World Cup 2022: Ask The Experts – The Pundits Predictions for the World Cup

Ahead of the big kick-off in Qatar we asked our tipsters to tell us their predictions for World Cup 2022.

Inspired by Sky Sports Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher our top team tell us who think will shine in the 22nd edition of the tournament.

To get us started here's who the two Sky Sports pundits predicted would be the stars in Qatar

Jamie Carragher's World Cup Predictions

• Winner – Argentina
• Runners-Up – Portugal
• Surprise Package – Denmark
• Surprise Early Exit – Belgium
• Top scorer – Martinez
• Player Of The Tournament – Messi

Gary Neville's World Cup Predictions

• Winner – Brazil
• Runners-Up – France
• Surprise Package – Denmark
• Surprise Early Exit – Uruguay
• Top scorer – Mbappe
• Player Of The Tournament – Neymar

And on to the MFT experts, let's see how they think things will pan out in the next month

Scott Alott's World Cup Predictions

• Winner – Argentina. Leo Messi can finally land the big one to crown his incredible career
• Runners-Up – France. The defending champs look primed for another deep run.
• Surprise Package – Holland. Packed with quality and flair, the Dutch look transformed under Louis van Gaal
• Surprise Early Exit – Spain. Doubts remain over their squad, especially with Alvaro Morata being relied upon as the main striker
• Top scorer – Harry Kane. England's top man can fill his boots, starting with a group as easy as they get
• Player Of The Tournament – Lionel Messi – The stage awaits and the wee man is ready to sparkle

SlipTips' World Cup Predictions

• Winner –  Brazil. The Selecao are worthy favourites to end their 20-year wait for a sixth World Cup triumph. They have a squad stacked with depth, star quality and wise warriors.
• Runners-up – Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo has been making pre-World Cup headlines for all the wrong reasons but CR7 and Portugal could reach the latter stages if they can avoid Brazil in the last-16. Manager Ferando Santos is an astute tactician who can count on remarkable strength and depth.
• Surprise Package – Netherlands. I fancy Netherlands to go well at a fairly big price. Louis van Gaal has his side playing with purpose and spirit and they look to have a solid chance of at least reaching the last-eight.
• Surprise Early Exit – Belgium. Time is running out for the Red Devil's golden generation to deliver. Getting out of Group F won’t be a gimme and progress beyond the last-16 thereafter could prove to be a bridge too far for Belgium’s ageing backline.
• Top Scorer – Harry Kane. The England captain and penalty taker took custody of the 2018 Golden Boot and he could fill his boots in a weak group. Elsewhere, Lautaro Martinez could be a live runner at a bold price given his brilliant form for Argentina in South American qualifying.
• Player of the tournament – Neymar. If Brazil are to bag the trophy then it makes sense to back poster boy Neymar to be named player of the tournament. The Samba superstar could surpass Pele’s record as Brazil’s all-time scorer in Qatar and achieving such a feat en-route to World Cup glory would surely guarantee him the Golden Ball.

KevMac's World Cup Predictions

• Winner – Argentina. Have the momentum after going 36 games unbeaten and Lionel Scaloni has found a system to get the best out of Lionel Messi.
• Runners-Up – Germany. If they pip Spain to top spot in Group G, the Germans could go far in the easier side of the draw.
• Surprise Package – Uruguay. Have the firepower to make an impact with Darwin Nunez, Luis Suarez and Federico Valverde.
• Surprise Early Exit – France (last 16). Poor in the Nations League, the world champions could be pipped by Denmark in Group D. That would leave them potentially facing Argentina in the last 16.
• Top Scorer – Neymar. In great form for PSG and is the fulcrum of an exciting Brazil side.
• Player Of The Tournament – Lionel Messi: Should rise to the occasion in his last chance to lift football's greatest prize.

Mark Walker's World Cup Predictions

• Winner – France. Simply the best strike force in the world. Strength in depth.
• Runners-Up – Argentina. Winning Copa America should give them confidence.
• Surprise Package – Netherlands. Van Gaal should sort out the usual in-fighting.
• Surprise Early Exit – Mexico. Exited in last 7 second rounds. Might not make it this time.
• Top Scorer – Benzema. France should go a long way and they create plenty of chances.
• Player Of The Tournament – Messi. Purely for FIFA sentimental reasons.

Greg Mac's World Cup Predictions

• Winner – Brazil. For me, it’s a straight shootout between the two giants of South America but given they have got the slightly better squad in my eyes, I’m backing Brazil to claim their sixth World Cup crown.
• Runners-Up – Uruguay. Blessed with plenty of experience and young talent in their squad, I expect the two-time winners to top their group and make an all-South American final.
• Surprise Package – Denmark – The Danes were one of the most impressive in qualifying and performed well at this summer’s Nations League. I actually expect them to finish above France in their group and I wouldn’t rule out a repeat of their incredible run at Euro 2020.
• Surprise Early Exit – Belgium. I don’t fancy Belgium at this World Cup at all! With an ageing squad, leaky defence and fitness doubts over the likes of Hazard and Lukaku, I wouldn’t be surprised if they got knocked out in what is a highly competitive group.
• Top Scorer – Lautaro Martinez – Pitted in a favourable group with the likes of Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland, I expect the in-form Inter and main Argentina striker to bang in the goals in the group stage and maybe even add to his tally as they go deep in the tournament.
• Player of the Tournament – Neymar. This is a toss of the coin between Neymar and Messi. If Argentina wins the trophy Messi wins it, but since I’ve gone for Brazil I’ve got to go with Brazil’s talisman.

Finally we asked our friends at the Gambla Podcast for their predictions

Greg Browning's World Cup Predictions

• Winner – Brazil
• Runners-Up – France
• Surprise Package – Uruguay
• Surprise Early Exit – Germany
• Top Scorer – Mbappe
• Player Of The Tournament – Mbappe

Div MacDonald's World Cup Predictions

• Winner – Brazil
• Runners-Up –Denmark
• Surprise Package – Denmark
• Surprise Early Exit – Portugal
• Top Scorer – Lautaro Martinez
• Player Of The Tournament – Laurato Martinez

David Weatherston's World Cup Predictions

• Winner – Brazil
• Runners-Up – France
• Surprise Package – Switzerland
• Surprise Early Exit – Belgium
• Top Scorer – Lionel Messi
• Player Of The Tournament – Neymar

Summary

So there you have it, our experts have spoken! It looks like a straight shoot-out between Brazil and Argentina to be crowned world champions with A Seleção  just shading it according to our pundits.

France are most likely to finish runners up, they tallied four votes to finish second as well as one to win it.

The Netherlands anre Denmark were most popular choices for the surprise package of the tournament whilst there's not a lot of love for Belgium who are the most popular cvhoice to be the surprise early exit.

Argentina's Lautaro Martínez is the top pick for Top Goalscorer with one more vote than Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.

Finally the pundits make it a split decision between Neymar and Messi for the Player of the Tournament which reflects the closness between Brazil and Argentina in the outrguth market.

• Winner – Brazil
• Runners-Up – France
• Surprise Package – Denmark
• Surprise Early Exit – Belgium
• Top Scorer – Lautaro Martínez
• Player Of The Tournament – Neymar / Messi

What do you think?

Let us know how you think the tournament will pan out with your predictions for the six categories above.

World Cup 2022 Coverage

• What's coming up? View a list of upcoming World Cup Fixtures.
• Missed a match? Check out our World Cup Results for all the latest full-time goals.
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