Forward of his fifth and, reportedly, ultimate World Cup, Messi mentioned his contenders for the 2022 event with Latin American subscription channel DIRECTV Sports activities on Wednesday (AEDT).
The Argentina captain picked his two clear favourites for the title in Qatar, earlier than mentioning Germany, England and Spain as hopefuls.
“We all the time say the identical nice groups… however, if I’ve to decide on, Brazil and France are the 2 nice candidates to win the World Cup,” Messi advised DIRECTV Sports activities.
“They’ve had the identical group [of players] for a very long time, working nicely. France, apart from the final Euros after they had been eradicated [in the last 16] and did badly, they’ve some spectacular gamers.
“They’ve a transparent thought and the identical coach [Didier Deschamps]. Brazil is a bit the identical [under Tite].”
Messi’s prediction comes within the midst of a horror lead-up to this yr’s event for defending champions France, who’ve been confronted with a nightmare harm checklist consisting of N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane amongst others.
The French have additionally been compelled to confront Kylian Mbappe’s feud with the French Soccer Federation (FFF) over picture rights, allegations of inappropriate office behaviour from the president of the governing physique and an ongoing investigation into an alleged extortion try on Pogba from March.
Nonetheless, the familiarity with Deschamps’ tactical set-up, who has coached the nationwide staff since 2012, in addition to the current returns of captain Hugo Lloris, Adrien Rabiot, Kingsley Coman and Ballon d’or winner Karim Benzema at membership degree might assist regular the French facet forward of their event opener in opposition to the Socceroos on November 23 (AEDT).
In the meantime, Argentina’s CONMEBOL associates Brazil have garnered just one loss from their previous 29 matches, which got here in opposition to Messi’s facet within the 2021 Copa America decider, however managed to beat out their arch-rivals in qualifying after succumbing to solely three attracts in comparison with six from their respective undefeated campaigns.
The longevity of Tite’s six-year tenure on the helm has seen the younger skills of Vinicius Junior, Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison flourish in assault, along with the invaluable expertise of gloveman Alisson Becker, Paris Saint-Germain duo Marquinhos and Neymar, captain Thiago Silva and fellow Premier League stars Casemiro and Fabinho in midfield, amongst others.
Squad upheaval
Since his appointment after the post-Russia 2018 dismissal of Jorge Sampaoli, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has guided the world’s quantity three-ranked facet to the longest lively undefeated streak and the second longest in worldwide soccer historical past, going unbeaten in 35 video games behind Italy’s all-time document of 37, which ran between October 2018 and October 2021.
Nonetheless, Messi’s declare of France and Brazil retaining the identical group of gamers for a protracted time frame has not been the case for Argentina. Along with the managerial change occurring shortly after their spherical of 16 exit from Russia, the South American facet have undergone vital adjustments to their squad with some ensuing from worldwide retirement, together with six of the 11 who lined up of their historic 3-0 loss to eventual finalists Croatia within the group stage.
Though the younger skills of Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez and attackers Julián Álvarez from Manchester Metropolis and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martínez have blossomed because the 2018 event, the current accidents of squad mainstays Paulo Dybala and Angel di Maria amidst a congested October membership schedule have confirmed to be of specific concern for Scaloni forward of the 2022 event begin in underneath a month’s time.
“We’re in fairly a troublesome stage. The gamers are taking part in numerous video games,” Scaloni advised AFAestudio.
“There may be issues as there are accidents [and] suspensions. It is a part of being an elite participant and a nationwide staff participant.
“I fear, however there’s little you are able to do. I imagine that the participant has to exit on the pitch to play and never take into consideration what’s coming — it may be detrimental. Allow them to play naturally.”
Challenges at Qatar 2022
The South People will open their marketing campaign in Qatar in opposition to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, November 22 (AEDT).
Regardless of coming into the event because the second-lowest ranked staff forward of Ghana, Herve Renard’s facet might pose a possible stumbling block to their extra extremely fancied opponents in Argentina, Mexico and Poland amid their group-topping effort within the third spherical of AFC qualifiers, after they beat out Japan and Australia to safe the primary automated spot.
Renard’s previous managerial achievements embrace steering Zambia to their maiden Africa Cup of Nations title in 2012 and repeating the dose in 2015 with Cote d’Ivore.
Argentina’s showdown with Mexico within the second match of the group stage might additionally show a critical risk to Scaloni’s facet and their hopes of topping Group C.
Born in Argentina, Mexico head coach Gerardo Martino beforehand coached his dwelling nation between 2014 and 2016, together with his familiarisation with Messi additional courting again to the 2013-14 season when he was in control of Barcelona.
Whereas star Wolverhampton ahead Raúl Jiménez is presently injured and dealing with a race in opposition to the clock to be match for the World Cup, the Mexicans nonetheless boast Russia 2018 breakout star Hirving Lozano amongst their ranks in addition to Guillermo Ochoa in objective for doubtlessly his ultimate World Cup.
The ultimate group recreation in opposition to Poland might resolve both facet’s destiny on the event, with talisman Robert Lewandowski and the attacking help of Sebastian Szymański from Feyenoord and Napoli’s Piotr Zieliński in midfield seeking to stand in the way in which of the South People.
This match might arrange a mouth-watering spherical of 16 encounter with a facet from Australia’s Group D, which might contain one among Messi’s predicted winners of the event: France.
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