The World Cup showcases heavyweight giants in thrilling clashes on a global stage, where we get to witness history being made. However, at each tournament fans are captivated by an underdog who express team spirit and camaraderie, while venturing on an unexpected journey towards the final. There is nothing more engrossing and magical than an upset, like South Korea eliminating reigning champions Germany in 2018, and these moments of madness epitomise the World Cup. So here are the teams to rally behind at Qatar, as we look at which is most likely to steal our hearts.
5. Costa Rica
The 'Los Ticos' are the most successful international team in Central America and will be playing in their fifth World Cup this winter. In Brazil 2014, they gained global recognition when the minnows topped the 'group of death' including Italy, England and Uruguay. In that tournament they reached the Round of.16, their highest finish, and many of their key players such as Keylor Navas and Joel Campbell secured big moves the following summer. After, a disappointing tournament in Russia, where they finished last in Group E, Qatar seems they're last dance with this golden generational squad.
4. Ecuador
The South American team has been embroiled in controversy leading up to Qatar 2022, after Chile appealed against their qualification due to an ineligible player. However, they have a really exciting team featuring Brighton duo Pervis Estupinan and Moises Caicedo, as well as Bundesliga wonderkid: Piero Hincapie. At Qatar they will want to disassociate themselves as merely a participant who make up the numbers and aim to progress out of an opportunistic group featuring hosts Qatar, Africa Cup of Nations winners Senegal and the Netherlands. They will be spurred on by their four-year absence from the finals and could be a dark horse in the knockouts.
3. Wales
The last time Wales reached their first ever European Championships they stunned the nation, as they outperformed England and reached the Semi Finals. So, with Qatar 2022 their first World Cup in 64 years, will Rob Page and his youthful dragons embark on another fairy-tale journey. The stars do seem aligned, given it could potentially be captain Gareth Bale's curtain raiser in a Wales shirt and the fact they have got fierce rivals England in Group B. Wales are certainly a team founded on pride and courage, and it's this passion that makes them a wildcard to beat anyone.
2. Canada
After a 36-year hiatus from the World Cup and in the shadows of the USA, Canada have finally returned. They boast an exciting squad brimming with talent including Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies, striker Jonathan David and Canada's all-time top goal scorer Cyle Larin of Club Brugge. Their nation will indulge in the moment, seeing their nation at the World Cup, but they should have optimism to escape an open group including Croatia, Morocco and Belgium. One thing that is clear, they will desperately want to outperform rivals USA who are playing at the finals for the first time in eight years.
1. Morocco
The 'Atlas Lions' reached the 2018 World Cup four years ago, but their talented squad underwhelmed, finishing last in their group. They have an abundance of influential playmakers like QPR's Illias Chair, mercurial talent Abel Taarabat and the wizardry Hakim Ziyech. In addition, they have one of the best attacking full backs in the world in PSG's Achraf Hakimi. Their quest is to find harmony within the squad, and get the best out of all their players, if they can do this, they have they creative ability and firepower to be a surprise at this World Cup.
I think Canada deserves to be on this list. Very exciting young generation full of European tested payers. As a nation we acknowledge that we have a very difficult group but remain optimistic that our pacy forwards can snatch a point from an aging Belgium backline and hopefully slay the sleeping African Giants which are Morocco for 3 points. I could see us coming second with 4 points as easily as I could see us being an exciting team who gets knocked out with none!
Allez les Rouge!