FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Group C Preview: Full squads and predictions

The 2022 World Cup is just about to start, with action kicking off this very weekend. In anticipation for the prestigious tournament, we are taking a look at every World Cup group this year. And in this article, we are focusing on Group C – consisting of Poland, Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Mexico. 

World Cup 2022: Group C Preview 

Poland

Bartlomiej Dragowski (Spezia), Lukasz Skorupski (Bologna), Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus), Jan Bednarek (Aston Villa, on loan from Southampton), Bartosz Bereszynski (Sampdoria), Matty Cash (Aston Villa), Kamil Glik (Benevento), Robert Gumny (Augsburg), Artur Jedrzejczyk (Legia Warsaw), Jakub Kiwior (Spezia), Mateusz Wieteska (Clermont), Nicola Zalewski (Roma), Krystian Bielik (Birmingham City), Przemyslaw Frankowski (Lens), Kamil Grosicki (Pogon Szczecin), Jakub Kaminski (Wolfsburg), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Al-Shabab), Michal Skoras (Lech Poznan), Damian Szymanski (AEK Athens), Sebastian Szymanski (Feyenoord), Piotr Zielinski (Napoli), Szymon Zurkowski (Fiorentina), Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona), Arkadiusz Milik (Juventus), Krzysztof Piatek (Salernitana), Karol Swiderski (Charlotte FC).

Analysis – Poland have a very good attacking line-up, with Lewandowski, Zielinski and Milik up front. However, the defence and midfield will have to maintain their shape and provide the chances for the forwards to pounce upon. 

Mexico 

Guillermo Ochoa (Club America), Alfredo Talavera (Juarez), Rodolfo Cota (Leon), Jorge Sanchez (Ajax), Kevin Alvarez (Pachuca), Nestor Araujo (Club America), Johan Vasquez (Cremonese), Hector Moreno (Monterrey), Cesar Montes (Monterrey), Gerardo Arteaga (Genk), Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Hector Herrera (Houston Dynamo), Charly Rodriguez (Cruz Azul), Erick Gutierrez (PSV Eindhoven), Luis Chavez (Pachuca), Edson Alvarez (Ajax), Orbelin Pineda (AEK Athens), Luis Romo (Monterrey), Alexis Vega (Guadalajara), Hirving Lozano (Napoli), Raul Jimenez (Wolves), Roberto Alvarado (Guadalajara), Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul), Henry Martin (Club America), Rogelio Funes Mori (Monterrey). 

Analysis – Mexico have a decent and experienced midfield, in Guardado and Herrera alongside the young Edson Alvarez. However, finishing might be a problem if Raul Jimenez can’t stay fit. Hirving Lozano will also play a key part in their ambitions this time around, being in form with Napoli. 

Saudi Arabia 

Mohamed Al-Owais (Al-Hilal), Nawaf Al-Aqidi (Al-Nassr), Mohamed Al-Yami (Al-Ahly), Yasser Al-Shahrani (Al-Hilal), Ali Al-Bulaihi (Al-Hilal), Abdulelah Al-Amri (Al-Nassr), Abdullah Madu (Al-Nassr), Hassan Tambakti (Al-Shabab), Sultan Al-Ghanam (Al-Nassr), Mohammed Al-Breik (Al-Hilal), Saud Abdulhamid (Al-Hilal), Salman Al-Faraj (Al-Hilal), Riyadh Sharahili (Abha), Ali Al-Hassan (Al-Nassr), Mohamed Kanno (Al-Hilal), Abdulelah Al-Malki (Al-Hilal), Sami Al-Najei (Al-Nassr), Abdullah Otayf (Al-Hilal), Nasser Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Abdulrahman Al-Aboud (Ittihad), Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al-Shabab), Fahad Al-Muwallad (Al-Shabab), Haitham Asiri (Al-Ahly), Saleh Al-Shehri (Al-Hilal) Firas Al-Buraikan (Al-Fateh). 

Analysis – Saudi Arabia have been drawn in a very difficult group, and are the second lowest ranked side in the World Cup. Realistically speaking, they aren’t expected to reach the knockout stages despite having a domestically playing squad. 

Argentina 

Franco Armani (River Plate), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), German Pezzella (Real Betis), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton), Enzo Fernandez (Benfica), Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla), Angel Di Maria (Juventus), Leandro Paredes (Juventus), Lionel Messi (PSG), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Paulo Dybala (Roma), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid)

Analysis – Argentina are not only the favourites to top the group, but also to win the World Cup. It will be Messi’s last time, and an unbeaten 35-game run will provide them with huge momentum heading into their matches. 

World Cup 2022 group C analysis – Who makes it to the knockouts? 

Argentina and Poland are the two favourites to make it to the knockouts. The Albiceleste are also the pick for many to win the World Cup this year, after their Copa America win last year. However, Mexico could also surprise us by finishing second in their group and making it through ahead of Poland.