Posted on: Posted Date – 11:00 PM, Fri – 11/18/22
The former international footballer from the city believes the tournament will be a competitive one and it will be difficult to predict a winner.
Hyderabad: The stage is set for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where superstars gather to attract the attention of fans. With only one day left until the start of the tournament, everyone is thinking about who will be the champion.
The former international footballer from the city believes the tournament will be a competitive one and it will be difficult to predict a winner. “You can’t predict the absolute favorite to win the World Cup. A team from South America or Europe will win, but the competition will be tight,” said former Indian football captain Victor Amalraj.
“It’s heartening to see an Asian country host a World Cup. This big tournament is famous for throwing out champion players. We saw that with Pele and (Dhiago) Maradona, they took the world by storm. Despite this This World Cup belongs to stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo who will play their last tournaments, but I feel this World Cup will also give birth to new stars,” he said.
Asked to choose his favorite team, he said, “Argentina and Brazil are always favourites. You can’t always rule out Germany, while England are a strong team because of the quality of their players. We can’t underestimate any team.” ’ ” On a team that could cause a major upset, the Costa Rica team next to him is known as the giant killers and will deliver a few surprises.
Meanwhile, former India international and Dhyan Chand winner Shabbir Ali also said that the match will be a close one. “Picking favorites is very difficult. Argentina and Brazil are everyone’s favourites. And Germany and France. There are some strong players. But just like Croatia surprised everyone last time they reached the final, there will be some surprises . It’s going to be a really fun game for sure,” he felt.
It would be nice to see Messi or Ronaldo lift the World Cup, the veteran added. “This is also the last chance for Ronaldo and Messi to lift the World Cup. It would be a good thing if either of them won the title, because they have all the trophies in their cupboards except this coveted one.” .”
“There are a lot of teams that can surprise. The nature of the World Cup is that anything can happen. European champions Italy did not qualify. It is the most open World Cup ever,” he added.
Shabir Ali, who also coaches Telangana’s football team, believes the release is important for Ronaldo, given the turbulent period he has endured at his club Manchester United.
“While it’s a good opportunity for the youngsters to prove themselves, it’s also an opportunity for established players who haven’t been doing well. This is the first World Cup to be held in the middle of a football season. Ronaldo, in particular, has a bit of a need Proof, because he has had a dispute with the club. Although he has shown that it is a way to go beyond the break, given the tension now, he has to show it,” he said.
