How will Argentina fare at the 2022 World Cup? Join @SteTudor123 as he looks at La Albiceleste in his everything you need to know guide ahead of this winter's competition...

Argentina History at the World Cup

If you’re taking part in a World Cup sweepstake ahead of Qatar 2022, and you’re lucky enough to pull Argentina out of the hat then count your blessings. 

Because not only are the South American giants the tournament third-favourites in the sports betting, but they’re priced at 13/2 for two distinct reasons - their past and present. 

Concerning the present, Argentina have a squad packed with world-class talent, from the most obvious example of Lionel Messi, to a striker in Lautaro Martinez who has fired 21 goals in 40 outings for his country.

Argentina qualify for the 2022 World Cup after a goalless draw against Brazil 👏🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/cQFqcxlHwP

— GOAL India (@Goal_India) November 17, 2021

If united, this line-up can hurt anyone and presently they are fighting the same cause, the reigning Copa America champions unbeaten in 33 games. 

As for their past, this is a nation steeped in World Cup heritage, winning the tournament twice – in 1978 and 1986 – and finishing runner-up three times.

One of those occasions was in 1930, illustrating that for a large bulk of football’s existence Argentina have been a side to be seriously reckoned with.

Argentina Nickname

La Seleccion, that translates as the ‘national team’ are better known as La Albiceleste (‘The white and sky blues’). 

This refers to the colour of Argentina’s stripes which in turn reflects their national flag.

Why white and sky blue? Frankly, that’s a debate best left well alone, with South American historians arguing about it for many years.

World Cup 2022 Group

La Albiceleste could have been more fortunate with their draw in Group C, even if it does contain Saudi Arabia, the lowest ranked side in the competition.

Elsewhere, Mexico was the highest ranked team in Pot 2 while the fourth entrant is Poland, a dangerous outfit headed by the ever-prolific Robert Lewandowski.

Argentina Fixtures:

• Argentina vs Saudi Arabia - 22nd November 2022

• Argentina vs Mexico - 26th November 2022

• Argentina vs Poland - 30th November 2022

Argentina Kit World Cup 2022

Adidas have reverted to a more traditional design for Qatar ’22 though the blocky navy blue on the sleeves and inner-collar won’t be to everyone’s taste. 

World Cup History

🇦🇷 Argentina pic.twitter.com/vl0ws86AuA

— Wiki Kits (@WikiKits) October 12, 2022

For their away number, caution has been thrown to the wind with a lavender colourway complete with flames to denote the Sun of May that is found on the national flag.

Who Is The Argentina Manager?

An assistant to Jorge Sampaoli at Sevilla, then later with Argentina, Lionel Scaloni stepped into the international hot-seat in 2018. Remarkably, it was his first ever managerial position.

Even so, the former West Ham full-back has taken to the role like a duck to water, installing confidence into a previously fractured squad and leading them a first major honour for 28 years.

In overseeing a win over arch-rivals Brazil in the Copa America final last year, Scaloni has secured the trust of a nation.

Best Argentina Player

Even at the seasoned age of 35 and on the cusp of international retirement, who else could it be other than Lionel Messi, the supernaturally-gifted dervish who has made 164 appearances for the Albiceleste. 

Arguably the greatest player to ever lace up a pair of football boots, the little genius will be hellbent on lifting the famous trophy this December to finally quieten those who suggest he has never been peak-Barca Messi at international level.

🇦🇷 The magic of Messi 🧙‍♂️#UCL pic.twitter.com/GFUpVnJXrJ

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 10, 2021

Argentina Odds at 2022 World Cup

Scaloni’s team are heavily fancied to top Group C, even if Mexico and Poland will give them problems along the way. Don’t expect much value when they face Saudi Arabia, but elsewhere they’re well worth backing.

As for the other World Cup bets that are available it’s telling that La Albiceleste are the same price as England in the outright market. Putting patriotism to one side, who do you think is most likely to go all the way? 

Bet on Argentina at the 2022 World Cup with 888sport today!

How will the United States fare at the 2022 World Cup? Join @SteTudor123 as he looks at Team USA in his everything you need to know guide ahead of this winter's competition...

United States History at the World Cup

It may surprise that the United States men’s national team (USMNT) participated in the first two World Cup finals, even reaching the semi-finals in 1930, the tournament’s inaugural outing.

As football mushroomed into a global phenomenon, the USA held a significant presence. 

Only then, for many different cultural reasons, ‘soccer’ steadily regressed in its popularity, surpassed by baseball and basketball, and dwarfed by American Football and this inevitably had a big impact on their international standing. USMNT only qualified for one World Cup between 1934 and 1990.

For the final time: This is how they stand in World Cup qualification in the Concacaf region. Canada, Mexico & the United States qualify automatically. Costa Rica heads to the playoff. pic.twitter.com/IVfqoY56R7

— Jon Arnold (@ArnoldcommaJon) March 31, 2022

That was in 1950 and at least during that competition USMNT had a moment to savour, a huge upsetting of the football betting as they beat England 1-0 in a group encounter.

The game has become known as the ‘miracle on grass’ and is still considered one of the World Cup’s unlikeliest results.

The formation – and relative success – of the North American Soccer League in the Sixties began a revolution that was three decades in the making, as the game gradually became more professional and subsequently homegrown talent slowly emerged. 

An appearance at Italia ’90 was viewed as a novelty but then a hosting of the tournament four years later saw the sport grow in prominence, attracting interest which in turn attracted youngsters with natural ability.

USA ’94 was their second of six consecutive appearances, reaching the quarter-finals in 2002. Currently, USMNT are ranked 15th in the world. 

USA Nickname

In the summer of 2014, just prior to their sixth World Cup outing in a row, an ultimately doomed campaign sprang up, demanding that USMNT be given a proper nickname.

Though technically they are referred to as the ‘Stars and Stripes’, in homage to the national flag, in reality, nobody calls them this.

There was a poll, and the winner was the ‘American Dream’. Regrettably, it didn’t take off. 

World Cup 2022 Group

England, Wales and Iran make up their opponents in Group B and USMNT will back themselves to progress to the knock-outs, most likely as the runner-up to group favourites England. 

They will know what to expect from Wales, a lot of heart and a reliance on some magic from Gareth Bale, while Iran have an array of decent, technical players. But the Americans have the beating of them both. 

United States Fixtures:

• United States vs Wales - 21st November 2022

• United States vs England - 25th November 2022

• United States vs Iran - 29th November 2022

USA Kit World Cup 2022

For the first time in international football, Nike have placed their swooshes on the sleeves, rather than the front, and the uproar this prompted at least distracted from the banality of the overall design.

Official USA World Cup kit review 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/tdYiVWW6pm

— Jake Barford (@BFordLancer48) September 22, 2022

Bluntly-speaking, it looks like a knock-off training top, found on a market stall.

The tie-dye effect for their away shirt is supposed to celebrate diversity and youth. This of course is laudable, but it also resembles a kit accidentally put in the wash with a stray biro.

Who Is The United States Manager?

With managerial experience in Scandinavia and a five-year stint with Columbus Crew, Gregg Berhalter took the reins in 2018 and has since implemented a pressing and possession mandate that suits his best players, many of whom deploy this philosophy for their club sides. 

Should USMNT go deep - and their World Cup odds suggest they might - expect some big clubs to come calling early in 2023.

Best United States Player

The golden boy of American soccer, Christian Pulisic has already amassed 52 international caps and goes into this tournament with the hopes of a vast nation on his shoulders.

The Chelsea star may flatter to deceive too often in the Premier League, but he is pivotal to all that’s good about USMNT. 

.@miketirico joins Rebecca Lowe at Philly Fan Fest to talk Chelsea football and what Christian Pulisic means for Americans in the sport. pic.twitter.com/Djd1WqeZRb

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 15, 2022

United States Odds at 2022 World Cup

We’re predicting that USMNT scrape through Group B and exit at the last 16 stage, but first and foremost they have Wales to face in their opening fixture, a tricky test that sees them priced at narrow 29/20 favourites. 

A friendly between the sides back in 2020 finished goalless and the smart money is on another tight, low-scoring encounter.  

Bet on USA at the 2022 World Cup with 888sport today!

How will Iran fare at the 2022 World Cup? Join @SteTudor123 as he looks at the Persian Stars in his everything you need to know guide ahead of this winter's competition...

Iran History at the World Cup

This will be Iran’s sixth participation in a World Cup, their first taking them to Argentina in 1978 where an unexpected 1-1 draw with Scotland still prompts shudders from Glasgow to Edinburgh. 

That result has gone down historically as a major shock though in truth it was nothing of the kind, with Team Melli boasting a decent side throughout the Seventies.

Three decades after playing their first ever international fixture - previously there had only been a Tehran Select side – Iran won the Asian Cup on three occasions leading up to that famous night in Cordoba.

Iran becomes the 14th country to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup 💪

Who will be the next country added to the list? pic.twitter.com/qkyOrn8c2y

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) January 27, 2022

Sadly, the Iranian Revolution and a drawn-out conflict with neighbouring Iraq set football back, and substantially so, for a good many years thereafter, and with its domestic league disbanded it necessitated the Iranian Football Federation to start over, gaining a second wind in the Nineties. 

Qualification for the 1998, 2006, 2014 and 2018 finals is not only evidence that Iranian football is thriving once more but highlights the rich vein of talent that routinely emerges from the second-largest country in the Middle-East.  

Across each of these four campaigns, Team Melli exited at the group stage though two victories have been celebrated, most notably over the USA in ’98. 

Iran are a colossal 500/1 to triumph in Qatar, but with the Stars and Stripes again paired with them in the early meetings, don’t discount the possibility of another upsetting of the football betting odds, as history repeats itself.

Iran Nickname

Their most prominent nickname is ‘Team Melli’ that translates as ‘The National Team’ but in recent years a string of other monikers have come to the fore, including the ‘Persian Stars’ and the ‘Lions of Persia’.

The ‘Cheetahs’ is also gaining some popularity, due to the Asian cheetah being used on their 2014 World Cup jersey.

World Cup 2022 Group

Seeded in Pot 3, Iran were always going to get one very tough opponent and this they face in tournament third-favourites England.

It will be the first time the nations have encountered the other in international football. 

Another match-up with the USA will surely evoke memories of ’98, while in their second game, Iran test themselves against another side from the UK in Wales. 

Iran Fixtures:

• Iran vs England - 21st November 2022

• Iran vs Wales - 25th November 2022

• Iran vs United States - 29th November 2022

Iran Kit World Cup 2022

After ending their partnership with Adidas, Iran opted for an Iranian sportswear company, Mijad, and the result is a home and away kit that is identical, save for the main hue, that is each pleasing to the eye.

Iran’s kit manufacturer for the 2022 Qatar World Cup will be Uhlsport. pic.twitter.com/k2kN1fQcG6

— Amir (@AmirEsaitch) May 21, 2022

Subtle use of the colours from their national flag livens up an otherwise plain design but what really makes it stand out is a green swoosh that envelops the badge.

Who Is The Iran Manager?

Having coached across the Middle-East, as well as his native Croatia, Dragan Skocic took the reins halfway through a failing qualification campaign, turning Iran’s fortunes around and guiding them to eight wins in ten.

The 54-year-old made the news this summer when he was sacked, then rehired just six days later, following a recent slump in performances.

Best Iran Player

Porto striker Mehdi Taremi is unquestionably Iran’s most valuable player, the Bushehr-born forward scoring 20 goals in Portugal’s Primeira Liga last season. 

Tall but far too skilful to be considered merely a targetman, Taremi also carries a lot of weight in the Iran dressing room, his criticism of Skocic partly contributing to his brief departure.

PEPÊ FAZ O 0-2 💪

Bela jogada de Taremi que culmina com o golo do FC Porto.#sporttvportugal #LIGAnaSPORTTV #ligaportugal #ligaportugalbwin #fcporto #FCP #portimonensesc #PSC #PSCFCP #Pepê pic.twitter.com/lzpYbhxyC4

— SPORT TV (@SPORTTVPortugal) October 8, 2022

Iran Odds at 2022 World Cup

Though Iran’s World Cup odds have them down as rank outsiders, they are more than capable of springing a surprise on their day, furthermore, having the pedigree to prove it. Four points accrued in 2018 is testimony to that.

Wales and USA in particular would be wise not to view Team Melli as pushovers. 

Bet on Iran at the 2022 World Cup with 888sport today!

Set in the Dorset countryside, Higher Crockermoor is home to the business that is Harry Fry Racing. 

Over the course of the last few years, Harry and his wife Ciara have produced over 350 winners and won over £3 million in prize money.

Grade 1 victories have been achieved at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown and their stable continues to go from strength to strength.

Here are five Fry-trained horses to follow for the 2022/23 season if you are planning to look at betting on horse races online:

Ask Me Early

Harry Fry considers this eight-year-old as a “National” type.

Whether that turns out to be one of the provincial Nationals or the Aintree spectacular itself, remains to be seen but they do appear to have a decent stayer on their hands.

A schooling fall at home unfortunately ruled the grey out of last season’s Welsh Grand National.

Harry Fry has confirmed Coral Welsh Grand National ante-post favourite Ask Me Early will miss the Chepstow highlight on December 27 ​​❌

Read more 👇

— Racing Post (@RacingPost) December 19, 2021

Love Envoi 

Sporting the colours of the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate Love Envoi beat an extremely strong field with something to spare in the Ryanair Mares’ Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last March.

She then ended her superb first season over hurdles with an excellent second place in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse in April.

The logical target for her this season is the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and the Fry team will probably work back from that date with her entries and programme of work.

🚀 Love Envoi - what a performance in the @Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle

She remains unbeaten, completing the six-timer with a fine effort under @JohnnyBurke2 for @HarryFryRacing1 for the @ndfehily & @DavidCrosse Syndicate @CheltenhamRaces #TheFestival pic.twitter.com/qEDWDuTVbG

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 17, 2022

Metier

After winning his first three races, including the Tolworth Hurdle, Harry Fry expected Metier to climb the ladder even further but those plans never quite materialised.

Apparently a larynx issue explained his downturn in form but he bounced back in fine style last season when taking the valuable Sovereign Handicap Hurdle at the Lingfield Winter Festival.

Look out for Metier this season when the going is soft or heavier.

Metier powers to Unibet Tolworth Novices' Hurdle victory and the unbeaten streak goes on!

Watch LIVE:
📺 @ITV4
📱 https://t.co/HGM9TtXkhB#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/wWbwLDV7WF

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) January 2, 2021

Might I

Fry hopes he can further train Might I into a Graded-level staying hurdler.

The 3m handicap hurdle at Haydock on Betfair Chase day will be his first target of the season and there is every reason to believe he will arrive there in fine fettle. 

Might I was runner-up in a Grade 1 last season to Constitution Hill and can go onto bigger and better things you would like to believe.

Several of Harry Fry’s horses feature in our Cheltenham betting odds markets.

A lovely hurdling debut! Might I is all class at @NewtonAbbotRace as he skips clears of his rivals under @lmurtagh10 for @HarryFryRacing1!

Thankfully Halo Des Obeaux and @CobdenHarry are okay after a heavy fall at the last 🙌 pic.twitter.com/OK0TDI9uDb

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 21, 2021

Ree Okka

A commanding winner of his only point-to-point in Ireland, Ree Okka is very much on an upward curve with the Fry’s.

Bypassing the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Fry said he wanted to save his young horse for his chasing future.

It will be interesting to see where he runs this season and he’ll be a horse to have on your side.

The early indications are that Fry could send Ree Okka, Metier, Dubrovnik Harry and Boothill down the novice chase route this season.

😍 A lovely performance from Ree Okka who records his second victory over timber for @HarryFryRacing1 & @Sean_Bowen_ at @kemptonparkrace pic.twitter.com/YwArjsO5Tj

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 15, 2022

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 17th October 2022

Ascot, Saturday

ORBAAN is my only ride on Saturday and he goes in the Balmoral Handicap (4.40pm).

I won on him at the Shergar Cup, where he was impressive. He was a little bit unlucky at York after that and then at Goodwood last time, but he’s been consistent this season.

It’s a big field, a competitive handicap, but I think that suits him as he’s a horse you’ve got to ride patiently.

He’s got a good turn of foot and you can ride very confidently in a race because of that. The ground is starting to change, but hopefully it stays at least good as I think that will suit him too.

Granted if everything falls right for him and he gets a good run through, then he’s capable of nicking another big one.

🗣 "It's a great occasion, what's there not to like about it?" 😁@neilcallan78 is up for the cup after victory on Orbaan 🟢

🎙 @MCYeeehaaa#ITVRacing | #DDFShergarCup | @Ascot | @omeararacing | @chua_jimmy pic.twitter.com/TjIuiCj1tM

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 6, 2022

Baaeed to sign off an icon

British Champions Day is a fine day of racing, beginning with the Long Distance Cup (1.25pm). With Kyprios not turning up it leaves things open for Trueshan, who’s won the last two renewals.

Eldar Eldarov, the St Leger winner, is clearly a very capable horse. It depends which way the ground goes really, the softer the better for Trueshan and if it stays quicker it might suit Eldar Eldarov, as he probably has a better turn of foot than Trueshan.

The Champion Sprint Stakes (2.00pm) looks a very open race. The main ones to focus on are last year’s winner Creative Force and perhaps Perfect Power.

He’s on a bit of a recovery mission but would be in with a chance on the pick of his form. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a shock winner in this one though.

John Gosden has a stranglehold on the Fillies & Mares (2.40pm) with Emily Upjohn and Mimikyu. I think the track will suit Emily Upjohn as she’s a nice, big galloping type of filly.

I’ve always been a fan of hers since she won at Sandown earlier in the season. I think she’s probably going to be at her best next season, but that’s not to say she can’t win this. She’s the classiest one in the race.

It looks a case of another for John Gosden in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (3.20pm) and I really can’t see beyond Inspiral.

She was beaten in the Falmouth at Newmarket, but that was probably only because she backed up quickly after Royal Ascot. She’ll be fresher here and should take all the beating.

The Champions Stakes (4.00pm) is a very interesting race. I say that because Baaeed hasn’t come across Adayar yet, who stays very well and is a classy horse. I think this is going to be his biggest test.

I hope Baaeed wins and I think he will, but if there’s plenty of rain and this turns into a bit of a slog that’s where he could be tripped up [taking on Adayar].

I hope he’s not though, because we need champions like him around and it would be great to send him off unbeaten. It would make him a true icon.

Baaeed is a special animal who's charted a very special career so far! pic.twitter.com/lmxNO8aTeT

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 13, 2022

William Buick’s first championship

I think it was only right that William is champion as he was robbed of the championship last year. Everyone wants to avoid the issue and not talk about it, but really it’s a disgrace how that played out – it’s a joke.

William’s a very deserved champion.

He’s put in the hard yards and for someone who probably has the best job in racing, he hasn’t really sat back, he’s grabbed the bull by the horns and gone from one end of the country to the other in search of as many winners as possible, as fast as possible.

That’s what it takes to be champion jockey.

Reflections on my first season back

I couldn’t have asked for a better return to British racing. I’ve had some great support from contacts old and new. I’m very grateful that I could come back and have a strong first season after being away for so long.

I’ve got a few highlights – riding a Royal Ascot winner, winning the Silver Saddle at the Shergar Cup and obviously winning the Group 1 on Fonteyn for Kevin Ryan recently just puts the cherry on top of what’s been a great comeback season.

FIRST PUBLISHED: 14th October 2022

Sweepstakes, like sticker albums and wallcharts, are part of World Cup tradition. Here, we provide all the information you need to create the best World Cup 2022 sweepstake around!

Offices, sports clubs and families around the country will organise a sweepstake ahead of the World Cup, a means for everyone to get involved, giving you a team to root for throughout the competition.

This is a variation on wagering in World Cup winner odds.

World Cup sweepstakes can be organised in different ways, but they will be generally be done by throwing 32 pieces of paper into a hat (usually metaphorical) with each of the teams on. Entrants will then pay a fee to draw at random, selecting ‘their’ team.

The Dream Team has assembled!​
​
Introducing our creators who will be judging the #FIFADreamContest.​
​
As the #FIFAWorldCup Trophy tours the globe, we've collaborated with 8 amazing artists and the sensational @NoahBeck to spotlight the best #fanart of your World Cup dreams. pic.twitter.com/CmqfIEGE2b

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 12, 2022

The idea is to have all 32 teams allocated. Of course, in some cases you will need people to have multiple teams.

The revenue from the fees is then used as a prize pot – how this is split is naturally flexible, though ‘picking’ the World Cup winner will inevitably produce the largest prize. 

An organiser of a World Cup sweepstake needs to make a note of who ends up with which team. Ideally, there will be a means to contact each person. Teams are then taken off the board as they are knocked out from the tournament. 

There are means to conduct a sweepstake without the relatively laborious process of cutting up pieces of paper, with numerous websites providing sweepstake generators where all you need to do is enter the names of the people involved.

Some will prefer the old-school approach, though, and who can blame them. 

Other Things To Include:

One of the downsides to a World Cup sweepstake is how many entrants are out of the running immediately. If you draw Qatar or Ecuador, the prize money isn’t heading your way.

A means to get around this is to add some additional elements where sweepstake contestants can guess a certain outcome from the World Cup to win a prize.

Looking to pre-tournament football betting market produces some suggestions. If it’s a £5 entry, perhaps players can pay an extra £2 to guess the Golden Boot winner. Maybe there is a category to predict how far England get. 

Naming the total number of goals in the tournament is a popular way to go, and can provoke some intrigue even once your team(s) has been knocked out. 

It’s also relatively common to add a wooden spoon prize for the first team eliminated. While the general concept of a sweepstake is simple, there are plenty of your own twists that can be added. 

World Cup 2022 Sweepstake Teams

• Qatar

• Ecuador

• Senegal

• Netherlands

• England

• Iran

• USA

• Wales

• Argentina

• Saudi Arabia

• Mexico

• Poland

• France 

• Australia

• Denmark

• Tunisia

• Spain

• Costa Rica

• Germany

• Japan

• Belgium

• Canada

• Morocco

• Croatia

• Brazil

• Serbia

• Switzerland

• Cameroon

• Portugal

• Ghana

• Uruguay

• South Korea

Where To Find World Cup Sweepstake Kit

• Downloadable World Cup 2022 Sweepstake Kit

• Physical Wallchart and World Cup Sweepstake Kit from Amazon