World Cup 2022: England expects glory in Qatar

The FIFA World Cup 2022 begins in Qatar on Sunday, with the host nation playing Ecuador in match one following the opening ceremony. This is a historic renewal of soccer’s most famous competition, with the 22nd renewal being the first time play has been held during the winter months of November and December.

Which team will win the World Cup in Qatar this year and hold that title for the next four years? Brazil is the pre-competition betting favorite, with the top apps offering World Cup odds and markets. But the Samba Boys hasn’t enjoyed success at this level in more than 20 years. That may put some backers off trusting them. Others expected to challenge are 2018 winners France and Argentina.

Schedule shake-up

Organizers were forced into a schedule shake-up in a desperate bid to try and avoid the dangerously high temperatures suffered in the area during summer. We have been promised the most hi-tech and modern games, with revolutionary cooling and drinking systems. These can be found in and around the stadium and could lead to a new, more eco-friendly way of doing things.

With World Cup 2026 hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, those working tirelessly behind the scenes know this is a fantastic opportunity to set the bar high in Qatar. This cash-rich and ambitious nation of just a few million people will be taken over by soccer fans this month, but Qatar 2022 handlers remain confident. There is a buzz of excitement and a feeling we’re about to witness something special.

One team fancied to perform well in Qatar over the coming weeks is England. Gareth Southgate’s side can be found fourth in the betting, which suggests they have a real chance of success. England is a previous World Cup winner but hasn’t tasted glory since 1966. Almost 60 years on, is this the one that’ll end the nation’s wait?

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Three Lions roar in qualifying

England made light work of qualifying for the World Cup, and they were one of the first teams to secure its place in Qatar. They breezed through Group I, winning eight and drawing two of their ten games. During that unbeaten run, England scored 39 goals and conceded just three. That made them stand out in qualifying and not only in the European section.

England has impressed in qualifying in the past and gone on to disappoint at the World Cup. So no one connected to the camp will be getting ahead of themselves. Players, coaches, fans, and the media knows this England squad is good enough to get out of their World Cup group and into the knockout rounds. Then with a little bit of luck, there’s no telling how far they can go in the tournament. 

Is England good enough to win the trophy again? The players are talented enough with speed and aggression in attack but have calm heads at the back. That’s important as although goals are needed to drive a team through the rounds, it’s a solid backline and consistency that is often the difference between a contender and a champion.

World Cup draw

The draw has already been made for the World Cup group stage, meaning England already knows its first three opponents and potential rivals in later rounds. Fans will be delighted to see Southgate’s side has avoided some dangerous opponents and look to have a great chance of progressing as winners of the pool.

Group B consists of England, the USA, Wales, and Iran. We know anything can happen at this level, with the World Cup known and loved for being unpredictable. But England soccer fans have little worry. Canvassing opinion on the approach to the opening match when England plays Iran on Monday from 13:00 GMT, the general feeling amongst fans as it would be an easy ride. 

Confidence is almost as high as the expectation levels of supporters. But they shouldn’t get too carried away just yet. England was poor in the UEFA Nations League, suffering relegation from Group A. To make matters worse, they were passed by Scotland, who was promoted from Group B to A for the first time. Will England win the World Cup final in Qatar a week before Christmas? It’ll be great fun finding out, that’s for sure.