Who will win the Cup? We ask our ‘pundits’ for their tips
Who can win World Cup?
Photo: Pedro Vilela
FOOTBALL: The FIFA World Cup kicks-off this Friday in Russia.
After beating Honduras in a play-off earlier this year, Australia booked their place among the 32 finalists and will face some of the world’s greatest football nations.
The Netherlands and Italy are the biggest absences this year, however, The Chronicle is focused on the teams that have the best shot at World Cup glory.
We’ve spoken to Toowoomba Grammar School director of football Peter Broadfoot, USQ FC head coach and Football Queensland South West official Matt Proctor and SWQ Thunder assistant men’s manager Kris Hemmerling for their tips.
The Chronicle sports editor Jason Gibbs also weighs in with his World Cup “darkhorse”.
Peter Broadfoot: You can’t go past the traditional powerhouses at any World Cup – France, Germany, Brazil those type of teams. And even though a South American team has never won a World Cup in Europe you can’t rule Brazil out this time round. Their keeper (Alisson Becker) is wanted by all the top clubs in Europe and they’ve got some of the best players in the world.
I can’t go past France though, they look so strong, they’ve got everything. Lloris (Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris) is great and when you’ve
got someone like him behind you it gives you a lot of faith.
Their midfield with the likes of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante is fantastic and I think they’ve got one of the best forwards in the game in Antoine Griezmann.
And they’ve got depth. If they can get their act together off the field I think they’ll be nearly unbeatable.
Matt Proctor: I think England will quietly go about their business this year. Not a lot is expected of them as usual but I think they have the right team to go far.
There’s no “big-time Charlies” in the side this year.
The biggest names are probably Harry Kane and Jamie
Vardy but they’re still very down-to-earth blokes who have worked their way through the ranks of English football.
I remember playing Gareth (current England manager Gareth Southgate) in the early 90s and he’s put together a team just like himself. They’re a good bunch of lads without any big egos and that will work in their favour – they’re a solid team.
Kris Hemmerling: It’s Germany for me – I have German heritage so I’m a little bias but it’s a strong side.
You only have to look at some of the players, like Leroy Sane, that they’ve left out because they don’t fit the structure and culture of the team.
It’s a tough ask going backto-back but I think we can do it. There’s not a lot of change from the last squad and there’s some good young players like Marvin Plattenhardt and Leon Goretska throw in.
And then there is Manuel Neuer; he’s one of the best keepers in the world in my book – a guy that can help you win a game at the back.
Jason Gibbs: I like the look of Germany and if Harry Kane bangs in a few goals England have as good a chance as any.
Brazil have some wonderful individual talent but I’m not sure they’re a team that will stand tall under pressure.
The team that I’ve looked at the most though is Belgium.
I really like the looks of them and they’ve got all the pieces you expect to see in a World Cup winning puzzle.
A great keeper (Thibaut Courtois), an imposing defence (Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen) and absolute game breakers in Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku.
The biggest question mark for me is belief and unity.
If they can come together as a unit and really back themselves I think they can go a long way - their performance against England in the group stage will be key.
A solid performance there and I think we will see them go deep in the Cup.