There are still questions to be answered about how exactly to build the attack around the greatest player of his generation but when the options include Nicolas Gonzalez, Lautaro Martinez and Lucas Alario these are at least good problems to have. The emergence of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and center back Cristian Romero offers solidity whilst coach Lionel Scaloni seems to have built a system that goes beyond previous tactical plans of "give it to Messi and hope" (not that that is not necessarily a formula for success). There are plenty of reasons to be more confident now than a month ago. Equally once you have won the Copa America the Argentine public will only expect better at the World Cup.
Now that Lionel Messi finally has that international honor he has craved there may be a degree less pressure on him personally when he arrives in Qatar, though he will surely not take his foot off the gas in what may be his last chance to win the biggest prize of them all. Their path to improvement seems clear: a slight loosening of the reins in attack, a season and a bit of development from their bright young things and perhaps a truly convincing alternative to Harry Kane. Like France there are questions to be asked over the manager's conservatism in attack though it should be noted that England went through the entirety of Euro 2020 without conceding a goal from open play.
They have a welcome mixture of players around their prime years such as Raheem Sterling, John Stones and Harry Kane along with young bolters from Bukayo Saka to Jude Bellingham via Phil Foden. The likes of Germany and France grew accustomed to near misses and set backs before taking that decisive final step there is no reason to feel that an England side that have shown such admirable composure and organization in the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020 cannot go one step further in Qatar. Theirs is a familiar arc on the international stage. Beyond the sense that they could perhaps do with a one goal every two games striker to round out their attack there are few weaknesses to this team. Ultimately Brazil will go into the tournament with world class options in goal (Alisson, Ederson), central defense (Marquinhos), midfield (Fabinho, Casemiro) and forward (Neymar). In seven games they conceded just three goals and no side allowed opponents a lower expected goals (xG, a metric that assesses the likelihood of any shot being a goal) tally per 90 minutes than Brazil's 0.6. This is not a team light on options up front - how could it be with Neymar at its heart? - but it has been the defense that proved to be invaluable for Tite's side of late. BrazilÄefeat to Argentina in the Copa America final proved that the Selecao are not unbeatable but the manner in which they advanced to their date with Argentina, coupled with the sedate progress they have made through CONMEBOL's brutal qualifying group, augurs well for next winter. Below we take our first attempt at ranking the best teams who could take to the pitch in Qatar next winter: 1. It may feel different but with just over 500 days to go the list of favorites looks rather familiar for those who have followed international football in recent years. Qatar, the 158th biggest nation on earth with a population 3.3 million, will welcome 32 teams to the country in November with the searing heat of the Arabian peninsular meaning that next year a world champion will be crowned just in time for Christmas. With the Copa America and European Championships over and done with, it is suddenly dawning on the footballing world that it is less than 18 months until the big one: the World Cup and a World Cup like no other.