final pre-cup thoughts
Saturday, November 19, 2022
Sticking just to the play on the field.
Who I think will win: Brazil.
Who I will root for: USA, then Spain.
Who I hope will win other than USA or Spain: Argentina.
Tomorrow's opening match is between hosts Qatar and Ecuador. Qatar is the worst of the four teams in Group A, and even given the home-field advantage, I expect them to lose all three matches. Akram Afif should shine in defeat. Ecuador has plenty of young talent (Piero Hincapie, Moises Caicedo, Gonzalo Plata), and they could conceivably squeak past a Senegal team missing Sadio Mane for second place in the group.