Overlooked teams at this year’s World Cup

Sponsored content

As the countdown to the World Cup begins, countries are gearing up for football’s biggest international competition. The tournament will certainly feel unique, with the prospect of a first-ever winter World Cup held in Qatar throwing a spanner in the works.

Having interrupted domestic football around various continents, the competition has come around at a time where players are performing at their peaks, meaning the standard is likely to be incredibly high, but the potential for injuries in the coming weeks risks plans for managers across each of the 32 nations. Indeed, the likes of Paul Pogba, Diogo Jota and Georginio Wijnaldum will be absent in the Middle East, adding an extra layer of uncertainty to squad selection and Qatar World Cup odds.

This unpredictability has not only made world cup football betting even harder, but has helped some dark horses emerge ahead of the group stage. Read on, as we look at the teams that have gone overlooked ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. 

South Korea

Many believe South Korea’s entire World Cup campaign depends on the availability of Heung-Min Son, but with the Tottenham Hotspur man requiring eye surgery after an injury sustained in the Champions League, the rest of the team will get a chance to show their worth until he returns. They play in Group H with Uruguay, Ghana and Portugal, and while many would have them as outsiders, there’s a chance they could top the group if they win their opening game. 

Aside from Son they have centre-back Kim Min-jae, an integral part of an in-form Napoli side that are one of the best in the world right now. Going forward, there’s also Hwang Hee-chan of Wolves and Lee Jae-sung, who signed for Bundesliga side Mainz 05 last summer after impressing in the K-League.