We’re all looking forward to the fast approaching domestic leagues as the action is due to start across Europe in little over a month.
The transfer market is in full swing and fans and pundits are weighing up their teams’ chances in the 2022/23 campaign. The first week in August is when it all kicks off and then, three months later it’s the 2022 World Cup!
All roads and flights will lead to Qatar for the biggest sporting extravaganza on the planet and the SBOTOP team will be all over the run up to the tournament, all the latest World Cup 2022 news and the action as it unfolds.
It’s a feat of football no-one should miss and here are five reasons why:
Qatar will be totally different
The preparations for the 2022 World Cup haven’t been without controversy. From the moment the world’s biggest competition was awarded to a nation with little history in the game, eyebrows were raised in South America, Europe and Western Africa. There have been health and safety problems during the stadium builds and fans are wondering what to expect when they arrive in the Western Asian state of Qatar.
It will be different that’s for sure, but Qatar is determined to put on the greatest show on earth and, from the curious to the fanatical who will be tuning in to see how it pans out, the world will be watching.
A handful of potential winners
The fact that the competition will be held neither in Europe nor South America means that this tournament will be more open than most with a number of nations who will believe they have a great chance of becoming rulers of the world.
According to the early World Cup 2022 betting odds Brazil are the marginal favourites to lift the trophy, and with leaders like Thiago, Casemiro and Neymar guiding the prodigious talent of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Gabriel Martinelli this will be some Selecao team.
2018 Champions France are as strong as ever, even managing to leave quality players such as Barca’s Ousmane Dembele out of a recent squad. His future with Barca is yet to be settled but he’ll be on the plane to Qatar no doubt, along with potential Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe.
Spain has a real chance of going at least one better than their Euro 2020 semi-final appearance. There are a huge number of La Liga players in Luis Enrique’s squad, including Villarreal centre back Pau Torres, and other world class talents such as Barcelona’s wonderkids Gavi and Ansu Fati and Manchester City’s Rodri.
And, of course, England and Argentina are also serious contenders.
The young guns are ready to fire
As well as Fati, Gavi, Martinelli and Mbappe there will be a wealth of youthful talent on show from all the top teams. Borussia Dortmund’s England midfielder Jude Bellingham has had a brilliant domestic season and also impressed for the Three Lions with his energetic box to box displays, strong in the tackle and adventurous in support of England’s attack.
Argentina have two young sharp shooters in the form of Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and River Plate’s Julian Alvarez, and a legend of the game to guide them along…
Last chance to see some old stagers
…Lionel Messi might be at his last World Cup but he’s every bit the talisman Argentina need if they are to add a World Cup triumph to their Copa America crown. And he’s not the only veteran of the biggest stage as Chelsea’s ageless (37) centre back Thiago Silva will be on show.
Portugal might not be the best team in the world, but they still have the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks and he is still as ambitious as ever, recently suggesting he wants to leave Manchester United in search of yet more silverware. And Real Madrid midfield ace Luka Modric will grace the venues with his effortless skills and creative genius.
The only regret is that we have seen the last of Juventus and Italy legend Giorgio Chiellini, as the Azzurri failed to qualify for the World Cup for the second tournament in succession.
A break in domestic football…
And any concern that the competition will lose viewers due to ‘football fatigue’ has been removed by the decision to stage the tournament in November and December. That means that the big leagues in Europe will all take a six week break, smack bang in the middle of the domestic season.
In England the Premier League always continues relentlessly while on the continent there is generally a two week break. But the extended pause in domestic football means no footy for much longer.
Unless of course you tune in to the Qatar World Cup.
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