Ahead of the 22nd renewal of football’s biggest event, we’ve browsed through the history books to select an all-time World Cup XI. The team is made up of a mixture of record holders and generational talents, with a maximum of two players from an individual nation.
We’re posting our World Cup 2022 groups predictions ahead of this winter’s Qatar spectacular and will land a 26/1-plus acca if they all come good. A number of pools feature hot favourites, but some sections look set to be much closer as all the action unfolds.
With the World Cup drawing ever closer, we’ve compared data from the past six tournaments with the previous season’s Champions League to identify some trends that are unique to the greatest show on Earth.
European champions England and World Cup holders USA will go head-to-head in front of a sell-out crowd at Wembley. The Lionesses have yet to lose under Sarina Wiegman, winning 20 of their 22 matches, while USA are on a 21-match unbeaten run and have won 13 straight.
Euro 2022 could not have worked out any better, with hosts England facing eight-time champions Germany in Sunday’s dream final at Wembley. Both sides have powered through playing at a high tempo and have stood out in this tournament due to their physical strength.
England are fancied to get past an ageing and ailing Sweden side to reach the Euro 2022 final. The Scandinavians were hit by a Covid outbreak before their quarter-final clash with Belgium and the Lionesses will have seen little to fear from the team which scraped through in Leigh.
Germany and France look evenly matched on their exploits at Euro 2022 and this semi-final clash is a tough one to call. Les Bleues have probably been more entertaining in general play, but Die Nationelf have the edge in efficiency and past pedigree at major tournaments.
England head into the semi-finals as 2.5 favourites in bwin’s Euro 2022 winner odds, as they seek to make home advantage count. The Lionesses will face 6.0 outsiders Sweden in the last four, while Germany are 3.4 and France 3.75 prior to meeting in the second clash.
France are fancied to end Netherlands’ reign as European champions in what promises to be a cracking Euro 2022 quarter-final. Holders Holland won’t go down without a fight and impressed up front during the group stage, but Les Bleues have looked really exciting so far.
Sweden’s Euro 2022 quarter-final clash with Belgium looks a mismatch on paper and the Scandinavians are tipped to cruise through in Leigh. The Blue and Yellow are ranked second in the world, while the Red Flames are down in 19th and competing at this level for the first time.
Germany have been ruthlessly efficient at Euro 2022 and it would be a surprise if they don’t prove too strong for Austria in the quarter-finals. Austria have proven themselves to be resilient and well drilled defensively, but do look a little short of quality when going forward.
Iceland will hope to take advantage of France already claiming top spot in Group D by joining them in the quarter-finals. Les Bleues have won two out of two and can afford to take their foot off the gas here while Iceland need a win to be certain of finishing second.
Italy and Belgium have one point apiece and a victory for either in their final group game should be enough to clinch a quarter-final place at the Women’s Euro 2022. Iceland are a point ahead of them in second but are not expected to beat group winners France, which would leave the door open for the winners here to leapfrog them.
Germany have already secured their place in the Women’s Euro 2022 quarter-finals and Finland will hope that works in their favour in the final round of games in Group B. The Germans continued to underline their Euro 2022 credentials with a 2-0 win over Spain on Tuesday while Finland are playing only for pride after two defeats.