Soccer World Cup is finally here!
With four great, exclusive TAB World Cup soccer bets closing before the first match kicks off, bettors will need all the info they can get, so here is our country-by-country form guide to the tournament in Qatar, supplied by soccer expert Mark Gleeson. The four TAB bets on offer are: the country to win; the two countries to reach the final; one of the four countries to reach the semi-finals, and all four semi-finalists. Pools close at 18:00 on Sunday.
GROUP A QATAR:
The hosts are outsiders, having lost to Croatia’s U23s and Canada in recent matches, and could become the second host nation after South Africa to exit in the first round.
ECUADOR: Ecuador have managed to survive several legal objections to their qualification by Chile, who alleged they used a defaulter in the qualifiers, and can now concentrate on trying to upset the hosts in the opening game.
SENEGAL: The African champions perhaps carry the continent’s best hopes in this competition, but have been thrown into turmoil with an injury to their talisman Sadio Mane on the eve of the tournament.
NETHERLANDS: The Dutch are back at the World Cup after missing out in 2018 and coach Louis van Gaal says they can win the tournament, which would be a first after finishing runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010.
GROUP B
ENGLAND: They were semi-finalists in Russia four years ago and runners-up at the European Championships last year, but they have had a calamitous last six months, including losing 0-4 at home to lowly Hungary.
IRAN: Back for a third successive time at the World Cup, they have recently reappointed Carlos Queiroz as coach. They are workmanlike, but will battle to get out of the pool, something they have never managed in the past.
USA: The Americans have been on a run of poor form and coach Gregg Berhalter’s expertise for such a tournament has been questioned, but they can draw on players from the top leagues around Europe.
WALES: Wales qualified through the playoffs with a dramatic win over Ukraine and are back at the finals for the first time since their only previous appearance in Sweden in 1958, when they reached the quarter-finals.
GROUP C ARGENTINA:
Argentina won the Copa America last year for the first time since 1993, a warning to their rivals that they will be real contenders in Qatar. They did, however, finish second to Brazil in the World Cup South American qualifying super group.
SAUDI ARABIA: A sixth World Cup finals appearance for the desert kingdom, who have dual AFCON winner Herve Renard as their coach. They find themselves in a tough group and have crashed out in the first round of their last four appearances.
MEXICO: Mexico have played at every World Cup since 1994 and on each occasion managed to get through to the second round, but have never made the last eight. In Russia four years ago, they upset holders Germany 1-0 in their opening game.
POLAND: The team’s hopes rest largely on the shoulders of striker Robert Lewandowski, who has continued his sharp shooting after moving from Bayern Munich to Barcelona. Poland finished third in both 1974 and 1982.
GROUP D FRANCE:
The current world champions have been underwhelming of late and have been hit hard by injury, but still have matchwinners in Kylian Mbappe and Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema.
AUSTRALIA: The Socceroos compete at a fifth successive World Cup finals, but this is not a side with the same calibre as has gone before. Their best-known player is Danish-based goalkeeper Matt Ryan.
DENMARK: They rely heavily on the creativity of Christian Eriksen, who is back playing after his heart scare at the European Championship. They also have other experienced players who can help their cause.
TUNISIA: One of the weakest sides to have yet qualified from Africa, needing an own goal to get to Qatar. With an inexperienced coach they are likely to be heading home early.
GROUP E SPAIN:
The golden generation that lifted the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 is long gone, but their new squad is brimming with exciting youngsters, who lack experience at international level and could peak in 2026.
COSTA RICA: Quarter-finalists in 2014, but not expected to get that far this time round with what is largely a homebased squad led by talismanic veteran Brian Ruiz.
GERMANY: They have not been in the best of form in recent months, but coach Hansi Flick has picked an exciting squad - and the Germans have a habit of pulling it all together at major competitions and delivering results.
JAPAN: Japan have several players in the Bundesliga and around Europe with good top-flight experience, something previous squads have not enjoyed. They could prove dangerous.
GROUP F BELGIUM:
This is the last chance for a group of players who have been together for some time and who have been ranked No. 1 by FIFA for almost nine years without winning a trophy. Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard will be at the forefront.
CANADA: Canada appeared at just a second World Cup finals after years of heartache trying to qualify. They have a squad of players drawn from clubs around Europe’s leagues, some in lower divisions in the likes of Belgium, Portugal, England and Germany.
MOROCCO: Morocco had high expectations in Russia four years ago, but crashed out early. They will hope the return of Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech to their squad provides then with a major boost.
CROATIA: They are unlikely to repeat their heroics of four years ago when they got to the final, but they remain a dangerous side and have been in rich form over the last six months.
GROUP G BRAZIL:
The only nation to have appeared at every World Cup finals, but the record five-time winners have not lifted the coveted trophy for 20 years. They go into this competition as most people’s favourite.
SERBIA: Serbia have gone out in the group stages on their last three appearances. They will hope for better this time round, but must overcome Switzerland, who beat them four years ago, to advance.
SWITZERLAND: The Swiss are back for a fifth successive finals appearance, having helped to oust European champions Italy in the qualifiers. They are tough to break down and difficult to beat.
CAMEROON: Cameroon have been to more World Cups than any other African country, but have not won a game at the finals for 20 years. With a weak side and inexperienced coach for this tournament, the same fate could await.
GROUP H PORTUGAL:
Portugal were European champions in 2016 and have a strong squad to challenge in Qatar, but much will depend on the form of talismanic 37-years-old forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
GHANA: The Black Stars beat off regional rivals Nigeria to reach the finals, which in itself was a surprise. They are not the potent squad that reached the quarter-finals in 2010 and will likely struggle.
URUGUAY: They are led by an aging Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani, but have a young gun in Darwin Nunez and will be expected to get past the first round.
SOUTH KOREA: Have reached all 10 of the previous World Cup finals, a superb show of consistency few other sides can match. They rely heavily on star man Son Heung-min.
TIPS FOR 2022 WORLD CUP NETHERLANDS NETHERLANDS
*Country to win final:
* Two finalists: and PORTUGAL
* 4 countries to reach semi-finals: ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, NETHERLANDS
and PORTUGAL.