Four years ago, in Russia, it was definitely Croatia. Luka Modric and his teammates stunned the world with their consistency and the amazing midfield that dominated both offensively and defensively. No wonder then they reached the very showdown but were prevented from putting their hands on the World Cup trophy thanks to Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe.Now, in 2022, some new forces and teams emerge on the stage from the shadows, hoping to repeat Croatia’s sensational result.2018 World Cup Runners Up Croatia 🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/qLAxja5W7a— My Greatest 11 (@MyGreatest11) November 17, 2022 Of course, every single football fan has their own vision of the game and the abilities of both players and national squads, but there’s a certain common consent about several teams that could turn into dark horses in Qatar…DENMARKIt’s been ages since the Dannes made a significant achievement at a World Cup. Their last 1/4 final appearance dates back to 1998 and to that mesmerizing generation led by unplayable Michael Laudrup and his younger brother Bryan.However, the Scandinavians have finally found a balance and look like they are predestined to go very far in Qatar.##NAJAVA_MECA_6816087##What threatened to be an almost unprecedented tragedy – when their captain Christian Eriksen suffered a heart attack in the opening minutes of the maiden EURO 2020 game – turned out to be a key factor for their togetherness. Nothing unites like that sort of accident, which thankfully didn’t end in Eriksen’s death. Not only did the current Manchester United midfielder survive and keep playing football, but his teammates managed to surprisingly reach the semifinals, where England were slightly better after the extra time.Miracle man Eriksen back in the fold for his countryThat sort of success proved the team is built of perfect materials, especially in terms of psychology. It certainly wouldn’t be enough to dream big if it wasn’t for their football qualities, too. The likes of Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Barcelona’s Andres Christiansen, Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard and others promise a lot of sauce in every line. There are no superstars on this Danish side, but that equality and balance obviously do wonders for this tiny country in North Europe.Most would think colour blindness would be crippling for any athlete – not for Denmark’s Thomas DelaneyThey’re placed in Group D alongside Tunisia, Australia and France. Except for the defending champion, the other two rivals don’t seem capable of stopping Denmark on their way to the Round of 16. And once there… anything is possible.URUGUAYLet’s be real – Fede Valverde is one of the world’s best footballers. Period.Real Madrid’s go-to guy has flourished into a mouth-watering performer who pushes the Madrid giants game after game. Now, he’s expected to be a smooth operator of his national side, too.The smartest investment in Real Madrid’s recent history – Fede ValverdeAnd to make things sweeter for South Americans, Valverde is anything but left alone there. We’re talking about an outstanding group of players, from a goalkeeper all the way to strikers.Maybe you can’t find this small country on the map, but there’s no chance you’re not familiar with the footballing qualities of Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez, Ronald Araujo, or Darwin Nunez.##NAJAVA_MECA_6816018##Yes, just as you can see, that Uruguayan side is packed with super-experienced players that have quite a few larger-than-life games in their CVs. Suarez and Cavani were essential pieces of that excellent WC puzzle back in 2010 when Uruguay reached the 1/2 finals for the first time since 1950.That painful moment between Ghana 🇬🇭 v Uruguay 🇺🇾 at the 2010 World Cup 🙈involving Luis Suarez. Ghanaian fans are waiting for revenge once World Cup kicks off. pic.twitter.com/Q3OBevaxad— Mimi Fawaz (@MimosaFawaz) November 16, 2022 Sure, they are veterans now, just like custodian Muslera, but that’s nothing but a virtue when the World Cup begins.However, their Group H seems challenging, with Portugal, Ghana and South Korea all aiming for similar success. That opening clash with Heung-min Son’s Korea will probably serve as a good test for Uruguayans. If they advance to the knockout stage, both Brazil and Serbia (as potential rivals) would have to play at maximum level to surpass Valverde and co.SENEGALLast but not least, we have one African side on the list. It’s Senegal, albeit the Lions of Teranga’s destiny in Qatar depends heavily on one man, or Mane, to be precise.Bayern Munich forward picked up an injury a week ahead of the tournament and was ruled out at first, but doctors are doing their best to get him fit for at least the ultimate group-stage game.There is a shred of hope that Mane might play at the World CupIf they succeed in doing so, Senegal’s chances will rise rapidly. The AFCON 2022 champions have demonstrated they can cope with pressure and high expectations.##NAJAVA_MECA_6816097##They are probably the best of five African teams in the tournament and – just like Uruguay – could use that group stage as a perfect answer to the question of how long they can go. That 1/4 final precisely 20 years ago is a massive inspiration and challenge for Sadio Mane and co. to follow in the footsteps of El Hadji Diouf, Pape Bouba Diop and others.From Milla’s dance to Gyan’s tears: three African World Cup 1/4 finals as a maximum that calls to be toppedOr maybe go even a few steps further…
