The 2022 World Cup: Wrong place, wrong time [UPDATED]

But previewed here, anyway

The 2022 World Cup kicks off tomorrow with an underwhelming match — Qatar vs. Ecuador. Qatar received its spot in the tournament because it’s the host.

It’s scandalous that Qatar is the host. The World Cup should never be played in a small-population country with little soccer tradition. Qatar, population under three million, was awarded the Cup as a result of bribery on a massive scale. Many of those involved in the decision have been criminally charged. (There’s also the issue of Qatar’s mistreatment of migrant workers.)

The World Cup should never be played in November, when the major domestic soccer leagues are in full swing. It should be played in the summer — soccer’s off-season in much of the world.

Top leagues like the English Premier League have had to suspend play. It’s as if Major League Baseball came to a halt in June so an international tournament could be played in Belarus.

When it bid for the World Cup, Qatar assured everyone that the tournament could be held in June-July, as it always is. But after being awarded the Cup, Qatar admitted the obvious — it would be too hot there in the summer. That’s why the Cup is being contested in November-December.

Holding it during the regular soccer season will likely reduce the quality of play. Why? Because it means that teams have had only a week to prepare, rather than the usual three-to-four weeks. The big soccer leagues weren’t going to suspend play for extra weeks to give the 32 national teams more time to prepare; nor should they have.

But more time was needed. Players on national teams don’t play together often, and the composition of these teams is constantly changing. Most World Cup squads contain players who either have never played for their country at the senior level or who haven’t played for it in a while.

My sense is that most of our readers here at Ringside aren’t soccer fans, so I don’t expect to write much about the World Cup. However, I know some readers are interested in this event, so I’m going to preview it in this post by looking at the leading contenders for the Cup, as well as the U.S. team.

France is the defending champion, and its squad has enough talent to repeat. The forward duo of Benzema (Real Madrid) and Mbappe (Paris SG) may be the most formidable in the tournament. [UPDATE: Benzema has just been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury. France has capable replacements, but none to match Benzema.]

However, France is not favored to win, or even to make the final, and for understandable reasons. No team has won back-to-back tournaments since Brazil did it in 1962. Moreover, France tends to underperform significantly in one out of every three or four big tournaments. Maybe this is due to all those large egos and entourages.

Furthermore, France will be missing Pogba (Juventus) and Kante (Chelsea) in midfield. However, it has young but proven replacements who might serve them just as well, notable Camavinga and Tchouaméni (both of Real Madrid).

Brazil is favored to win it all this year, and thereby end what, for this soccer mad nation, is a long draught. Brazil last won the Cup in 2002.

Brazil’s attack is led by the great Neymar (Paris SG). It’s not clear who will play up front with him, but the team is spoiled for choices, such as Premier League stars Richarlson (Tottenham Hotspur, formerly of Everton), Antony (Manchester United), and the two Gabriels (Jesus and Martinelli, both of Arsenal). Other excellent options include two Real Madrid standouts — Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior — and Raphinha (Barcelona). Much will ride on picking the right combo from among this group.

Brazil also features superstars in defense. In goal, it can choose between two of the five best keepers in the world (in my opinion) — Alisson (Liverpool) and Ederson (Manchester City). Alisson appears to be first choice. Thiago Silva (Chelsea) and Casemiro (Manchester United) anchor the defense at center back and defensive midfielder, respectively.

However, Thiago Silva is 38 years old. To me, he looks as good as ever — maybe even better because he makes fewer mistakes. However, the World Cup is a grind. We’ll see how he holds up. If he doesn’t, Brazil has other good options, but not of Thiago’s stature.

Argentina is the second choice among bettors. This is the last World Cup for the legendary Lionel Messi (Paris SG). If he leads his country to World Cup glory, which it hasn’t enjoyed since 1986, he will finally be recognized for what he is — as good as anyone who has ever played the sport.

Argentina has fine attackers with whom to surround Messi. In my view, this cast isn’t as formidable as some of the ones that came up short in the past, but perhaps it will blend better with Messi.

At center back, good options include Romero (Tottenham Hotspur) and Martinez (Manchester United). I’ve always liked Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid) in midfield.

Spain had an extended run as the world’s best team earlier this century. Those teams were led by the fantastic midfield duo of Xavi and Iniesta.

The current team doesn’t possess that kind of talent. However, it does feature some hugely promising young midfielders. If the likes of Pedri and Gavi (both of Barcelona, as Xavi — Barca’s current manager — and Iniesta were) emerge in Qatar, Spain could go all the way. Let’s not forget that the Spaniards made it to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 (played last year), losing in that round to Italy, the eventual winner, on penalty kicks.

Germany is almost always a force to be reckoned with in big tournaments. This year should be no exception. I love Kimmich (Bayern Munich) is midfield or wherever he plays and Schlotterbeck (Dortmund) is an emerging stat is central defense.

Goalkeeper is never a problem for Germany and won’t be this year. I assume Neuer of Bayern Munich will start, but the German should be fine in net even if he doesn’t.

However, the Germans appears to lack a reliable goal-scoring center forward. It’s tough to go all the way without one.

Perhaps one will emerge. Goal scoring is a lot about confidence, and a goal early in the tournament can ignite a forward. It happens in almost every World Cup.

The other leading contenders, in something like this order, are Portugal, England, Holland, Belgium and Denmark. Uruguay and Croatia (which made the finals in 2018) are very dark horses, but could make a deep run in Qatar.

All of these teams are worthy of discussion, but I’ll limit myself to the first two.

Portugal’s longtime superstar Ronaldo may be on the outs at Manchester United (to say the least), but he’s still a formidable goal scorer. He tucked in 18 EPL goals last season, third in that league.

Ronaldo will be surrounded by outstanding talent, as this nation of 10 million continues to supply Europe with some of its brightest stars. Look for Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva and Ruben Diaz (Manchester City), Rafael Leão (AC Milan), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid) and maybe 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos (14 goals in 21 appearances for Benfica of Lisbon) and 19-year-old Antonio Silva (also Benfica) .

Here’s something else to keep in mind. Playing without Ronaldo, Portugal just defeated a good African side — Nigeria — by 4-0 in a tune-up match.

England hasn’t won a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup, but under current manager Gareth Southgate, the Three Lions made the semi-finals of the last World Cup and the finals of the European Championship last year.

Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) is co-favorite (along with Mbappe) to lead the tournament in goals. He will be surrounded by talented youngsters like Phil Foden (Manchester City), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), and Mason Mount (Chelsea), each of whom gained valuable experience at last year’s Euros. Jordan Pickford (Everton) is occasionally shaky at the club level, but has never let England down.

Unfortunately, England lacks a reliable center back duo (or trio, if Southgate goes with a back three, hoping to offset lack of quality with quantity). Harry McGuire, who led the back line well in the last two big tournaments, has struggled this year at Manchester United.

Finally, what about the U.S. team? It’s young and talented.

Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Weston McKennie (Juventus), and Tyler Adams (Leeds) could start for almost any team in the tournament. Brenden Aaronson has excelled for Leeds this season.

Unfortunately, the U.S. lacks proven quality in two key areas — center forward and center back. Unless Greg Berhalter’s selections at these spots exceed expectations, it will be a struggle to make the Round of 16 (the chances of doing so are rated at about 50-50). The likelihood of getting beyond that round (which the U.S. has only done once, in 2002) is remote.

As usual, I’ll be pulling for the U.S. and England to advance (they are in the same group this year) and for Brazil if/when these two teams fall by the wayside.

Above all, I’ll be rooting for a good tournament, which is far from a given during the early stages, in light of the short time the 32 teams have had to prepare.