With Italy failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, there will be several top Juventus players watching the tournament from home. For defenders like Mattio De Sciglio and Leonardo Bonucci, the opportunity may never come again. But for other members of the famous Bianconeri team, the sense of excitement and anticipation is beginning to reach a fever pitch.
Indeed, there are some among the Juventus contingent who are sure to enjoy their opportunities, representing some of the most powerful national teams, preparing for the challenge of fighting for the greatest honor in football. Let’s take a look at the players who could feature in the three current World Cup favourites, ahead of the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Brazil
According to the vast majority of major bookmakers, Brazil is the absolute favourite, even when the World Cup betting 2022 markets begin to tighten. This is based on the odds available at online betting sites reviewed by SBO, industry experts who have produced the definitive guide covering every angle of the tournament, including where to find the most competitive odds and best promotions. As always, comparing bookmakers is worth the time and effort.
Having made 46 appearances for the national team since 2011, right-back Danilo appears certain of his place in the Brazil squad. He most recently featured in the squad in September, first as an unused substitute in a 3-0 win against Ghana, before playing the full 90 minutes of a convincing 5-1 win against Tunisia. Alex Sandro was not present for those matches, although he hopes to be named in the final squad for the 2022 World Cup.
Less sure of his chances is central defender Bremer, who made his Brazil debut as a second-half substitute against Ghana. He remained on the bench for the second match against Tunisia, when the usual pairing of Marquinhos and Thago Silva was re-established. However, the 25-year-old Juventus player will keep his fingers crossed.
Argentina
After arriving as two key signings from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, defender Leandro Paredes and midfielder Ángel Di María have yet to impress for juventus, considering their disappointing WhoScored match performance ratings thus far. But while the Argentine duo still have work to do for their club, they will undoubtedly be crucial players for their country at the World Cup as they aim to live up to expectations as top contenders.
This will undoubtedly be the last World Cup appearance for Di Maria, who is expected to announce his international retirement after the tournament in Qatar, as will his illustrious compatriot and former PSG teammate Lionel Messi. Both fulfilled a lifelong ambition when they became Copa América champions in 2021, when Di María scored the winner against Brazil in the final.
Just as important to that success, and equally important to any ambition to succeed at the 2022 World Cup, Leandro Paredes’ form will need to improve if those hopes are to be realised. His role at the heart of midfield will be essential, especially being surrounded by such creative attacking spots, tasked with keeping everything together in midfield.
France
After all the hype surrounding his return to Juventus, ‘Lady Luck’ was unfortunately not with the ‘Old Lady’ when it came to Paul Pogba. Literally days after leaving Manchester United on a free transfer, the 29-year-old suffered a serious meniscus injury in pre-season, raising serious questions about his World Cup appearance with France.
However, apparently recovered from that knee injury, Pogba returns to training with Juventus full of hope. This is important news for the club, which is cautiously optimistic that it could see action before the end of October, although not wanting to force anything at the risk of a possible relapse. It also appears that French coach Didier Deschamps is keen to keep the door open for Pogba before announcing his final World Cup squad.
One player hoping to feature in Qatar is Adrien Rabiot, who was actually one of their best players, during a dismal run of team performances in the UEFA Nations League campaign. Rabiot was the star player when France beat Croatia 1-1 in June, scoring the game’s opening goal. The 27-year-old has performed well for Juventus this season, which is important as France hope to defend their World Cup title.
