Sorare World Cup Special - Part 4
Updated: Sep 5, 2022
The final two groups for the Qatar World cup also deserve an overview. And not only because the biggest favorite for the title is in it. Brazil. I've looked at some bookie's websites and Brazil has got the best odds. Brazil, Argentina, England, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Serbia, and Morocco all finished World Cup qualifying undefeated.
Our other Sorare articles in the World Cup Special are a must-read:
Part 1: Intro and the rundown of groups A & B. Part 2: Group C & D under the loop.
Part 3: The overview of groups E & F.
Part 5: The Conclusion
When does the World Cup start?
The Group stage:
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon.
Did you know that Brazil, Serbia, and Switzerland also played in the same group at the previous World Cup? Brazil and Switzerland advanced to the knock-out.
As always Brazil, number one on the world ranking, is a huge favorite to win the trophy, having the highest winning rate among the bookies. But let's not forget the Selecao has struggled at recent World Cups, losing when it mattered most. They have two world-class goalkeepers at their disposal Alisson (Liverpool) as the first choice and Ederson (Man City) as a backup. Nobody will be shocked if they add their sixth star in December.
Cameroon is back. One of the reasons I love the World Cup is because of teams like Cameroon. Players from all over the world, heaps of raw talent, colorful kits, scissor tackles left and right, and amazing goal celebrations. African teams are always dangerous. They play with heart and love for the sport. Their goalkeeper should be Onana (Inter), I do say should be, as Onana is currently on the bench for Handanovic (Inter). There isn't much quality behind Onana so I don't see much reason to doubt his starting position. A very challenging group means an early exit may be in store.
Serbia was unbeaten in a tough qualifying group which also included Portugal. I suspect them as being underrated. The creativity and flair of experienced Dusan Tadic (Ajax) will likely pose problems for their opponents, while there are also other attacking options in Fulham's legend Aleksandar Mitrovic, Vlahovic (Juventus) and Luka Jovic (Fiorentina). Their goalkeeper situation seems unclear, with Rajkovic (Mallorca), and Dmitrovic (Sevilla) in the balance. It could be the best Serbia team in years with an incredible technical ability in the middle and strong, powerful attackers up top.
Switzerland surprised everyone as they finished first in their qualifying group before Italy. A defensive fortress, conceding only two goals, with veteran Yann Sommer (Borussia Mönchengladbach) in goal and Mvogo (Lorient) and Gregor Kobel (Dortmund) as a strong back-ups and obvious talent in the attacking positions with Xhaka (Arsenal), Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Embolo (Monaco), and Haris Seferovic (Galatasaray).
The attacking force of Serbia vs the fortress of Switzerland is a must-see game.
Our prediction:
David: 1. Brazil, 2. Switzerland,3. Cameroon, 4. Serbia.
Tom: 1. Brazil, 2. Switzerland, 3. Serbia, 4. Cameroon.
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea.
Portugal barely made it to the World Cup after having to play two playoff games.
It'll be CR7's (Manu U) last trick, his final appearance at the World Cup. All eyes will be on the 37-year-old superstar but he won't have to do it alone. As is tradition, Portugal has a strong selection, starting with two great goal defenders Rui Patricio (AS Roma), and top talent Diogo Costa (Porto). Other players to watch are Renato Sanchez (PSG), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), and many more. Their center defensive position might be their weak point. Or will 39-year-old Pepe (Porto) step up once again?
South Korea is the weaker team in the group. They'll have trouble competing with the other teams and have a low chance of getting through to the knock-out phase of the tournament. Son Heung-min (Tottenham) is South Korea’s most recognizable player. Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) is also an important figure. Football is the most popular sport in South Korea and the K-League is covered by Sorare. This might be an excellent time to start your research. Kim Seung-gyu (Al Shabab) is their starting goalkeeper.
Uruguay is another talented team in this World Cup. Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray) is their starting goalkeeper. Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), Diego Rossi (Fenerbahce), and Darwin Núñez (Liverpool) are 25, 24 and 23, respectively. Combine that with more experienced players like Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) and the oldies but still goodies Luiz Suarez (Nacional) and Edinson Cavani (no club), with El Matador and El Pistolero, Uruguay is a side to keep an eye on.
Ghana still has a trauma from the 2010 World Cup, as Luis Suarez’s handball effectively sent Ghana home in a dramatic fashion. The Black Stars will be looking for revenge. Their goalkeeper is Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates), and players to keep an eye out: André Ayew (Al-Sadd), Fatawu Issahaku (Sporting), and Kudus (Ajax). Midfielder Thomas Partey (Arsenal) will be Ghana's key man at the World Cup. He has impressed with his performances for the Gunners and is at the peak of his strength. However, this isn't their golden generation from 2010 anymore. They lack experience and quality throughout their squad.
Our prediction:
David: 1. Portugal, 2. Ghana, 3. Uruguay, 4. South Korea.
Tom: 1. Portugal, 2. Uruguay, 3. Ghana, 4. South Korea.