The 2022 FIFA World Cup nation you should support based on your AFL team

The World Cup is by far and away the most famous and most popular sporting competition on the globe. Across the world, people will be squeezing into living rooms, tuning in radios and cramming into pubs to catch a glimpse of how their country is going. Unfortunately for the Socceroos, they have been dealt a difficult group, making their chances of advancing to the knockout stage unlikely once again. Thus, in the case that they do get knocked out in the group stages, we have created a list of who you should barrack for based on your football team. Adelaide Poland Poland, like the Crows, will not go into their campaign with the hope that they can reach the knockout stages (finals). They both have one ultra-consistent underrated superstar who just continues to perform every single game. http://gty.im/1244805810 These comprise of three-time Best and Fairest Rory Laird and 2020 Men's Player of the Year Robert Lewandowski. However, unfortunately for them and their nations, they don't have the support around them to do any sort of damage when it comes to competing for the cup. Brisbane Brazil Brisbane and Brazil have been around the mark but when it comes down to it, they just can't get over the final hurdle. Exemplifying this, Brisbane made the preliminary finals in 2020, 2021 and 2022 but were unable to make the Grand Final. http://gty.im/1328076903 Similarly, in 2014, Brazil put out one of the most embarrassing performances in World Cup history by losing 7-1 to Germany at home before falling to Argentina at home in the Copa America Final just last year. However, it does seem as though some new additions could propel these sides to success in their coming campaigns. Both sides are very young and have some genuine stars coming through just in time. Carlton England The link between Carlton and England is inextricable. The two of them have enormous, vocal fanbases that have been so hopeful for so long that they have become hopeless. They both have rich pasts with Carlton being the equal most successful AFL team of all time with 16 premierships, whilst England is known as the home of football. http://gty.im/1327715485 With two up-and-coming superstars coming off relatively disappointing campaigns for their sides, Phil Foden and Sam Walsh will be looking to take the leap and start dominating games. Despite their heartbreak, both sides look as good as they have in a long time and look as though they might just be on the verge of success. Collingwood Germany Germany has had an extremely successful past, taking home four World Cups, including their most recent one in the early 2010s. The exact same thing could be said about Collingwood, who have won 15 premierships, including one in 2010. However, following a little drop-off in the late 2010s and early 2020s, both sides look to be right back in the mix. http://gty.im/1326208455 The two teams also seem to have a very similar type of squad with a great mix of veterans such as Scott Pendlebury and Thomas Muller, and young guns like Nick Daicos and Jamal Musiala. Their upcoming competitions could see these new-look sides get back to the heights they previously have reached. Essendon USA Essendon and the USA have been a bit of a mess in recent years, failing to perform to expectations. A glaring similarity between the two is that their fans tend to be very active on social media, even more so than live at the ground. http://gty.im/1433422748 If they win a game, be prepared to see their fans gloating on social media. In saying that, there is no doubt that their young crop of talent could see them improve in the coming years. Fremantle Denmark Fremantle and Denmark are both in as exciting a position as they have been for a very long time. After their superstar midfielders carried them for years (Nat Fyfe and Christian Eriksen), their terrible injury runs saw their respective sides in a heap of turmoil. However, with such turmoil comes new opportunities, with many of their players developing more quickly as a result. http://gty.im/1243519022 The two legends now finally have the support to really challenge the top teams and should be around the mark for a reasonable length of time. Against all odds, both sides managed to go way further than anyone expected in their previous campaigns, with both making it through to the semi-finals. Geelong Croatia At first glance, it would almost seem there is nothing similar between these two sides. One is coming off a premiership after being the most consistent side over the last 10 years, whilst the other has never really achieved anything except finishing runners-up in the 2018 World Cup Final. http://gty.im/1243511164 However, the two of them both have a superstar midfielder who has served them so well for so many years; these being Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield and Ballon D'Or winner Luka Modric, that just continue to give. They also have extremely loyal fanbases that are the heart and soul of their football teams. Gold Coast Senegal Gold Coast and Senegal seem to both be the young, up-and-coming sides that every fan likes. They have never been anywhere near winning it all but appear as though their squads are better than they ever have been. http://gty.im/1243590907 At the centre of what their teams do is one hard-working superstar who continues to perform at the highest level; Touk Miller and Sadio Mane. Alongside their respective superstars is a few A-grade players such as Ben King and Noah Anderson for the Suns, and Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly in Senegal's case. GWS Uruguay GWS and Uruguay have been notorious for playing aggressive football with no fear of throwing their weight around. They are often riddled with suspensions which have cost them in the latter parts of their campaigns, including Toby Greene for the Giants and Luis Suarez, who received an infamous red card in the final minute of extra time in 2010, for Uruguay. http://gty.im/988119332 With that said, the feisty competitors still have an abundant crop of firepower in the form of Toby Greene and Josh Kelly for the Giants and Darwin Nunez, Suarez and Edinson Cavani for Uruguay. The problem with their firepower, however, is the fact that it is highly reliant on others providing them with good service, something that hasn't necessarily been the case in recent times. Hawthorn Spain Whilst Hawthorn and Spain are currently at quite different ends of the spectrum in terms of performance, they have an unbelievably similar past. Just before Hawthorn won their three-peat, Spain went won a three-peat of their own winning three major international competitions in a row from 2008 to 2012. http://gty.im/102839953 In their famous eras, both sides had an all-time great midfield trio with Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis on the ball for the Hawks, whilst Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets were controlling games on their own for Spain. Furthermore, they are both in a very similar stage in that they have some terrific young players coming through that will need about four years before reaching the ultimate glory. Melbourne France Melbourne and France are the two sides seeking redemption in their upcoming campaigns. Both of them couldn't quite go back-to-back in their previous quest for the cup (2022 premiership season and Euro 2020) after going in as fancied favourites. http://gty.im/1075774630 Not only this but they lost to a side that was deemed no chance after possessing a significant lead; these being Brisbane and Switzerland. The Demons and Les Bleus are probably the two most talented teams in their respective competitions with the ability to tear a team apart in minutes. North Melbourne Canada North Melbourne football fans and Canadian soccer fans haven't had anything to cheer about other than little specks of talent. Interestingly, both of their major hopes lie in an explosive player in his early 20s with the surname Davies. http://gty.im/1241226539 Going into their coming competitions, both sides will not be expected to perform well but will rather be hoping to be respectable and show some improvement. Unfortunately, though, things aren't necessarily going as planned for either team, with number one pick Jason Horne-Francis leaving North Melbourne and superstar Alphonso Davies suffering an injury right on the verge of Canada's World Cup quest. In saying this, both sides appear to be on an upward trajectory. Port Adelaide Belgium Belgium are a very talented team that really should be able to go further than they have, just like the Power. No matter how hard they try or how far they go, it's always as if there is one side who is tougher than them that gets over the line. http://gty.im/1427925575 They generally win the games they are expected to and struggle against top-tier teams. For both of them, their star-studded midfields are the cornerstone of their sides, with Port Adelaide boasting a midfield of Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines and veteran Travis Boak, whilst Belgium possesses the talent of Premier League immortals Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard. Richmond Argentina Argentina is a successful team with great culture, ageing superstars including one megastar and some very good young talent coming through... sound familiar? Having been called a "one-man team" over the last five or so years, Richmond and Argentina have managed to build formidable teams around their megastars. Should Messi take home a World Cup in December, he would almost unanimously be crowned the GOAT by the football world. http://gty.im/1235151587 Whilst Dusty isn't at the level of Messi in terms of GOAT status, a major impact on a fourth Premiership in 2023 would at the very least put him in the conversation for being a top ten player of all time and solidify him as Richmond's brightest star. Even though reaching the pinnacle in their upcoming campaigns may seem a stretch when considering the talent other squads possess, they'll always still be in the hunt. St Kilda Wales St Kilda and Wales have both had a very arid run when it comes to success. Each of them has a superstar player who they rely on each game; those being Jack Steele and Welsh legend Gareth Bale. Whilst they usually tend to disappoint, every now and then, they can go on a big run that no one expects. http://gty.im/841970760 Corroborating this, St Kilda managed to go all the way to the semi-finals in the 2020 AFL finals, whilst Wales somehow managed to make the semi-finals of the Euros in 2016. Good luck predicting their matches. Sydney Netherlands These two sides peaked in the late 2000s and early 2010s, had some terrible luck in some big games and now look primed for a good five or six years ahead. Since 2010, the Swans have gone on to lose three Grand Finals whilst the Oranje have lost a World Cup Final in extra time and a semi-final on penalties. http://gty.im/1353681809 With an exuberant and revitalised squad, the Netherlands will be hoping to go one better than they did in 2010. Meanwhile, the Swans will be hoping to go one better than they did in September. West Coast Mexico West Coast and Mexico are two teams with a huge, loyal fanbase behind them supporting them every game. However, unfortunately for both of them, they are both struggling to perform at the level they once did, particularly with some more experienced players ageing or retiring. http://gty.im/990136870 The two of them are sure to make a lot of noise in their upcoming competitions but are probably not going to go too far. Their fans' loyalty is something to be admired and they're sure to be back in the mix in no time at all. Western Bulldogs Portugal Western Bulldogs and Portugal have both performed reasonably well since they lifted up the cup in 2016. However, since then, they haven't quite been able to repeat their 2016 heroics. Each of them is stacked with talent, particularly in the midfield and forward lines and have a legend of the club playing for them, albeit at different stages of their career (Marcus Bontempelli and Cristiano Ronaldo). http://gty.im/980199826 As a result, their supporting casts can often get little attention for the great work they do. Take for example, Jack Macrae and Tom Liberatore for the Bulldogs, and Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Jota for Portugal.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup nation you should support based on your AFL team

We’ve paired every AFL club with a World Cup contender ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

15. St Kilda

Wales

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		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	ADEL	23	18	5	72	139.3
2	GEEL	23	17	6	68	141.5
3	BL	23	16	6	66	114.2
4	COLL	23	16	7	64	122.4
5	GWS	23	16	7	64	115.3
6	FRE	23	16	7	64	109
7	GC	23	15	8	60	124.9
8	HAW	23	15	8	60	120.9