2022 Qatar World Cup grouping was announced, and all 29 teams that have been confirmed to advance are in place. Overall, there is no real death group. The reunion of old enemies has become the biggest theme of this group stage, and many historical enemies will meet in the group stage. This is the first time that the World Cup has arrived in the Middle East and the first time the event has started at the end of the year. Let's take a look at the confrontations worth paying attention to in this World Cup group stage.
[Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands] Asian and African champions competed for the opening match, shifting gears
As a second-level team, the Netherlands entered Group A where the host Qatar was located, which can be called a top draw. However, among the three opponents in this group, the Netherlands had only met Ecuador in 2 friendly matches, and the Orange Army won 1 win and 1 draw. As the 2019 Asian Cup champion, Qatar will usher in the new African Cup champion Senegal in the group stage, and the confrontation between the two major Asian and African champion teams has become the highlight.
It is worth mentioning that this World Cup was originally scheduled to open the match between Qatar and Ecuador. Due to the lack of attention between the two teams, FIFA finally adjusted the time and set the game between the Netherlands and Senegal as the opening match.
[Group B: England, Iran, the United States, Wales/Ukraine/Scotland] British and American enemies reunited, Iran is looking forward to disrupting the situation
England and the United States met again in the World Cup. The two teams are football enemies. In 1950, England, which regarded itself as the "overlord", participated in the World Cup for the first time, and lost 0-1 against the United States in the group stage. The arrogant English media after the game did not believe this score. They claimed that the report was wrong. The real score was "10-1", making one of the biggest jokes in World Cup history. In the 2010 World Cup, Gerald scored a goal, but the Three Lions goalkeeper Green then made a butter-handed mistake, and the two teams finally drew 1-1, and England lost the top spot in the group.
Britain, the United States and Iran have little intersection in the football world. In the 1998 World Cup group stage, Iran defeated the United States 2-1 and won the first World Cup victory in the team history. England's match against Iran will start after the opening game, which will be the second time the Three Lions have made their debut on the World Cup first match day since the 1966 home event. England has only played against Asian teams once in the World Cup, but it was a 1-0 victory over Kuwait in the 1982 World Cup group stage.
Another seat in this group will be produced by the play-offs. If Ukraine advances, it will enter this group. At that time, the same group in the United Kingdom, the United States, Iran and Ukraine will inevitably trigger hot spots again.
[Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland] Controversial opponents, Argentina and Mexico continue their grudges
Argentina and Mexico encountered the fourth time in the World Cup. Argentina won all the first three matches, especially in the 2006 and 2010 World Cup, the two teams fought in the 1/8 finals in succession. In 2006, Maxi Rodriguez scored a world wave and staged a final victory. In 2006, Tevez's offside goal was considered valid, which triggered a conflict between the two teams. In addition, Mexican coach Gerado Martino will lead the team to face the old boss, the Argentine coach who once took over the Argentine national team from 2014-16.
The showdown between Argentina and Poland is also attracting attention, with Messi and Lewandowski playing the battle for the king of football. The two teams have met in the World Cup in 1974 and 1978 in history, and Argentina has both laughed to the last time. Compared with the top three in Europe and the United States, the weakest Saudi team may become the bottom of the group. Saudi team entered the World Cup five times before, with the best result being in qualifying in the group in 1994.
[Group D: France, Denmark, Tunisia, UAE/Australia/Peru] Is there a chance to defend the title? France welcomes the champion harbour
If Australia breaks out of the playoffs, France, Denmark and Australia will be in the same group in the World Cup again after 4 years. France and Denmark are old opponents in international competitions. The two teams met with 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss in three World Cups. It is worth mentioning that France has won the World Cup and European Cup four times, and its group has Denmark. Of course, Denmark is not a loss. In 1992, the Danish fairy tale was staged in the European Cup, and France became a bystander.
1998 World Cup: France group stage 2-1 Denmark, this year's championship
2018 World Cup: France group stage 0-0 Denmark, this year's championship
1984 European Cup: France group stage 1-0 Denmark, this year's championship
2000 European Cup: France group stage 2-0 Denmark, this year's championship
1 992 European Cup: Denmark 2-1 in the group stage, France won the championship in the year
[Group E: Spain, Germany, Japan, Costa Rica/New Zealand] Death group, Germany and Spain's old rival reunited
With Germany's placement, E formed the only group with the potential for death in this World Cup. Germany and Spain have fought in the World Cup and the European Cup for a total of 8 times, and are the third most opponents in the two major competitions after Italy PK Spain and Italy PK Germany. In the 1966 and 1982 World Cup, the Federal Republic of Germany defeated Spain twice in the group stage, and the Germans finally won the runner-up in both competitions. In the 2010 World Cup semi-finals, Spain defeated Germany 1-0 and won its first championship in the event.
It is very difficult for the Japanese team in the same group to qualify in the group. Japan has only played against West Germany in friendly matches before, facing Spain in 1 game and 1 draw and 1 loss in 2 games against Germany.
[Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia] The last peak of the European Red Devils?
F group is the lowest-key group in this World Cup. Belgium, which previously ranked first in the world, is among them. The team's stars such as De Bruyne, Lukaku, and Hazard are all in their prime. This World Cup is also considered the last peak of the golden generation of the European Red Devils. Belgium defeated Morocco 1-0 in the 1994 World Cup group stage. In that game, Morocco became the first team in the World Cup to use three substitutions in a single game. The match system at that time stipulated that the third substitution could only be used for goalkeepers.
[G Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon] Brazil's only show, the enemy of China and Europe meets again
Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland meet again in the World Cup group stage after 4 years. Except for Brazil, the strongest team in this group, the other three teams are not much different. It can be foreseen that the competition in the group will be very fierce. The grudge between Serbia and Switzerland will also usher in a new season this year.
In the 2018 World Cup group stage, Switzerland defeated Serbia 2-1. Zhaka and Shaqiri, who scored goals in the game, both posed in a double-headed Eagle pose. Many players of the Swiss team have the Albanian descent of Kosovo. As we all know, Kosovo and Serbia are sharply opposed, so the grudges of history and nation extend to the football field. Of course, Serbia is no longer comparable to that of this year. The team has a group of red stars such as Vlahovic, Mitrovic, and Jovic, who are considered to be a big dark horse.
[Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea] Portugal and South Korea continued their previous grudges, Uruguay became the "public enemy"
Portugal and South Korea are in Group H. The only time the two teams met in the World Cup was in the 2002 South Korea-Japan World Cup group stage, South Korea won 1-0, and Portugal was eliminated after losing. In that game, two Portugal players were dyed red. Paul Bento, the current South Korean coach, played the whole game for Portugal's starter in that game. That game was also a farewell game for Bento's Portugal national team. There are still many unhappiness between Portugal and South Korea. For example, Ronaldo refused to play when he went to South Korea with Juventus in 2019. This move caused a shock in the Korean football world, and Ronaldo once became a "public enemy".
Of course, we have to say that this group is "public enemy". Uruguay is full of drama. They eliminated Portugal in the last World Cup. In the 2010 World Cup, Uruguay defeated South Korea and Ghana in the quarterfinals and quarterfinals, especially against Ghana. Suarez received a red dot package with handball from goal line, but Gian missed a penalty kick, and Uruguay came back to life in the penalty shootout. Ghana is just a short distance from Africa's first World Cup semi-finals.
