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Group a signifies football's global coverage considering it has teams from the Middle East, Africa, South America, and Europe. The group looks a straightforward one with Netherlands and Senegal being the favourites to qualify from the group but Ecuador and host nation Qatar will be all set to give a tough fight.
Netherlands
Considering the Netherlands' history, it is hard to believe that they last played a World Cup match way back in 2014. The match against Brazil helped them secure a third-place finish. But since then the team has gone downhill thanks to different managers and different styles of play.
But the Oranje is all set to showcase the world of football their dominant display. Because Louis van Gaal, whose tactics made the Dutch one of the most entertaining teams in Brazil is back at his duty. All eyes will be on Virgil Van Dijk, Frenkie De Jong & Barcelona forward Memphis Depay. The side is no short of quality players.
The 10th-ranked side is also grace with young talents like Nathan Ake, Mathijs de Ligt, and Tyrell Malacia have all performed for their club sides and would be looking to leave a footprint in their maiden World Cup. While the squad looks settled and their recent performances can affirm that they would fare well in Group A.
FIXTURES: November 21- vs SENEGAL, November 25 - vs ECUADOR, November 29 - vs QATAR
Squad
Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Remko Pasveer (Ajax), Andries Noppert (sc Heerenveen)
Defenders: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Nathan Aké (Manchester City), Daley Blind(Ajax), Jurriën Timber (Ajax), Denzel Dumfries (Internazionale), Stefan de Vrij (Internazionale), Mathijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Jeremie Frimpong(Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (FC Barcelona), Steven Berghuis (Ajax), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta), Cody Gakpo (PSV), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Kenneth Taylor (Ajax), Xavi Simons (PSV)
Forwards: Memphis Depay (FC Barcelona), Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Vincent Janssen (Royal Antwerp FC), Luuk de Jong (PSV), Noa Lang (Club Brugge), Wout Weghorst.
SENEGAL
The African Cup of Nations winners Senegal is fresh from success and would be looking to convert that form in FIFA World Cup 2022. The past has seen some famous African performances but nothing beats Senegal's 2022 triumph over France. Their quarter-final finishes in the same year are proof that they are not to be taken lightly.
After their early exit in 2018, Senegal will look to at least qualify for the Super 16. Looking at Group A, it seems highly unlikely their exit from group stages. If they can produce results in games against Minnows Ecuador and Qatar it would be easy for the African Champions.
With Sadio Mane up front and Edouard Mendy in goal, The African nation would be looking to produce some quality football not just in group A but also in the knockout stages.
FIXTURES: November 21 - vs NETHERLANDS, November 25 - vs QATAR, November 29 - vs ECUADOR
Squad
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea), Seny Dieng (QPR), Alfred Gomis (Rennes).
Defenders: Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis), Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea), Abdou Diallo (RB Leipzig), Pape Abou Cisse (Olympiacos), Formose Mendy (Amiens), Fode Ballo-Toure (AC Milan), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco).
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester), Pape Gueye (Marseille), Pape Sarr (Tottenham), Moustapha Name (Pafos), Mamadou Loum (Reading), Krepin Diatta (Monaco).
Forwards: Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich), Ismaila Sarr (Watford), Bamba Dieng (Marseille), Boulaye Dia (Salernitana), Famara Diedhiou (Alanyaspor), Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal), Iliman Ndiaye (Sheffield United).
QATAR
Qatar is the first country to make its debut in the mega showdown as a host nation. The 2022 World Cup is surrounded by so many controversies but the national team is all set to embark on its journey and make it a memorable one for the home audience.
Will it be a fruitful World Cup for the home side or will the controversy surrounding them will reflect on the national side too? Producing a single result seems unlikely for QATAR. Ranked 50 in the World Cup, Qatar has been playing with the same core for close to a year and with the majority of the players playing for Qatari teams.
The only success Qatar has generated on the international stage was back in 2019. Their Asia Cup victory is still their only major title. Although they would be looking to repeat Russia's performance in the last World Cup their qualification seems highly unlikely.
FIXTURES: November 20 - vs ECUADOR, November 25 - vs SENEGAL, November 29 - NETHERLANDS
Squad
Goalkeepers: Saad Al-Sheeb (Al-Sadd), Meshaal Barsham (Al-Sadd), Yousef Hassan (Al-Gharafa)
Defenders: Pedro Miguel (Al-Sadd), Musaab Khidir (Al-Sadd), Tarek Salman (Al-Sadd), Bassam Al-Rawi (Al-Duhail), Boualem Khoukhi (Al-Sadd), Abdelkarim Hassan (Al-Sadd), Ismaeel Mohammad (Al-Duhail), Homam Ahmed (Al-Gharafa), Jassem Gaber (Al-Arabi)
Midfielders: Ali Asad (Al-Sadd), Assim Modibo (Al-Duhail), Mohammed Waad (Al-Sadd), Salem Al-Hajri (Al-Sadd), Moustafa Tarek (Al-Sadd), Karim Boudiaf (Al-Duhail), Abdelaziz Hatim (Al-Rayyan)
Forwards: Naif Alhadhrami (Al-Rayyan), Ahmed Alaaeldin (Al-Gharafa), Hassan Al-Haydos (Al-Sadd), Khalid Muneer (Al-Wakrah), Akram Afif (Al-Sadd), Almoez Ali (Al-Duhail), Mohamed Muntari (Al-Duhail)
ECUADOR
After sealing the qualification berth for World Cup, Ecuador had to earn their qualification again as Chile challenged the birth status of Byron Castillo. After clearing the legal battle they joined Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay in the top four.
The legal trouble has somewhat overshadowed their terrific campaign which saw ECUADOR seal not just the qualification but also making them underdogs that can upset anyone on a given day.
ECUADOR has previously featured in three World Cups but is only returning after the 2014 World Cup. Ecuador will be expecting a good performance from their star midfielder Moises Caicedo. The Brighton player has been exceptional not just for the national team but has also performed for the premier league club. He was part of Brighton’s excellent start to the season under Graham Potter.
FIXTURES: NOV 20 - vs QATAR, NOV 25 - vs Netherlands, NOV 29 - vs SENEGAL
Squad
Goalkeepers: Moises Ramirez (Independiente del Valle), Alexander Dominguez (LDU Quito), Hernan Galindez (Aucas).
Defenders: Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen), Robert Arboleda (Sao Paulo), Pervis Estupinan (Brighton), Angelo Preciado (Genk), Jackson Porozo (Troyes), Xavier Arreaga (Seattle Sounders), Diego Palacios (Los Angeles FC), Felix Torres (Santos Laguna), William Pacho (Royal Antwerp).
Midfielders: Carlos Gruezo (FC Augsburgo), Jose Cifuente (Los Angeles FC), Alan Franco (Talleres), Moises Caicedo (Brighton), Angel Mena (Club Leon), Jeremy Sarmiento (Brighton), Jhegson Méndez (Los Angeles FC), Ayrton Preciado (Santos Laguna), Gonzalo Plata (Real Valladolid), Romario Ibarra (Santos Laguna).
Forwards: Djorkaeff Reasco (Newell’s Old Boys), Kevin Rodriguez (Imbabura), Michael Estrada (Cruz Azul), Enner Valencia (Fenerbahce)
