Highest Transfer Market Values for Every Nation At The 2022 World Cup

Join @SamRCox_ as he looks at EVERY nation competing at the 2022 World Cup to find the respective players with the highest transfer market values...

Not only is the World Cup a chance to gorge on football, it is an opportunity to see the world’s best in action, going head-to-head for the sport’s ultimate prize.

Also, each World Cup is a window for other players to step into the spotlight, for lesser-known names to swing World Cup odds, potentially altering their careers. 

The pre-tournament betting favourites are stacked with worldwide stars – some of the names featuring in this list are predictable, but others will raise eyebrows.

Certain countries have a surprise name in top spot, while the smaller nations are represented by players who the majority will not have heard of. All fees are courtesy of Transfermarkt and were converted to GBP on October 3rd 2022.

Qatar – Akram Afif, £5.36 million

Only two other World Cup nations have a highest player market value of lower than Akram Afif’s mark of £5.36 million. Afif, who has amassed 85 caps for the tournament hosts since 2015, has 25 goals for his country. 

He began his senior career in Europe with Eupen before joining Villarreal and then Sporting Gijon on loan. Afif returned to Qatar in 2018, however, staying with Al Sadd on loan until he made the move permanent in 2020.

A three-time winner of the Qatari Stars League and Asian Footballer of the Year in 2019, Afif must be at his best if the host nation are to go defy the sports betting odds and make it out of the group.

Ecuador – Moisés Caicedo, £24.34 million

Signed by Brighton from Independiente del Valle for around £4 million in 2021, Moisés Caicedo turns 21 just a couple of weeks before the World Cup gets underway. 

Caicedo already has 25 Ecuador caps to his name, and the central midfielder has become a key player for Brighton after spending last season on loan with Beerschot.

Ecuador are taking a young squad to the World Cup. A lack of experience could be an issue, but there is real upside, and they will fancy their chances in Group A.

Senegal – Sadio Mane, £58.43 million

Scorer of the penalty which confirmed Senegal’s place at the World Cup, Sadio Mane is the nation’s highest-value player at just shy of £60 million.

This is despite Mane moving for around £30 million to Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window – Mane is followed by Chelsea duo Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly in the market value rankings.

Clearly Senegal’s biggest star, Mane is bound to attract some support in Golden Boot betting odds. He’s currently 66/1 to finish as top scorer, a longer price than Darwin Nunez, Roberto Firmino and Timo Werner.

Netherlands – Matthijs de Ligt, £68.16 million

Apparently worth more than Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong and Ryan Gravenberch, Matthijs de Ligt comes in as the Netherlands’ most expensive player ahead of the 2022 World Cup. 

Like Mane, de Ligt swapped one European superpower for another in the summer, signing for Bayern from Juventus for a fee just below £70 million.

Still only 23 years old, de Ligt could play in the next three World Cups after Qatar. His age is major factor in having such a high market value.

England – Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, £87.64 million

It’s a three-way tie among English players. Harry Kane is 29, perhaps at the tail-end of his prime, yet has retained serious transfer value thanks to his lengthy track record of production at both domestic and national level.

Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham are already Champions League calibre players, but this value is largely in their potential. 

Foden is 22; Bellingham is 19. This duo are the future of the England team, and their form will have a significant sway on how England are viewed by football prediction experts in Qatar and beyond. 

Four other England players – Mason Mount, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jadon Sancho, Declan Rice – are valued at over £70 million. Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka and Jack Grealish rank just behind that quartet to round out the top 10.

Iran – Mehdi Taremi, £19.48 million

No team has longer World Cup odds than Iran’s 500/1. It will be a major live betting upset if they register points against the USA, Wales or England. One player they are dependent on is Porto striker Mehdi Taremi.

Only a handful of Iranian players feature in the top European leagues, and Taremi is one of them, along with Brentford’s Saman Ghoddos, Bayer Leverkusen’s Sardar Azmoun and Feyenoord’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh.

USA – Christian Pulisic, £40.9 million

There are high hopes for the USA at this World Cup, but Christian Pulisic’s form and gametime is a major concern.

Pulisic has been outspoken about his fractured relationship with former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, and it remains to be seen how Graham Potter utilises the former Dortmund winger.

USMNT fans will be desperate to see Pulisic feature frequently in Chelsea betting tips in the build up to the World Cup. After impressing in the second half of 2020, his career has stalled due to injuries and inconsistency.

Wales – Ben Davies, £19.48 million

For a long period, Gareth Bale would have been top of the market value chart among Welsh players. Ben Davies has taken Bale’s slot with the ex-Real Madrid forward now plying his trade in MLS. 

Davies has 74 caps over the last decade, having established himself as a reliable performer for club and country.

A regular at Spurs, his experience will be invaluable as the Dragons look to pip the US to the second qualifying spot in Group B.

Argentina – Lautaro Martinez, £72.03 million

Age matters when it comes to market value. Lionel Messi is joint-third, behind Cristian Romero as well as Lautaro Martinez.

Despite plenty of rumours throughout the summer, Martinez has remained with Inter, and The Bull will have a major role to play for the Argentines in Qatar.

He has an excellent record of 21 goals in 40 for La Albiceleste – will he follow in the footsteps of Mario Kempes and Guillermo Stábile and become the third Argentine to win the World Cup Golden Boot?

Saudi Arabia – Sultan Al-Ghannam, £3.39 million

With a squad exclusively playing in the Saudi Pro League, it’s not a surprise that Saudi Arabia has the lowest market value on this list.

Sultan Al-Ghannam comes in at under £3.4 million – the right-back for Al-Nassr has 23 caps and no goals to his name.

Including Qatar, Saudi Arabia have qualified for six of the last eight World Cups. Their victory in Russia was their first World Cup win since 1994, though, and they have their work cut out in a tricky Group C.

Mexico – Hirving Lozano, Edson Alvarez, £29.21 million

Are Mexico being underrated? They are 4/1 to win Group C, and while they don’t have the star power of Poland, this is a squad with plenty of quality players.

Projected transfer values point to Napoli’s Hirving Lozano and Ajax’s Edson Alvarez as the best of the bunch. 

Alvarez, linked with Chelsea on transfer deadline day, is the less eye-catching of the two. Lozano is a rapid winger who will torment opponents on the break.

You have to go all the way back to 1990 for the last time Mexico didn’t reach the last 16 of a World Cup (and even that was because they were banned).

Poland – Robert Lewandowski, £43.82 million

Named the Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2020 and 2021, Robert Lewandowski continues to score at a prolific rate for club and country.

He has started his Barcelona career in fine form, and carries Poland’s hopes at the World Cup, as the Biało-czerwoni aim to make the last 16 for the first time since 1986. 

Only 10 players have scored more international goals than Lewandowski. He could climb into the top seven by Christmas if he has a productive time in Qatar.

France – Kylian Mbappe, £155.8 million

Transfermarkt has Kylian Mbappe as the most valuable player in world football.

Already a World Cup winner and Ballon d’Or candidate, it’s hard to argue with that assessment. Mbappe has 28 goals in just 59 international caps, and he doesn’t turn 24 until two days after the World Cup final. 

There is a debate to be had about the best player in the world heading into this winter’s tournament, but there’s no question Mbappe is in the conversation.

He has scored at just under a goal per game over the last four seasons, and we’ve already seen him deliver on the biggest stage.

Australia – Aaron Mooy, Matt Ryan, Harry Souttar, £4.87 million

There’s another three-way tie at the top here between Celtic’s Aaron Mooy, Copenhagen’s Matt Ryan and Stoke City’s Harry Souttar.

The Australians aren’t given much of a chance as the rank outsiders in Group D, and they are a non-factor when it comes to pre-tournament power rankings. 

Ryan and Mooy are recognisable names for Premier League followers, while Souttar is still at the beginning of his career at the top level. The 23-year-old has played just 54 times for Stoke and has only collected 10 caps for the Socceroos.

Denmark – Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, £40.9 million

Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg has comfortably the highest market value among Danes, a few million ahead of Andreas Christensen and Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen.

Højbjerg splits opinion between Spurs fans, but he has generally been a consistent performer since his move from Southampton in 2020.

Denmark have failed to qualify for two of the last four World Cups, though they have performed well over the last couple of years and firmly fit the dark horse mould.

Tunisia – Ellyes Skhiri, £12.66 million

Ellyes Skhiri, a midfielder for Bundesliga side Koln, was born in France and began his club career with Montpellier, but opted to represent Tunisia, debuting for the Eagles of Carthage in 2018. 

Quarter-finalists at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Tunisia have some tournament experience in their favour, but they have never made it out of the first round at the World Cup.

Their win in 2018 was their first World Cup victory since 1978.

Spain – Pedri, £87.64 million

The future of Spain and Barcelona, Pedri doesn’t turn 20 until a few days into the World Cup and he’s already an integral cog in this Spain side.

Slight and standing at 5’9, Pedri is the latest in a long line of undersized Barcelona stars who compensate for their smaller stature with supreme technical and tactical ability.

Don’t be fooled, though, Pedri is quick to accelerate too and possesses balletic agility to evade defenders. In truth, this market value seems on the low side – his release clause is around £900 million.

Costa Rica – Keylor Navas, £5.84 million

Turning 36 before the end of the year and out of favour at PSG, Keylor Navas is somehow still the highest valued Costa Rican player according to transfermarkt.

Navas starred at the 2014 World Cup, pulling off a catalogue of impressive saves, and has 107 caps to his name.

Long thought of as one of the best goalkeepers on the planet, Navas’ prime years are behind him at this stage. Costa Rica are rank outsiders to progress from the first round, priced way out at 55/1 to win Group E.

Germany – Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, £77.9 million

Two Bayern Munich players share top spot. Joshua Kimmich is in his peak years, aged 27 and a vital member of his teams at club and international level.

Jamal Musiala, much like Jadon Sancho, backed himself by moving to the Bundesliga, and switched allegiance from England to Germany in 2021. 

Just 19 years old, Musiala is one of the most exciting teenage footballers in the world, and the former Chelsea academy player has collected 17 Germany caps already.

Kimmich, in comparison, is a grizzled veteran, having featured in the last two Euros and the 2018 World Cup. 

Bookies narrowly favour Spain over Germany in Group E -- their group stage clash is one of the key dates at the World Cup.

Japan – Takehiro Tomiyasu, £21.42 million

Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has the highest projected market value of any Japanese player.

Tomiyasu moved to north London for under £17 million, however, and has looked worth every penny. He will be 24 by the time the World Cup gets underway, surely with his best years ahead of him. 

Unfortunate to be drawn alongside Spain and Germany, it will take something special for Japan to match their last 16 appearance from Russia. This is their seventh consecutive World Cup qualification.

Belgium – Kevin De Bruyne, £82.77 million

Who else? Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard have all moved for mega transfer fees, but Kevin De Bruyne was always going to be number one here.

The Manchester City midfielder has been the best player at his position for the last few years, and continues to excel in Pep Guardiola’s winning machine.

Even at 31, there are no signs of decline from the former Chelsea midfielder. De Bruyne is a masterful passer, smart presser, and owner of a potent shot from range.

Whether drifting into wide areas for pick out a pinpoint cross or dictating from central positions, De Bruyne is set to shine in Qatar. Will this Golden Generation finally deliver?

Canada – Alphonso Davies, £68.16 million

Erupting onto the Bundesliga predictions scene as a teenager, Alphonso Davies is still only 22 years old.

For Bayern, he is a marauding full-back, using his road runner pace to stretch the pitch. For Canada, he is a forward, pairing with Jonathan David and Cyle Larin to torment defences. Davies has 12 goals in just 34 international appearances. 

The former Whitecaps star has the weight of a nation on his shoulders in Qatar. Canada are an entertaining team to watch, and they have a real chance of making it out of the group, but Davies will need to be in top form.

Morocco – Achraf Hakimi, £63.3 million

Achraf Hakimi is perhaps the biggest name in Morocco’s squad, but this team has been more than the sum of its parts in recent years, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in each of the last two editions.

Hakimi has big-game experience with PSG and Borussia Dortmund, and his market value is set to increase further in the next year or two.

Morocco’s chances at the World Cup could depend on the performances of Chelsea attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech, who has had a turbulent relationship with the national team to say the least.

Croatia – Josko Gvardiol, £58.43 million

Runners-up at the 2018 World Cup, Croatia have seen a changing of the guard with several veterans retiring over the last few years.

Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric and Domagoj Vida remain available heading into the 2022 tournament, but it is Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol who has the highest market value.

A 20-year-old defender capable of playing in the middle or on the left-hand side, Gvardiol was linked heavily with Leeds in the 2021 summer transfer window and was subject of a bid from Chelsea in 2022.

Brazil – Vinicius Junior, £116.85 million

Only Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have a higher market value than Vinicius Junior. There’s good reason for that.

The sky is the limit for the dazzling Brazilian – he has only made 16 appearances for Brazil so far, but was sensational in Real Madrid’s run to the 2022 Champions League title, forming a symbiotic partnership with Karim Benzema.

Of course, Brazil aren’t short on high-cost players. Neymar, Antony, Marquinhos and Rodrygo are all valued at over £61 million. 

888Sport tab Brazil as the pre-tournament favourites at 4/1. Vinicius has already enjoyed a breakout season, but a big World Cup would take him to another level.

Serbia – Dušan Vlahović, £82.77 million

Signed by Juventus for around £60 million in January 2022, Dušan Vlahović’s international career is in its infancy, but he was quick to make an impact for Serbia, scoring eight times in his first 16 caps.

Vlahović is one option in a talented Serbian squad, including Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ajax’s Dusan Tadic.

Age, again, is what really elevates Vlahović’s value. His goal scoring record is impressive, but he’s been an elite player for a short period of time.

This figure is largely down to the Belgrade native being 22 years old – he should have a decade-plus left at the very top.

Switzerland – Manuel Akanji, £29.21 million

Manchester City new boy Manuel Akanji has the highest transfer value among Swiss players, just ahead of Chelsea summer signing Denis Zakaria and Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka.

Akanji has made 41 appearances for the Rossocrociati, who are the betting favourites to join Brazil in the last 16. 

The Swiss have reached the first knockout phase in each of the last two World Cups, but you have to go all the way back to 1954 for the last time they played in a World Cup quarter-final.

The calendar year started poorly for Switzerland, with a five-match winless run. They improved in September’s international break, recording wins over Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic.

Cameroon – Frank Anguissa, £29.21 million

Former Fulham midfielder Frank Anguissa has flourished with Napoli, and will have a key role for Cameroon at the 2022 World Cup. 

Les Lions Indomptables finished third at the latest edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, but history isn’t on their side in the World Cup. Cameroon haven’t made it out of a World Cup group since 1990.

This is a tricky group – they have the weakest squad on paper, and need their big names to impress.

Portugal – Bruno Fernandes, £82.77 million

The three highest-valued players in the Portugal squad are based in Manchester. Bruno Fernandes pips Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias with the latter just ahead of Rafael Leao and Joao Felix.

Portugal are blessed with an array of attacking talent, and Fernandes is probably the most secure of a starting berth. 

Their group doesn’t have a proper weak link, but they were fortunate to avoid any of the other tournament favourites. They are 21/10 to reach the last four.

Ghana – Thomas Partey, £37 million

Quarter-finalists in 2010, Ghana are in a lull at the moment. They failed to qualify in 2018, and exited at the group stage of the most recent Africa Cup of Nations.

A squad which was once littered with talent thriving in Europe’s top leagues is still heavily reliant on the Ayews. 

Only five teams have a longer price to reach the quarter final. Ghana might play spoiler, but it’s hard to see them competing for qualification.

Uruguay – Federico Valverde, £77.9 million

A lot of attention will be on the ageing spine of this Uruguay team, but La Celeste see those veterans supplemented by fresh talent from Darwin Nunez and Rodrigo Bentancur to Federico Valverde and Matias Vina.

Valverde has become a regular at Real Madrid since the last World Cup, excelling in various different roles and collecting experience in the Champions League.

Plenty will be interested in Uruguay at 21/10 to win Group H.

South Korea – Heung-min Son, £73.03 million

South Korea have the biggest gap between their highest-value player and second place. Heung-min Son is worth exactly three times Min-jae Kim of Napoli.

Winner of the Premier League Golden Boot last season, Son has 35 goals for South Korea and will give his team a chance of snatching a victory in the group stage.

Eliminated in the first round in each of the last two World Cups and only quarter-finalists at the 2019 Asian Cup, it will take something miraculous for South Korea to make it into the knockouts.

 

October 31, 2022
World Cup 2026
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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

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World Cup 2022 Team Guide: Everything You Need To Know About Poland

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

Poland History at the World Cup

Two decades after forming a football federation and an international team, Poland qualified for the 1938 edition of the World Cup, remarkably losing 6-5 to Brazil in extra-time after successfully progressing through their group. 

Ernest ‘Ezi’ Wilimowski scored four times in that crazy encounter, but it still wasn’t enough, the Ruch Chorzow forward one of the legendary goal-scorers of his day and being blessed with highly prolific strikers appears to be a theme for the proud nation. 

Throughout the Seventies, Wlodek Lubanski terrorised defences on the global stage while presently we are witnessing the tail-end of Robert Lewandowski’s phenomenal career.

The second deadliest hit-man to wreak havoc on the Bundesliga has notched 76 times in 134 outings for his country and at 34 years of age will be determined to sign off on his farewell World Cup with yet more goals.

Post-war, Poland endured a long period in the international wilderness, too often the whipping boys to superior sides, but when a golden generation of talent emerged in the early Seventies that all changed dramatically.

Inspired by Grzegorz Lato and Juventus ace Zbigniew Boniek, the Eagles twice reached World Cup semi-finals, exiting at the last 16 stage on a further two occasions. They were now a team to be feared. 

Only then came another long era of decline, and it wasn’t until this century that Poland finally began to reclaim a place amongst the upper echelons of world football, participating in three tournaments since 2002.  

This time out they are distant outsiders in the World Cup betting but with Lewandowski on a mission nothing can be ruled out. 

Poland Nickname

The Polish national side are nicknamed the Eagles in deference to the country’s coat of arms, that displays a white crowned eagle with golden beak and talons. 

According to legend, Lech, one of three Slavic brothers who founded several nations across Europe, settled in Poland when he spied the majestic bird on a hunting expedition.

World Cup 2022 Group

Finding themselves in Pot 3 when the draw was made for Qatar 2022 last April, Poland were fortunate enough to be grouped with

Saudi Arabia, the lowest ranked side in the competition, but unfortunate to get Mexico, the best side in Pot 2. Argentina meanwhile, are the group favourites for many reasons, one being a certain Lionel Messi.

Poland Fixtures:

Poland Kit World Cup 2022

Nike have really played it safe with both of Poland’s shirts though there is a lot to be said for the understated simplicity of the red away number. The white detail on the cuffs and collar makes for a clean design.

The less said about the graphic across the shoulders of the home kit however, the better. It is supposed to be an eagle’s nest. Really.

Who Is The Poland Manager?

Czeslaw Michniewicz is something of an unknown quantity, despite the former goalkeeper having Lech Poznan and Legia Warsaw on his coaching C.V.  

Taking charge after Paulo Sousa unexpectedly resigned at the very end of 2021, his time at the helm has already gained him a reputation for tinkering, changing formations one game to the next.

To an extent, that makes Poland an unknown quantity too, which is no bad thing.

Best Poland Player

How can it be anyone other than Robert Lewandowski, the formidable forward who has won the European Golden Shoe for the past two campaigns. 

Now scoring for fun for Barcelona, after leaving Bayern last summer, the team captain and bona fide superstar has broken more goalscoring records than Luke Shaw has had hot dinners.

Poland Odds at World Cup 2022

If Group C goes to type, Argentina top the quartet with Saudi Arabia exiting, possibly after pulling off an upset along the way. That leaves Poland and Mexico duking it out for second spot. 

The two nations face one another in their opening fixture, with Michniewicz’s side justifiable slight favourites in the sports betting. 

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

 

October 24, 2022
World Cup 2026

By Stephen Tudor

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    Stephen Tudor is a freelance football writer and sports enthusiast who only knows slightly less about the beautiful game than you do.

    A contributor to FourFourTwo and Forbes, he is a Manchester City fan who was taken to Maine Road as a child because his grandad predicted they would one day be good.

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    Lucinda Russell Stable Tour & Horses To Follow (2022/23)

    Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell trains in the beautiful Kinross countryside half an hour north of Edinburgh with her partner Peter Scudamore. Together they have evolved into the most successful racing yard in the Scottish jump racing.

    At this juncture in time, Lucinda has trained over seven hundred winners including several graded races, and winners at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals.

    https://www.888sport.com/blog/football-prediction

    Her biggest achievement thus far was training One For Arthur to win the Grand National in 2017. Here are five horses I believe you should be following from the Lucinda Russell stable for the 2022/23 season.

    Ahoy Senor

    The Cheltenham Gold Cup became an even more realistic port of call for “Lu and Scu” back in April after Ahoy Senor turned around his Cheltenham form with Bravemansgame and L'Homme Presse, and landed the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree.

    The former Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury will probably be the next logical step for the gutsy seven-year-old on his journey to Prestbury Park.

    You can check out Ahoy Senor’s latest Cheltenham betting odds here.

    Corach Rambler

    Corach Rambler is on the Grand National antepost radar of many a pundit, including myself, and I instantly formed that opinion when I saw him return into the winner’s enclosure after taking a 3m Novice Chase at Aintree on Old Roan Day 2021.

    He subsequently went on to earn Derek Fox the “Ride Of The Season” after Fox persevered with him for the entire duration of the Ultima which he eventually won going away up the hill.

    Russell will definitely be targeting him at the big staying chases this season and with any luck he’ll take the biggest one of them all next April.

    Corrigeen Rock

    A former Irish point winner, the Russell team believe Corrigeen Rock is capable of doing extremely well over fences this season and he duly won his first handicap at Kelso recently after fluffing his lines first time up at Perth.

    With the five-year-old likely to get three miles, the options are limitless for this son of Westerner and he’s going to be a popular pick with punters who are betting on horse races online with us.

    Haute Estime

    The mare Haute Estime didn’t really get the rub of the green on her chase debut at Kelso in early October, slipping at one point and then stumbling two from home.

    If she can iron out those little blemishes then she looks like a decent prospect going forward.

    She finished third at 100-1 in a Grade 1 contest at Aintree last April so she is clearly a talented horse that just needs to be slowly nurtured along.

    Your Own Story

    Your Own Story is out of Dylan Thomas, a bloodline Russell regularly homes in on.

    Winner of two Irish points, he won over hurdles at Carlisle in March and finished well in fifth place on his handicap debut at Ayr's Scottish National meeting.

    This season he will be tackling the novice handicaps, and those contests that are run on galloping tracks over three miles will be there for the taking.

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

     

    FIRST PUBLISHED: 24th October 2022

    October 24, 2022
    Horse Racing

    By Steve Mullington

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    Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

    He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.

    Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?

    He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations. 

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    Barry Geraghty Blog: Cheltenham October Meeting

    There’s No Place Like Cheltenham

    The October Showcase meeting is the starting point of the season. All the big tracks are kicking things off, but when you walk through those gates at Cheltenham there’s a different buzz, a different energy.

    That’s nothing against the other tracks, it’s just different here.

    Even though it’s a smaller meeting, every winner at Cheltenham is cheered home like a champion. For jockeys, trainers and owners, it doesn’t matter what meeting it is, a winner at Cheltenham is like nothing else.

    I remember winning the opening race on the Friday of the October meeting a few years on Carnardier – it’s always such a buzz.

    I often get asked which of my winners at Cheltenham meant the most, or gave me the biggest thrill, but that’s like picking between your children. Sprinter, Moscow, Kicking King, Bobs Worth, Epatante, Champ…they were all so special.

    The Ground

    Everyone knows how dry it’s been this summer and autumn, so hopefully they get some of the rain that’s forecast.

    They’ve been watering for weeks and things can always go either way with the elements.

    Cheltenham is so well drained that you pay for it when there’s a dry spell, but they’ve done absolutely everything they can and I’m really looking forward to what I’m sure will be some great racing.

    Constitution Hill

    I have a soft spot for all my old horses who are still racing like Epatante, but we have a really special family connection with Constitution Hill.

    He’s as close as a pet to us that you can get. I went down to see him this summer with his owner Michael Buckley and he looked great.

    He’s definitely strengthened up; he’s improved physically and hopefully that will translate to improvement in his ability. We’ll never forget his Supreme Novices’ win, what a day! 

    Cheltenham Friday Tips

    The squareintheair.com Novices’ Chase (2:10) is an interesting race where you can give chances to a few of them, but I would side with JETOILE.

    He was only just touched off by Aucunrisque at Uttoxeter earlier this month and he’s 5lbs better off here.

    Ash Tree Meadow was fourth in the Galway Plate two starts back, which is very strong form, but I wonder if he’s better over further than two miles.

    In the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (2:45), SHE IS ELECTRIC looks like she will be hard to beat. She won well at Gowran the last day, likes decent ground and gets 4lbs off Music Drive.

    All five have got some sort of a chance in the 888sport Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (3:20), but you’d have to be impressed with what HANG IN THERE has done.

    He’s four from five over fences and couldn’t have done it any easier at Newton Abbot the last day. He has the match practice as well as fitness and well-being on his side, so he’s the one for me.

    Cheltenham Saturday Tips

    The opening 888sport Novices’ Hurdle (1:30) looks quite open, but SAINT PALAIS is rated 148 over hurdles and 153 over fences.

    This will be his first start of the season, but he won first time up last year and with a mark like that, and his level of experience, it’s hard to oppose him.

    THE HOLLOW GINGE was only beaten a head in last year’s 888sport Is Made To Play Handicap Chase (2:05) and I think he can go one better here.

    He was disappointing for the rest of last season but he’s now 10lbs lower than 12 months ago. Don’t forget he was a fine fourth to Cloth Cap in the 2020 Ladbrokes Trophy. He goes well fresh and the Twiston-Davies yard normally does well at this meeting.

    In the Masterson Holdings Hurdle (2:40), there is very little, in fact nothing, between Knight Salute and PIED PIPER based on their Aintree run where they dead-heated before Knight Salute was awarded the race in the stewards’ room.

    But I’d say Pied Piper has a bit more size and is open to more progression. He’d be a pretty strong fancy.

    The 888sport Handicap Chase (3:15) is always a good race and I like EDITEUR DU GITE. He’s on the verge of Graded level and had some great form last season.

    He won at both the November and December meetings and was then a fine fourth to Global Citizen in the Grand Annual.

    He’s the one to beat, but Effernock Fizz also offers some value. She has improved a lot since moving to Cian Collins and won the Welsh Champion Hurdle the other day.

    Pertemps Qualifiers (3:50) are normally hard puzzles to solve, but even more so when there are 18 runners. The one who interests me here is AN TAILLIUR for Jonjo [O’Neill].

    He was second to Marie’s Rock at Kempton over Christmas and then won well at Haydock in April. He has a good level of form, Jonjo’s horses are running well and as a six-year-old, he can still find some more improvement.

    There’s a small but select field for the Jim Wilson Memorial Novices’ Chase (4:25). LIFE IN THE PARK has won all three starts this year and was very good in Listowel on his chasing debut last month.

    Like a lot of Henry’s [De Bromhead], he looked to improve for going over fences. I like him but you also have to respect Mahler Mission who won a Grade 2 at Doncaster in January.

    That probably wasn’t the strongest race, but John McConnell does well when bringing his horses over to England.

    The finale (5:00) looks like an interesting bumper and I will be going with STRONG LEADER for Olly Murphy.

    He bolted up on debut in Warwick in May and is very well bred by Westerner out of a mare who was a half sister to Hennessy winner Strong Flow.

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

     

    FIRST PUBLISHED: 21st October 2022

    October 21, 2022
    Horse Racing

    By Barry Geraghty

    Barry Geraghty Tipster
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    With 43 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, Barry Geraghty is the second most successful jockey in the meeting’s illustrious history.

    Career highlights include five Queen Mother Champion Chase victories, two Cheltenham Gold Cup triumphs and victory aboard Monty’s Pass in the 2003 Grand National.

    Barry has partnered with 888sport for the 2021/22 jumps season, providing his expert insight and horse racing analysis on the biggest races of the week.

    Come back every Friday to find out the latest instalment of Barry Geraghty tips for upcoming fixtures across the United Kingdom & Ireland.

    Barry Geraghty

    World Cup 2022 Team Guide: Everything You Need To Know About Uruguay

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

    Uruguay History at the World Cup

    Uruguay are one of only six nations to win the World Cup on multiple occasions, lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy as hosts in 1930 and defeating Brazil at the Maracanã in 1950.

    The 2022 World Cup will make it four successive World Cup qualifications after they missed out in 2006. 

    Despite such a rich history in the competition, the Uruguayans have been far from a guarantee to appear in the tournament, having failed to qualify for five of eight World Cups between 1978 and 2006. 

    Since being named world champions for a second time 72 years ago, Uruguay have been semi-finalists on three occasions, ultimately finishing fourth in 1954, 1970 and 2010.

    There were also quarter-final exits in 1966 and 2018. Only three times in their history have they fallen at the group stage, the most recent of which was 2002.

    Uruguay has produced a lone Golden Ball winner (Diego Forlan in 2010), and had three unofficial Golden Glove winners in Enrique Ballesteros, Roque Máspoli and Ladislao Mazurkiewicz.

    Fernando Muslera is Uruguay’s all-time World Cup appearance record holder with 16, ahead of Edinson Cavani and Diego Godin on 14 each.

    Óscar Míguez has scored the most World Cup goals with eight, which were split across the 1950 and 1954 editions.

    Uruguay Nickname

    Uruguay’s nickname is La Celeste, meaning ‘The Sky Blue’.

    Just like many football teams around the world, this nickname isn’t exactly inventive and is simply a recognition of their main home kit colour.

    World Cup 2022 Group

    Uruguay are alongside Portugal, South Korea and Ghana in Group H for this winter’s World Cup.

    La Celeste will be desperate to start the tournament with a win before facing Portugal in the second round of fixtures.

    They will inevitably be favoured and a popular pick in football tips against both South Korea and Ghana. 

    Uruguay Fixtures:

    • Uruguay vs South Korea – 24th November 2022

    • Uruguay vs Portugal – 28th November 2022

    • Uruguay vs Ghana – 2nd December 2022

    Uruguay Kit World Cup 2022

    Puma have disappointed with the Uruguay World Cup kits. The shade of blue for the home is great, but the collar and button is a bit of an eyesore and it’s unclear why they have four stars for a couple of World Cup wins.

    Like other Puma kits at this World Cup, the away attire is a shocker. The blue and white around the collar and sleeves is nice, but the box in the middle is bizarre.

    Who Is The Uruguay Manager?

    Diego Alonso, formerly of Inter Miami, is manager of Uruguay for the World Cup in Qatar. Alonso has taken charge of just nine matches, winning seven of them. 

    He replaced long-serving Óscar Tabárez in 2021 after poor results in the first rounds of World Cup qualifying.

    Best Uruguay Player

    This Uruguay squad is blessed with talent from the veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to hard-nosed centre-back Jose Gimenez and post-peak stars Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez.

    The best of the bunch coming into the World Cup, though, is Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde, closely followed by Rodrigo Bentancur and Darwin Nunez.

    Uruguay Odds at 2022 World Cup

    Uruguay are 21/10 in World Cup odds to win Group H. They are behind only Portugal in the betting and favoured over Ghana and South Korea.

    A deep run is not expected, however, with the South Americans priced at 23/10 to play in the quarters and way out at 45s to lift the trophy. 

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

     

    October 20, 2022
    World Cup 2026
    Body

    Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

    He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

    Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

    Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

    Sam Cox
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