While the European and South American domestic leagues prepare to take a break for the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, there is no let up for the best players on the planet before the competition eventually gets under way in just 13 days.
Here at SBOTOP we’re all set to give you all the latest World Cup 2022 updates as they happen; but this week we are still on league duty as we have a full set of fixtures this weekend. In the Premier League there are some mouth-watering clashes around the corner, not least when high flying Newcastle United entertain Chelsea on Saturday. And elsewhere there will be plenty of stars strutting their stuff in the Premier League before they pack their bags for Qatar.
Group H at the World Cup is bursting with Premier quality and here are just four of the big names to look out for.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal
Who else can we talk about but the great CR7 who will be representing the Selecao, quite possibly for the last time at a major tournament? The pre-tournament World Cup 2022 betting odds rate Portugal as one of the Big Nine nations who can win the trophy, and when you look at the talent they have, particularly housed in Manchester, it’s easy to see why.
At Manchester City alone, wingback Joao Cancelo, central defender Ruben Dias and attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva are three of the most highly rated stars in the English top flight. Meanwhile, across the road at Old Trafford we see full back Diogo Dalot, midfield ace Bruno Fernandes and, of course, Ronaldo. He’s not having the best of seasons at Old Trafford and has cut a frustrated figure since failing to secure a summer move to a Champions League club but, with 117 goals from 191 games for Portugal, Ronaldo is still one of the very best in the business…and he loves a big stage.
Darwin Nunez: Uruguay
At the other end of his career, 23 year old Uruguay star Darwin Nunez still has the lion’s share of his football story to come. But he’s made a sensational start to life in European football, impressing at Almeria before switching to Benfica where he scored 32 goals in 57 games. His form in Portugal earned him a transfer to Liverpool which could reach £85m with add ons.
Alongside the great Mo Salah, Nunez is learning quickly at Anfield. He’s missed three games, having copped a red card early in the campaign, but his direct running and fierce shooting make him a terrifying prospect for opposition defences. He could link up with Liverpool legend Luis Suarez in Qatar…and that is some prospect.
Heung-Min Son: Korea Republic
Spurs flying winger-cum-striker Heung-Min Son is one of the best creative and attacking players in world football, striking up a lethal partnership with Harry Kane at Tottenham and as the shining light for the Korea Republic. There has been some doubt as to whether Son will make Qatar after suffering a terrible eye injury in the first half of Spurs’ 2-1 victory over Olympique Marseilles last week; but his club boss Antonio Conte is confident his man will make it to the World Cup.
He needs an operation on a fractured eye socket so time is tight, but Son will surely be a standout performer in Qatar if all goes well this week. His link up play, explosive speed and shooting quality make him one of the best players in the world. The Koreans desperately need their captain and, at 30 years of age, Son has plenty of time to increase his tally of 35 international goals from 104 appearances.
Thomas Partey: Ghana
The Black Stars of Ghana will fancy their chances of emerging from this wide open group and if midfield lynchpin Thomas Partey carries his domestic performances to the World Cup they will be a difficult side to beat. The Arsenal midfielder was in superb shape when the Gunners beat Chelsea to stay top of the league on Sunday. He completed the most tackles and passes in the match and seems to be coming into the form of his life, just in time for the Black Star’s Qatari adventure. Partey has become a crucial cog in the Arsenal machine, which is blessed by creative attackers and the Ghana man has the perfect combination of reading and breaking up play, with the ability to play key passes into the final third. And he can produce the spectacular too, on his day, as he showed as he curled in a sublime goal when Arsenal met Nottingham Forest recently.
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