Pawa6 WC22 Edition Round 1 Preview: win MWK 1.5 Million for free
You don’t have to look far for the first cracking World Cup fixtures, with Senegal vs Netherlands sticking out like a sore thumb on Monday 21st November.
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Here are some insights to help you make your Pawa6 first round picks. Get ready to show off your knowledge to friends and make winning predictions as the drama unfolds in Qatar.
Qatar vs Ecuador
Stubborn South Americans out to spoil the party
Ecuador made themselves extremely difficult to beat during qualifying, and they’ve stayed that way in the buildup to the tournament. 6 consecutive clean sheets in friendlies must be taken with a pinch of salt, but it’s not a sequence that can be ignored either. Argentinian manager Gustavo Alfaro’s team aren’t looking to make themselves popular, and they simply have to collect 3 points in a group that also contains Senegal and the Netherlands.
Ecuador should get the job done in a match that isn’t likely to be the prettiest you’ll ever watch.
England vs Iran
Three Lions defenders unlikely to enjoy their afternoon
Gareth Southgate will need to select his strongest possible side against an Iran outfit that’s ranked 20th in the world. His central defenders are in for a bruising encounter against Porto striker Mehdi Taremi, a man who has proven his pedigree at the highest level. Go check out
in the Champions League from 2021.
In fact, Group B is the only one at the World Cup with all 4 nations occupying places inside FIFA’s top 20. That should already tell us that qualification for England will be far from straightforward, with the USA and rivals Wales also scrambling for places.
Carlos Queiroz, once manager of Portugal, Real Madrid and South Africa among others, and the assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Man United, has all of the experience and savvy to make this a difficult test for the Three Lions. England’s extra quality all over the pitch should prove decisive though.
Senegal vs Netherlands
Entertaining encounter on the cards
The absence of Sadio Mané is obviously a blow, but don’t ever rule out the Lions of Teranga. The African champions boast a formidable central midfield trio of Idrissa Gueye, Leicester’s underrated Nampalys Mendy and the battle-hardened Nottingham Forest man Cheikhou Kouyaté. Gueye in particular should be more settled after ending a frustrating spell with PSG by returning to Everton.
In attack, the unpredictable Watford man Ismaïla Sarr is way too good for the English Championship at the moment and it shows. He’ll certainly need to raise his level, but we all know he’s capable of doing that.
The Netherlands have won consecutive matches with clean sheets, but that follows a sequence of 6 outings without a shutout.
Watch out for 19-year-old midfield talent Xavi Simons, around whom there has been huge hype since he was barely 13, coming through Barcelona’s La Masia academy. He’s since moved to PSG and now PSV Eindhoven, where he produced a scintillating performance in the Europa League against Arsenal last month. As ever, keep an ear out too for Dutch manager Louis van Gaal’s entertaining press conferences. Here are some of
This should be one of the most competitive fixtures on matchday 1, and also a lot of fun for spectators.
USA vs Wales
Stars and Stripes stronger than you think
The majority of USA manager Gregg Berhalter’s “Golden Generation” plies its trade in Europe and they look especially strong in attacking midfield. Leeds United’s new recruit Tyler Adams does a bit of everything in the centre of the park, while his clubmate Brenden Aaronson has the stamina to run all day long but he’s also got great end-product. The real star quality is offered up Borussia Dortmund playmaker Gio Reyna, who only turned 20 last week, and Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, who will play with freedom away from the pressure of a struggling Chelsea team.
The obvious focus within Rob Page’s Wales squad will be on Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey. Ex-Arsenal and Juventus man Ramsey, now with Nice in France, is a quality operator but he’s going to struggle against the USA’s youthful midfield unit. Ramsey is 31, which isn’t an insignificant detail. Wales and Tottenham man Ben Davies is likely to have a torrid time against 19-year-old Yunus Musah, a wide attacker developing nicely with Valencia.
The fact that a match between USA and Wales can showcase so many global superstars is proof of how truly competitive football has become at the top level. The USA can, and probably should, put a serious cat among the pigeons in Qatar, and that has to start with an opening day win in a tough group also containing Iran and England.
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia
La Albiceleste look to flex their muscles
Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina are fancied to go very deep in the tournament, and it’s not difficult to see why. They’re unbeaten in 36 outings, and haven’t lost a football match since 2019.
A lack of goals remains the main issue for Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard. Star player and captain Salem Al-Dawsari is their major goal threat arriving off the back of a season where he bagged 15 goals and 6 assists in 31 games for Al-Hilal. His one stint in Europe with Villarreal was unsuccessful though, so that highlights the gulf in quality between these sides.
The world will be watching with great interest. Lionel Messi and his talented team should oblige with a stylish win, with more challenging tests against Mexico and Poland on the horizon.
Denmark vs Tunisia
Dark horse Danes should be too strong
The Danes were imperious in qualifying, and also notched a pair of recent Nations League wins over France. The 1992 European Champions are an elite outfit ranked inside the world’s top 10, and they came agonisingly close to the final at Euro 2020.
Much to the delight of the global football community, Christian Eriksen is back on the pitch and pulling the strings for club side Man United. Kasper Hjulmand’s team should be too good for a Tunisia side that failed to impress in qualifying.
