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Defector Staff

Soccer

Contained Within This Post Is A Comprehensive Preview Of Every Goddamn Team In The World Cup

Patrick Redford

Heung-min Son of Korea Republic poses during the official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 portrait session at on November 16, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Internationals

South Korea Will Need Son Heung-Min To Be Heroic


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

Luis Suarez of Uruguay celebrates with teammates after scoring the first goal of his team during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification match between Chile and Uruguay ay Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo on March 29, 2022 in Santiago, Chile.

Uruguay Will Try Once Again To Upset The Soccer World

Tom Ley

The World Cup Is The Perfect Place For Ghana To Start Over

Ray Ratto

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal during the UEFA Nations league match between Portugal v Spain at the Estadio Municipal de Braga on September 27, 2022 in Braga Portugal.

Portugal Is Still All About Ronaldo, Even When It Shouldn’t Be

Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland (L) celebrates Remo Freuler of Switzerland (R) for his goal during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 2 match between Switzerland and Czech Republic at Kybunpark on September 27, 2022 in St Gallen, Switzerland.

Switzerland Can Dare To Dream

Luis Paez-Pumar

Cameroon's coach Rigobert Song (C) celebrates with his coaching staff after qualifying for the 2022 Qatar World Cup African after winning the football match between Algeria and Cameroon at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in the city of Blida on March 29, 2022.

Cameroon Fought Hard For A Short Trip To Qatar

Billy Haisley

Neymar Junior of Brazil celebrates his goal during the international friendly match between Brazil and Tunisia at Parc des Princes on September 27, 2022 in Paris, France.

Can Brazil Be Brazil Again?

Albert Burneko

Croatia Will Say Goodbye To A Legend In Qatar

Serbia's players cheer in front of their supporters after Serbia's forward Aleksandar Mitrovic scored 0-2 during the UEFA Nations League Group 4 between Norway and Serbia in Oslo on September 27, 2022.

Serbia Will Try To Score Its Way Out Of Its Group

SEVILLE, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 27: Hakim Ziyech of Morocco looks on prior to a friendly match between Paraguay and Morocco at Estadio Benito Villamarin on September 27, 2022 in Seville, Spain.

Morocco Has All Of Its Weapons Back Just In Time

Belgium's midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (R) celebrates with teammates after opening the scoring during the Nations League League A Group 4 football match between Belgium and Wales at The King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on September 22, 2022.

The End Is Near For Belgium

Tajon Buchanan #11 of Canada celebrates a goal during a 2022 World Cup Qualifying match against Jamaica at BMO Field on March 27, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

At Its Second-Ever World Cup, Canada Is Here To Stay

Japan celebrate after the FIFA World Cup Qualifier football match between Australia Socceroos and Japan on March 24, 2022 at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia.

Fate Has Handed Japan A Nearly Impossible Task

Die Mannschaft Is Dead, Long Live Die Mannschaft

Alvaro Morata of Spain celebrates scoring Spain goal during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 2 match between Portugal and Spain at Estadio Municipal de Braga on September 27, 2022 in Braga, Portugal.

It Is Illegal To List Spain Among The World Cup Favorites

Laura Wagner

If Nothing Else, Costa Rica Has Sentimentality On Its Side

Tunisia players celebrate during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group G match between Panama and Tunisia at Mordovia Arena on June 28, 2018 in Saransk, Russia.

Tunisia Has The Coolest Nickname In The Whole World Cup

TOPSHOT - Denmark's forward Kasper Dolberg (L) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammate Denmark's midfielder Christian Eriksen during the UEFA Nations League football match between Denmark and France in Copenhagen on September 25, 2022. - Denmark OUT (Photo by Liselotte Sabroe / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP) / Denmark OUT

With Christian Eriksen Back, Denmark Can Go Deeper Than Ever

France's national football team forwards Kylian Mbappe (C) and Karim Benzema (R) attend a training session at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki on November 15, 2021, on the eve of the FIFA 2022 World Cup Qatar qualifying Group D football match between Finland and France.

The Defending World Cup Champs Are Still Absolutely Loaded

Hiving Lozano #22 of Mexico celebrates a goal against Peru in the second half at Rose Bowl Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Pasadena, California.

Mexico Is Going Nowhere

Australia Has One Cool Old Guy And One Cool Young Guy

Grzegorz Krychowiak (L) and Robert Lewandowski (R) of Poland clap for fans during the celebration after Poland qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup after 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier knockout round play-off match between Poland and Sweden at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland. Poland beat Sweden 2-0.

Robert Lewandowski Alone Might Not Be Enough For Poland

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Lionel Messi of Argentina lifts the trophy after winning the final of Copa America Brazil 2021 between Brazil and Argentina at Maracana Stadium on July 10, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Lionel Messi And Argentina Are Ready For World Cup Glory

Ali Albulayhi of Saudi Arabia reacts during the international friendly match between Saudi Arabia and Colombia at Estadio Enrique Roca on June 05, 2022 in Murcia, Spain.