SURELY A SURE THING

based trio Bruno Fernandes, Joao Cancelo and Ruben Dias have been among the best players in their positions in Europe over the past couple of years, while there is no shortage of quality in other areas of the pitch. In addition to the household names within the squad, there are a number of players currently making a case for their inclusion in Santos’s squad. Wolves’ Jose Sa has been among the contenders for Premier League goalkeeper of the season, Rafael Leao has been thriving at Milan and Andre Silva is currently enjoying his third consecutive successful season in the Bundesliga. Given the number of young players coming through the ranks, there may be a question about whether the strongest starting XI still includes international football’s all-time record goalscorer. Furthermore, the Selecao have the more di cult opponent in the first round of the play-o s, as they face a Turkey side in solid form under new manager Stefan Kuntz. The Turkish national team failed to impress having been tipped as the dark horses of Euro 2020, however, the side boasts plenty of talent including Caglar Soyuncu Hakan Calhanoglu and Cengiz Under. Whereas Italy will be confident of progressing to the second, and final, round of the play-o s against North Macedonia, the first round will be far more trying for Santos’s team. Of course, Italy and Portugal’s loss is other nations’ gain, as the teams within play-o paths A and B have avoided clashes with the two favourites. By no means does this equate to a lack of drama, however, as path A demonstrates with Wales and Scotland sitting on either side of the draw. Gareth Bale’s side will have to overcome a highly competitive Austrian outfit if they want to progress, while Scotland face a Ukraine side that got to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020. Should both teams succeed and meet in the final round, Wales and Scotland stand relatively evenly matched. Both are captained by explosive left-sided players and boast promising defensive midfielders within the Chelsea loan system, in Ethan Ampadu and Billy Gilmour. The Tartan Army will most likely have the edge with the bookmakers, thanks to a strong showing at the European Championship, however the Dragons will certainly not consider themselves underdogs. Path B also has its fair share of subplots and round two could well be the story of two superstar strikers. Robert Lewandowski has, for the past two years, arguably been the best player in the world while firing Bayern Munich to domestic and European glory. The forward averaged a goal a game in qualifying, but injury left him unable to prevent his side dropping four points to both England and Hungary. On the other side of the draw is a Sweden side that recently recalled Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the fray. This is surely the last opportunity for international action for the 40-year-old, who has almost single-handedly carried his country at times in a career stretching over three decades. Now, however, Sweden have developed an impressive talent pool and with Alexander Isak and Emil Forsberg leading the line, Ibrahimovic has become plan B for Janne Andersson. In order for this clash of the titans to go ahead, Austria have to find their way past a hardworking Russia side who impressed in the last World Cup, having qualified as hosts. Likewise, Sweden will have to beat a Czech Republic team that bettered the Blagult’s performance in Euro 2020 by reaching the quarter-finals. A front line of Patrik Schick and Antonin Barak can go toe-to-toe with their opponents, while West Ham duo Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal have been thriving over the last 18 months. Evidently, there is plenty of quality set to miss out on the biggest stage in international football, regardless of how the play-o s play out. For this very reason, the 2026 World Cup is set to increase the number of teams from 32 to 48, looking to prevent as many of the big names from missing out. For many, expansion will serve only to lower the quality of the competition, whereas, for Italy and Portugal, the decision has come four years too late.

ABOVE: Sweden have brought Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic back into the fold

BOTTOM RIGHT: New Zealand players celebrate while scoring

There’s a concern that Serie A has lost its lustre this season as Romelu Lukaku While the top three spots in CONCACAF moved on, but there are still plenty of World Cup Qualification have drawn the players to keep an eye on, says most interest from the competing sides, Ciro Di Brita. fourth-place team in CONCACAF will have a second chance at qualification TAMMY ABRAHAM

English striker Abraham arrives from OCEANIA is one of the more unique Chelsea for a reported €40m fee, boosting situations in world football. The region,

Jose Mourinho’s attacking options after which encompasses the Pacific Islands, the departure of Edin Dzeko to Inter. The is the only confederation that does not 23-year-old struggled to find minutes on receive an automatic spot into the World the field last season when Thomas Tuchel Cup. This year’s qualification tournament took over at Chelsea but still managed to will take place in March in Qatar. Cook score 12 times in all competitions. Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, New

Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon

FEDERICO CHIESA Islands, Tahiti, and Vanuatu are slated to

Fresh from helping Italy win the European participate.

Championship the 23-year-old will be Of those sides, New Zealand is heavily hoping to continue the explosive form he projected to advance. Since Australia left displayed during the tournament. Forming the OFC in 2006 the Kiwis have stepped a potentially devastating front-three in as the powerhouse in the Pacific Islands. which also includes Cristiano Ronaldo and They have represented the region in each

Paulo Dybala, it will be interesting to see of the last three playo s, with their 2010 if coach Max Allegri takes the shackles o series victory of Bahrain sealing their his attacking players. second-ever appearance in the World Cup.

Almost all of New Zealand’s players play

OLIVIER GIROUD professionally either in Europe or in the

The France World Cup Winner has finally United States, a factor that should not arrived in Serie A having been linked with be overlooked. Forward Chris Wood a move to the peninsula for years and will (Newcastle) has over 400 appearances now team up with fellow veteran striker in the English Premier League and the

Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Giroud will be tasked Championship. Their defense is led by with providing the firepower and linkup long-time West Ham center-back Winston play for the Rossoneri to compete in both Reid and two of the top defenders the Champions League and Serie A. in Major League Soccer: Bill Tuiloma (Portland Timbers) and Michael Boxhall DENZEL DUMFRIES (Minnesota United FC).

Wing back Dumfries showcased the full While they certainly have talent, array of his skills during the summer’s New Zealand will struggle against a European Championship despite CONCACAF side that has battled through the Netherlands crashing out of the qualification and has experience in tough tournament to the Czech Republic. The situations. This has been a problem for 25-year-old scored twice and looks ready the Kiwis during non-COVID years and to fill the gap vacated by Achraf Hakimi’s has only worsened during the pandemic. departure to PSG. In order to prepare for the sprint to qualification, Head Coach Danny Hay

VICTOR OSIMHEN has had his side play all of their matches

The Nigerian striker had a bit of a start in the Middle East, giving them more stop season last term. Despite su ering opportunities to get in competition. injuries and missing games through Recent wins against Curacao and Gambia Covid-19 the 22-year-old showed enough (who made the Round of 16 in the recent promise to make him a real danger man African Cup of Nations) suggest that heading into this campaign. New Coach perhaps New Zealand may just get past Luciano Spalletti will be hoping he can get their CONCACAF opponent come this the most out of the attacker and improve summer. on his 10 goals from last year.

When it comes to CONCACAF World Cup Qualification for Qatar, all we know is that we don’t know nothing. While the January World Cup Qualifiers in the region did provide some clarity, there are still plenty of questions to be answered in the final three matches in March. Perhaps the biggest lesson that has been learned during this cycle is that Canada is the best side in the region. With three wins over Honduras, the United States, and El Salvador the Canadians (7-4-0, 25 points) have assured a top four spot in qualification. The side, coached by Jon Herdman, have dominated the region on both the attacking and defensive sides on the pitch (19 goals scored and five goals allowed, both first in qualifying). The 2-0 victory over the United States was perhaps the biggest result, partially due to the side playing without Alphonso Davies. Forward Cyle Larin’s strike in the fifth minute of the match set the tone for the game and proved to be a wake-up call to the rest of the world that they are for real. A return to the World Cup for the first time since 1986 is within their grasp. While Canada should have a smooth final round of qualification, the United States (6-3-2, 21 points) still have a bit of work to do. Things could be much worse-although the 2-0 loss hurt, they were able to get six points o El Salvador and Honduras during the last window. Had either result gone sideways their final third would look much more daunting. With the easy part of their schedule done, the real test begins in March with a home match against Panama sandwiched in between road ties against Mexico and Costa Rica. For the USMNT and coach Gregg Berhalter the mission is simple-they need to qualify before their final match against a surging Costa Rica side (4-4-3, 16 points). While a trip to Estadio Azteca and El Tri is never easy, having to qualify on the road at Estadio Nacional in Costa Rica (where they have never won) would be a tall task for the young American side. The US has had some success as of late against Mexico and should feel a point is manageable at Estadio Azteca. Any result against their bitter rivals would lighten the pressure for the Panama tie. A healthy Gio Reyna to go alongside Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Tim Weah should give Berhalter plenty of weapons to work with. The big question is: can Christian Pulisic shake o the cobwebs and become the leader that this side needs? Mexico (6-3-2, 21 points) is also looking for answers as they enter their final three matches. Much like the U.S., the side did enough to get them in prime position to qualify (wins over Jamaica and Panama, draw against Costa Rica) but didn’t look exactly like they were on solid footing. They narrowly avoided calamity in the Jamaica match, having to comeback from a goal down in the final thirty minutes, while earning a controversial penalty at home against Panama to get the 1-0 win. The Costa Rica draw was particularly damaging, keeping the fifth-place side in the thick of qualification. For El Tri, their hopes for qualification rest squarely on the shoulders of Raul Jimenez. When in form, the Wolves striker is Mexico’s best attacking player as evidenced by the work he put in against Panama. But he has struggled

ABOVE: Kyle Larin celebrates after scoring against Mexico during their QATAR World Cup Qualification match

BELOW: Panama in action against Jamaica

BOTTOM RIGHT: The Qatar National Soccer team are currently the lowestranked team in the competition to get his scoring touch back since sustaining a head injury last season. His penalty kick strike was his first goal in this qualification cycle. While qualification seems likely (after the U.S. match, they will face already-eliminated Honduras and El Salvador), El Tri have to get a result against USMNT to help erase a terrible 2021 that saw the side lose both the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup. Where things get interesting is the number four spot, which would send the winner to an intercontinental playo against OCEANIA and most likely New Zealand. Panama (5-2-4, 17 points) have consistently exceeded expectations during the hexagonal. But they hit a bit of speed bump during the last window, losing to both Mexico and Costa Rica. Their 3-2 win over Jamaica was critical to getting something out of a tough window. Things will only get harder for The Canal Men. While the road tie against the United States will be di cult, hosting Honduras (a side that always loves to play spoiler) and Canada will be no easy task either. While Jamaica, Honduras, and El Salvador are all eliminated Costa Rica (4-4-3, 16 points) are still very much in the fight. Despite having an awful start to qualifying, the Ticas have clawed their way back into it with wins over Panama and Jamaica and a strong draw against Mexico. The veteran-heavy side led by goalkeeper Keylor Navas seems to be pulling together at the right time with their defense leading the way. But is it too late? They will need to get a result at home against Canada, not an easy task considering how strong the group leaders have been on the road. While one of the three automatic spots might be a bit of a reach, the playo still could be up for grabs. Much will depend on whether or not the U.S. has already qualified by that point. There may seem to be some favorites heading into the final window of World Cup Qualification, but things could also change quickly. Through the years the region has always seemed to have one big surprise in store for the final window. For the sides at the top, there will still be some nervy moments until the results are finalized and their spot for Qatar is sealed.

There’s a concern that Serie A has lost its lustre this season as Romelu Lukaku Just because Qatar head into the 2022 World moved on, but there are still plenty of Cup low in the FIFA World Rankings, it doesn’t players to keep an eye on, says mean the host nation can’t go on and on to Ciro Di Brita. the later rounds if things go their way, writes Greg Murray TAMMY ABRAHAM English striker Abraham arrives from Ranked 48th in the world, the hosts of the Chelsea for a reported €40m fee, boosting 2022 World Cup are currently the lowestJose Mourinho’s attacking options after ranked team to have qualified for this the departure of Edin Dzeko to Inter. The winter’s showpiece. However, this should not 23-year-old struggled to find minutes on discourage the Qatar team - who climbed 10 the field last season when Thomas Tuchel places in the FIFA rankings in 2021 alone - as took over at Chelsea but still managed to unfancied entrants have often surprised in score 12 times in all competitions. major international tournaments. Qatar could look to the most recent World FEDERICO CHIESA Cup hosts, Russia, as an example of how to Fresh from helping Italy win the European channel a home advantage into success. Sitting Championship the 23-year-old will be 70th in the rankings, the hosts benefitted from hoping to continue the explosive form he an easy group to storm into the knockout displayed during the tournament. Forming stages, beating Spain on penalties in the round a potentially devastating front-three of 16 before being defeated from the spot which also includes Cristiano Ronaldo and themselves by Croatia. Paulo Dybala, it will be interesting to see Four years previously, Bosnia and Herzegovina if coach Max Allegri takes the shackles o impressed at the 2014 World Cup - if not as the his attacking players. lowest ranked team, certainly as the youngest country in the competition. Bosnia and OLIVIER GIROUD Herzegovina had been founded just 22 years The France World Cup Winner has finally prior to the tournament, however, with Edin arrived in Serie A having been linked with Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic leading the charge, a move to the peninsula for years and will they were unlucky not to make it through the now team up with fellow veteran striker group stage. Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Giroud will be tasked The 2010 World Cup hosts, South Africa, may with providing the firepower and linkup have struggled to emerge from a di cult play for the Rossoneri to compete in both group, however, underdogs Slovakia managed the Champions League and Serie A. to overcome Italy to get to the knockout stage in their first and only World Cup performance. DENZEL DUMFRIES Vladimir Weiss’s side, led by Napoli legend Wing back Dumfries showcased the full Marek Hamsík, put in a valiant performance array of his skills during the summer’s only to be knocked out in the last 16 by European Championship despite eventual runners-up the Netherlands. the Netherlands crashing out of the 2021 African Cup of Nations winners Senegal tournament to the Czech Republic. The made their surprise debut in the 2002 World 25-year-old scored twice and looks ready Cup as the second-lowest ranked team in the to fill the gap vacated by Achraf Hakimi’s tournament. Captained by current manager departure to PSG. Aliou Cisse, the Lions of Teranga became the second African team to reach a World Cup VICTOR OSIMHEN quarter-final, beating current world champions The Nigerian striker had a bit of a start France on the way. stop season last term. Despite su ering injuries and missing games through Covid-19 the 22-year-old showed enough promise to make him a real danger man heading into this campaign. New Coach Luciano Spalletti will be hoping he can get the most out of the attacker and improve on his 10 goals from last year.

ABOVE: Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva have been in fine form for Manchester City this season

LEFT: Kevin De Bruyne celebrates during an English Premier League match

The Premier League title race has produced a plethora of enthralling finishes over the years, not least when Manchester City nicked it from local rivals Manchester United on goal di erence in 2012. Ten years on, things are looking a lot simpler for the Blues. If City can keep Liverpool and Chelsea at bay over the coming weeks, it will be their sixth title in 11 years. The English top flight is famous for being open and having a title race that doesn’t feature only one or two teams, as has been the case in some of the other major European leagues over recent years. However, another Premier League crown for City this term would certainly represent a commanding period of dominance for the Abu Dhabi-owned outfit. The other five titles over the past 10 seasons have been claimed by Manchester United, Chelsea (2), Leicester City and Liverpool. No other club is anywhere near City, who’ve moved to another level of performance since Pep Guardiola arrived in Manchester in 2016. The Blues may have lost out to Chelsea in

TGuardiola’s first season, but City are aiming for their fourth title in the five years since under their Spanish manager. And quite simply, the Etihad outfit have looked virtually unstoppable for some time now. After losing their opening day fixture away to Tottenham, City went on an eight-match unbeaten run in the league, winning six. They su ered a shock 2-0 home defeat to bogey team Crystal Palace in late October, but responded to that setback like true champions. City won 12 games on the bounce, scoring 33 goals and conceding only seven in the process, before their winning run was ended with a 1-1 draw away to Southampton towards the end of January. No other title contender has been able to match that sort of consistency, allowing the Blues to open up a commanding lead at the top of the table. Liverpool look like the only team truly capable of reeling in the Citizens. The Reds started the season with a 10-match unbeaten run that included back-to-back 5-0 victories over Watford and Manchester United in October. However, Jurgen Klopp’s side drew four of those 10 games, even if two of those were against title rivals City and Chelsea, both on home soil.

ABOVE: Manchester City celebrating one of their many wins this year

BELOW: Pep Guardiola is aiming to win his fourth Premier League title in five years

TOP RIGHT: Manchester United in action vs Liverpool

BOTTOM RIGHT: Manchester City vs West Ham With Manchester City the hot favourites to land their sixth Premier League title in the coming months, Oli Coates picks out five fixtures that may yet have an impact on the run-in.

MAN CITY V MAN UNITED - 6 MARCH Manchester United have shown improvement under Ralf Rangnick, but that will face its toughest test when the Reds head to the Etihad Stadium for the second Manchester derby of the season. City cruised to a 2-0 victory in the first one at Old Tra ord, but United won three of the four derbies prior to that, drawing the other.

LIVERPOOL V MAN UNITED - 20 MARCH If United do bitter rivals Liverpool a favour two weeks before, this clash at Anfield could be a monster occasion in the title race. Liverpool thrashed United 5-0 at Old Tra ord earlier in the campaign, having been 4-0 up at half-time, but any form of victory for the hosts in the return could be even bigger in the context of their season.

MAN CITY V LIVERPOOL - 9 APRIL How many points the two main title protagonists drop in the weeks before their date in Manchester scheduled for April will set the tone for this encounter. It could be Liverpool’s last chance to stay in the race, or provide City with an opportunity to deal a fatal blow to their visitors’ title aspirations.

LIVERPOOL V EVERTON - 23 APRIL Man City are at home to relegation-threatened Watford in this gameweek, so victory in the Merseyside derby will be paramount for Liverpool if the title race is still close. The Reds have a strong record against the To ees at Anfield, but Frank Lampard will be desperate to get one over Jurgen Klopp in his first derby, with the two men having clashed on the sideline in the past.

WEST HAM V MAN CITY - 15 MAY With Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea all finishing with home games you’d expect them to win, City’s trip to top-four hopefuls West Ham in the penultimate round of fixtures could be crucial. Liverpool and Chelsea are both away too, at Southampton and Man United respectively, so if City haven’t wrapped up the title by this point, matchday 37 could be a pivotal one.