Top favourites to win FIFA World Cup 2022

The FIFA World Cup 2022 is scheduled to kick off on November 20 in Qatar. The hosts will take on Ecuador in the tournament opener. 32 nations will be fighting to lift the trophy of the biggest event of football and on December 18 people will witness the winner.

Football fans always set a list of ‘favourite’ teams who are expected to perform well in an event. Business Insider Bangladesh has made a list and also predicted the winner of the tournament which is commonly known as the “Greatest show on Earth”.

1. Brazil: Brazil is the most successful team in the World Cup as they lift the trophy for the maximum number (five) of times. After the hosts, Qatar they became the first team to qualify for this mega event and as always they are one of the most favourites teams to win the World Cup.

They have star players like - Neymar, Raphinha, Gabriel Jesus, Marquinhos, Casemiro and so on who can change the fate of the game at any time. Therefore, they are considered as a true force of this tournament.

Squad: 

Goalkeepers : Alisson, Ederson, Weverton.

Defenders : Dani Alves, Danilo, Alex Sandro, Alex Telles, Bremer, Eder Militao, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva.

Midfielders : Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro, Everton Ribeiro, Fabinho, Fred, Lucas Paqueta.

Forwards : Antony, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Neymar, Pedro, Raphinha, Richarlison, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior.

2. Argentina: Argentina are unbeaten for straight 35 matches and in recent years their performance as a team is moving higher and higher. Their captain Lionel Messi is in great condition as the others. Probably they are in their best shape  in a span of almost a decade.

Under his captaincy of Messi, they defeated Brazil in the final of the Copa America 2021 and beat EURO champion Italy in the 2022 Finalissima.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Franco Armani and Geronimo Rulli.

Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, German Pezzella, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Juan Foyth, Nicolas Tagliafico, Marcos Acuna.

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Enzo Fernandez, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Alejandro Gomez, Alexis Mac Allister.

Forwards: Paulo Dybala, Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Nicolas Gonzalez, Joaquin Correa, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez.

3. Germany: The four-time World champions always come up with a balanced team. However, after winning the 2014 World Cup, they failed to qualify in the second round of the 2018 World Cup.

But this time they return to action with a brilliant squad and are one of the strong contenders to lift the trophy for the fifth time.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp.

Defenders: Armel Bella-Kotchap, Matthias Ginter, Christian Günter, Thilo Kehrer, Lukas Klostermann, David Raum, Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Süle.

Midfielders: Julian Brandt, Niklas Füllkrug, Leon Goretzka, Mario Götze, Ilkay Gundogan, Jonas Hofmann, Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala.

Forwards: Karim Adeyemi, Serge Gnabry, Kai Havertz, Youssoufa Moukoko, Thomas Müller, Leroy Sané.

4. France: The defending champions could not perform well in the Nations League and they will miss the service of Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kanté. Despite their poor run in the Nations League, we can exclude them from the top favourite list.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris, Alphonse Areola, Steve Mandanda.

Defenders: Benjamin Pavard, Jules Koundé, Raphael Varane, Presnel Kimpembe, William Saliba, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konaté, Dayot Upamecano.

Midfielders: Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouaméni, Youssouf Fofana, Matteo Guendouzi, Jordan Veretout, Eduardo Camavinga.

Forwards: Kingsley Coman, Kylian Mbappé, Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé, Christophe Nkunku.

5. England: The champions of the 1966 are desperate to lift a trophy. They came so close to becoming the champions of Europe but lost to Italy in the tie-breaker in 2021. 

Gareth Southgate added some fresh-blood to his side and this time they have a golden opportunity to win the World Cup for the second time.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale.

Defenders: Harry Maguire, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Luke Shaw, Kieran Trippier , Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eric Dier, Conor Coady, Ben White.

Midfielders: Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, James Maddison, Conor Gallagher.

Forwards: Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling , Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish, Callum Wilson.

6. Spain: The European side is full of young talents. They have some experienced players in the team as well. Their 2018 World Cup run was not impressive but this time they are determined to take the trophy to their country.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Unai Simón, Róbert Sánchez, David Raya.

Defenders: Dani Carvajal, César Azpilicueta, Eric García, Hugo Guillamón, Pau Torres, Aymeric Laporte, Jordi Alba, José Gayà.

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Rodrigo Hernández, Gavi, Carlos Soler, Marcos Llorente, Pedri, Koke Resurrección.

Forwards: Ferrán Torres, Nico Williams, Yeremy Pino, Álvaro Morata, Marco Asensio, Pablo Sarabia, Dani Olmo, Ansu Fati.