World Cup preview: Group G – Salah’s last dance and the end of Belgium’s golden generation | OneFootball

The World Cup is almost upon us. From June 11 til July 19, 48 countries will fight to become World Champions in the tournament held in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

The teams in the tournament have already been drawn into 12 separate groups. Group G contains Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand.

Here’s a preview of the teams hoping to make it out of the group:

Belgium

Eden Hazard has retired, Kevin de Bruyne is 34 and Romelu Lukaku is 33. It is widely thought Belgium missed their opportunity of the golden generation winning something, but they do have talented youngsters coming through.

Jeremy Doku has been one of the best wingers in the world this season for Manchester City, Charles De Ketelaere is beginning to find his feet in Italy, with a combined eight goals and assists in Serie A, and they still have the reliable presence in goal of Thibaut Courtois.

Belgium will be confident of topping a relatively weak group.

Player to watch: Jeremy Doku. The winger has lit up the Premier League this season, registering five goals and five assists, but it is his trickiness and directness that are too much for most defenders to handle.

Stage of elimination prediction: Quarter-finals

Egypt

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Mohamed Salah was to make the next World Cup in 2030 given he is 33 and his incredible fitness levels, but it does seem he has declined considerably this season and that this tournament is ripe for him to make his final mark.

He will be partnered in attack by Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush. Marmoush is the future of Egypt and will be hoping to fire his country into the knockouts.

The Egyptians will feel confident of their chances given that eight of the 12 third-placed teams will qualify.

Player to watch: Omar Marmoush. Salah’s performances for Liverpool this season were concerning, and given the heat in North America it would be a surprise if he was at his best. Marmoush is 27 and in his prime. He had a disappointing season, but Egypt don’t have a wealth of star quality so will need to rely on either him or Salah.

Stage of elimination prediction: Round of 32

Iran

Iran will be appearing in their seventh World Cup but have never progressed past the group stage. Interestingly they actually beat the USA in the 1998 edition, to pick up their first ever victory at a World Cup.

They are fortunate this time around to be in a weak group where Belgium aside, anyone can beat anyone. This should see Egypt and Iran pick up a decent amount of points and both qualify for the knockouts.

Player to watch: Mehdi Taremi – the only Iranian to ever score multiple World Cup goals.

Stage of elimination prediction: Round of 32

New Zealand

New Zealand have only ever been at two World Cups, and this edition will be their first since 2010. Famously they went unbeaten in the group stage at that tournament.

They were still knocked out in the group stage, but drew all three games and finished above Italy remarkably.

New Zealand have never won a World Cup game and if they are to do so, they won’t get many better opportunities than this year.

Player to watch: Chris Wood. The Nottingham Forest striker had a poor season, only scoring three league goals, but he managed 20 the year before. He is a capable forward, and if New Zealand are to have any chance, he will have to be right at it.

Stage of elimination prediction: Group stage