The countdown to the Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup is drawing closer, as national teams continue to announce their 26-men squads ahead of the much-anticipated football spectacle that kicks off on November 20.
Brazil was among the first to announce their team list, which saw coach Tite releasing a star-studded squad. The five-time world champions have been deemed the tournament favourites, with the likes of on-form Neymar Junior, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo set to lead attack.
France also released their team list recently. However, some household names are missing from the Les Bleus squad, including Paul Pogba and N’golo Kante, who sustained long-term injuries.
The absence of the duo will undoubtedly be a big blow to Didier Deschamps’ plans to defend their title, after the pair played a pivotal role in their World Cup triumph in 2018.
Senegal will likely be compelled to make a forced change in their final team list, with captain Sadio Mane considered a huge doubt to participate in the tournament.
This after the 30-year-old limped off the pitch in Bayern Munich’s 6-1 victory against Werder Bremen in their Bundesliga encounter on Tuesday night. Among a host of stars set to miss the World Cup, Mane will arguably be the biggest absentee in Qatar.
This means Chelsea’s Edourd Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly will be expected to lead the charge to the knockout stages.
The African champions open their Group A campaign against the Netherlands on November 21, followed by an encounter against host nation Qatar before their lock horns with Ecuador.
Cameroon also released a list of players who will represent the central African nation.
The Indomitable Lions have a tough task at hand, as they will need to overpower Switzerland and Serbia in order to book a spot in the last 16, with Brazil fancied to top Group G.
The tournament starts on Sunday next week with a game between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium.
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