France
2017 Draft World Cup: Quarter final
2018 Draft World Cup: Second round
2019 Draft World Cup: Final
2019 Nations Cup: Did not qualify (Division A)
2020 European Championship: Second round
2018 Draft World Cup: Second round
2019 Draft World Cup: Final
2019 Nations Cup: Did not qualify (Division A)
2020 European Championship: Second round
In each of the first two DWCs, France lost out to Italy. And history looked to be repeating itself when the two met in last year's quarter final. But it was to be France's time, and a 4-1 win was followed by victory over Brazil to earn a final berth. There they missed out in a titanic tussle with Germany, losing 4-3. In this year's European Championship France won all 10 qualifying games, including a 14-0 win over Northern Ireland. They also won all their group games, but were to be undone by a plucky Scotland team in the second round.
GK: Lopes, Mandanda, Navas
DF: Atal, Bernat, Kimpembe, Koscielny, Kurzawa, Marquinhos, Meunier, Thiago Silva
MD: Depay, Di María, Golovin, Gueye, Herrera, Payet, Thauvin, Verratti
FW: Cavani, Icardi, Mbappé, Neymar
Key: AS Monaco, Bordeaux, Nice, Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, Paris Saint-Germain
DF: Atal, Bernat, Kimpembe, Koscielny, Kurzawa, Marquinhos, Meunier, Thiago Silva
MD: Depay, Di María, Golovin, Gueye, Herrera, Payet, Thauvin, Verratti
FW: Cavani, Icardi, Mbappé, Neymar
Key: AS Monaco, Bordeaux, Nice, Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, Paris Saint-Germain
Argentina
World ranking: 16th
Manager: Cristian Rojas Odds to win tournament: 80/1 Captain: Javier Mascherano Star player: Juan Fernando Quintero - now permanently playing in Argentina after a loan from Porto, Quintero has elite playmaking abilities. A lack of physical prowess means that when he dons the blue-and-white of Argentina there may be a shade of a fellow Juan - Román Riquelme. |
2017 Draft World Cup: Group stage
2018 Draft World Cup: Second round
2019 Draft World Cup: Did not qualify
2019 Nations Cup: Semi final
2020 South American Championship: Final
2018 Draft World Cup: Second round
2019 Draft World Cup: Did not qualify
2019 Nations Cup: Semi final
2020 South American Championship: Final
Argentina looked dangerous going into the first DWC, but losing their opening 2 games saw them eliminated before they'd even got going. They were much better the year after, beating France and winning their group, only to lose to USA in the first knockout round. But their low point was last year, as they failed to even get into the play-offs. Since then they are back to their usual selves, reaching the Nations Cup semi and the final of the South American Championship.
4th in South American Qualifying
Argentina looked in real danger of messing up at this stage again. Wins were extremely hard to come by, and it took a late run of 6 games undefeated to stay alive. A 0-0 draw with Peru in their final game meant they were still in big trouble, but results elsewhere went Argentina's way to earn them a very unconvincing qualification. |
GK: Andrada, Armani, Campana
DF: Casco, Fabra, Giannetti, Godoy, Jara, Komar, Pinola, Rojo
MD: Fernández, Marcone, Mascherano, Pérez, Piatti, Quintero, Salvio, Zaracho
FW: López, Ruben, Scocco, Zárate
Key: Boca Juniors, Estudiantes, Independiente, Racing Club, River Plate, Rosario Central, San Lorenzo, Talleres, Vélez Sarsfield
DF: Casco, Fabra, Giannetti, Godoy, Jara, Komar, Pinola, Rojo
MD: Fernández, Marcone, Mascherano, Pérez, Piatti, Quintero, Salvio, Zaracho
FW: López, Ruben, Scocco, Zárate
Key: Boca Juniors, Estudiantes, Independiente, Racing Club, River Plate, Rosario Central, San Lorenzo, Talleres, Vélez Sarsfield
Canada
World ranking: 32nd
Manager: Scarlett MacDonald Odds to win tournament: 400/1 Captain: Michael Bradley Star player: Alejandro Pozuelo - Canada's midfield is stacked, with Victor Wanyama, Michael Bradley and Saphir Taider also high-quality players. But those three are all fairly defensive, whereas Pozuelo is best playing behind the front line. |
2017 Draft World Cup: Did not enter
2018 Draft World Cup: Did not qualify
2019 Draft World Cup: Second round
2019 Nations Cup: Did not qualify (Division B)
2020 North American Championship: Semi final
2018 Draft World Cup: Did not qualify
2019 Draft World Cup: Second round
2019 Nations Cup: Did not qualify (Division B)
2020 North American Championship: Semi final
The rule-change allowing players from MLS-based teams to represent Canada suddenly turned them into one of North America's big teams overnight. They earned their qualification, knocking out USA on the way, and even made it through their group. They were eliminated by France in the second round. In this year's North American Championship Canada performed to expectation without exceeding it, and lost out to Mexico in the semi final.
GK: Bono, Crépeau, Westberg
DF: Adnan, Bouka Moutou, Ciman, Fanni, Godoy, González, Nerwinski
MD: Bojan, Bradley, Osorio, Pozuelo, Quioto, Piatti, Taider, Teibert, Wanyama
FW: Altidore, Cavallini, Dájome, Reyna
Key: Montreal Impact, Toronto, Vancouver Whitecaps, Valour
DF: Adnan, Bouka Moutou, Ciman, Fanni, Godoy, González, Nerwinski
MD: Bojan, Bradley, Osorio, Pozuelo, Quioto, Piatti, Taider, Teibert, Wanyama
FW: Altidore, Cavallini, Dájome, Reyna
Key: Montreal Impact, Toronto, Vancouver Whitecaps, Valour
UAE
World ranking: 52nd
Manager: Badria Al-Hammadi Odds to win tournament: 500/1 Captain: Henrique Star player: Álvaro Negredo - a glittering CV, that includes winners medals from the English Premier League and the Euros, Negredo will lead the line for UAE. Whilst his pace has dipped, he is still a dangerous presence in the box and a good link-man to the players around him. |
2017 Draft World Cup: Did not enter
2018 Draft World Cup: Did not qualify
2019 Draft World Cup: Did not qualify
2019 Nations Cup: Round 9
2020 Asian Championship: Semi final
2018 Draft World Cup: Did not qualify
2019 Draft World Cup: Did not qualify
2019 Nations Cup: Round 9
2020 Asian Championship: Semi final
With plenty of good talent in their squad, UAE have struggled to match that potential. In each of the last two years they couldn't even make it past the first round of Asian qualifying. They showed signs of life by winning their Nations League group, and in this year's Asian Championship they made the semi finals, losing to eventual champions Saudi Arabia.
2nd in Asia Group A
A really strong showing in UAE's Round 2 group wasn't quite enough to pip Kazakhstan, but it was enough to see them through as the best 2nd-placed side. In the final round of qualifying UAE proved hard-to-eat. Despite the odd heavy defeat they picked up enough narrow wins, and a great win over Azerbaijan sealed qualification. |
GK: Eisa, Khaseif, Nasser
DF: Chang-Woo, El Adoua, Galvao, Henrique, Jaber, Shiotani, Trasch
MD: Abdulrahman, Cartabia, Dzsudzsák, Gaibor, Keno, Lamas, Leonardo, Serero, Tozé
FW: Coronado, Negredo, Tagliabúe, Ze Roberto
Key: Al Ain, Al Dhafra, Al Jazira, Al-Nasr, Al Wahda, Al-Wasl, Baniyas, Kalba, Khor Fakkan, Shabab Al-Alhi, Sharjah
DF: Chang-Woo, El Adoua, Galvao, Henrique, Jaber, Shiotani, Trasch
MD: Abdulrahman, Cartabia, Dzsudzsák, Gaibor, Keno, Lamas, Leonardo, Serero, Tozé
FW: Coronado, Negredo, Tagliabúe, Ze Roberto
Key: Al Ain, Al Dhafra, Al Jazira, Al-Nasr, Al Wahda, Al-Wasl, Baniyas, Kalba, Khor Fakkan, Shabab Al-Alhi, Sharjah
It should be a good grudge match when France and Argentina meet in the second round of games. Two years ago Argentina emerged as victors to nearly knock France out at the group stage. Since then Argentina have failed to put together consistent results, but they are likely to have too much for a Canada side also looking a little tame, and tournament debutants UAE.