FIFA updates the national team’s world rankings following the 2022 World Cup. Despite winning the 2022 World Cup, Argentina saw a justifiable increase in their position in FIFA’s updated men’s world rankings but failed to overtake Brazil for the top slot.

Argentina climbed into second place a day after defeating France in a thrilling World Cup final in Qatar, while rival South American nation Brazil remained in first place despite Selecao’s elimination from the tournament in the quarterfinals. World Cup finalist France moved up one place to third.

Argentina or France would’ve usurped Brazil had Sunday’s finale been decided within the allotted 120 minutes of playing time.

But since shootout victories are worth fewer points than a regulation win, according to FIFA’s calculation, Brazil’s place atop the rankings was assured when extra time was over at Lusail Stadium in Doha.

While Argentina won four games in regulation and two on penalties after losing its opening match to Saudi Arabia, Brazil won three matches in Qatar before losing to Croatia on penalties.

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While all was going on, the United States moved up three spots to 13th place, passing Mexico as the highest-ranked CONCACAF country. While Canada lost the most ground, falling 12 spots to 53rd, Mexico is rated 15th.

Following an unexpected run to the World Cup semifinals, Morocco shot up the rankings. The Atlas Lions are now the highest-ranked team in Africa after moving up 11 spots to place 11. Following exceeding expectations in Qatar, Australia and Cameroon also experienced double-digit increases, moving up to positions 27 and 33, respectively.

Belgium, however, dropped two spots from second to fourth after failing to advance through the group stage. The Red Devils are in front of sixth-placed Netherlands and fifth-placed England.

Top 20 rankings:

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The 2022  FIFA World Cup Qatar tournament has just two games left, and it has been spectacular, with some unexpected results and some of the top players in the competition winning the most Man of the Match awards.

FIFA World Cups, and football’s biggest stars living up to the expectation, stepping up their game, and making unforgettable experiences, are unavoidable facts of life.

Some of the greatest matches and biggest upsets from this edition in Qatar have been built, and a few players have wowed the world with their performances.

It has been an unbelievable delight to watch the FIFA World Cup 2022. Numerous players have constantly maintained their status in the biggest tournament in the world.

Despite the failure of numerous famous teams, some players displayed consistency and received numerous MOTM awards (Man Of The Match).

The Man of the Match award is given to a player who typically scores a crucial goal or otherwise directly contributes to the team’s victory.

In the FIFA World Cup 2022, Mp3bullet.ng unveils the following players who received the most Man of the Match awards:

• Christian Pulisic:

Christian Pulisic, the team’s Captain America, epitomized the Stars and Stripes’ fervour by leading the press from the front as Team USA brought a ton of energy and passion to the World Cup.

Pulisic lived up to the talismanic expectations that Team USA had for him by recording the most assists (2), most chances created (6), most take-on attempted (15), as well as scoring the momentous, heroic winning goal against Iran to advance the Yanks to the round of 16.

Pulisic deservedly won the player of the match twice.

USA have been knocked out but they can exit with their heads held up high.

Christian Pulisic was fantastic this World Cup with 1 goal, 2 assists and 2 Man of the Match awards 🌟 pic.twitter.com/ccswTzRum7

— CfcSheikh (@CfcSheikh) December 3, 2022

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• Yassine Bounou:

The 2022 World Cup’s Cinderella team has been Morocco. They were placed in Group F, along with Canada, Croatia, and Belgium. Considering Belgium and Croatia’s squad, many deemed Morocco to stand last in the table.

In addition to winning the entire group, Morocco advanced to the semifinals. They defeated Belgium in the group stage, Spain in the round of 16, and Portugal in the quarterfinals on their historic run to the semifinals.

Their goalie Yassine Bounou is a key factor in this victory. Throughout the competition, Morocco’s unmovable goalie remained reliable.

However, he won Man of the Match for his outstanding effort against Spain. In order to keep Spain at bay for the full 120 minutes, Bounou made numerous stops. In the penalty shootout versus Spain, Bounou also made two saves.

The underdogs had only let up one goal before France defeated Morocco. It was an own goal for that one goal. Against Portugal, Bounou was also given his second Man of the Match award.

Yassine Bounou deservedly won 2 Player of the Match Awards.

3 – Yassine Bounou, who made his 50th appearance for Morocco tonight, is the first African goalkeeper to record three clean sheets in a single edition of the World Cup. Heroic. pic.twitter.com/xW3DEN6LAL

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2022

• Dominik Livakovic:

Honestly, Yassine Bounou and this goalie are the greatest of the FIFA World Cup 2022. In penalty shootouts, Livakovic was mostly responsible for Croatia’s unstoppable force. Dominik made three stops against Japan in the Round of 16 penalty shootouts. Up until Neymar Jr. conjured up an amazing goal for Brazil, Livakovic remained steadfast in the face of the test.

The penalty shootouts, though, were where Livakovic really shined. Brazilian penalty number one was stopped by Dominik. As Livakovic expertly stopped it, Rodrygo Goes was unable to score Brazil’s first penalty. Due to their victory over Brazil, Croatia gained momentum. For his bravery against Brazil and Japan, Livakovic received two Man of the Match Awards.

• Luka Modric:

Another Croatia player, Luka Modric, on the other hand, is not just any average footballer; he is timeless. He’s one of the most underappreciated midfielders in football today.

The 37-year-old midfielder is widely considered to be one of the best in the FIFA World Cup 2022. Luka Modric was named Man Of The Match two times during the FIFA World Cup 2022. In the group stage encounter against Belgium, Modric won his first Man Of The Match award.

In a game where there was no scoring, Modric was given the honour for his ability to both retain defensive composure and create outstanding offensive opportunities. Another matchup against Morocco ended in a scoreless draw, and the Real Madrid player was again voted Man Of The Match. Overall, Luka Modric was able to earn two FIFA World Cup 2022 Man of the Match accolades.

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• Kylian Mbappe:

The standout player for Paris Saint-Germain is inspiring the next generation of footballers. He may soon join the ranks of many renowned football players if he continues in this direction.

For a country hoping to win back-to-back World Cup titles for the first time in its history, Kylian Mbappe has made it his mission to be the top goal threat.

France began their World Cup defence against Australia in the Group rounds. Kylian Mbappe shone as France defeated Australia 4-1. The teenager scored a goal and assisted another.

Mbappe had another appearance in the Group stage, this time against Denmark. Kylian scored two goals in the second half to help France advance to the Round of 16. Mbappe scored another brace against Poland in the Round of 16. Kylian Mbappe might also become the FIFA World Cup 2022 top scorer. Kylian has won three Man Of The Match awards at the FIFA World Cup 2022.

#Mbappe already has 3️⃣ Player of the Match awards at the 2022 #WorldCup 🏆

🤙 v Australia
✌️ v Denmark
👈 v Poland

Will he add to his collection in the #France 🆚 #England quarter-final on Saturday?! 😬#FRA #ENG #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/eJ4qxGHvZp

— Football Mad ⚽️ (@FootballMadUK) December 5, 2022

• Lionel Messi:

Lionel Messi, the national hero of Argentina, is on his way to the FIFA World Cup 2022 finals. In terms of Man of the Match accolades throughout the history of football, Lionel Messi now holds the top spot.

Argentina’s aspirations and hopes have been on Messi’s shoulders. But this time, perhaps as a result of the Copa America victory, the bond between Messi’s team and the fans has healed.

The Argentine skipper has therefore embraced his responsibility in this competition. The dream of the little Rosario lad has received much attention, but La Pulga has given his all on the field to turn that romanticism into reality for both himself and Argentina.

Furthermore, Messi is also dominating the rankings for the FIFA World Cup 2022. At the FIFA World Cup in 2022, Messi might also take home the golden boot. At the FIFA World Cup 2022, Messi received four Man of the Match awards.

In the match against Croatia, Lionel Messi gave his best Man of the Match performance. In the semifinal matchup against Croatia, Messi scored a goal and made a brilliant assist.

LIONEL MESSI WINS HIS 4TH MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD AT THE 2022 WORLD CUP 🐐🏆

No player has more. pic.twitter.com/5CIpjj45ik

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 13, 2022

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Morocco will play Spain in the round of 16 of the World Cup as compensation for winning a group that also included Belgium and Croatia.

In a World Cup round of 16 games between two countries from different continents separated by less than ten miles, Morocco takes on Spain on Tuesday in the afternoon in the Education City Stadium.

After suffering a shocking loss to Japan in their final group match, Spain placed second in Group E. La Furia Roja has one of the strongest teams in the competition, and they’ll do everything in their power to advance.

Morocco, on the other hand, has so far at the World Cup outperformed expectations and won their group. Last week, the African team outlasted Canada 2-1, and they’ll try for a repeat performance this time around.

• Team News:

Yassine Bounou, the starting goalkeeper for Morocco, was able to play the full 90 minutes against Canada after feeling unwell just before the win over Belgium and having to leave at the last minute. He can now hope to be included in an untampered XI.

Despite having some ankle issues, Achraf Hakimi—who delivered a lovely assist for En-goal—is Nesyri’s anticipated to be in good physical condition. However, the Paris Saint-Germain right-back was one of several starters who did not participate in full training on Saturday.

A well-deserved break was also provided to players like Sofiane Boufal, Sofiane Amrabat, and Ziyech, but there is no reason to believe that they won’t be available for Tuesday’s match.

Cesar Azpilicueta, David Raya, and Dani Olmo were all absent from Spain’s training session on Friday, while it was thought that the former had just needed to relax following a taxing group period.

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However, Simon was always expected to be given the gloves despite his mistake the last time out. Azpilicueta, who was replaced at halftime against Japan, is struggling with problems in his calf, and the reasons for Raya’s absence are yet unknown.

Against Japan, Enrique did not hesitate to start the young team of Nico Williams and Alejandro Balde, although Ferran Torres and Jordi Alba can anticipate returning to the starting lineup for the knockout rounds.

• Possible Lineup:

Morocco’s possible starting lineup:
Bono; Hakimi, Saiss, Aguerd, Mazraoui; Ounahi, Amrabat, Sahiri; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal

Spain’s possible starting lineup:
Simon; Carvajal, Rodri, Laporte, Alba; Pedri, Busquets, Gavi; Torres, Morata, Olmo.

• Score prediction:

Since Walid Regragui took over in August, no opponent has scored against Morocco. Morocco conceded just once in World Cup qualifying under his predecessor, Vahid Halilhodzic.

When under pressure, Spain appeared to be most vulnerable in this tournament. Germany gained a point from this strategy, but Japan may have provided Morocco with the model for a targeted press by resting in a compact shape before choosing their opportunities to attack. Morocco can duplicate this strategy because they are the only team in Qatar to have scored as many as two goals from high turnover rates.

Prediction: Morocco 1-1 Spain

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Following a disappointing 0-0 draw against Croatia on Thursday, Belgium was eliminated from the World Cup.

Roberto Martinez’s side needed a win against the 2018 World Cup finalists to progress past the group stage, but they were unable to find the back of the net.

Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ were knocked out of the World Cup as a 0-0 draw with Croatia sent the 2018 runners-up into the last 16 with Group F winners Morocco. Romelu Lukaku hit a post and missed a number of opportunities.

In third place four years ago and number two in the world rankings until recently, Roberto Martinez’s team struggled to keep up in Qatar. Despite a second-half improvement that gave Romelu Lukaku several scoring opportunities, they were unable to secure the victory they required as Morocco defeated Canada.

Captain Eden Hazard was dropped for the start of the match, and Romelu Lukaku came on to miss four big chances as Belgium’s World Cup journey came to a disappointing end.

Croatia advances to the round of 16, but only after finishing in second place in the group behind Morocco, which defeated Canada 2-1 to take the first position.

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Ivan Perisic’s attempt went over the crossbar in the first 20 seconds as Croatia took control from the opening whistle.

After 14 minutes, Belgium immediately counterattacked, but Dries Mertens was unable to reach the goal following a superb through ball from Kevin de Bruyne.

After less than a minute, Yannick Carrasco was found to have fouled Andrej Kramaric inside the penalty area, earning Croatia a penalty.

Referee Anthony Taylor was sent to the monitor by the VAR as Luka Modric was getting ready to take the penalty kick, and the decision was reversed for an offside throughout the buildup.

The rest of the half turned out to be a tense affair, but the game came to life after the break.

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was called into action early on and prevented Croatia on three separate occasions.

Lukaku was brought on in the second half, and the Inter Milan striker missed two big chances in quick succession.

Lukaku was the quickest to react to a rebound just after the hour mark, and he was able to hit the post from close range with the goalie out of position.

With the goal at his disposal, the striker then headed another easy attempt over the bar.

The striker continued to miss two additional open goals as Croatia held off late attempts from Belgium. Lukaku’s night was not good.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Belgium crashes out of 2022 World Cup, after goalless draw, Croatia into round of 16.

Morocco defeated Canada 2-1 on Thursday to win World Cup Group F and guarantee a spot in the round of 16 for the first time since 1986.

Despite being placed in a challenging group with teams like Croatia and Belgium, who placed second and third in 2018 respectively, Morocco managed to steal four points from the European teams before holding on to defeat Canada in their final group match.

Hakim Ziyech took advantage of a poor clearing by Milan Borjan to give Morocco the early lead. Morocco needed a win or a draw in their last Group F match to advance to the knockout rounds.

The ball was skillfully lobbed over the stranded goalie by midfielder Ziyech, who was being cheered on by a raucous crowd of Moroccan supporters.

Steven Vitoria, a centre-back, put Borjan in a difficult situation with a poor back pass that required the goalie to outrun Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri to the ball.

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Throughout the first half, En-Nesyri was a threat. He doubled Morocco’s advantage in the 23rd minute by running onto a long pass from Achraf Hakimi and beating Borjan at the near post.

During stoppage time of the first half, En-Nesyri also slammed a volley into the Canadian goal, but the goal was deemed offside.

Morocco finished first in the group and will play second finishers in Group E after Croatia and Belgium drew in the other Group F match.

In the 40th minute, Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd unintentionally flicked a cross from Sam Adekugbe past his own goalie Yassine Bounou to give Canada its first World Cup goal.

Canada, which is leaving its first World Cup without a win since 1986, will automatically qualify for the 2026 tournament as co-hosts alongside the United States and Mexico.

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The manager of Belgium, Roberto Martinez, has claimed that even if his team is eliminated from this year’s World Cup in the group stages, the legacy of the country’s “golden generation” has already been established.

To advance to the knockout stages, the Red Devils must defeat Croatia in their final group match and hope that Canada wins against Morocco.

Without doing so, the so-called “golden generation” of Belgian players, many of whom are nearing the conclusion of their international careers, would come to an end.

Speaking ahead of the final group game, however, Martinez has insisted that the player deserve respect for what they’ve achieved throughout the years: “Leaving a legacy goes a lot further than winning a tournament.

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“I’m sure you can find national teams that win tournaments and don’t leave a legacy. This group of players deserves respect, deserves admiration for what they’ve done.”

“You’re talking about players that left Belgium very young to go to the [top] European football [clubs]. They win trophies and they’re always committed. You’ve got eight players that are above 100 caps. We’ve got Thibaut Courtois reaching his 100th cap against Croatia. You got players that they gave their career for the national team.

“This generation is the golden generation of Belgian football. There is not a doubt. They got the bronze medal in 2018, they kept the national team four years at the No. 1 spot in the world rankings, a population of 11 million.”

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Roberto Martinez offers verdict on Belgium’s ‘golden generation’..

Morocco stunned Belgium 2-0 in World Cup Group F on Sunday, with Abdelhamid Sabiri scoring from an audaciously tight angle and fellow substitute Zakaria Aboukhlal adding a second in stoppage time.

Sabiri’s free kick from near the corner flag beat Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at the near post for the 73rd-minute winner, securing Morocco’s third World Cup victory.

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Hakim Ziyech set up Aboukhlal’s goal on the counterattack as Belgium was caught rushing for the equalizer.

Ziyech’s free-kick missed everyone in the penalty area and caught Courtois off guard, giving the North Africans another opportunity to score with the final kick of the first half. However, a VAR review revealed that skipper Romain Saiss had been just slightly offside.

Morocco has four points with two games remaining, while Belgium has three. Later on Sunday, there is another Group F match between Canada and Croatia.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on The 2022 World Cup of shocks delivers again as Morocco defeats Belgium..

Although satisfied with the result given that countries like Argentina and Germany were defeated in their opening matches at the World Cup, Belgium coach Roberto Martinez acknowledged that his team needs to improve after securing a tight 1-0 victory over Canada.

After Saudi Arabia’s victory over Argentina and Japan’s victory over Germany, Canada attempted their best to pull off the third major upset of the week as they competed in their first World Cup game in 36 long years.

The Canadians had a wonderful opportunity to go in front early on, but Thibaut Courtois equalized Alphonso Davies’ penalty. The energetic Maple Leafs played with confidence and a high press, creating additional opportunities that they were unable to seize.

Just before halftime, Belgium took the lead thanks to a goal from Michy Batshuayi, who grabbed a through ball over the middle.

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This appeared to provide some calm, and Martinez’s substitutions at halftime and early in the second half also helped Belgium, putting the game beyond Canada’s reach.

“Canada deserved to be better than us in the way they played,” Martinez told BBC Match of the Day after the final whistle. “I think the result reflects the things that we had to do and the way we defended for each other and took our chance.

“It’s a win and we need to play better and to grow. We’ve been here five days, we have to grow with these games. Many top teams are losing games. This tournament is going to make you develop and grow as the tournament goes on. If you do that by winning games, it’s an incredible advantage.

“Today we didn’t win by our normal talent and quality on the ball, but you don’t win in the World Cup if you don’t do the other side of the game. We need to be realistic, we need to play well but when a team can win without playing well, it’s a lot to build on.”

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Kevin De Bruyne has revealed that his passionate argument with Toby Alderweireld after Belgium’s 1-0 win over Canada in their World Cup opener was over the team’s style of play.

Michy Batshuayi scored the only goal of the game in the first half while Thibaut Courtois was forced to come to Belgium’s rescue as he saved Alfonso Davies’ penalty.

Canada, however, was the superior team for the majority of the match and De Bruyne admits he was unhappy with Belgium’s tendency to favour the long ball.

‘It was not good,’ De Bruyne told Sporza.

‘I thought we had the wrong way of building up in the first half, we didn’t find the space while the space was there. We adjusted that during the break, after which it was slightly better. Although it was still not good enough as a team.

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‘That was also what my discussion with Alderweireld was about. I think there was more space than was seen and I thought we were looking for the long ball too much while there was room to get through.

‘Anyway, some discussion about the way of playing is no problem. We do know what needs to change.

‘In the end, this [the performance] wasn’t the most important thing either.

We weren’t good enough, but the fighting spirit was good. That’s something we’ve always had, but also a minimum requirement. If it doesn’t work, you can still win. We need to learn from this and also be realistic. It has to be better, including myself.’

When asked about the row, Alderweireld said: ‘That is pure football, that is emotions.

‘We are not here to treat each other like choirboys, we are here as men. Kevin had something and I disagreed.

‘That is emotion and shows that we are working on it. The buttons turned very quickly and that was just over between Kevin and me. We are more than okay.’

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Kevin De Bruyne discusses his falling out with Toby Alderweireld after Belgium beat Canada..

In Belgium’s opening match against Canada at the FIFA World Cup 2022, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois set a new record.

Following their third-place finish in the 2018 FIFA World Cup hosted in Russia, all eyes will be on Belgium to see how far they can go in the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

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At the FIFA World Cup, which is now in Qatar, Thibaut Courtois of Belgium and Real Madrid set a new record during the opening match against Canada on Wednesday, November 23, 2022.

Thibaut Courtois made history by becoming the first goalie to start three consecutive World Cup games. In the Belgian team, the 30-year-old goalie has played a crucial role. He was integral to Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League, and Spanish La Liga won in the 2021/2022 club football season.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Thibaut Courtois Breaks World Cup Record for Belgium in Qatar 2022..

When they face Canada on Wednesday to open their World Cup campaign, Belgium is expected to be without a few key players. Belgium, who won the bronze medal at the 2018 World Cup, will face a Canadian side that is making history.

The anger among fans following Belgium’s defeats in the Nations League finals and the Euro 2020 final puts pressure on manager Roberto Martinez to perform for the country.

While things may not be going well in the Belgian camp right now, John Herdman’s Canadian team is having a fantastic time.

Canada’s performance on the road in qualifying, where they won only two of seven games, and in their most recent CONCACAF Nations League match, which they lost on the road in Honduras, is cause for concern.

Despite having a very difficult group on paper, they will be confident of improving on their only previous finals trip in 1986, when they lost all three games without scoring. However, with a much superior squad this time around, they will be confident of improving on that.

Here’s all you need to know about Belgium’s and Canada’s World Cup encounter:

• Team News:

Belgium:

The primary issue in Belgium in the run-up to the competition was whether or not Lukaku was healthy. The Inter Milan player won’t play in this group opener, so Batshuayi is expected to start, while Lois Openda is also a possibility.

Thorgan Hazard, who was one of their great performances at Euro 2020, has struggled with injuries recently, therefore Timothy Castagne or Yannick Carrasco might replace him as a left wing-back.

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Thorgan’s brother Eden Hazard is a favourite of Martinez’s despite his lack of game time at Real Madrid and will probably start on the left-hand side of a three-pronged attack.

Martinez has come under fire for his continued selection of ageing players, although young centre-back Zeno Debast is expected to start after Dedryck Boyata and Jason Denayer were left off the roster.

Canada:

Almost 20 years after his debut, Canada’s captain Atiba Hutchinson should get his 99th cap while competing in his first major tournament.

Alphonso Davies, a star player, got a hamstring injury while playing for Bayern Munich two weeks ago and is unlikely to compete in this match.

Given his versatility and ability to play full-back, wing-back, on the wing, or as a number 10, Davies is not only Herdman’s primary man but also essential to how they may set up, so losing him would be a significant loss.

While Larin and Tajon Buchanan play in Belgium for Club Brugge, the majority of the predicted starting XI for Canada are European players, thus this Belgian test won’t be unfamiliar to many of them.

• Possible lineup:

Belgium’s possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Debast; Meunier, Tielemans, Witsel, Castagne; De Bruyne, Batshuayi, E Hazard

Canada’s possible starting lineup:
Borjan; Laryea, Johnston, Steven Vitoria, K Miller, Adekugbe; Buchanan, Hutchinson, Eustaquio; David, Larin

• Score prediction:

One of five countries to participate in a World Cup without scoring is Canada. If Herdman’s quick frontline can take advantage of Belgium’s advanced and ageing centre-backs’ immobility, they could be able to end the team’s goalless streak.

Even though Belgium’s defence is vulnerable, it would still be a major surprise if Canada managed to defeat the second-ranked country in the world.

Prediction: Belgium 3-2 Canada

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Here is a look at the top 20 goalkeepers who will be key to their team’s success as the world’s greatest football teams arrive in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The value of a goalie to a football team cannot be overstated. Modern goalkeepers have a variety of duties throughout a game, from stopping goals from the opponent to launching an attack from the back.

The life of a shot-stopper is not monotonous, for our first mid-season World Cup, we can expect more hilarious and amazing moments from the players who wear number one.

Who’d be a goalkeeper? Well, this lot; here are the Top 20 first-choice goalkeepers at the 2022 World Cup ranked.

20. Milan Borjan – Canada.

Milan Borjan, a Canadian who was born in Croatia, is in Qatar with 65 caps.

Milan Borjan, who has kept double-digit clean sheets in Serbia’s top flight each of his last five seasons with Red Star Belgrade, has been a key component of the spine that has allowed young stars like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David to flourish. These players are destined to hog the admiration of young fans.

19. Remko Pasveer – Netherlands.

Who proclaimed that it was ever too late to compete in international football? Not Remko Pasveer, for sure.

At the age of 38 years and ten months, the Ajax goalkeeper made his first two appearances for Die Oranje after receiving his first call-up in 2022. The veteran appears set to keep his spot in November after a strong start to the domestic season for Ajax.

18. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic – Serbia.

Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, the younger brother of Lazio player Sergej, is Torino’s first-choice shot-stopper and has seized the starting position for Serbia since the year 2022 began.

The 25-year-old can hope to play a significant role in Group G after starting four games during his country’s Nations League campaign throughout the year and contributing significantly to their remarkable form.

17. Sergio Rochet – Uruguay.

Two-time winners Uruguay will put out one of the most exciting sides they’ve had in a long time in Qatar.

Powerhouses Rodrigo Bentancur and Federico Valverde will patrol behind a forward line consisting of Luis Suarez and Darwin Nunez, promising some fireworks and fearsome football in midfield and attack, while Sergio Rochet’s six clean sheets in his eight Uruguayan caps suggest a complementary resilience at the back.

The Nacional goalkeeper made his debut in January and has been a mainstay ever since thanks to some standout performances in goal.

16. Guillermo Ochoa – Mexico.

What would the World Cup be like if Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico played? It’s hardly worth watching.

The 37-year-old has been chosen for Mexico’s team for a fifth straight World Cup after making an explosive impression in the previous two tournaments. There’s no denying Ochoa’s renowned charm and leadership, even though he may not be the same great cat-like goalie we’ve previously seen.

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15. Kasper Schmeichel – Denmark.

While Brendan Rodgers’ team’s disastrous start to the 2022–23 season showed how important Kasper Schmeichel was to them, Leicester was far from secure at the defence last season.

The former Leeds goalkeeper is a massive presence in goal, fending off opponents in classic Schmeichel fashion, and will captain a Denmark team that shouldn’t be disregarded this winter.

14. Wojciech Szczesny – Poland.

It is undeniable that Wojciech Szczesny of Poland has improved as a goalkeeper; it is only his persistent propensity for a misstep that prevents him from reaching the top.

Nevertheless, he is Poland’s finest shot-blocker and will definitely play at a fifth major championship for his country.

13. Bono – Morocco.

No, it’s not the U2 frontman, it’s Sevilla and Morocco number one Yassine Bounou – better known, like a pretty well-known Irishman, as Bono.

He’s had a very rocky start to the season with a seemingly despondent Sevilla, but that doesn’t take away from the quality he’s consistently shown between the sticks in recent seasons.

12. Andre Onana – Cameroon.

Andre Onana has had a really difficult few years, but he appears to be flying again despite some significant turbulence.

He earned a move to Inter as a result of his continued success for Dutch champions Ajax, where he won three Eredivisie titles and maintained 60 league clean sheets over five seasons. At Inter, he is persistently challenging the very well-established Samir Handanovic thanks to some impressive Champions League performances.

11. Yann Sommer – Switzerland.

Yann Sommer is a mainstay for Borussia Monchengladbach despite playing for a Bundesliga team that frequently gives up a ton of goals.

The 33-year-old goalkeeper is just outstanding, and he regularly pulls off spectacular saves that send spectators’ hands to their heads. Keeping six clean sheets as the Swiss won five games and drew three, Sommer enjoyed a standout World Cup qualification campaign and distinguished himself during Switzerland’s performance at Euro 2020, finishing first in Group C ahead of Italy.

10. Unai Simon – Spain.

It’s little surprise to see Athletic Club’s Unai Simon consistently claiming the title of Spain’s primary shot-stopper these days.

By keeping players such as David de Gea and Kepa Arrizabalaga off the World Cup squad, Spain’s head coach Luis Enrique has made significant decisions. Instead, Enrique has chosen Unai Simon, Robert Sanchez, and David Raya as La Roja’s three goalkeepers for their campaign in Qatar.

To maintain his position as Spain’s best shot-blocker, Simon holds off competition from Sanchez and Raya.

In contrast to De Gea and Arrizabalaga, who plays for Manchester United and Chelsea, respectively, Simon plays club football for the less prestigious Athletic Bilbao in Spain. Simon has participated in 27 games for Spain and recorded 12 shutouts.

9. Diogo Costa – Portugal.

Portugal boss Fernando Santos has a few goalkeeping options to pick from; gone are the days of Rui Patricio automatically donning the gloves. The likes of Jose Sa and Diogo Costa are all pushing for that starting role for their nation and, for the moment, the latter seems to be succeeding.

Costa, who is only 23 years old, has had a significant impact since making his senior Porto debut and taking over as the team’s starter at the beginning of the 2021/22 season.

He has played for Portugal at every level, and after starting six of his nation’s eight games in 2022, he is expected to play a significant role in Qatar.

8. Keylor Navas – Costa Rica.

Although there aren’t many stars on Costa Rica’s national team, Keylor Navas stands out when compared to players like Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell who play in the outfield.

Navas, a goalkeeper who is frequently overlooked, has a long list of achievements to his credit. He still contributes greatly to his country despite appearing to have lost the competition for a starting position at Paris Saint-Germain to Gianluigi Donnarumma.

He’ll be a hard act to follow after announcing that Qatar 2022 will be the end of his international career.

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7. Emiliano Martinez – Argentina.

Everyone would agree that Emi Martinez, a former bench warmer for Arsenal, has done outstanding work to establish himself as a starter in the Premier League at Aston Villa and, in the process, make himself important at the international level.

The 30-year-old, who was a key player in Argentina’s Copa America victory last year and has won each of his 18 caps since June 2021, will undoubtedly be used by one of the favourites in Qatar.

6. Jordan Pickford – England.

Although prone to the occasional slip-up at the club level, Jordan Pickford has consistently held the top spot for England under Gareth Southgate thanks to his dependability on the international stage.

The Everton player’s toughest opposition should come from Aaron Ramsdale’s sustained success with Arsenal, but Pickford should be a safe pick for Qatar given his prior success at important tournaments.

5. Edouard Mendy – Senegal.

With 30 shutouts in his first two seasons as a Premier League goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy has rightfully entered the conversation about the “greatest ‘keeper on earth.”

The Chelsea player may not have had the best of beginnings to this season because new manager Graham Potter appeared to second-guess his first choice in goal, but he is still a fantastic shot-stopper for a Senegal team that may cause some controversy in Qatar.

4. Hugo Lloris – France.

Defending champions France are currently seeing a new generation rise through the ranks, giving spectators an interesting championship defence this time around. However, several old-guard veterans are still there despite being headed by outfield stars like Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni.

Hugo Lloris, who has served as a hero for his country over the years, will surely captain France once again this winter as he approaches 140 caps.

3. Manuel Neuer – Germany.

Of course, the passage of time has caused Manuel Neuer to lose some of the abilities that have helped him become one of the most admired, complete, and unbeatable goalkeepers of all time. In spite of Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s fierce competition, the 36-year-old German is still at the top of his game and maintaining his spot in the national team.

The captain of Bayern Munich and Mannschaft missed COVID-19’s September international matches, but he should return to lead his country at the World Cup for a fourth straight major tournament.

2. Thibaut Courtois – Belgium.

Thibaut Courtois, the European champion, had to be the clear choice as the greatest goalkeeper among the elite competitors who will compete in Qatar this winter. The gangly, enormous goalkeeper has been a crucial part of Real Madrid’s humming machine for the past two years as he has been in top form.

Despite the current fading of Belgium’s Golden Generation, the Red Devils have an unbreakable base on which to grow thanks to Courtois in goal.

1. Alisson Becker – Brazil.

For the World Cup, Brazil coach Tite has the luxury of selecting from two top-tier goalkeepers. Alisson and Ederson are the two goalkeepers vying for spots in Brazil’s starting lineup, and Weverton is the third goalkeeper included in the World Cup squad.

While Alisson plays for Premier League side Liverpool, Ederson is the goalkeeper for Liverpool’s Premier League rivals Manchester City. Both Alisson and Ederson keep churning out quality performances every week, but in Qatar, Alisson is likely to be preferred over Ederson. The Liverpool goalkeeper has been in brilliant form this season at the club level and made numerous vital saves for the team.

Alisson also has the ability to launch Route One if necessary and excels at beginning counterattacks from the back. Watch out for Alisson performing his magic in between the poles as Brazil is one of the favourites to win the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

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