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Tactical Analysis

World Cup Tactical Preview: All you need to know about the 32 teams playing at Qatar 2022

We are less than a week away from kick-off in the 2022 World Cup, which will be the first winter tournament of its kind.

That means the teams have less preparation time than usual as club football only slowed down after last weekend, so the participating teams will likely not change their existing set-ups too much.

That is good news for us because it means we can preview all the sides with a fairly good deal of confidence. Without further ado, let’s get stuck in!

🇶🇦 Qatar

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #50
World Cup History: 0 previous appearances
Major International Trophies: 1 Asian Cup (2019)

Tactics

Qatar have primarily operated in a 3-5-2/5-3-2 system of late. Against higher-quality opposition, which is what they will be up against at the World Cup, they adopt a counter-attacking approach that sees them defend in their own half with a 5-3-2 block and use the front two as outlets in transition.

The biggest advantage they have over most other sides in the tournament will be the togetherness and cohesiveness of their squad.

Their domestic league paused about a month ago to allow the national team to train together. Since the full squad plays locally, all the players have been working together over this period.

Key Player

Qatar’s key player is undoubtedly their star striker, Akram Afif. He has scored 26 goals in 89 appearances for the National Team and was the top scorer in their famous 2019 Asian Cup triumph. In his club career, he has played for the likes of Eupen and Sporting Gijón, as well as also scoring 63 times in 77 outings for Al Sadd.


Expectations and Prediction

Given the fact that this is their first ever World Cup, Qatar will not have the weight of too many expectations, as their fans will only want to see the team give a good account of themselves. Any goals scored and points won are sure to be celebrated, but it is unlikely that Qatar make it past the group stage.

🇪🇨 Ecuador

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #44
World Cup History: 3 previous appearances; best result: Round of 16 (2006)
Major International Trophies: N/A

Tactics

Ecuador should be expected to set up in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system, and they have a flexible playing style. Against the Netherlands, they will undoubtedly find themselves defending more and playing on the counter, but they could well look to dominate possession against Qatar. Their shape on the ball will depend on their initial formation, but do not expect too many rotations.

Key Player

Young Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moisés Caicedo will be crucial to Ecuador’s style of play. He will need to bring the best of his exceptional on-ball qualities and defensive work rate if Ecuador are to make it out of the groups.

Expectations and Prediction

Ecuador should be expected to beat Qatar, but they will also need to get the better of Senegal if they are to reach the knockout stage. They must be considered the second favourites, but do not write them off just yet.

🇸🇳 Senegal

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #18
World Cup History: 2 previous appearances; best result: Quarter-finals (2002)
Major International Trophies: 1 AFCON (2021)

Tactics

Aliou Cissé’s Senegal won the most recent edition of the AFCON with an average possession figure of 67.5%, which says everything about how they like to play. Starting in a 4-3-3 formation, they transitioned to a 2-3-5 shape on the ball with the two full-backs pushing forward.

They did struggle against staunch defensive sides and drew a blank in three of their seven games, so they will hope to have improved in that department going into this tournament.

Key Player

Senegal’s attacking issues might be compounded by the absence of Sadio Mané, whose fitness is a significant doubt for their opening match at least.

At the same time, it is also true that a strong defence is more valuable than a fully-firing attack in tournament football, so perhaps the most important player for Cissé’s side will be Kalidou Koulibaly. He was a regular feature at the heart of their defence in AFCON as they kept five clean sheets, while his ball-playing skills will prove very important to their possession-play.

Expectations and Prediction

Senegal will be expected to make it out of Group A alongside the Netherlands, and given their style of play that should help them fare well in the knockout stage, they should look to go as far as possible.

For that reason, as well as the fact that they are the current AFCON holders, they are expected to be the most successful African nation at this tournament.

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #8
World Cup History: 9 previous appearances; best result: Finalists (2010, 1978, 1974)
Major International Trophies: Euros (1998)

Tactics

Louis van Gaal is back in business with the Dutch national team, and in just over a year, he has got his side playing some very slick possession-based football.

Van Gaal initially used a back-four system but has switched to a 3-4-1-2 of late, which is what we should expect to see at the World Cup. Advanced wing-backs, fluidity in the front line and late runs from midfielders in the final third are a few patterns to look out for.

Key Player

The Netherlands have a lot of creative talent in their squad in the likes of Cody Gakpo, Steven Bergwijn and Frenkie de Jong, but their success at the tournament may rest on their forwards’ ability to convert chances.

Van Gaal’s first-choice centre-forward appears to be Memphis Depay, who has not enjoyed much game time at Barcelona this season. He has proven to be a streaky finisher throughout his career, so the Netherlands will be hoping that he is well-rested and at his sharpest in Qatar.

Expectations and Prediction

Van Gaal has claimed that his current squad is more talented than the one that last represented the Netherlands on the world stage in 2014. Although that might be debatable, his ambition to win the whole thing is undoubtedly something that Dutch fans will appreciate. The side does have some weaknesses, though, so there are several teams who should have a better chance than them.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #5
World Cup History: 15 previous appearances; best result: Champions (1966)
Major International Trophies: 1 FIFA World Cup

Tactics

There is much debate and discussion about Gareth Southgate’s defence-first approach, but based on England’s run to the semi-finals in Russia four years ago and the 2020 European Championship final, it is safe to say that this is a successful approach in tournament football, albeit not a very attractive one. So, expect England to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, and while most sides will let them keep the ball, they might not always make too much of it.

Key Player

In the final third, Southgate is pretty reliant on the players’ individual quality to deal damage to opponents, so their captain and star striker Harry Kane might have the biggest individual responsibility on the squad. He is enjoying a pretty good season in the Premier League with 12 goals in 15 games, so he will be looking to add to his tally of 51 international goals in 75 appearances for his country.

Expectations and Prediction

England are the favourites to win Group B, and after that, they will be expected to fare well in the knockout phase given that Southgate’s playing style is specifically designed to do that. Their fans will be hoping that it comes home, but there are a few sides that will provide stern opposition.

🇮🇷 Iran

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #20
World Cup History: 5 previous appearances; best result: 3rd in group (2018, 1998)
Major International Trophies: 3 Asian Cups (1976, 1972, 1968)

Tactics

Iran’s manager is Carlos Queiroz, which should tell you all you need to know about what sort of football they play. For the uninitiated, Quieroz is known to adopt a very defensive and conservative style of play, which, to be fair, is not the worst idea for one of the less-fancied sides in an international tournament. Expect Iran to look to frustrate their opponents before dealing damage through counterattacks.

Key Player

Arguably the two best Iranian players at the moment are Mehdi Taremi and Sardar Azmoun, who play for Porto and Bayer Leverkusen respectively. Both are in their squad but Azmoun is carrying an injury, so Taremi will likely have to shoulder the larger portion of his side’s attacking responsibilities. He is in fine form with six goals and five assists in the Portuguese league this season, so Iran will hope that continues in Qatar too.

Expectations and Prediction

Group B is pretty open behind England as each of the three other teams will be aiming to make the knockout stage, so that will be Iran’s target too. They are facing England first so they might start on the back foot, making the next two games very important.

🇺🇸 USA

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #16
World Cup History: 10 previous appearances; best result: Semi-finals (1930)
Major International Trophies: 7 CONCACAF Championships/Gold Cups (2021, 2017, 2013, 2007, 2005, 2002, 1991)

Tactics

It is safe to say that Gregg Berhalter’s tactics divide opinion among the USMNT fanbase. He tends to use a 4-3-3 formation that changes to a 3-2-5 shape in attack, with the deep-lying midfielder dropping between the centre-backs and the full-backs pushing forward, but that does not mean they play the most attractive brand of football and often leave a bit to be desired in terms of attacking play in the final third.

Key Player

USA’s attacking issues are certainly not helped by their lack of a pure number 9, so they will have to hope that the goals are distributed across the squad. Christian Pulisic‘s status in US soccer might have become a bit of a meme, but he remains a key player for them, even though he has played only 421 minutes in the Premier League this season. He will likely need to add to his tally of 21 goals in 52 games for his country if they are to progress from the group.

Expectations and Prediction

Much like the other two teams, the USA will be looking to get the better of Iran and Wales en route to the knockouts, but they are perhaps in for a tougher fight than what many of their fans seem to be expecting.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #19
World Cup History: 1 previous appearance; best result: Quarter-finals (1958)
Major International Trophies: N/A

Tactics

Group B matches are likely not going to be the best games of the tournament, because Wales also are a team that prioritises defending. Rob Page’s side averaged under 49% possession in their qualification campaign in a group that included Belarus, Estonia and the Czech Republic. Wales might shape up in a 3-4-2-1 or 4-4-2 formation, but either way, expect some resolute defending from them.

Key Player

Gareth Bale has reportedly been banned from playing golf in Qatar, but either way, his famous flag had Wales ahead of golf, so he should be fully focused on the tournament. His fitness remains a concern as he only played 355 minutes for LAFC since his move in the summer. If there is one thing he does, it is score big goals, as he demonstrated in the MLS Cup final and indeed in Wales’ World Cup qualifying play-off final.

Expectations and Prediction

Of the three teams apart from England, Wales might be the least expected to reach the round of 16 since this is their first World Cup in over 60 years. That said, they are not here just to make up the numbers, so expect them to put up a tough fight.

🇦🇷 Argentina

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #3
World Cup History: 17 previous appearances; best result: Champions (1986, 1978)
Major International Trophies: 2 FIFA World Cups and 15 Copa Américas/South American Championships (2021, 1993, 1991, 1959, 1957, 1955, 1947, 1946, 1945, 1941, 1937, 1929, 1927, 1925, 1921)

Tactics

In the most recent Copa América, Lionel Scaloni got Argentina to play the most cohesive football they have done in the last decade or so. Setting up in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, all the players worked in unison to win their nation’s first major trophy in close to three decades, defending with all they had out of possession, and looking pretty slick on the ball too as they scored a tournament-high of 12 goals.

Key Player

The man who can do it all: Lionel Messi.

Expectations and Prediction

Argentina head into the tournament on a run of 35 consecutive competitive matches without defeat, so Italy’s record of 37 will be under threat. Given that, and the fact that this is going to be Messi’s last World Cup, this is about as good a shot at ultimate glory as they will ever get.

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #51
World Cup History: 5 previous appearances; best result: Round of 16 (1994)
Major International Trophies: 3 Asian Cups (1996, 1988, 1984)

Tactics

Like their neighbours Qatar, Saudi Arabia also have a fully domestic-based squad which has been training together for a while, so that is the main advantage they have over the other sides.

Unlike the hosts, though, Saudi Arabia play a possession-based game in a 4-2-3-1 formation, although that might not work best against the higher-quality opposition that they will face in this tournament.

Key Player

Left winger Salem Al-Dawsari is arguably the most technically gifted player in the Saudi Arabia squad, so a lot will rest on his shoulders when his team reaches the final third. He scored seven goals in their World Cup qualification campaign, which make up almost half of his tally of 16 international goals. His teammates will hope that that form continues in Qatar too.

Expectations and Prediction

Saudi Arabia are the second-weakest side at the World Cup in terms of their FIFA ranking, so expectations are not high for them. They are likely to finish at the bottom of their group and should cherish any points they can take.

🇲🇽 Mexico

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #13
World Cup History: 16 previous appearances; best result: Quarter-finals (1986, 1970)
Major International Trophies: 11 CONCACAF Championships/Gold Cups (2019, 2015, 2011, 2009, 2003, 1998, 1996, 1993, 1977, 1971, 1965)

Tactics

Mexico have generally lined up in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation under Gerardo Martino, who employs a possession-heavy style of football. They do tend to struggle to break down well-organised defensive blocks at times, though, so that is a concern they will need to address.

Key Player

Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has become something of a cult figure at World Cups, and this is going to be his fifth such tournament. Since moving back to Liga MX by joining Club América four years ago, he has kept a positive PSxG-Goals figure in each his four seasons at the club, which is a testament to the fact that he has remained a solid shot-stopper even at the age of 37.

Expectations and Prediction

Mexico will face a fight from Poland to make it out of the group along with Argentina, but their fans will be expecting them to reach the round of 16 at least. The two teams will face each other in their tournament opener, which could prove to be the most crucial game of the tournament for both.

🇵🇱 Poland

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #26
World Cup History: 8 previous appearances; best result: Third place (1982, 1974)
Major International Trophies: N/A

Tactics

Czesław Michniewicz took over the Polish national team at the start of the year, so he has not had a lot of time to work with the players. His first goal was to get them over the line in the World Cup qualifiers, which he did by setting his side up in a defence-first 4-4-2 shape. With the ball, their strategy is quite simple: get the ball to the big man up front.

Key Player

The good news for Poland is that said big man up front is none other than Robert Lewandowski, arguably their greatest player of all time. The former Bayern star has settled in to life at Barcelona well since his summer transfer, having scored 18 times in 19 appearances in all competitions.

Expectations and Prediction

As aforementioned while discussing Mexico, Poland’s main group rivals for the second spot will be Mexico. Given the fact that El Tri are ranked twice as high as them in the FIFA standings, they will have a better justification for missing out on the knockout stage, but their target should be to go for it.

🇫🇷 France

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #4
World Cup History: 15 previous appearances; best result: Champions (2018, 1998)
Major International Trophies: 2 FIFA World Cups, 2 Euros (2000, 1984)

Tactics

France used a 4-2-3-1 system when they won the World Cup in 2018, and although Didier Deschamps has experimented with a back-three in recent matches, his squad selection appears to indicate that the old system will return in Qatar. Out of possession, it will transition into a 4-4-2 mid-block, and with the ball, a lot will be left down to the players’ individual talents to make things happen in front of the goal.

Key Player

He was the breakout star in Russia four years ago, but now, Kylian Mbappé is a full-fledged superstar. His newest contract at Paris Saint-Germain has made him the most well-paid footballer in the world, and he has delivered with 12 goals and a couple of assists in 14 league matches.

However, he is reportedly frustrated at having to play down the middle, but for France, he will be allowed to reprise his favoured left-wing role, so if anything, he should be expected to look even better.

Expectations and Prediction

In almost any tournament, the defending champions should always aim to retain their title, but in the FIFA Men’s World Cup, the curse of the champions has caused many to stumble. The last three editions have seen the holders crash out of the group stage, but France can surely do better than that, right?

🇦🇺 Australia

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #38
World Cup History: 5 previous appearances; best result: Round of 16 (2006)
Major International Trophies: 1 Asian Cup (2015), 4 OFC Nations Cups (2004, 2000, 1996, 1980)

Tactics

Graham Arnold has used a back-four for Australia, but the exact formation he has chosen has fluctuated between a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3. In their qualifying matches, Australia naturally dominated possession against weaker opposition but struggled to score at times, drawing three blanks in their last six group matches. They failed to score in the play-off against Peru too, but won on penalties.

Key Player

Australia do not have an outstanding star player and their attacking department could prove to be a concern. Therefore, a wildcard like Garang Kuol may be the difference-maker.

The Newcastle United-bound 18-year-old should not be expected to start, but he could be a decisive impact substitute as he has been for the Central Coast Mariners of late, coming away with two goals and as many assists in his last two outings.

Expectations and Prediction

Australia will, of course, aim to level their best-ever performance at the World Cup by reaching the knockouts, but the likelihood of that is relatively low in a group with France and Denmark.

🇩🇰 Denmark

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #10
World Cup History: 5 previous appearances; best result: Quarter-finals (1998)
Major International Trophies: 1 Euro (1992)

Tactics

One of Denmark’s greatest strengths is their tactically flexible manager Kasper Hjulmand, who is happy to deploy anything form a 4-3-3 formation to a 3-4-3 formation depending on the opposition. Either way, Denmark are a side who generally look to dominate possession and patiently break down their opposition, and when they do not have it, they usually tend to defend in a compact mid-block.

Key Player

The key department for Denmark’s style of play in and out of possession is their midfield, where Pierre-Emile Højbjerg is a regular fixture. He might not be as eye-catching as Christian Eriksen, but his all-round contribution to the side is almost irreplaceable.

Expectations and Prediction

Denmark might have a better chance of enjoying their best-ever tournament than one might initially think, as they have a reasonably talented squad with a very good manager. They got the better of France in their recent Nations League matches, which is something they might want to repeat in Qatar if they wish to avoid facing Argentina in the round of 16.

🇹🇳 Tunisia

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #30
World Cup History: 5 previous appearances; best result: 3rd in group (2018, 1978)
Major International Trophies: 1 AFCON (2004)

Tactics

Tunisia are yet another one of the weaker sides at the World Cup that will be adopting a defensive brand of football. They will either line up in a 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 formation, which you should see for long periods of matches as they defend in their compact low block.

Key Player

FC Köln midfielder Ellyes Skhiri plays a key role in the defensive midfield department for his club, and he will be crucial to Tunisia’s work both in and out of possession. He has put up some impressive numbers in the Bundesliga so far this season, and will need to continue doing so in Qatar if his side are to have any chance of making it out of their group.

Expectations and Prediction

Realistically, Tunisia are the least likely to progress from this group as both France and Denmark are significantly better than them, and Australia will fancy their chances too. So, their expectation should be to deliver respectable performance and take whatever they can get in the way of points.

🇪🇸 Spain

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #7
World Cup History: 15 previous appearances; best result: Champions (2010)
Major International Trophies: 1 FIFA World Cup, 3 Euros (2012, 1008, 1964)

Tactics

Luis Enrique’s Spain are the closest thing you will see to an elite European club at the World Cup this year, as they use an ultra-possession-dominant 4-3-3 system where everything is about control, including their press-heavy defensive system.

Do not be surprised to see them keep close to 70% of possession against the likes of Costa Rica and Japan. The pitfall of their patient approach is that they can be a bit sluggish in the final third at times.

Key Player

Enrique has decided against including Thiago in his World Cup squad, so the ball progression responsibilities in midfield will have to be taken up by other players. One of their young stars is 19-year-old Barcelona man Pedri, who might not be as talked about as he once was but is continuing to deliver in La Liga and has put up some mightily impressive numbers this season.

Expectations and Prediction

Spain do not have as talented a squad as their champions of 2010 did, but their clearly defined playing style could give them an advantage over certain opponents. It would not be too unrealistic for them to aim to win the whole thing, but they are not the biggest favourites either.

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #31
World Cup History: 5 previous appearances; best result: Quarter-finals (2014)
Major International Trophies: N/A

Tactics

Costa Rica also adopt a defence-first approach in their 4-4-2 system, centred around a compact defensive block. When they have possession, they have tended to be more patient on the ball in their regional matches, but against the tougher opposition of Group E, expect them to be more direct.

Key Player

Costa Rica’s best-ever player probably has to be Keylor Navas, who is set to play his third World Cup at the age of 35. He has not spent a single minute on a French pitch in Ligue 1 this season as Gianluigi Donnarumma has been PSG’s first-choice keeper, but this could be a good platform for him to remind the club of his talents while the Italian watches on.

Expectations and Prediction

Costa Rica will not have been too pleased with a draw that pits them against Spain and Germany in the group stage, so their chances of progressing are really low. They should look to give their best and come away with as many points as possible.

🇩🇪 Germany

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #11
World Cup History: 19 previous appearances; best result: Champions (2014, 1990, 1974, 1954)
Major International Trophies: 4 World Cups, 3 Euros (1996, 1980, 1972)

Tactics

Hansi Flick’s Germany have settled on a 4-2-3-1 formation after initially using a back-three. In a way, they resemble a toned-down Spain, as they also look to keep more of the ball and press high up the pitch, but not to the same degree as Luis Enrique’s side.

Key Player

Much like Spain, Germany’s weakness could well lie in the final third where they lack a proven goalscorer, but the good news for them is that they have a very in-form Jamal Musiala, who has nine goals and six assists in 14 Bundesliga games this season. Make no mistake, he is a special talent.

Expectations and Prediction

In terms of their expectations as well, Germany are in a similar position to Spain. Their squad is not as strong as it once was, and even though they have settled on a clear playing style, they are some way off the favourites for the tournament. Still, they will be expected to make it to the quarter-finals at least.

🇯🇵 Japan

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #24
World Cup History: 6 previous appearances; best result: Round of 16 (2018, 2010, 2002)
Major International Trophies: 4 Asian Cups (2011, 2004, 2000, 1992)

Tactics

Japan should be expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where their defensive work should be most notable. They will transition to a 4-4-2 shape out of possession with the attacking midfielder pushing alongside the striker and the wingers dropping back, and they will press their opponents high up the pitch. They are not too bad in possession, although they might not get a chance to showcase that against the likes of Spain and Germany.

Key Player

Daichi Kamada has been used as the number 10 in this 4-2-3-1 set-up by Hajime Moriyasu, but for Eintracht Frankfurt this season, he has thrived in a deeper role. So, it should be quite interesting to see where exactly he plays for Japan in this World Cup, but his importance to the team is undeniable.

Expectations and Prediction

Japan might have wanted to match their knockout qualification of 2018 before the draw was made, but now that they are in a group with two European giants in Spain and Germany, their chances of reaching the round of 16 are low. Still, if they can upset one of the two, they could be a surprise package in this tournament.

🇧🇪 Belgium

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #2
World Cup History: 13 previous appearances; best result: Third place (2018)
Major International Trophies: N/A

Tactics

Roberto Martínez was the man who oversaw Belgium’s dramatic round of 16 victory over Japan in Russia, and he has remained in charge of the Red Devils in these four years. They are still using the 3-4-2-1 system that took them to the semi-finals in 2018, so expect a compact 5-4-1 defensive shape and a simple 3-2-5 structure in attack.

Key Player

He is perhaps not given as much credit as he deserves because Kevin De Bruyne should be right up there in discussions about the world’s best players. His creativity, which has brought him nine assists in the Premier League already, is the standout aspect of his game, but his all-round contributions and defensive work rate are often overlooked.

Expectations and Prediction

Russia 2018 was touted as the Belgian golden generation’s best chance of winning a World Cup trophy, so Qatar 2022 might be their last realistic shot at that. That should be their target, but much like Spain and Germany, they are not the biggest favourites.

🇨🇦 Canada

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #41
World Cup History: 1 previous appearance; result: 4th in group (1986)
Major International Trophies: 2 CONCACAF Championships/Gold Cups (2000, 1985)

Tactics

Like Denmark, Canada are also quite flexible in terms of their formations, so expect their shape to change from match to match depending on the opposition. Their approach remains largely consistent, though — playing with directness in possession and posing a threat in transition after defending in a mid-block.

Key Player

He had a bit of an injury scare close to the World Cup, but Alphonso Davies is fit and raring to go for Canada in Qatar. The Bayern Munich left-back is usually deployed in a more attacking position for his national team, which is why he has a much greater impact in the final third for them. That is why he has twice as many goals for Canada than he has for Bayern, despite having 100 fewer appearances for the former.

Expectations and Prediction

Canada are making just their second World Cup appearance, and while they will look to get their best-ever result by not finishing at the bottom of their group, their chances of making the knockout stage are severely hindered by drawing 2018 semi-finalists Belgium and Croatia in their group.

🇲🇦 Morocco

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #22
World Cup History: 5 previous appearances; best result: Round of 16 (1986)
Major International Trophies: AFCON (1976)

Tactics

Morocco parted ways with the spiky Vahid Halilhodžić after their AFCON disappointment, so it is tougher to say how they might shape up. His successor Walid Regragui has only taken charge of a couple of friendly matches where he has used a 4-1-4-1 formation, so that is what we should expect to see in Qatar.

Key Player

Halilhodžić’s departure has seen the likes of Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui return to the Morrocan national team, but their key player remains Achraf Hakimi. With this additional injection of talent around him, the PSG man could get even better than his two goals at AFCON 2021.

Expectations and Prediction

Like Canada, Morocco’s chances of progression to the knockout stage are low due to the group they have been drawn in, but they might pose some problems to the two European sides given the element of uncertainty that their coaching change brings with it.

🇭🇷 Croatia

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #8
World Cup History: 5 previous appearances; best result: Finalists (2018)
Major International Trophies: N/A

Tactics

Much like Belgium, Croatia have also stuck to their head coach after Russia 2018, as Zlatko Dalić is still in charge. His favoured formation is a 4-3-3 which functions as one would expect it to in possession, which is something Croatia like to keep. Like many national sides, they like to defend in a mid-block.

Key Player

Croatia will be without the retired Ivan Rakitić in Qatar, but their midfield remains exceptional, with the star of the show Luka Modrić leading the way. Even at 37 years of age, he is showing no signs of slowing down as he played a key role in Real Madrid’s Champions League success last season.

Expectations and Prediction

Croatia will certainly be aiming to make it past the group stage comfortably, but their chances of reaching the final are much slimmer than they were four years ago. That is not so because they have declined, but more so as other sides have improved, so they are likely to face tough opposition in the knockouts.

🇧🇷 Brazil

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #1
World Cup History: 21 previous appearances; best result: Champions (2002, 1994, 1970, 1962, 1958)
Major International Trophies: 5 World Cups and 9 Copa Américas/South American Championships (2019, 2007, 2004, 1999, 1997, 1989, 1949, 1922, 1919)

Tactics

Tite has stated that he plans to leave his current job at the end of the World Cup, but for now, he has got this Brazilian team playing some excellent football. Starting from a 4-3-3 shape, they tend to transition to a 3-2-5 or even 3-1-6 in possession, where the forward players are afforded a lot of freedom to move around and link up. One thing is certain – Brazil will not be boring to watch.

Key Player

Neymar‘s time at Paris Saint-Germain has undoubtedly had its ups and downs, and even though it is not entirely smooth sailing at the moment, his on-pitch performances are about as good as they have ever been.

In 14 league matches this season, he has 11 goals and nine assists, which is just four fewer goal contributions than he managed in the entirety of the 2021/22 campaign. Coming to the World Cup with such form is always a positive, especially when you are one of the most talented players in your country.

Expectations and Prediction

As the FIFA ranking leaders, Brazil are naturally among the favourites to win the competition. It is now two decades since they lifted the World Cup trophy so their fans might be growing impatient, and given how well the team is playing at the moment, this is as good a chance as they can ask for.

🇷🇸 Serbia

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #21
World Cup History: 12 previous appearances (2 as Serbia); best result: Semi-finals (1962, 1930)
Major International Trophies: N/A

Tactics

Being one of the geographically smaller nations at the tournament, Serbia’s tactics are heavily influenced by the best players available to them, so they should be expected to field a 3-5-2 formation in Qatar. That is because it will ensure that both of their star strikers can start together in their favoured positions, while also enabling Filip Kostić to play in his favoured wing-back role.

Key Player

Serbia’s all-time top scorer, Aleksandar Mitrović, was also an injury doubt for the tournament, but his manager has proclaimed that he will play at all costs – even without a leg if necessary. He was in great form as well before this injury, as he netted nine times in 12 Premier League games for a newly-promoted Fulham side.

Expectations and Prediction

Serbia are being touted by many as the dark horses at the World Cup, and it is easy to see why. They have a surprisingly talented group of players and are in a group where second place is firmly up for grabs, so that is what they will be targeting.

🇨🇭 Switzerland

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #15
World Cup History: 11 previous appearances; best result: Quarter-finals (1954, 1938, 1934)
Major International Trophies: N/A

Tactics

Murat Yakin’s Switzerland are a fairly enjoyable side to watch. They are not so concerned about keeping possession in their 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 set-up but do look to press high up the pitch when they do not have the ball. They have the capacity to go toe-to-toe against most teams with their defence-oriented approach, which can frustrate any team on their day.

Key Player

The hero of Switzerland’s knockout run in the most recent Euros was their goalkeeper, Yann Sommer, so he should be their most important player in Qatar too. His qualities as a penalty specialist are invaluable in the knockout phase, but his overall shot-stopping (which is the best in the Bundesliga this season) could be vital to Switzerland’s group stage campaign.

Expectations and Prediction

Like Serbia, Switzerland will hope to follow Brazil into the knockout stages from Group G. They have more experience at this level than the Serbs, so that could be a significant advantage for them when the two teams face off.

🇨🇲 Cameroon

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #43
World Cup History: 7 previous appearances; best result: Quarter-finals (1990)
Major International Trophies: 5 AFCONs (2017, 2002, 2000, 1988, 1984)

Tactics

Other than Senegal, hosts Cameroon looked to be the best team at AFCON 2021. Indeed, they got as far as the semi-finals using Rigobert Song’s balanced 4-3-3 system, where dominating possession and slick play in the final third are important characteristics. They might not be able to do that against Brazil, so that match will certainly test the solidity of their defensive structure.

Key Player

Captain Vincent Aboubakar led the line in the aforementioned tournament, but he comes into the World Cup with no competitive action for a month and just one goal in his last seven starts in the Saudi Premier League. On that basis, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting must be the starting striker for them in Qatar, as he has 10 goals in his last nine outings for Bayern Munich.

Expectations and Prediction

Switzerland and Serbia are being touted as the two sides in the battle for the second knockout place in this group, but Cameroon should not be considered out of the equation either. If they manage to keep things tight at the back, they could get the better of either of those two teams on their day, so they should aim to reach the round of 16.

🇵🇹 Portugal

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #9
World Cup History: 7 previous appearances; best result: Third place (1966)
Major International Trophies: 1 Euro (2016)

Tactics

Fernando Santos will likely not be the one winning over any fans in Qatar if he persists with his conservative tactical approach, which is arguably not even as functional as England’s is under Southgate. Portugal should use a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 formation which could vary slightly depending on the makeup of the midfield, but either way, they will not be the most eye-catching team in possession.

Key Player

Whichever way Santos goes with his midfield selection, he is sure to start Bernardo Silva, who is the metronome of both his national team and Manchester City, his club side. The nature of his role means that he is quite underappreciated for his work, but the statistics paint a better picture of just how good he is.

Expectations and Prediction

Santos has said that he aims to win the World Cup and complete his trophy cabinet through his time in charge of Portugal, but his side are far from the most well-rounded team in the competition. They are in one of the relatively easier groups so reaching the round of 16 should not be much of a problem, but after that things could get very tough for them.

🇬🇭 Ghana

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #61
World Cup History: 3 previous appearances; best result: Quarter-finals (2010)
Major International Trophies: 4 AFCONs (1982, 1978, 1965, 1963)

Tactics

After Ghana’s AFCON 20201 disaster, Otto Addo was asked to take charge of the national team, and he steadied the ship by guiding Ghana past Nigeria in their qualification play-off. The highlight of those games was Addo’s tactical flexibility as he made numerous in-game adaptations and shifted from a 4-1-4-1 shape to a 4-2-3-1 shape between the two legs. His side looked to keep possession and progress the ball patiently, which is something they might be able to do in some of their group matches.

Key Player

Ghana have a wealth of attacking talent at their disposal, the brightest of which is Ajax man Mohamed Kudus. He can play anywhere from midfield, to the wings, to a false nine role, but his technical brilliance and superb end product in the final third will always shine through.

Expectations and Prediction

Ghana may be the lowest-ranked nation in this tournament based on the FIFA standings, but do not let that deceive you. Their squad has vastly improved for this tournament as several dual-nationality players have declared allegiance to them, so they will aim to make it out of the group.

🇺🇾 Uruguay

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #14
World Cup History: 13 previous appearances; best result: Champions (1950, 1930)
Major International Trophies: 2 FIFA World Cups, 15 Copa Américas/South American Championships (2011, 1995, 1987, 1983, 1967, 1959, 1956, 1942, 1935, 1926, 1924, 1923, 1920, 1917, 1916)

Tactics

Uruguay used a 4-4-2/4-2-2-2 in the latter stages of their qualification campaign, which is what we should expect at the World Cup too. The main strength of this formation is its defensive shape, which is what Uruguay want to prioritise. When they win the ball back, they aim to get it forward as quickly as possible to their dangerous front men.

Key Player

Uruguay are not short of top-quality strikers as they have Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani and Darwin Núñez in their squad, but their best player at the moment arguably is Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde. He is often spotted on the right for Los Blancos, but he will play a much more central and deeper role for his country and should be the chief ball progressor for them.

Expectations and Prediction

Uruguay will back themselves to make it to the knockout stage and perhaps even challenge Portugal for first place, but they should be wary of the revenge-seeking Ghana. If they do qualify for the round of 16, they could be a banana skin for the top sides since their style of play is quite suited to knockout football.

🇰🇷 South Korea

Statistical Record

Current FIFA Ranking: #28
World Cup History: 10 previous appearances; best result: Semi-finals (2002)
Major International Trophies: 2 Asian Cups (1960, 1956)

Tactics

South Korea were a very possession-dominant team in their qualification campaign as they averaged close to two-thirds of possession in their final group. They did so by starting with a back-four system, but they shaped up in various ways in different matches. Whether they will be able to replicate that against higher-quality opposition at the World Cup is a big question.

Key Player

Even though he might not be at his best due to his facial injury, Heung-min Son is South Korea’s most important player by some margin. He is among the most clinical finishers around at the moment, but for his national team, his overall involvement in possession is quite crucial to their style of play too.

Expectations and Prediction

South Korea will also be keen to get involved in the battle to make it to the knockouts, but they are perhaps the least likely to make it out of this group. As previously discussed, the biggest question mark is if they will be able to replicate their favoured style of play in Qatar, so a lot might rest on that.

Stats courtesy FotMob, Transfermarkt and Opta via Fbref.

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