The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is beginning to warmth up. The group stage is within the rearview mirror, and the knockout phases start in lower than 24 hours, with the US going through the Netherlands. 32 groups entered and now solely 16 stay. Extra will go dwelling within the coming days as contenders are eradicated by opponents.
Our CBS Sports activities consultants crammed out their brackets and made their picks right down to the finals. If you have not already, make sure to obtain a printable bracket and get in on the enjoyable too. If that is not your cup of tea, you’ll be able to watch alongside the dwell bracket or consequence. And when you’re at it, join our new e-newsletter overlaying the gorgeous sport in all its glory, together with day by day World Cup updates, right here.
Hear under and watch In Soccer We Belief: A CBS Sports activities Soccer Podcast the place our three favourite former USMNT gamers cowl every part you could possibly wish to find out about the US Males’s Nationwide Workforce through the World Cup in Qatar.
James Benge
The group phases are usually the place the World Cup is most shocking, because the minutes pile up on the ft of those gamers, the standard and depth of the standard powers have a tendency to indicate, and that is much more seemingly with tight group returns. stage. If there may be one crew able to inflicting an upset, it’d simply be the USA, who’ve the depth to disrupt the extra relaxed method favored by the Netherlands. When you get to the final eight, a case may very well be made for nearly any crew to win it; the England-France and Spain-Portugal matches may both be crackers or standoffs determined by the narrowest of margins.
The brackets appear to be driving Argentina and Brazil inexorably in the direction of one another, one other sport that might go completely both means, however assuming Neymar is accessible once more, I would make the Seleçao slight favorites each in that match and to win the match. direct. Aside from their sensible quantity 10, they’ve the standard to take care of any accidents and dips in kind and their protection has appeared stable thus far.
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Chuck Sales space
What has been a World Cup on its head will begin to stabilize now as we enter the knockout phases. The groups had three video games to type out their points and Brazil, regardless of their accidents, had been too sturdy defensively to be damaged down simply. France might be the strongest assault left within the World Cup, but when Portugal give Rafael Leao extra minutes, they may make a deep run on the World Cup. The USA have a winnable sport in opposition to the Netherlands, however their inexperience will present as they’re undone within the second half of the match.
Regardless of Lionel Messi’s penalty misses, I am nonetheless backing Argentina to win all of it as they will open groups up in assault or shut them down in defence. Since many groups have weaknesses someplace, it’s arduous to discover a main one in Argentina. The one means I can see them overthrown is thru self-inflicted errors.
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Roger Gonzalez
A wild group stage offers strategy to what may very well be a fair crazier knockout stage. Some huge groups have gone dwelling, however the true contenders — Brazil, Argentina, England and France — stay. Spain is a crew that may shine or lay an egg, whereas the Netherlands, Japan, Morocco and Switzerland don’t have anything to lose. I believe South America’s huge two make a deep run, whereas France attain the finals once more. Lastly, the Samba Boys do it once more and for the primary time in 20 years.
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Mike Goodman
This bracket is usually chalk, with Morocco as a notable exception. They performed a particularly spectacular group stage, even when their group proved to be simpler than anticipated, with Belgium imploding and Croatia exhibiting their age. Nonetheless, Portugal have appeared considerably much less spectacular, particularly since they carry Cristiano Ronaldo up entrance. And Japan supplied the blueprint for how one can upset Spain.
In the meantime, England’s protection has been very good and whereas France have appeared sturdy, there are solely so many accidents you’ll be able to blur and finally even a facet as deep as Didier Deschamps’ will probably be stretched too far. After which there are Brazil and Argentina. Regardless of a short jolt, Lionel Messi and firm are nonetheless trying pretty much as good as anybody and the perfect participant on this planet is having one other wonderful match. Whereas for Brazil, Neymar’s well being stays an enormous query. And whereas their depth can carry them far, can it actually be sufficient with out their star?
It is lastly Messi’s time.
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Sandra Herrera
Everybody can win and anybody can lose. That is the primary lesson from these chaotic group stage matches. These video games undoubtedly set the tone for attainable upsets within the knockout rounds. Spain and Argentina sneaked into the spherical of 16 and which will inspire them to be extra scientific. The USA’s relentless efforts on protection may frustrate a number of groups alongside the best way. The management of the French gamers may repay till the ultimate, however Messi will dazzle by way of the knockout rounds to the rostrum.
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Jonathan Johnson
The group stage has reshuffled the deck and pre-tournament predictions now not mirror the fact of the draw. No crew emerged with most factors, so there isn’t a sturdy favourite between Argentina, Brazil and France — the three favorites. All three decisions have already been defeated, however the trio appeared much more convincing than the Netherlands, England and Spain. Switzerland look arguably the perfect wager of the shock qualifiers to progress, whereas Portugal appeared the least convincing in Qatar. I nonetheless consider Lionel Messi will maintain the World Cup trophy aloft on the iconic Lusail Stadium on December 18.
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Igor Mello
It is unattainable for me to take factors off the Brazilian facet after they needed to make 9 adjustments for his or her final group stage sport in opposition to Cameroon, a 1-Zero defeat for Tite’s males. My scorching take is that I believe they’ve sufficient within the tank to win with out the companies of Neymar, however it might take a while to regulate to life with out their quantity 10. Rodrygo has the potential to fill Neymar’s position to an extent and Vinicius. Junior and Richarlison might want to rating when it issues for them to win with out Neymar.
We have seen loads of heavyweights lose within the group stage, so why not problem our conventional logic and get away from the chalked picks. Give me Morocco in opposition to Spain in what guarantees to be a house sport for well-travelled Atlas Lions followers. I am in love with what Japan, led by supervisor Hajime Moriyasu, has executed thus far. That is Cristiano Ronaldo’s final hurray and what higher strategy to eliminate him than to face his Portuguese-speaking associates in South America. Neymar (if wholesome) vs. Ronaldo for all of the balls.
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Francesco Porzio
Regardless of a gradual begin of their opening conflict, I nonetheless count on Argentina to win the competitors in the long run. The anticipated semi-final between Messi’s facet and Brazil would be the most anticipated conflict of the match, a 12 months after Argentina gained the Copa America in opposition to the identical Brazil. However, I see England and France because the strongest sides and certainly one of them would be the different finalist for my part.
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