World Cup contenders – France, Germany, Brazil the teams to beat

The countdown to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will begin in earnest when the draw for the group stage takes place in Doha on Friday. From that point on, each team can work out how it will navigate its path to the final on Dec. 18. But the tournament promises to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory, with no outstanding favourite to win the trophy.

Euro 2020 winners Italy proved with their shock playoff exit against North Macedonia that there are no certainties at the highest level of international football. The Italians would have been well backed to follow their European success by winning a fifth World Cup in Qatar, but instead, Roberto Mancini and his players will be on vacation when the tournament gets underway on Nov. 21.

The established European heavyweights of Germany and defending champions France will be expected to go all the way, but can Spain or England make good on their potential? Will Brazil or Argentina be strong enough to end South America’s 20-year wait for a world champion? And will Africa’s strongest teams break new ground by reaching the semifinals or beyond?

Here is an early look at how some of the top teams are shaping up ahead of Qatar 2022.

– World Cup playoffs on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games, replays (U.S.)
– Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
– World Cup playoff schedule: UEFA | CAF
– World Cup 2022 qualifying: How it works around the world

FAVOURITES

GERMANY

Hansi Flick’s team were the first to secure their place at Qatar 2022 [Qatar qualified automatically as hosts] when they confirmed qualification on Oct. 11, bouncing back emphatically from their early exit at Euro 2020 following a round-of-16 defeat against England. And Germany go into Tuesday’s friendly against Netherlands on a run of eight successive wins since Flick replaced Joachim Low as coach, in which they have scored 33 goals and conceded just two.

The four-time world champions can still count on the experience of Manuel Neuer, Antonio Rudiger, Joshua Kimmich,