The recent international break has revealed a lot about the teams in the two months leading up to the start of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, judging by the offers and results presented during the week, whether in the European Nations League or international friendlies.
The Al-Sharq al-Awsat article highlights the competitive readiness of the Brazilian and Argentinean teams, on the other hand, it raises doubts among leading Europeans such as France, the reigning champions, England and Germany.
She noted that Brazil is fully prepared to enter the international arena, having won the last seven matches, scoring 26 goals and conceding only two goals, as well as Argentina, which has played 35 matches in a row without defeat.
France, the 2018 world champions, has suffered from accumulated injuries as they have won one of their last six matches, played 2-0 against Austria and avoided relegation to the second tier of the European Nations League.
On the other hand, last year’s European runners-up England, who reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, could not avoid relegation to the second tier in the Nations League after three draws and three defeats in their group, which they fell behind. Italy, Hungary and Germany.
There are also doubts in Germany, which failed to reach the final of the European Nations League after losing 1-0 to Hungary.
Spain beat Portugal 1-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Nations League, while Cristiano Ronaldo and his colleagues, who needed a play-off to reach the World Cup final, are reeling in doubt.
For its part, the Netherlands, the most notable absentee from the 2018 World Cup, arrives with a new generation and great momentum after reaching the last square in the Nations League.
As for the Arab teams, the international break showed how much they need to work to get to the World Cup with great comfort, with the exception of Morocco and Senegal.
Qatar, which is playing in the World Cup for the first time, did not show convincing results in the current break, as they lost to Croatia under 23 3-0 and Canada 2-0, and then drew with Chile 2-. 2.
As for Saudi Arabia, which will take part in the World Cup for the sixth time, it was content with a goalless draw with the USA and Ecuador.
On the African side, recent warm-up matches have been able to calm African champions Senegal and Morocco, but both Ghana and Tunisia have lost heavily to Brazil.
Behavior / Donia Haddad
Source: El Iktisad