We are now just under two months until the World Cup in Qatar kicks off. I can’t say I am thrilled the World Cup is in December, not only because it stops my tradition of the start of the World Cup coinciding with my birthday week.

Nevertheless, it is what it is and although it has caused much disruption and will take a lot of adapting. There is no doubt the World Cup is still the biggest and best sports tournament on the planet.

To wet the appetite, this will be one of two preview articles I will be doing. Below is my preview and predictions of the group stages and how I think the final tables will look

GROUP A

NETHERLANDS

SENEGAL

QATAR

ECUADOR 

This is one of the more favourable groups, with all four teams probably fancying their chances. However, you would expect the Netherlands to top it. They are in good form and on a long unbeaten run and could be one of the contenders.

I believe this group may come down to who performs the best against Qatar. Generally, in these tournaments, home field advantage and the home crowd make a difference, not to mention officials want the host nation to stay in the tournament as long as possible. That said, it will be tough for them.

Senegal is in a Golden Era after becoming African champions for the first time in their history last year.. I feel they will push the Netherlands and could even be ones to watch in the knockout stages.

Ecuador surprised in their qualification campaign, finishing fourth at the expense of Colombia and Peru, just two points behind Uruguay. But worryingly only won two away games. However, they will play with freedom and are not to be taken lightly.

GROUP B

ENGLAND

WALES

USA

IRAN

This group almost feels planned, the amount of history, subplots and backstories it throws up. Naturally, If England, especially in recent years under Southgate, has aspirations of winning a tournament, they have to expect to win the group.

However, they will not relish a tough domestic battle with Wales, and a transatlantic battle with the USA, where they will hope to come out unscathed, ready for the knockout stages. I feel Iran will just hope to give a good account of themselves and not be anybody’s whipping boys, this will constitute as a good tournament.

But the real juice of this group will be that Wales v USA game. It will go a long way to how the group shapes up when it’s all said and done.

Two nations that are capable of having a good tournament, and have players capable of upsetting teams, but can also flatter to deceive. But with that said, both are not expected to go that far. Does that make both dark horses?

GROUP C

ARGENTINA

MEXICO

POLAND

SAUDI ARABIA

This will be the last World Cup Messi will have the opportunity to win, at least as a player. However, even in his twilight years, winning the Copa America for the first time in 2021 must give all of Argentina both hope, confidence and expectations.

Mexico, who are World Cup veterans, with only three nations in this tournament qualifying more times, one being Argentina. They are known foes from their Copa America appearances, so their game will be spicy and will add a Latin derby to the proceedings.

I do believe this will be one of the tighter groups as Poland are no pushovers, and Lewandowksi, much less Messi, will probably be playing at this tournament for a final time, so will want to make it memorable.

Saudi Arabia are a dark horse in this group, and the final standings could depend on how teams do against them. Naturally, they are predicted to finish bottom, but have managed to get out of the group twice in their five appearances and will play with freedom.

GROUP D

FRANCE

DENMARK

AUSTRALIA

TUNISIA

France will always be one of the favourites in any tournament, no matter their form or record in the previous tournament. There is no doubt they have the players to go all the way, but as history has taught us, anything can happen in tournament football, and they will need to fight against complacency and overconfidence.

Behind them, I am expecting it to be straightforward for Denmark, who topped their qualifying group and had a good Euro after the Eriksen issue, losing to England in the SF’s, after extra time.

I feel it will be a toss-up to who finishes third and fourth. Both Australia & Tunisia do not have a particularly good record in the group with a combined 10 appearances, only once making it out of the group, which was Australia in 2006.

You can’t see anything more than their game as a fight to avoid the wooden spoon, but stranger things have happened in the group stages.

GROUP E

GERMANY

SPAIN

JAPAN

COSTA RICA

Although anything can happen in tournament football. I feel this group will be cut into two halves to decide on two different factors. Who will finish top from Spain and Germany, and who will finish bottom from Costa Rica and Japan?

I am sure both Germany and Spain will not relish having to play their European counterparts, who share eleven major tournament wins between them. However, the game will provide both good preparation for the knockout stages. Pushed, I am going for Germany to top the group, for no reason other than they are Germans.

On the other end, Japan and Costa Rica will hope for a win against the other to give them an unlikely chance at a best third-place finish.

Although I doubt either will qualify. Knowing who they have in this most difficult of groups, they will both fancy their chances against the other, which will promise to be a good game where both will go all out for the victory.

GROUP F

BELGIUM

CROATIA

MOROCCO

CANADA

Belgium are coming to the twilight years of this Golden Era to fulfil their promise and win something. They have looked promising, but time is running out. However, in their last two tournaments, they went out to the eventual winners France in the World Cup and Italy in the Euros.

That said, any slip-ups and 2018 runners-up Croatia will take full advantage. They have pedigree and top, albeit ageing footballers. Although they went out in a thriller to Spain in the last 16 of the Euros, they topped their qualifying group and are in good form.

It will be a very interesting battle for third in the group. Canada, who qualified with a game to spare, has emerged as an exciting, attacking side, which is a direct contrast to the experienced, disciplined, and defensive Moroccan team.

Both have one of two household names and very good footballers that helped them to qualify. Both will be eager to impose their style on the other and hope to get something from either of the other two games.

GROUP G

BRAZIL

SWITZERLAND

CAMEROON

SERBIA

If this group is giving you deja vu, it’s because bizarrely, Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia were all drawn in the same group in the last World Cup. It will probably come as no surprise, but just like in 2108, I am fully expecting Brazil to top this group and quite frankly, go all the way.

They are in scintillating form and have a squad brimming with talent to the point where its an embarrassment of riches, with players who are good enough to walk into other squads’ struggling to get into this one. 

The real story in this group is what will happen behind Brazil. Much like 2018, I am expecting Switzerland to come second. They have qualified for five straight tournaments but have yet to get past the QF’.

Cameroon are the only change in this group from 2018, and I feel their unpredictability could bring some excitement and cause some issues, especially to an ageing Serbia team. They did well to qualify top of their group and will want to go one better than last time and get to the knockout stages.

GROUP H

PORTUGAL

URUGUAY

SOUTH KOREA

GHANA

This will most likely be the last major tournament we see Ronaldo playing in, and much like many of the stars of this era, this will be the last time he will try to lead his nation to World Cup glory (at least as a player).

That said, if he does not add the World Cup to winning the 2016 Euro in 2016 and the inaugural Nations League tournament in 2019, its still a decent international cv. I expect Portugal to top the group. However, I feel Uruguay, who qualified third behind Brazil and Argentina, will push them in another spicy-looking Latin derby that will most probably determine the group winners.

Ghana will hope to have a say, although I do not feel they are not as strong as the Ghana of old and have a somewhat ageing squad. They are a physically strong outfit and have the capabilities to give anyone a good game.

However, Korea Rp will have something to say, and will hope everyone is underestimating them and take their foot off the pedal enough for them to pull off the kind of upsets they did back in 2002.