World Cup Predictions
We've only just begun, but what's going to happen in the long run? Who'll score the most? Who will flop? Who will impress? Who'll come out on top?
The World Cup began yesterday as the Qataris were quietened in the opening quarter of the game as Ecuador excellently expedited our emcee's exit. While this will be the shortest World Cup ever, there is still a long way to go in the tournament. “What do you think will happen?”, I hear nobody yell at me. Well shush, I’ll tell you anyway.
This piece contains my predictions for World Cup and Golden Boot winners, the best young player and breakout star of the tournament, my wildest prediction and who might I believe might end up flopping hard, along with an explanation of why. Disagree with any of my points? Make sure to let me know!
World Cup flops: France
Defending champions France enter the World Cup in Qatar hoping to break the curse that has plagued recent title holders. This jinx has already hit the French once in 2002 when their group of giants up front failed to put a single shot past the opposition goalkeepers. France are no stranger to flopping once World Cup season hits, also finishing bottom of their group in South Africa in 2010. Having already flopped hard during this year’s Nations League, and with a myriad of injuries hitting their camp, the latest of which hit Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, I anticipate the uncharacteristic togetherness we are seeing from this French side at the moment will eventually erupt into a hailstorm of cold shoulders and bitterness. Prove me wrong France! Prove me wrong!
Dark Horses: Denmark
Last summer’s events signalled to the world the strength that the Danes have when they’re together. This year I see them taking that one step further on a larger scale. With Christian Eriksen back to his brilliant best, a seriously strong back three behind him, and some transcendent, high-potential young wingers in Mikkel Damsgaard and Andreas Skov Olsen, Denmark will at the very least be exciting to watch, and at their best could end up finishing top of their group and in a good position to push for a semi-final berth.
Breakout star: Iñaki Williams (Ghana)
The Black Stars have had a time of it trying to find the back of the net on a consistent basis, so much so that there were talks of 36 year old Asamoah Gyan - who hasn’t scored a goal since 2019 (in the Indian Super League) and is currently a free agent – joining up with the squad á la Roger Milla. Despite this, they’ve scraped their way into the World Cup and been able to recruit some notable players. Their most major recruit is one Iñaki Williams. Born in the Basque region of Spain to Ghanaian parents, his younger brother will be representing Spain at the same World Cup, something that has only ever happened once before - coincidentally also with a Ghanaian player – in 2010 when Kevin-Prince Boateng represented Ghana and Jerome Boateng represented Germany. Iñaki is a star for Athletic Bilbao, having recently broken a Spanish league record by playing 203 consecutive matches. With his blazing fast speed and excellent finishing ability, Williams will be a serious threat to opponents on the fastbreak. Iñaki has the ability to drag Ghana out of their group, fans of The Black Stars will just have to hope that the players around him perform also.
Young Player of the Tournament: Jamal Musiala (Germany)
Jamal Musiala recently made his 100th appearance for Bayern Munich, and he’s still just 19 years old. With 9 goals and 7 assists in just 14 appearances so far this season, the teenager is on an incredible run of form at the perfect time heading into this tournament. I expect him to light up Group E and outperform his fellow teenage starlet (Though he turns 20 just two days before they meet), Spain’s Pedri on the largest stage there is. Expect Germany to be a force to be reckoned with later in the tournament behind a youthful core of players like Musiala, Adeyemi and Schlotterbeck
Golden Boot Winner: Lautaró Martinez (Argentina)
Lionel Messi has never been a top scorer for Argentina, especially in World Cups. Especially now at the ripe old age (in Football terms) of 35, we shouldn’t expect that of him. Messi may fill his boots against a team like Saudi Arabia in the group stage, but he’s just as likely to be teeing up fellow forward Lautaró Martinez for those goals. The Inter Milan star will be champing at the bit to strut his stuff on the world stage, and he’ll have no dearth of creative talent behind him teeing him up for every goal possible. All that Martinez will have to do is just stick his nose on the end of every through ball and cross that he can reach and he’ll easily be in Golden Boot contention.
World Cup Winner: Argentina
Argentina arrive at this World Cup for the first time in a generation with a calmness and a poise that must pay off. This is Lionel Messi’s final chance to unequivocally etch his name into history as the greatest player to ever play the beautiful game, and this team has finally been built perfectly around him. This Argentina team plays not as an amalgamation of stars, like they have in the past, but as a collective. Every player works hard for each other. Every player wants their counterparts to succeed. The group is a perfect mix of experience and youthful exuberance. The Goalkeeping position has finally been locked down by an excellent player in Emiliano Martínez. A hard-working back four who would give away every one of their personal possessions just to block a shot is anchored by the tenacity and defensive security of Leandro Paredes, Papu Gomez, and a Rodrigo De Paul with something to prove. Messi himself is backed up by the wonderful Lautaro Martínez and Ángel Di María, who has been tipped as a potential Player of the Tournament. And that’s not even to mention the talent they can bring off the bench with the likes of AS Roma star Paulo Dybala, and the next-generation leader of this attack Julián Álvarez. This is the deepest, best prepared, most-talented team at the World Cup. It will take a hell of a team or the most significant of collapses to prevent them from at least making the World Cup Final on December 18th.
Wildest prediction: France, Portugal and Belgium don’t make it out of their groups
France are already my tournament flops so this should be no surprise. The amount of injuries that have hit them will tell, and the World Cup winner curse is something too strong to bet against. Danish diligence, a troubling Tunisia, and a sturdy Socceroo backline may prove too tough a task for this diminished French side to deal with. Expect Adrien Rabiot’s Mammy to be shouting every obscenity under the sun at Didier Deschamps before Game 3 of the groups.
Portugal are interesting. A young, talented, high-potential core surrounded by some faltering old fogies that may end up ruining their chances to progress. None of those older stars will hurt Portugal more than Ozymandias himself, Cristiano Ronaldo. Just like he has with Manchester United, Ronaldo’s arrogance and refusal to accept his diminished ability as time finally takes a hold over him limits Portugal on both sides of the ball. He’s never been a great presser but that was masked in his younger years by his pace and effort. Both of those have vanished. His refusal to play like he’s a 37 year old, hang around the box and let others set him up for chances to use his still Elite finishing ability will cost Portugal, especially in a tough group facing off against an excellent Uruguay side, a team always up to shock their opposition at the World Cup in South Korea, and a highly underestimated Ghana.
Finally, Belgium. Let’s be clear on one thing. The “Golden Generation” we were sold on was a lie. Belgium are the only team to have topped the FIFA World Rankings and not earned a major trophy. The once brilliant Eden Hazard is a long way from the brilliance he produced at Chelsea. The once dominant Romelu Lukaku is a shell of his former self, with just 4 appearances and a single goal to his name this season. Their defence, which has been an area where they have always struggled, is now old and tired. They have some promising future stars along with them this year, the likes of Jeremy Doku, Charles De Ketelaere and Zeno Debast, but the emphasis with them should be on the word “future”. They’re just not there yet. This Belgium side does not have 26 players that can be relied upon against elite competition. With games to come against Croatia, who were finalists in the last World Cup, a Canadian side who topped the CONCACAF qualifying and learned to win even without their stars, and a strong Moroccan team who boast the talent to be a difficult task for any side, the last blast of Belgium’s “Golden Generation” could prove to many that all that glitters is not gold.