MY ACCOUNT
Excitement for the World Cup is building ahead of the tournament kick-off on Sunday.
The BBC Sport pundits and presenters who will be analysing the global showpiece have given their opinions on what may happen in Qatar.
Read on to get up to speed on all the key talking points.
How far will England go?
Micah Richards: “My worry for England is that we’re going into a major tournament without knowing our best centre-back pairing — or even having a pair of them in top form.
“I’m going to say that the furthest we can go is the semi-finals. I don’t think we will reach the final.”
Alan Shearer: “I don’t think England will go as far as the last two tournaments sadly. We look light in certain areas, with injuries or out of form players, especially in defence.”
Kelly Somers: “They should be targeting all the way. The preparations haven’t been ideal in terms of Nations League results but I don’t think we should read too much into those — there were a lot of other factors in play such as timings of games and availability of players.
“This group got all the way to a semi-final and a final, if they keep key players fit and have a good start and get the nation behind them from afar, they have the talent to at least equal what they’ve done in Russia and last summer.”
Dion Dublin: “I’m hoping that the quality we have in all departments, young and more senior, will be more than enough to get us to the latter stages of the competition. I think we can get to the final — if they all play to their potential.”
What about Wales?
Danny Gabbidon: “Wales are in a tough group. England, USA and Iran will be difficult tests — but I think we’ll make it to the last 16. I am optimistic.”
Alan Shearer: “I think they will get out of the group!”
Who are the teams to beat?
Richards: “I like the look of Netherlands, you know. They’ve got some really good players.
“They’ve been in decent form as well under Louis van Gaal. I think they’re going to shock a lot of people — I’m not going to say they’ll win it, but they’re back on the up. They’ve gone under the radar.
“I would’ve said Senegal had a chance to go far this tournament, but [Sadio] Mane’s fitness is a concern after this latest injury scare.”
Rio Ferdinand: “It will take a lot to beat either France or Brazil this year. [Karim] Benzema, [Kylian] Mbappe, [Antoine] Griezmann, [Eduardo] Camavinga, [Aurelien] Tchouameni — France’s squad is ridiculous.
“Brazil have top, top players all over the pitch and a really solid backbone. But then Argentina have a great squad and [Lionel] Messi. It looks like it could be his last World Cup. Who’s to say he couldn’t do it for them?
“This year’s Africa Cup of Nations winners, I think Senegal have got a decent chance of winning their group. They’ve got a great squad, spearheaded by a player who has been missed by Liverpool this year, Sadio Mane.”
Shearer: “Senegal could go far into the tournament as my outside pick. Otherwise I expect Brazil and Argentina to be dangerous this time.”
Somers: “They won’t win the tournament but I’m excited to see Senegal.
“They beat Egypt to win AFCON and there will be a lot of interest in them given the names in their squad — Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gueye, Cheikhou Kouyate, Sadio Mane and even the likes of Ismaila Sarr who was in the Premier League last season. They could surprise a few.”
Ashley Williams: “I really like the look of France, Brazil and Argentina with Messi at what is supposedly his last World Cup. It’s hard to separate them — I could see any of them winning it this year.
“Denmark are a really good side with a lot of quality — we saw that at Euro 2020. They also have a bit of momentum going into this World Cup with a recent win over France.”
Dublin: “I personally think that Argentina, maybe Portugal or even Spain could stake a claim for the top spot. Croatia, Denmark or Senegal have an outside shot.”
Which young players do you think will steal the show?
Richards: “This is the tournament where everyone is going to realise how good [Jude] Bellingham is. What we do in England is overhype players, so I’ve always been cautious, but what he’s doing week-in, week-out for [Borussia] Dortmund is brilliant.
“Now we get to see it on the international stage. I know he’s only young, but I just think he plays so maturely. I think a lot of people will watch him and think, ‘wow — he’s turned up this tournament’.”
Ferdinand: “Tchouameni for France, Rafael Leao for Portugal, Gavi for Spain and [Jamal] Musiala for Germany.”
Somers: “Jude Bellingham is already being talked about but from interviewing him and watching him close up in the Nations League games, he will be key to England’s chances this summer.
“He is on course to become the best midfielder in the world and is without a doubt the perfect partner for Declan Rice in the centre of the park.”
Williams: “I think Richarlison could have a big World Cup for Brazil.”
Gabbidon: “I’m going to say Bellingham again. He’s been so good for Dortmund and England of late. Then I like Nico Schlotterbeck of Germany, Tchouameni for France — and Brennan Johnson for Wales.”
How excited are you for this unique event?
Richards: “This is my first World Cup in this role. It means a lot to me to just be going there as a broadcaster.
“I absolutely can’t wait, but I won’t lie, it is weird. Everything has been congested into such a short space of time.
“The recently injured players are going to miss out on something so special — usually we have a bit of a buffer between the Premier League and the World Cup, but we have to adapt.
“Let’s try and embrace it. Once that first ball is kicked, I hope we can provide a great tournament for all the viewers.”
Ferdinand: “The world’s best talents on our screens competing every day. It’s an honour to cover the World Cup and I can’t wait for it to start. Come on England!”
Shearer: “Yes it feels strange because we haven’t had one in winter before. I really don’t know what to expect but I do think the stadiums will be amazing and it’s a pretty open tournament so should be exciting.”
Somers: “It will feel strange but I think once it starts everyone will enjoy it. On those cold winter nights wrapping up warm inside to watch wall-to-wall free-to-air football — the perfect build up to Christmas.”
Williams: “It’s amazing to have a World Cup to look forward to in the winter.
“It’s a historic moment in football with it being the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East.
“The World Cup is the tournament we all remember growing up and most fans’ first memories of football. It’s the pinnacle for every player and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Gabbidon: “It’s been 64 years since Wales played at a World Cup. I am incredibly excited to be there covering this historic moment and tournament. This is the next development of Welsh football and I can’t wait for it to start.”
