pierre Nsame (Young Boys ), Karl Toko Ekambi (Lyon)

Brentford forward Mbeumo switched allegiance from France to the Indomitable Lions in August in time to make the squad for the September friendlies and the World Cup finals. Mbeumo will be scrapping with Ekambi, Choupo-Moting and Aboubakar for a starting role in Song’s side.

 

Serbia

World ranking: 21
Coach: Dragan Stojković
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Marko Dmitrovic (Sevilla), Predrag Rajkovic (Mallorca), Vanja Milinkovic-Savic (Torino), Stefan Mitrovic (Getafe), Nikola Milenkovic (Fiorentina), Strahinja Pavlovic (RB Salzburg), Milos Veljkovic (Werder Bremen), Filip Mladenovic (Legia Warsaw), Strahinja Erakovic (Red Star Belgrade), Srdjan Babic (Almeria), Nemanja Gudelj (Sevilla), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio), Sasa Lukic (Torino), Marko Grujic (Porto), Filip Kostic (Juventus), Uros Racic (Braga), Nemanja Maksimovic (Getafe), Ivan Ilic (Hellas Verona), Andrija Zivkovic (PAOK), Darko Lazovic (Hellas Verona), Dusan Tadic (Ajax), Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham), Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus), Filip Duricic (Sampdoria), Luka Jovic (Fiorentina), Nemanja Radonji (Torino).

Serbia look primed to surprise a few people in Qatar. Stojkovic’s side were superb in their Nations League wins, with Mitrovic taking his Premier League form to the international stage by scoring a hat-trick against Sweden. His and Vlahovic’s firepower will give Serbia a great chance to get through the group, especially with Mitrovic resting an ankle injury before the tournament.

 

Switzerland

World ranking: 15
Coach: Murat Yakin
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Kohn (Red Bull Salzburg), Jonas Omlin (Montpellier), Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Eray Comert (Valencia), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino), Fabian Schar (Newcastle United), Sylvan Widmer (Mainz 05), Michel Aebischer (Bologna), Edimilson Fernandes (Mainz 05), Fabian Frei (Basel), Remo Freuler (Nottingham Forest), Ardon Jashari (Luzern), Noah Okafor (Red Bull Salzburg), Fabian Rieder (Young Boys), Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Djibril Sow (Eintracht Frankfurt), Renato Steffen (Lugano), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Denis Zakaria (Chelsea), Breel Embolo (Monaco), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys), Haris Seferovic (Galatasaray), Reuben Vargas (FC Augsburg)

The third matchday meeting between Serbia and Switzerland could be vital in deciding who joins Brazil in the knockout stages. The Swiss have plenty of experience, with Shaqiri and Xhaka both in possession of over 100 caps, while Embolo is expected to be the key man in attack.

Carl Lewis and football writer Zach Lowy discuss players to watch in Group F of the World Cup in Qatar.

Group F contains two sides who enjoyed good 2018 World Cup campaigns in Belgium – who finished third – and Croatia, who were ultimately beaten finalists. Canada are making only their second World Cup appearance, while Morocco have qualified for their second World Cup in a row.

 

Belgium

World ranking: 2
Coach: Roberto Martínez
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge), Toby Alderweireld (Royal Antwerp), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Leander Dendoncker (Wolves), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Arthur Theate (Stade Rennes), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Timothy Castagne (Leicester City), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Amadou Onana (Everton), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Atletico Madrid), Leandro Trossard (Brighton), Dries Mertens (Galatasaray), Lois Openda (Lens), Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahce), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Jeremy Doku (Stade Rennes), Charles De Ketelaere (AC Milan), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan)

The Red Devils landed a cushy-looking draw as they look to better their third-place finish in 2018. Martinez has a number of young players coming through, Everton’s Onana among them, but Belgium look set to retain an experienced first XI.

 

Canada

World ranking: 41
Coach: John Herdman
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Milan Borjan (Red Star Belgrade), James Pantemis (CF Montreal), Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United), Sam Adekugbe (Hatayspor), Derek Cornelius (Vancouver Whitecaps – Panetolikos), Alistair Johnston (CF Montreal), Richie Laryea (Nottingham Forest), Kamal Miller (CF Montreal), Steven Vitoria (Chaves), Joel Waterman (CF Montreal), Stephen Eustaquio (FC Porto), Liam Fraser (Deinze), Atiba Hutchinson (Besiktas), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Toronto FC), Ismael Kone (CF Montreal), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Samuel Piette (CF Montreal), David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone), Tajon Buchanan (Club Brugge), Lucas Cavallini (Vancouver Whitecaps), Jonathan David (Lille), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Junior Hoillett (Reading), Cyle Larin (Club Brugge), Liam Miller (FC Basel), Ike Ugbo (Troyes).

Herdman’s biggest concern, one of the things “keeping him awake at night”, was the fitness of captain Atiba Hutchinson, Canada’s most-capped player, who missed the friendlies due to a bone bruise suffered in pre-season with Besiktas.

 

Croatia

World ranking: 12
Coach: Zlatko Dalic
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivica Ivusic (Osijek), Ivo Grbic (Atletico Madrid), Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens), Dejan Lovren (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Borna Barisic (Rangers), Josip Juranovic (Celtic), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), Borna Sosa (Stuttgart), Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich), Martin Erlic (Sassuolo), Josip Sutalo (Dinamo Zagreb), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan) Mario Pasalaic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Lovro Majer (Rennes), Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt), Luka Sucic (Red Bull Salzburg), Ivan Perisic (Tottenham), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Mislav Orsic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marko Livaja (Hajduk Split)

Dalic is likely to pick a familiar-looking XI, with Modric, Kovacic, Brozovic, Perisic and Lovren all still key players for the 2018 runners-up. Kovacic and Perisic have been joined by Old Firm rivals Barisic and Juranovic as British-based representatives.

 

Morocco

World ranking: 22
Coach: Walid Regragui
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Yassine Bounou (Sevilla), Munir El Kajoui (Al Wehda), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (Wydad Casablanca), Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Nayef Aguerd (West Ham), Romain Saiss (Besiktas), Achraf Dari (Brest), Badr Benoun (Qatar SC), Yahia Attiyat Allah (Wydad Casablanca), Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid), Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina), Azzedine Ounahi (Angers), Belil El Khanouss (Genk), Abdelhamid Sabiri (Sampdoria), Ilias Chair (QPR), Selim Amallah (Standard Liege), Yahya Jabrane (Wydad Casablanca), Amine Harit (Marseille), Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea), Zakaria Aboukhlal (Toulouse), Walid Cheddira (Bari), Sofiane Boufal (Angers), Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Abde Ezzalzouli (Osasuna), Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Ittihad)

The second-best team in Africa, according to FIFA rankings, will face two of 2018 semi-finalists in Qatar. Morocco look strong in the full-back areas, with Mazraoui and Hakimi, while Regragui has plenty of options up front to supplement a forward line likely to consist of Ziyech, Boufal and En-Nesyri.

Carl Lewis and football writer Zach Lowy discuss players to watch in Group E of the World Cup in Qatar.

Every World Cup needs a Group of Death. In 2022, Group E is indeed that group, containing four-time winners Germany, 2010 champions Spain, alongside an underrated Japan side and CONCACAF qualifiers Costa Rica, who have previous of escaping tricky groups.

Germany

World ranking: 11
Coach: Hansi Flick
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Frankfurt), Armel Bella-Kotchap (Southampton), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Christian Gunter (Freiburg), Thilo Kehrer (West Ham), Lukas Klostermann (Leipzig), David Raum (Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Niklas Sule (Borussia Dortmund), Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund), Niclas Fullkrug (Werder Bremen), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Mario Gotze (Frankfurt), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Jonas Hofmann (Borussia Monchengladbach), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Kai Havertz (Chelsea), Youssoufa Moukoko (Borussia Dortmund), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich).

World ranking: 24
Coach: Hajime Moriyasu
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Shuichi Gonda (Shimizu S-Pulse), Daniel Schmidt (Sint-Truiden), Eiji Kawashima (Strasbourg), Miki Yamane (Kawasaki Frontale), Hiroki Sakai (Urawa Reds), Maya Yoshida (Schalke), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal), Shogo Taniguchi (Kawasaki Frontale), Ko Itakura (Borussia Monchengladbach), Hiroki Ito (Stuttgart), Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Yuta Nakayama (Huddersfield Town), Wataru Endo (Stuttgart), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting Lisbon), Ao Tanaka (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Gaku Shibasaki (Leganes), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Daichi Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ritsu Doan (Freiburg), Junya Ito (Stade Reims), Takumi Minamino (AS Monaco), Takefusa Kubo Real Sociedad), Yuki Soma (Nagoya Grampus), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Takuma Asano (Bochum), Ayase Ueda (Cercle Bruges).

Costa Rica

World ranking: 31
Coach: Luis Fernando Suárez
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Keylor Navas (PSG), Esteban Alvarado (Herediano), Patrick Sequeira (Club Deportivo Lugo), Francisco Calvo (Konyaspor), Juan Pablo Vargas (Millonarios), Kendall Waston (Saprissa), Óscar Duarte (Al-Wehda), Daniel Chacón (Colorado Rapids), Keysher Fuller (Herediano), Carlos Martínez (San Carlos), Bryan Oviedo (Real Salt Lake), Ronald Matarrita (Cincinnati), Yeltsin Tejeda (Herediano), Celso Borges (Alajuelense), Youstin Salas (Saprissa), Roan Wilson (Grecia), Gerson Torres (Herediano), Douglas López (Herediano), Jewison Bennette (Sunderland), Álvaro Zamora (Saprissa), Anthony Hernández (Puntarenas), Brandon Aguilera (Nottingham Forest), Bryan Ruiz (Alajuelense), Joel Campbell (León), Anthony Contreras (Herediano), Johan Venegas (Alajuelense).

World ranking: 7
Coach: Luis Enrique
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), Robert Sanchez (Brighton), David Raya (Brentford), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City), Pau Torres (Villarreal), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Jose Luis Gaya (Valencia), Hugo Guillamon (Valencia), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Gavi (Barcelona), Pedri (Barcelona), Carlos Soler (PSG), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Pablo Sarabia (PSG), Dani Olmo (Leipzig), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal), Ansu Fati (Barcelona)

Carl Lewis and football writer Zach Lowy discuss players to watch in Group D of the World Cup in Qatar.

Group D at the 2022 World Cup consists of the current world champions, a team that’s defeated them twice recently and two teams with a lot of work to do if they’re going to get a fourth match in Qatar.

Denmark

World ranking: 10
Coach: Kasper Hjulmand
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Kasper Schmeichel (Nice), Oliver Christensen (Hertha Berlin), Frederik Rønnow (Union Berlin), Simon Kjaer (AC Milan), Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace), Joakim Maehle (Atalanta), Andreas Christensen (Barcelona), Rasmus Kristensen (Leeds United), Jens Stryger Larsen (Trabzonspor), Victor Nelsson (Galatasaray), Daniel Wass (Brondby), Alexander Bah (Benfica), Thomas Delaney (Sevilla), Mathias Jensen (Brentford), Christian Nørgaard (Brentford), Christian Eriksen (Manchester United), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham), Andreas Skov Olsen (Club Bruges), Jesper Lindstrom (Eintracht Frankfurt), Andreas Cornelius (Copenhagen), Martin Braithwaite (Espanyol), Kasper Dolberg (Sevilla), Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford), Jonas Wind (VfL Wolfsburg), Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig), Robert Skov (Hoffenheim).

Australia

World ranking: 38
Coach: Graham Arnold
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Mathew Ryan (FC Copenhagen), Andrew Redmayne (Sydney FC), Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners), Aziz Behich (Dundee United), Milos Degenek (Columbus Crew), Thomas Deng (Aibirex Niigata), Joel King (Odense Boldklub), Nathaniel Atkinson (Hearts), Fran Karacic (Brescia), Harry Souttar (Stoke City), Kye Rowles (Hearts), Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United), Aaron Mooy (Celtic), Jackson Irvine (St Pauli), Ajdin Hrustic (Hellas Verona), Bailey Wright (Sunderland), Cameron Devlin (Hearts), Riley McGree (Middlesbrough), Keanu Baccus (St Mirren), Awer Mabil (Cadiz), Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), Martin Boyle (Hibernian), James Maclaren (Melbourne City), Jason Cummings (Central Coast Mariners), Mitchell Duke (Fagiano Okayama), Garang Kuol (Central Coast Mariners)

Newcastle new boy Kuol features for the Socceroos before moving to Tyneside in January despite being yet to start a game for Central Coast Mariners in the A-League. Keeper Mitch Langerak came out of international retirement just in time for the final friendlies and the finals in Qatar, only to miss out on the final squad.

France

World ranking: 4
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Steve Mandanda (Rennes), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Raphaël Varane (Manchester United), Axel Disasi (Monaco), William Saliba (Arsenal), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Théo Hernandez (Milan), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Mattéo Guendouzi (Marseille), Jordan Veretout (Marseille), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona), Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt), Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach).

No Paul Pogba or N’Golo Kante for France at this tournament but there is still an embarrassment of riches, particularly in forward positions. Varane’s hamstring injury has not kept him out, while Presnel Kimpembe has been replaced in the squad by Disasi due to an injury. Marcus Thuram was named late to take the squad to full capacity. And then Randal Kolo Muani was brought into the squad for the injured Christopher Nkunku.

Tunisia

World ranking: 30
Coach: Jalel Kadri
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Aymen Dahmen (CS Sfaxien), Bechir Ben Said (US Monastir), Mouez Hassen (Club Africain), Aymen Mathlouthi (Etoile Sahel), Ali Abdi (Caen), Dylan Bronn (Salernitana), Mohamed Drager (FC Luzern), Nader Ghandri (Club Africain), Bilel Ifa (Kuwait SC), Wajdi Kechrida (Atromitos), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly), Yassine Meriah (Esperance), Montassar Talbi (Lorient), Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Ghaylane Chaalali (both Esperance), Aissa Laidouni (Ferencvaros), Hannibal Mejbri (Birmingham City), Ferjani Sassi (Al Duhail), Elyas Skhiri (FC Cologne), Anis Ben Slimane (Brondby), Seifeddine Jaziri (Zamalek), Issam Jebali (Odense), Wahbi Khazri (Montpellier), Taha Yassine Khenissi (Kuwait SC), Youssef Msakni (Al Arabi), Naim Sliti (Al Ittifaq).