World Cup Qatar 2022 Preview: Group B
Image credit: History of Soccer
By: Anthony Tazbaz
Group Schedule
Match Week 1
Monday, November 21: England vs Iran, Khalifa International Stadium, 8:00 EST
Monday, November 21: United States vs Wales, Al Rayyan Stadium, 14:00 EST
Match Week 2
Friday, November 25: Wales vs Iran, Al Rayyan Stadium, 5:00 EST
Friday, November 25: England vs United States, Al Bayt Stadium, 14:00 EST
Match Week 3
Tuesday, November 29: Iran vs United States, Al Thumama Stadium, 14:00 EST
Tuesday, November 29: Wales vs England, Al Rayyan Stadium, 14:00 EST
Countries
England
Nickname: The Three Lions
Players to Watch
Harry Kane (29): Forward, Tottenham Hotspurs
Bukayo Saka (21): Forward/Midfielder/Full-back, Arsenal FC
Jude Bellingham (19): Midfielder, Borussia Dortmund
Qualification Run
Round 1: 8W, 2D, 0L—26 PTS and 1st place in UEFA Group I
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“It’s Coming Home”—every English supporter at every tournament. However, could this really be their tournament? Similar to many teams, England will be missing several key and in-form players due to injury, namely defender Reece James and midfielder Ben Chillwell. Their absences—especially James’s—will leave a massive hole in Gareth Southgate’s squad. Although Ben Chillwell is more replaceable thanks to England’s midfield depth, Reece James not making it to Qatar means that England will be missing arguably their best defender.
However, such absences will enable young English stars in-the-making to showcase their talents on the global stage for the first time. Although AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori shockingly did not receive a call-up, Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and Arsenal’s versatile defender Ben White can seize their first opportunity to shine at the World Cup, respectively. While White looks to build on his four earned international caps and become a perennial member of the Three Lions, Alexander-Arnold looks to regain his 2019–2020 form (remember when he was considered the world’s best right-back?). This will also be TAA’s first major tournament following his absence from the 2020 Euro (played in 2021 due to COVID-19), where they made the finals and lost to Italy in penalties at the Wembley. As for the rest of the team, the midfield remains rock-solid, with young stars such as Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, and Jude Bellingham playing in their first World Cup. Backed by veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson, England’s attack is a force to be reckoned with. Young stars such as Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka (who can play literally anywhere) will have the chance to play in their first World Cup alongside veterans Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, and Raheem Sterling—all of whom experienced their 2018 World Cup run to the semi-finals, as well as their run to the Euro final last year.
Bottom line, this team boasts loads of young talent that, if properly developed into stardom, can lead England into a dynasty. However, England and the World Cup always remains a complicated relationship. In addition, The Three Lions’ predicament does not bode well for their confidence following their dismal UEFA Nations League campaign: finishing bottom of their group and getting relegated to League B. Although the English should top their group, anything can happen, and this could well be Gareth Southgate’s last month as England’s coach.
Iran
Nicknames: Team Melli & Shirants Perse/Shiran-e Pars (“the Persian Lions” in Persian)
Players to Watch
Serdar Azmoun (27): Forward, Bayer Leverkusen 04
Medhi Taremi (30): Forward, FC Porto
Shojae Khalilzadeh (33): Defender, Al-Ahli
Qualification Run
Round 2: 6W, 0D, 2L—18 PTS and 1st place in AFC Group C
Round 3: 8W, 1D, 1L—25 PTS and 1st place in AFC Group A
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Iran, a regular participant at the World Cup and coached (again) by a well-experienced Carlos Quieroz, breeds regional talent, with a handful playing in Europe. Regional talent—from Iran and the rest of the Middle East, including Qatar—include the vast majority of their midfield and defence, and their entire goalkeepers’ lineup. Despite the lack of global prestige, several players on the squad who play in Iran and across the Middle East constitute some of the most experienced players for the national team. Such members include starting goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, defenders Ramin Rezaeian and Shojae Khalilzadeh, as well as midfielders Saeid Ezatolahi and Vahid Amiri—all of which obtained at least 47 caps. The attack, on the other hand, consists mostly of players competing in Europe, comprising the bulk of Iran’s stardom. Feyenoord’s Alireza Jahanbaksh, Porto’s Mehdi Taremi and Leverkusen’s Serdar Azmoun—all of which competed at the 2018 World Cup—remain the key players for Iran to achieve any level of success.
Historically at the World Cup, Iran displayed defensive performances of great quality. However, their attacking players never lived up to Iranians’ and experts’ expectations, despite consistent attacking efficiency during their qualifying campaigns. As it looks in Group B, Iran seems destined for a similar set of results. They have the defensive capability to hold attacks to few goals, however, lack the necessary firepower to score against a well-organized Welsh team, as well as solid American and English defences.
United States
Nickname: The Stars and Stripes
Players to Watch
Christian Pulisic (24): Forward, Chelsea FC
Brenden Aaronson (22): Midfielder, Leeds United
Walker Zimmerman (29): Defender, Nashville SC
Qualification Run
Round 3: 7W, 4D, 3L—25 PTS and 3rd place in CONCACAF
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Welcome back, Uncle Sam! Following a disappointing finale to their qualifying campaign in 2017 (losing 2-0 to an already-eliminated Trinidad & Tobago on the final matchday), The Stars and Stripes are back—with arguably one of their best teams ever assembled. Coached by former US national team player Gregg Berhalter, this young American squad enters the tournament with little to lose and a lot to gain. Unlike 2017 where most of the players included long-time veterans such as Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones, and Tim Howard, the star players featured on the USMNT consist mainly of younger twenty-year-olds. Such players include the likes of Christian Pulisic, Brenden Aaronson, Giovanni Reyna, Weston McKennie, Sergiño Dest, and Josh Sargent. Interestingly, the USMNT includes more European-based talent than ever before. Also, some of these players are not members of a mid-table average club; some constitute perennial starters for European heavyweights playing in the top five leagues, namely McKennie (Juventus), Pulisic (Chelsea), Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Dest (AC Milan), and goalkeeper Matt Turner (Arsenal).
Ultimately, the Americans’ return to the grand stage poses a great opportunity for all aforementioned players who look to solidify their all-star status, while other players, namely Major League Soccer players—including nearly their entire backline—look to receive international recognition and potentially move to major European clubs. Expect the Stars and Stripes to finish in the top two of their group and schedule a meeting with Senegal or the Netherlands of Group A.
Wales
Nickname: The Dragons
Players to Watch
Gareth Bale (33): Forward, Los Angeles FC
Harry Wilson (25): Midfielder, Fulham FC
Ethan Ampadu (22): Defender, Spezia Calcio
Qualification Run
Round 1: 4W, 3D, 1L—15 PTS and 2nd place in UEFA Group E
Round 2: Playoffs
UEFA Playoff Semi-final: Wales 2-1 Austria
UEFA Playoff Final: Wales 1-0 Ukraine
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If you thought it was a while since the United States participated in their last World Cup match four years ago, the Welsh will soon end an identical skid, however, lasting since 1958. To put it into perspective, Wales’ last participation was Pele’s first. Having long been in the shadow of England and the remainder of the United Kingdom, the Welsh will finally obtain the opportunity to defeat their local rivals in what will be only their third matchup in history—with England having won the previous two. Speaking of which, Wales can exorcise their demons versus the English by not only exerting revenge from their 2-1 Group Stage loss at the Euro in 2016, but also using this tournament as an opportunity to achieve similar glory from 2016, where they went excelled to the semi-finals and claimed third place by default due to Portugal—who defeated the Welsh 2-0—winning the championship.
Throughout the past several years, the Welsh boasted several interesting players, namely former defender and captain Ashley Williams, young players such as Fulham midfielder Harry Wilson and defender Ethan Ampadu, as well as current veteran midfielders Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsay, and the once-most-expensive-player and current captain Gareth Bale. At only 33, Bale won La Liga twice and the Champions League four times with Real Madrid. However, his last few years culminated into an exorbitant amount of bench warming and a loan spell at former club Tottenham. However, despite injuries and questions about his health, the Welsh star stepped up big time after scoring the game-tying goal for Los Angeles FC deep into stoppage time in the second half of extra time, sending the California club to win on penalties and claim its first-ever MLS Cup. If Bale is 100% fit, The Dragons have a chance to produce magic similar to their run in 2016. Matchups versus local rivals England and a young—yet inexperienced USMNT—constitute the perfect opportunities to sneak past the group. After that, anything can happen…
Group Table Predictions
England: 2W, 1D, 0L, 7 PTS
USA: 1W, 2D, 0L, 5 PTS
Wales: 0W, 2D, 1L, 2 PTS
Iran: 0W, 1D, 2L, 1 PTS
