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Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived. The 2022 World Cup is beginning in just seven days and words cannot describe my excitement. This will be the first time that a World Cup will be talked about on this website as ysnmusic.com did not exist in 2018. Through all the controversies about the location and the time the cup is being played (November-December instead of the usual Summer tournament), it is still going to have every football fan’s attention. I just hope that this is the last World Cup destination selected through corruption and so many workers tragically passing away. Football is a way of life and it is something that can bring the world together. This is… the World Cup. Let’s get into it.

Group A: Qatar, Senegal, Netherlands & Ecuador

The hosts will be in a very difficult situation as they will face off against three very talented sides. Senegal, winners of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, will be looking to avenge their group stage exit in 2018 by yellow card accumulation. Netherlands, a country with historic success, will be looking to make a splash in this year’s tournament after missing out in Russia completely. And lastly Ecuador, a side that has only lost one match in their last 14, will also be an extremely tough challenge for the hosts.

Despite the injury scare, Sadio Mane has made the squad for Senegal and will likely be captaining the side after his AFCON heroics. His former teammate Virgil van Dijk will be captaining the Netherlands after missing out on EURO 2021 due to injury, adding on to his already illustrious résumé. It’s the World Cup so anything can happen, but I don’t know if I can see this group ending any other way.

Predictions

1. Netherlands
2. Senegal
3. Ecuador
4. Qatar

Group B: Wales, England, USA & Iran

Before I discuss the other countries in this group, I just want to talk about how Eric Dier, Connor Coady and Harry Maguire made the squad over Fikayo Tomori. The Cobham Academy graduate was an integral part of Milan’s Scudetto winning campaign and is also heading to the Champions League knockout stages with the Rossoneri. However, our good friend Gareth Southgate said that the young center backs just simply “hadn’t done enough” to push the older center backs out of the squad. At least Trent made the squad because if he didn’t I probably would’ve shown up on Southgate’s doorstep ready to scrap.

England is a country that is expected to get out of this group, but the other three nations can challenge the Three Lions for that knockout round spot. Wales, led by former Madrid star Gareth Bale, have shown that they can be a scrappy side. The US are a young team spearheaded by their self-proclaimed “LeBron James of soccer” Christian Pulisic and Iran were one goal away from making the knockouts in 2018. Each country poses a threat to England’s expected advancement. We’ll just have to see if they have enough firepower to compete with the stars of the Premier League.

Predictions

1. England
2. Iran
3. USA
4. Wales

Group C: Argentina, Poland, Mexico & Saudi Arabia

The whole footballing world expects Argentina to finish on top of this group. Lionel Messi’s last World Cup will be alongside a strong squad with depth at all positions (including Paulo Dybala). The question that many are asking, is who will be joining Argentina in the knockout stages? Saudi Arabia are the biggest underdog, but they do have a World Cup win under their belt from 2018. Poland missed out on the knockout stages in the last tournament but with talisman Robert Lewandowski anything is possible. And lastly, Mexico is a side that is consistently finding themselves in the knockout stages but have succumbed to the “Curse of the fifth game”. All I know is that I want to see Lionel Messi thrive in this tournament. When he’s on his day it’s one of the best sights in the world.

Predictions

1. Argentina
2. Poland
3. Mexico
4. Saudi Arabia

Group D: France, Australia, Denmark & Tunisia

The second World Cup in a row that France will be matched up with both Australia and Denmark in the group stages, and I’m not expecting any different results. The Socceroos from “Down Under” have qualified through a play-off against Peru, Denmark have made it after reaching the semi-finals in the EUROs and Tunisia are back for their second straight World Cup. I don’t expect anything crazy to happen in this group, France’s depth is too strong for the so called “World Cup Curse” despite missing both N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba. I’m excited to watch the new young players in the side like Tchouameni, Camavinga, Konate and Saliba.

Predictions

1. France
2. Denmark
3. Australia
4. Tunisia

Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany & Japan

After suffering early exits in the Round of 16 last tournament, Spain & Japan are looking for their own revenge. Meanwhile, Germany tries to put the horrors of 2018 in the past and make it out of the group stage. I just want to make a statement about Luis Enrique’s selection for his Spain squad in this tournament. The fact that Eric Garcia and Cesar Azpillicueta made it over Sergio Ramos should be enough to put Enrique on a wanted list. Also Carlos Soler and Marcos Llorente making it over Thiago makes it personal for me. Disgusting scenes of robbing both players of possibly their last World Cup appearances. If Costa Rica makes it past the group stages I will be very surprised. Anyways, here’s my predictions for Group E.

Predictions

1. Germany
2. Japan
3. Spain
4. Costa Rica

Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco & Croatia

One of the toughest groups to call is definitely this one right here. Obviously I love my country of Morocco and I want them to succeed, but it’s going to be really hard for them. Belgium, a former #1 nation in the world will look to avenge their semi-final loss to France in 2018. Canada will be participating in their first World Cup since 1986 with a couple of young stars in Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David. And lastly Croatia, 2018’s runner-up, will give it one more go with Luka Modric leading the side. I’m a simple man, all I want is a Romelu Lukaku golden boot performance and Achraf Hakimi and the boys somehow making it out the group. However, I can’t see one of those things actually happening unfortunately.

Predictions:

1. Belgium
2. Croatia
3. Morocco
4. Canada

Group G: Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia & Cameroon

The world needs to see Neymar captain Brazil to a World Cup win. This Brazil squad is just as deep, maybe even deeper than the 2006 squad that lost to Zidane’s France. We could be possibly looking at a team that is bringing Antony, Rodrygo, Gabriel Martinelli and Richarlison off the bench. The options are unreal. Their last two appearances in the tournament have resulted in exits at the hands of Belgium and the infamous lost against Germany, but now is Neymar’s time. This is the best squad he’s ever had at a World Cup. It’s his best supporting crew, but it’s also a lot of pressure on the side to perform. Keep your eyes on Serbia though, a very underrated side that could even possibly steal the top spot.

Predictions

1. Brazil
2. Serbia
3. Cameroon
4. Switzerland

Group H: Portugal, South Korea, Uruguay & Ghana

Cristiano Ronaldo’s last dance. Let’s do it. Another tough group for one of the world’s best ever players. South Korea, led by Heung-min Son, will look to bag another impressive result after beating Germany in 2018. Ghana returns after an eight-year hiatus with Andre Ayew leading the lines for the Black Stars. And lastly, Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani return for Uruguay in what will most likely be both of their last appearances in the World Cup. Words just can’t describe how excited I am for this tournament.

Predictions

1. Portugal
2. Uruguay
3. Ghana
4. South Korea

KNOCKOUT STAGES

Round of 16

Netherlands (A1) vs. Iran (B2)

Argentina (C1) vs. Denmark (D2)

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Germany (E1) vs. Croatia (F2)

Brazil (G1) vs. Uruguay (H2)

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England (B1) vs. Senegal (A2)

France (D1) vs. Poland (C2)

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Belgium (F1) vs. Japan (E2)

Portugal (H1) vs. Serbia (G2)

Quarterfinals

Netherlands vs. Argentina

Brazil vs. Croatia

England vs. France

Belgium vs. Portugal

Semifinals

Argentina vs. Brazil

France vs. Portugal

FINAL

Brazil vs. France

Deep down, of course I want a Messi vs. Ronaldo final. I mean, that is the stuff of dreams. However, I also want to see Neymar lift the World Cup trophy and like I said earlier in the article I truly think he can with this squad. It would be a rematch of the 1998 World Cup final where Zidane led the Frenchmen to a 3-0 victory. I know this is a pretty “safe” pick but these two sides are so strong that if one of them don’t make the final I will be very surprised. Inject a front three of Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema & Ousmane Dembele into my veins. But ultimately, inject Neymar lifting the trophy on December 18th into my veins even more. In my biggest Eric Cantona voice ever… I love football. This is YSN, until next time, signing out.