THE BERNIE THE BOOK COLUMN
VIVA ESPANA IN QATAR WORLD CUP! SPAIN SET FOR DESERT VICTORY
I make no apologies for this month’s content…after all the WORLD CUP has come round again, four years after France lifted the Jules Rimet trophy in Russia in 2018. It takes place from 20 November to 18 December. To further augment the competition, you will see we are running our World Cup Prize Competition (on the preceding pages) where you can win cash prizes, with a whopping £200 to the winner, so see if you disagree with my thoughts and collect some much needed cash for Christmas. And there’s the rub…it’s a winter World Cup played in the Middle East for the first time and in conditions of an average 40 degrees!!! So strange things may happen as there is no history to call upon. However, one of the variables we do know is the strength of player squads and form going into Qatar of the fancied teams. Here is my considered opinion and for this assumption, I have used a time honoured route of discounting who you don’t believe will win and then see who remains. One caveat to note is that in last month’s issue I
had my first foray into the tournament with my initial thoughts on Qatar 22 and mused on the chances of Argentina and Senegal…but please read on.
ASSUMPTION ONE:
Where the balance of power between the Latin American countries and Europe (the
two big
confederations) was largely equally divided a decade ago – it certainly isn’t now. Last time around the last four were all from Europe, in Brazil the time before that the hosts were hammered by Germany 7-1 in the semis, quite simply I can’t fancy the two big South American giants with their ageing superstars despite them being favourites and third favourites
ASSUMPTION TWO:
The days of treating the minnows of Asia, Africa and the Australia’s as cannon fodder are long gone. We look down from our lofty perch in Europe with disdain, yet it is a view seen through rose tinted glasses. They are all highly organised.
PHTM NOVEMBER 2022 ASSUMPTION THREE:
The European elite are not as elite as they once were and what they believe themselves to be in their own press cuttings - our lauding of good players and turning them into world superstars because we see them regularly, accentuates the fact. With that in mind, I discount the following:
BRAZIL: Too much reliance on past glories with ageing and overrated players (Neymar). ARGENTINA: ditto (swap Neymar for Messi). URUGUAY: Always the bridesmaids of the continent. FRANCE: Ageing squad, squabbles in camp, poor Euro 2020. ENGLAND: Really? Really! Average at best and that was before a dip in form. GERMANY: Bound to be well prepared but midfield creativity a worry. ITALY: Not there!! BELGIUM: Great individual players (De Bruyne etc.) but underachieve and don’t perform to potential.
WHICH LEAVES THE IBERIAN DUO OF… SPAIN and PORTUGAL.
There is no doubt in my mind that SPAIN at 8/1 represents fantastic value this time round. Winners in 2010 they have rebranded under former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique and results for the national team have been encouraging. They seem to be peaking at the right time in their four year cycle. With an exciting group of young players such as Pedri and Gavi under the tutulage of Sergio Busquets and Koke and with the increasing influence of the Manchester City pair of Rodri and Laporte, they seem destined for an extended run in the competition. My second choice is England’s Second XI (although clearly not second in my eyes) of PORTUGAL, with the talent we are all too aware of as they play predominantly in the Premier League. Names such as Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Ruben Diaz, Cancelo, half the Wolves team, Fernandes…etc… you get my drift. Portugal are freely available at 16/1 and should easily qualify from Group H. So it’s an Iberian World Cup for me in what will be Ronaldo’s swan song. Good punting…
Bernie the Book 87
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