The Peninsula
World Cup winner in 1998 and former France defender Marcel Desailly has predicted Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The 54-year-old also stated that Qatar could emulate the heroics of South Korea, who got to the semi-final of the 2002 World Cup, which they jointly hosted with Japan.
“Argentina, why not?” Desailly said while speaking at a ceremony to mark the arrival of the FIFA World Cup trophy in Qatar after its global tour.
“Since 2002, none of the South American teams have been able to win the World Cup. So maybe it’s the time for a South American team,” the former AC Milan Champions League winner added.
In Qatar, he said the national team has the support to reach the next round while praising the infrastructure for the tournament. Desailly had also played for Qatari sides Al Gharafa where he won the QSL in 2005, and Qatar Sports Club.
“I’ve been able to witness and go around the infrastructure, and it’s just amazing. It is secure, and plenty of kids and families will be able to join the stadiums and enjoy the facilities that have been put in place. So, we want to see family and joy in the stadium to support whatever team.
“We also support Qatar and want them to get to the second round. Same as in 2002 when I played in Korea and Japan, and Korea did very well. They got to the second round, and they went all the way until the semi-final. It was just amazing. So we pray that Qatar gets to a certain level on the second stage,” Desailly added.
Meanwhile, the Ghana-born player said it is time for Africa to reach the tournament’s semi-final. No African team has managed to cross the last eight of the FIFA World Cup – Ghana was the last African side to reach the quarter-final in South Africa 2010, where they lost to Uruguay.
“We hope one of the African countries will also reach the semi-final because 90 years of World Cup, none of the African teams have reached a semi-final.”
Africa is represented at this year’s tournament by Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal.
Desailly also noted that defending champions France will be motivated to win the World Cup as they’ll be the first nation to retain the title since Brazil reached the feat in 1962, adding the intensity of play will be high.
“That is the magic of football because anything can happen. And, you know, we are in a period of the year where it’s not a usual period of the World Cup to be played, but the intensity will be very high. They (the players) don’t have to travel a lot everywhere to get to the stadiums; it’s all here in Doha. The intensity of the game will be amazing.”