Some of the giants have been given tougher group-stage draws than others, which will no doubt affect their chances of lifting the trophy in Qatar. With a number of heavy defeats and strange results in recent Nations League matches and friendlies, there remains no clear frontrunner for the tournament. For neutrals, this is excellent news. Despite the criticism of the Qatari World Cup that is justified, there is no doubt that there will be a great deal of entertainment on the field at least. There are many potential contenders for World Cup glory in 2022. There are undoubtedly favorites, but a number of teams have a legitimate chance of winning.

Brazil

There is a sense that this may well be Brazil's time. For the past 20 years, the Seleço has not lifted the World Cup and has been disappointed at the event. It is also important to note that Tite is blessed with a talented group of players who are determined to prevent that from occurring this time around. There are very few teams in the world that are able to match the exuberance and synergy of the Brazilians, but they are also compact in midfield and are able to play well defensively. Brazil is a formidable outfit and rightfully many people's favorite to go all the way in Qatar.

Argentina

It is difficult to differentiate between the two current favorites, both of whom are from South America. Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup aloft to officially crown himself as the greatest footballer we have ever witnessed is the dream of every romantic football fan this winter. Considering the kind draw Messi's side received in the group stage, they have a great chance to achieve this. It is the best Argentina team in decades, and they will be seeking to conclude a golden era that began in 2021 with the Copa America victory.

England

It is important to be aware that the ludicrous schedule for the 2022 UEFA Nations League should not be taken as gospel going into the tournament. In spite of the fact that England's performance was poor during the recent campaign, Gareth Southgate's team is capable of winning tournament football matches. Despite its excellent personnel, it is functional, but Southgate's pragmatic approach has helped the Three Lions reach the semi-finals and final at both of their recent major tournament appearances.

France

There is no denying the talent and depth France possesses at certain positions. There is no doubt that the 2018 champions will be among the favorites, however, there are a few reasons why they fail to crack our top three. Back-to-back winners have not been seen since 1962. The French squad has historically been prone to mutiny during World Cups, and Didier Deschamps will enter the tournament without the best players that led the nation to glory in Russia. The loss of Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante is devastating to this French team.

Spain

At Euro 2020, Spain surprised a number of people with how strong they were. The road has not been smooth since, but Luis Enrique remains arguably the best coach in international football and he has assembled a group of players who are willing to sell into his philosophy. During the Euros, we saw that Spain can play with the telepathy of an elite club side. Their weakness, however, is the lack of a reliable outlet and their vulnerability in defense. The team relies on Enrique's excellent structure to protect a relatively uninspiring backline. However, their midfield is magnificent. Due to their technical superiority, they are able to control any game they are involved in, and this goes a long way toward winning football matches.

Germany

A certain amount of progress has been made with Hansi Flick's revolution with Die Mannschaft. Despite being better now than they were during Jogi Low's tenure, Germany may not be in the position they want at the beginning of the World Cup. While Jamal Musiala is likely to have a standout tournament, Flick's other forwards are in poor form heading into the competition.

Netherlands

The Netherlands, like Denmark, is characterized by unity, but they have superior personnel and a manager with World Cup experience in Louis van Gaal. Despite failing to qualify for the tournament four years ago, the Netherlands has an impressive World Cup record without ever winning the event. Memphis Depay is the talisman of Van Gaal's attack, Virgil van Dijk is the indomitable force behind the midfield, and a talented defense features Virgil van Dijk as his captain. There is no doubt that they will prove to be a challenging opponent in Qatar.

Portugal

Portugal is not often mentioned as a potential favorite, but their squad possesses a number of world-class players. Manchester City's spine is dominated by Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, and Bernardo Silva. The trio is completed of Rafael Leao, Bruno Fernandes, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who is one of the biggest stars in the world right now. In Qatar, manager Fernando Santos will start every match with CR7, who has been maligned by Manchester United fans. That is to be determined whether it is a positive development or not.

Denmark

There may not be as much talent as among the world's strongest footballing nations, but Denmark's squad is coached like a club side and their harmony is apparent on the field. During his tenure as the national team's coach, Kasper Hjulmand has demonstrated exceptional leadership and will be looking to improve on the national team's semi-final finish at Euro 2020. In terms of form, Denmark is one of the strongest nations in the tournament. They are capable of overwhelming opponents due to their verticality and intensity - provided they are able to maintain the high levels of energy they have displayed in recent years.

Uruguay

There are several key players for Uruguay who are in excellent form going into the competition in Qatar. Federico Valverde and Rodrigo Bentancur are playing some of the best football of their young careers, while Darwin Nunez is causing a few problems for opposing teams. Despite being relatively youthful, Uruguay's veteran forwards Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani continue to be serviceable options. Diego Alonso's team's balance has placed them in this top ten, and the return of star defenders Jose Maria Gimenez and Ronald Araujo should lift them to the top of the list. Matias Oliveira, a left-back for Napoli, is also developing well. It is certainly worth keeping an eye on Uruguay.

By Rashmi Goel