European champions Spain on quest to regain World Cup crown

EVEN though this summer’s Fifa World Cup features an expanded 48 teams – 16 more than the previous edition’s 32 – Spain are still the hot favourites to go all the way to the final and win the trophy.

The Spaniards swept all before them to become European champions at Euro 2024 and are heavily fancied to add to their sole World Cup title that they clinched back in 2010.

In this third part of BT Weekend’s four-part series to preview the World Cup, we look at the teams in contention in Groups G, H and I.

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

Belgium’s “golden generation” reached their peak between 2014 and 2022 when a squad boasting the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Vincent Kompany finished third at the 2018 World Cup and sat atop the Fifa world rankings for four years.

The current Belgium team are ranked ninth but they have a talented line-up that should still go deep in this tournament. Coach Rudi Garcia has retained most of his stars including Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku and De Bruyne.

There was a lot of talk in recent weeks about whether Iran would even make it to the World Cup, given the war in their country and the fact that the players have yet to receive a visa to travel to the United States.

Iran are in their fourth straight World Cup and depending on how the group stage results go, there’s a chance they could face the US in the Round of 32.

The most famous player in Egypt’s team is forward Mohamad Salah, who will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years at the English club. Salah has 67 goals in 115 appearances for his country, and he is almost certain to add to that tally.

This is New Zealand’s third appearance at the World Cup and the first since 2010. The All-Whites face an uphill challenge in this group and will likely have to slug it out with Iran to be one of the best third-placed teams to make it to the next round.

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Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

It’s hard to imagine any other outcome in this section other than Spain finishing top, such has been their dominance on the international stage in recent years.

With the likes of Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Pedri in a star-studded attack, it will take something special to defeat Spain. In fact, Luis de la Fuente’s men have not lost a single competitive game since winning Euro 2024 two years ago.

Uruguay, ranked 17th in the world, are the dark horses in this group. Coach Marcelo Bielsa has named a strong team that includes the likes of Darwin Nunez, Federico Valverde and Manuel Ugarte. It must be said, however, that they aren’t in very good form at the moment, with the heavy 5-1 defeat to the US a notable setback.

Cape Verde is one of four nations making their World Cup debut and they qualified by finishing ahead of Cameroon in their qualifying group. In all likelihood, they will go home after the first round but they will want to make the most of their three group fixtures against much more illustrious opponents.

Saudi Arabia shocked the world at the Qatar World Cup in 2022 when they beat Argentina in the group stage, and the two goalscorers that day – Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari – will probably be in the squad once again. 

The Saudi Pro League has also risen in prominence in recent years, so the homegrown players should have much greater pedigree and experience as they seek to create another upset.

Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway

France should have little fuss in making it to the next round as one of the top two in this group, though an impressive-looking Norway will have a big say in who ends up in first place.

The French have contested the last two World Cup finals, and they are still smarting from that penalty shootout loss to Argentina four years ago. Les Bleus will go all out to regain the crown and, with Didier Deschamps having the deepest and most talented roster at his disposal, expect to see France reach the semi-finals at the very least.

Norway are back at the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, and they arrive with one of Europe’s most fearsome attacks with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland leading the charge. Norway won all eight qualifying matches, including a memorable 4-1 demolition of Italy at the San Siro in Milan thanks to a brace by Haaland.

Senegal are known as the Lions of Teranga, and they are keen to build on their performance in 2022 when they reached the last 16. Their most recognisable player is Sadio Mane, the country’s all-time leading scorer with 53 goals.

Iraq were the 48th and final team to seal a spot at the World Cup finals, thanks to a 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff in March. Iraq last competed at the World Cup 40 years ago at Mexico 1986.

Check out the previews for Groups A, B and C here, and Groups D, E and F here.