Summary: Jordan - Spain 3:1 (Sport1)
Denmark stunned Europe in 1992, Greece provided an even bigger sensation at Euro 2004 and Portugal celebrated a historic title in 2016.
At the European Championships it happens (once every 12 years): small teams - or at least not the traditional big ones - can pick the gold.
Not so in the World Cup.
There have been eight winners to date in the various World Cups.
One of the top ones (Italy) did not come to Qatar at all and the first champion (Uruguay) entered the tournament in the very last row and cannot challenge for the title.
We are left with six champions and it is estimated that this time too the trophy will remain within the same exclusive club.
So just before it starts, here's a snapshot of the top contenders to win Qatar 2022.
Brazil
Neymar and friends want to dance in Qatar too (Photo: Reuters)
The winner of the World Cup feels that the time has come for the sixth title and according to all the betting agencies she is indeed the leading candidate to win.
Although Brazil has not experienced a final since the celebrations of Ronaldo in 2002, but since the "poisoning" and the loss to Argentina in the round of 16 in 1990, they have made their way to at least the last eight in every World Cup.
After building herself up in a gradual and calculated process since Tita's appointment in 2016 and forming a staff that has been running together for some time, she is now looking forward to reaping the rewards.
The great star Neymar, who started the season in a wonderful way in the PSG uniform, is only two goals away from Pele's all-time record in the national team, but the dependence on him has decreased significantly.
That's how it is when around you there are talents such as Vinicius, Gabriel Jesus, Rodrigo, Rafinha, Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta.
But this is not the only attack.
Selsao has a diverse squad from the world's top starting in goal (Alisson and his replacement Ederson), continues with defenders like Marquinhos and Ader Militau who join the veteran captain Thiago Silva and moves up to the midfield that includes Casemiro and Fabinho.
The defensive positions are the only ones that disturb Tita's rest (he responded with the summoning of the 39 and a half year old Dani Alves), but that should not prevent Brazil from going all the way.
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France
Will Hugo Lloris swing one more time? (Photo: Photo processing, Reuters)
The world champion comes to Qatar with the aim of doing what no one has been able to do since Brazil 1962: retain the title.
Didier Deschamps, the captain who lifted the World Cup in the home tournament in 1998, retired from the team after winning the Euros and did not experience the collapse of the World Cup in 2002 - which the tricolor finished with one point and no goal.
Similar humiliations in the group stage four years after the title, since then also Italy, Spain and Germany have passed.
All of them were overwhelmed by satiety.
Just before he probably gives way to Zinedine Zidane after a decade in the job, Deschamps wants to show that his France is different and maybe also become the first coach since the Italian Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930s to win the World Cup twice.
For better or worse (we'll only know after the tournament), this will be a completely different French team.
13 players from the squad of the previous World Cup will not be there this time, including the link trio that started in the final in Moscow.
The injuries to Angolo Kante and Paul Pogba are critical, with the latter also considered a vocal leader who complemented captain Hugo Lloris well and his dominant presence will be sorely missed in the dressing room.
On the pitch, Orleans Tshoumani will have to fill the void, just as he did at Real Madrid when he replaced Casemiro.
And of course there is another difference.
This time Deschamps presents an offensive weapon that he gave up on his initiative in Russia, and not just any weapon but Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema.
The fantastic striker changed the whole attitude towards him in France since he returned to the national team and the combination between him and Kylian Mbappe created sparks.
Now it is precisely the Paris Saint-Germain star who is fighting for his image - after repeated conflicts with the association and harmful publications since the renewal of the contract - and there is nothing like a big tournament in the owner's homeland to shut up.
Argentina
All for Leo Messi (Photo: GettyImages, MB Media)
The lifting of the Copa America in Marcana on July 11, 2021, after a victory in the final over bitter rival Brazil, whet the Argentines' appetite.
Leo Messi removed several monkeys from his back with one hand, when he obtained a first title with the national team, demonstrated leadership and gathered around him a group that is ready to sacrifice everything for his sake.
It is said that Argentina has never had such a united squad, and the glue is Messi and the desire to make him a world champion.
As was Diego Maradona.
At the age of 35 and a half, Messi comes determined, sharp and focused to the fifth World Cup which will also be his last dance.
He has a goal and with him the friends who were partners in winning the jackpot.
The goalkeeper Emiliano Martins, the hero of the penalties in the semi-final against Colombia, is surrounded by a halo in the team;
Coty Romero is the unofficial successor to Roberto Azalea;
And Rodrigo de Paul and Andrew Paredes have formed a wonderfully harmonious link together with Gio Lo Celso who will be absent due to injury and has now left a vacancy in the squad.
The question is who will step into his shoes, whether Lautro Martins will be able to provide the goals at the right moments and reduce the pressure from Messi and how fit Angel Di Maria and Paulo Dybala will be to add the necessary dose of creativity.
The solutions will have to be given to Lionel Scalloni.
The former player was appointed as a temporary coach after the previous World Cup and the dismissal of Jorge Sampaoli, but it was he - from an inferior position and without special expectations - who led Argentina to the first title since 1993 and an unimaginable streak of 35 games without a loss.
He could break the world record in the group stage, but Kona is already buying one early stumble for a place in the final and a chance to give Messi a make-up for the 2014 miss.
England
Will Harry Kane and friends take the next step? (Photo: GettyImages, Michael Regan)
At the World Cup in Russia they suffered a heartbreak in the semi-finals and at last year's Euros they made it all the way to the final at Wembley, only to kick the bucket on penalties in front of the home crowd.
Apparently, England has everything it takes to go the extra mile this time and win the first title since 1966. Gareth Southgate has proven his ability to maintain stability throughout a major tournament with a style that is not necessarily classic English, there is fierce competition for every position and the young talents who joined make this generation the most talented ever.
That's why many gamblers put their chips on her.
The fact that the World Cup was held in the middle of the season actually plays into the hands of the English.
The top players come from teams with tight schedules and don't need time to get into the rhythm. Most of them are also in great shape. Jude Bellingham is developing into one of the best midfielders in the world, Bokayo Saka is impressive at Arsenal, Mason Mount, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish are full of talent and Harry Kane is Supplier of double doors.
Will Southgate know how to stabilize the defense (in light of the defenders' injuries and Harry Maguire's weakness) and also find the way to combine his offensive tools?
In the League of Nations this did not happen.
England failed to win in six games, were humiliated at Wembley by Hungary and were also relegated.
If she comes back to herself, maybe the new king will have a reason to party after all.
Spain
A national team in rapid development (Photo: Reuters)
Luis Enrique has taken on the task of rebuilding Spain and is trying to produce a new golden generation that will walk in the light of the winners of the 2010 World Cup (and two European championships).
The semi-final in the last Euro heralded a faster progress than many thought, when Fedri was even chosen as the outstanding young man of the tournament.
Gabi joined him later and at the age of 18 already has 12 appearances to his credit, and other young people were also thrown into the cold water without any fear.
Spain in an accelerated process.
According to the betting agencies, La Roja is ranked fifth among the candidates.
Thanks to the up-and-coming young people and thanks to the methodical coach who knows how to mix tactics in the tiki-taka and does not account to anyone.
He does not give in to populist whims and is not afraid to take drastic measures.
He gambled on Unai Simeone as first keeper, gave endless credit to Alvaro Morata and made Pablo Sarabia a key player - against all predictions or recommendations.
But Spain does not have one big star, no go-to-gay.
Morata will try to take care of the goals and maybe Ansu Fati will also see that the injuries are behind him and will explode in Qatar.
And in addition, the lottery did not lighten the face of Luis Enrique, who has to play against Germany already in the group stage.
If the Spaniards finish in second place, then they will probably receive Belgium in the round of 16 and then maybe Portugal.
The first place may create a clash with Brazil in the quarter-finals.
In any case, the road will not be a bed of roses.
Germany
Mainly nominated when its value is underestimated (Photo: GettyImages, Alexander Hassenstein)
Holland is the favorite of the crowd, Portugal is diverse and deep and has Cristiano Ronaldo who died to show everyone that it was not a miracle, and there is also Belgium that belongs to the top of the world for a decade (and usually falls in a quarter or half).
All of them deserve to be considered as candidates, but history shows that it is absolutely forbidden to ignore Germany.
Such a Wiener who mainly relies on an empire like Bayern Munich, cannot stay outside.
Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller are still here, as the standard bearers of the 2014 victory and the undisputed leaders (along with Ilkay Gundogan who then missed the tournament), but the difference will have to be made by the representatives of the middle generation.
Antonio Rudiger will be required to lead the unstable defense, Yushua Kimich and Leon Goretzka are supposed to create a dynamic link line that also helps in the work of scoring and Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry will deliver the speed from the wings.
If Hanzi Flick accepts all this, continues to promote the exciting Jamal Musiale and also finds a reliable scorer (Kai Habertz? Maybe even the 17-year-old Yusuf Mokoko?) - Germany can come from behind as they like and issue the most unsurprising surprise there is.
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Brazil national team
Argentina national team
French national team
England team
Spain team
German national team