The Riyal is on ...
Our hunch says it’s a toss-up between brazil and argentina
IT’S predictions time again, but we’re not turning to any eightlimbed cephalopod to guide us. As psychic octopuses Paul and Rabio who enjoyed a 100% success rate in picking the winners in 2010 and 2018 — are no longer around, the Starsport team will rely on their good old human hunch to pick the champions of Qatar 2022. We get the crystal ball rolling.
TONY YEE
My heart wants it to be Argentina and Messi, but my head tells me to put my money on Brazil. So, I believe the Selecao will be crowned champions in Qatar.
To cap Brazil’s glory, Neymar will finally step out of Messi and Ronaldo’s shadows to be the star of the tournament – and even go on to win the Ballon d’or!
EFNY JOHAN
ARGENTINA vs Portugal will be my prediction for the final. It will settle a long debate between Messi and Ronaldo’s fanboys on who is the greatest of All Time (GOAT). But we all know that the real GOAT is Diego Maradona.
JOEL ALEXANDER
BRAZIL will lift their sixth World Cup despite having limited options in the backline, forcing them to rely on underperforming veterans like Dani Alves. They will make up for it with their young and sensational players who can deliver even if their main star Neymar gets injured.
R. KIRUBASHINI
FOOTBALL will finally come home. england have a good record in their past two tournaments, reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and were just a penalty shootout away from lifting the euro 2020.
The Three lions have a good blend of experienced players and exciting young talent who could finally end 56 years of hurt.
CHOO JAWN HEE
IT has been 20 years since Brazil last won the World Cup in Japansouth Korea in 2002. And it looks like they are now primed for another
chance to take home the trophy for the sixth time. They have recalled veteran defender Dani Alves and have included several new faces in their attack line led by mature Neymar.
LIM TEIK HUAT
A FRANCE vs Brazil final will be a dream match most fans will want to see happen. All eyes will be on whether les Bleus can break the ‘holders’ curse’ as four of the last five defending champions have failed to make it past the group stage.
Despite missing midfield star Paul Pogba, France still have enough quality players to make a successful title bid and become the first nation to retain the title since Brazil (1958 and 1962).
RAJES PAUL
IT’S the dream of every Argentina fan to see Messi bow out as a hero from this World Cup, me included. It’s not hard to picture him with the trophy and confetti raining down on him, and his equally capable teammates. Hopefully, a dream semis with Brazil and then, all the way to Cup glory.
DORAI RAJ
A TOSS-UP between Brazil and Argentina. The two could meet in the semi-final and whoever wins is likely to go all the way to the trophy. The heart longs to see Messi lift the Cup but Neymar has the better allround team, on paper.
RIZAL HASHIM
I AM picking Argentina for sentimental reasons, with le Albiceleste delivering an emotional last hurrah for lionel Messi befitting his status as one of the game’s alltime greats. Although it is very rare for a team with an unbeaten streak to carry on with the winning form in a high-intensity tournament, under the able stewardship of lionel Scaloni – a member of the FIFA under-20 World Cup winning side in Kuala lumpur in 1997 – Argentina might just pull it off.
T. AVINESHWARAN
lionel Messi will finally confirm once and for all that he’s the greatest of all time by leading Argentina to the World Cup. What’s beautiful about this le Albiceleste squad is the unity and their ambition to realise Messi’s dream. lautaro
Martinez and Paulo Dybala are the other flair players who can lift the team.
AZMAH ABIDIN
BRAZIL look good for the World Cup this time as their young strikers such as Vinicius Jr, gabriel Martinelli and Antony – are vicious up front.
ROSLI AHMAD
BRAZIL have a good blend of experience and exciting young players in all positions. If these players can click as a team, there’s no stopping them.
n KHOO JIAN TENG
GERMANY could set up a repeat final against Brazil, as they contested the 2002 World Cup showdown in yokohama, Japan. With a good mix of experience and youth, the germans can fancy their chances of avenging that 2-0 loss.
THANA
even though I love to say Brazil will win the cup but my bet is on Portugal. A Cristiano Ronaldoinspired Portugal will be the champions.