FRANCE
4/10 To Win Group | 6/1 To Win Tournament | FIFA Ranking: 4
How They Qualified
Eased through qualification, going unbeaten in a group containing Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kazakhstan.
Coach
Didier Deschamps – The former Juventus and Chelsea midfielder already has the honour of winning the World Cup as a player and a manager, but he would write his name into the history books again if he can make France the first back-to-back winners since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
Key Player
Karim Benzema – This year’s Ballon D’Or winner is a man for the big occasion after a phenomenal campaign with Real Madrid last season. The 34-year-old racked up a staggering 44 goals in 46 club games during the 2021-22 campaign and was instrumental in them securing a record 14th Champions League title.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola, Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda.
Defenders: Axel Disasi, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate, Jules Kounde, Benjamin Pavard, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Raphael Varane.
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga, Youssouf Fofana, Matteo Guendouzi, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jordan Veretout.
Forwards: Karim Benzema, Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Christopher Nkunku, Marcus Thuram.
TUNISIA
14/1 To Win Group | 350/1 To Win Tournament | FIFA Ranking: 30
How They Qualified
Cruised through the African qualifiers, winning four and drawing two in a group that also included Equatorial Guinea, Zambia and Mauritania. In the playoffs, Tunisia defeated Mali 1-0 on aggregate to reach their sixth World Cup.
Coach
Jalel Kadri – The 50-year-old was brought in at the start of this year after the Eagles of Carthage crashed out of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in the quarter-final stage at the hands of Burkina Faso. He has managed the majority of his career domestically in Tunisia, while also having short spells in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Key Player
Youssef Msakni – As the captain, most experienced player and their leading goalscorer, the 32-year-old would be considered the country’s star man. With 17 goals in his first 85 appearances for his country, Msakni currently plays his club football in Qatar at Doha outfit Al-Arabi.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Aymen Dahmen, Bechir Ben Said, Mouez Hassen, Aymen Mathlouthi
Defenders: Ali Abdi, Dylan Bronn, Mohamed Drager, Nader Ghandri, Bilel Ifa, Wajdi Kechrida, Ali Maaloul, Yassine Meriah, Montassar Talbi
Midfielders: Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Ghaylane Chaalali, Aissa Laidouni, Hannibal Mejbri, Ferjani Sassi, Elyas Skhiri
Forwards: Anis Ben Slimane, Seifeddine Jaziri, Issam Jebali, Wahbi Khazri, Taha Yassine Khenissi, Youssef Msakni, Naim Sliti
AUSTRALIA
10/1 To Win Group | 250/1 To Win Tournament | FIFA Ranking: 38
How They Qualified
Secured a World Cup spot for Qatar 2022 by the thinnest of margins as they overcame Peru 6-5 in a penalty shoot-out to qualify.
Coach
Graham Arnold – The 59-year-old took charge of the Socceroos as a caretaker manager following the 2000-2006 period where he worked as an assistant to then managers Frank Farina and Guus Hiddink. After spells with the Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC, Arnold returned to the international set-up in 2018 with hopes of guiding Australia to their best-ever finish at a World Cup.
Key Player
Aziz Behich – Australia will head into the Qatar World Cup as underdogs and defending will be paramount to success. Left-back Aziz Behich has proven himself on big stages, currently plying his trade in the Scottish Premiership for Dundee United, winning the Turkish Super Lig in 2018/19, and most importantly, being a part of Australia’s 2015 Asia Cup winning team.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan, Andrew Redmayne, Danny Vukovic
Defenders: Milos Degenek, Aziz Behich, Joel King, Nathaniel Atkinson, Fran Karacic, Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles, Bailey Wright, Thomas Deng
Midfielders: Aaron Mooy, Jackson Irvine, Ajdin Hrustic, Keanu Baccus, Cameron Devlin, Riley McGree
Forwards: Awer Mabil, Mathew Leckie, Martin Boyle, Jamie Maclaren, Jason Cummings, Mitchell Duke, Garang Kuol, Craig Goodwin
DENMARK
3/1 To Win Group | 28/1 To Win Tournament | FIFA Ranking: 10
How They Qualified
Finished top of Group F, winning nine and losing just one of their 10 matches to end up four points clear of Scotland in second.
Coach
Kasper Hjulmand – The 50-year-old has been in charge of Denmark since 2020, replacing Age Hareide when his contract expired, and he has enjoyed a brilliant start in what is his first international job.
Key Player
Christian Eriksen – While Denmark have the likes of Andreas Christensen, Kasper Schmeichel and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in their ranks, the undoubted star of the show is Christian Eriksen. The 30-year-old pulls the strings in midfield for Hjulmand’s side, and if the Danes have any hopes of going all the way in Qatar, the form of Eriksen will be crucial.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Kasper Schmeichel, Oliver Christensen, Frederik Ronnow
Defenders: Alexander Bah, Simon Kjaer, Joachim Andersen, Joakim Maehle, Andreas Christensen, Rasmus Kristensen, Jens Stryger Larsen, Victor Nelsson, Daniel Wass
Midfielders: Thomas Delaney, Mathias Jensen, Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Christian Norgaard, Robert Skov
Forwards: Andreas Cornelius, Martin Braithwaite, Kasper Dolberg, Mikkel Damsgaard, Jesper Lindstrom, Yussuf Poulsen, Andreas Skov Olsen, Jonas Wind