The 2022 World Cup is almost here, with the opening match taking place on Sunday. In preparation for the coming tournament, we have decided to take a look at the different groups in the first stage. This article will take a look at the teams in Group B – USA, England, Iran and Wales.
2022 World Cup analysis – Group B preview
USA
Matt Turner (Arsenal), Sean Johnson (NYCFC), Ethan Horvath (Luton Town), Sergino Dest (AC Milan), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville), DeAndre Yedlin, (Inter Miami), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Tim Ream (Fulham), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Shaq Moore (Nashville), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Kellyn Acosta (LAFC), Tyler Adams (Leeds United), Luca De La Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKinnie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (LOSC Lille), Haji Wright (Antalyaspor)
Analysis – The USA are heading into the World Cup with an exciting young squad. They have players like Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah who could really surprise in their group.
Wales
Wayne Hennessey (Nottingham Forest), Danny Ward (Leicester City), Adam Davies (Stoke City), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Joe Rodon (Rennes, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Mepham (Bournemouth), Ethan Ampadu (Spezia, on loan from Chelsea), Chris Gunter (AFC Wimbledon), Connor Roberts (Burnley), Tom Lockyer (Luton Town), Aaron Ramsey (Nice), Joe Allen (Swansea City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joe Morrell (Portsmouth), Dylan Levitt (Dundee United), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City), Jonny Williams (Swindon Town), Matthew Smith (Milton Keynes Dons), Sorba Thomas (Huddersfield Town), Gareth Bale (Los Angeles FC), Dan James (Fulham, on loan from Leeds United), Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth), Mark Harris (Cardiff City), Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest).
Analysis – Wales are competing in their first World Cup in 64 years, under Rob Page, who was recently promoted to the permanent head coach. They have veteran talent in the form of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Danny Ward, but also have young talents like Neco Williams, Dan James and Ethan Ampadu who could be the next generation talents.
Iran
Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal), Payam Niazmand (Sepahan), Amir Abedzadeh (Ponferradina), Ramin Rezaeian (Sepahan), Abolfazl Jalali (Esteghlal), Hossein Kananizadegan (Al Ahli SC), Shoja Khalilzadeh (Al Ahli SC), Mortza Pouraliganji (Persepolis), Majid Hosseini (Kayserispor), Sadegh Moharrami (Dinamo Zagreb), Milad Mohammadi (AEK), Ehsan Hajisafi (AEK), Saeid Ezatolahi (Vejle Boldklub), Ahmad Nourollahi (Shabab Al Ahli), Ali Karimi (Kayserispor), Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis), Mehdi Torabi (Persepolis), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord), Ali Gholizadeh (Charleroi), Saman Ghoddos (Brentford), Sardar Azmoun (Bayer Leverkusen), Karim Ansarifard (Omonia), Mehdi Taremi (Porto)
Analysis – Iran are the dark horses in this group, especially with the injury to Sardar Azmoun. Amidst all the political chaos ensuing right now in their country, they will have to tune it out and deliver on the pitch through sheer grit to qualify over all the other teams.
England
Nick Pope (Newcastle), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Coady (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Ben White (Arsenal), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), James Maddison (Leicester City), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Callum Wilson (Newcastle), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Analysis – The Three Lions are the favourites to make it to the knockout stages from Group B. However, they will have to find a way to fix their creative aspect to get the much-needed goals which win matches.
Who makes it to the knockout rounds of the World Cup?
England and Wales are expected to make it to the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup, with the former also having a chance to make it to the finals, considering they played the finals of the Euros only a year back.
