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Orlando City sank beneath the weight of bad bounces and defensive transition mistakes in an inconceivable 4-1 beatdown loss to Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium. The loss dropped the Lions below the playoff line with one match day remaining.

Starting in the games very first minute, awful mistakes cost the team and luck played a little bit of a role as well, as the Lions (13-14-6, 45 points) fell back below .500, fell below .500 on the road (5-6-6), and lost their fourth game in the last five since winning the U.S. Open Cup. Meanwhile, Miami (14-13-6, 48 points) climbed above .500 and clinched a postseason berth for the first time.

Leonardo Campana, Gonzalo Higuain (twice), and Ariel Lassiter did the damage on the scoreboard, but the Lions were honestly their own worst enemies in the first Tropic Thunder match that was decided by more than one goal. Ercan Kara pulled a goal back in the second half but by then the game was effectively over.

I know what these kinds of games mean for our fans and Im very disappointed not to perform the way we should, Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. In that part, I take responsibility.

I want to say sorry to our fans, because they come from Orlando to Miami to to push us and today was not so good for us, Junior Urso said.

Pareja rotated his lineup somewhat, playing Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Joao Moutinho, Rodrigo Schlegel, Antonio Carlos, and Kyle Smith. Cesar Araujo played his customary stopper role next to a deep-lying Mauricio Pereyra, with an attacking midfield line of Benji Michel, Junior Urso, and Facundo Torres, with Tesho Akindele up top.

It took less than a minute for that lineup to break down. Smith somehow knocked a pass attempt off an opponent and the ball squirted in behind the Orlando center backs. Neither Carlos nor Schlegel went to get the ball so Campana ran onto it and chipped Gallese, who was off his line but not nearly far enough out to get to the ball before the Miami forward. Just over 30 seconds into the match, Orlando City trailed. (Warning: sound off is better, so you can avoid Ray Hudsons overblown, maniacal commentary.)

The Lions didnt respond well to going behind, despite getting a ton of possession. Orlando looked unsettled, consistently did nothing with set piece opportunities, and broke down in transition when there were chances to get numbers forward. Wayward passes from Torres, Akindele, and Urso and a couple of poor touches from Michel prevented some quality chances from materializing. The Lions did set up some half chances but did nothing with them.

Its normal when you start the game in the first minute just conceding the goal and then obviously, the other team with energy and with this momentum that they have, they take advantage of that situation, Pareja said. And then from there, our energy was doubtful and we were not precise in the movements, and then we started losing confidence.

Akindele tried to flick a pass from Smith on target but he didnt quite pull it off, slowing the ball too much and sending it off target. Smith sent a blistering pass through the six in the 18th minute, but there was no way Akindele could get to it in time and Michel didnt anticipate the pass quickly enough to get to the back post for the tap-in.

Higuain nearly got in behind in the 21st minute but Carlos did just enough to force him wide and Gallese chased him into the corner and knocked it out of play. Two minutes later, Campana got in for a first-time shot but just missed wide.

Moutinho smashed a shot well wide from the top of the area when a long throw fell to him. A failure to put shots on target was a problem Sunday at New York City FC and it definitely continued into tonight.

The hosts doubled the lead in the 38th minute on a weird transition as Akindele tried to force a pass into traffic. Miami came the other way and Schlegel got caught pressing high, giving the Herons a 2-on-1 break. Ariel Lassiter crossed in early to Higuain and his first touch was a shot past Gallese to make it 2-0.

Akindele s headed flick went just over the bar in the 43rd minute off a corner kick cross, which was the closest the Lions came in the opening half. In the final minute of the half, a good cross found Urso but he swung and missed at it and kicked DeAndre Yedlin instead.

Orlando City held more possession in the half (61.9%-38.1%), had more shots (7-4) and corners (2-1), and passed more accurately (87.3%-78.3%) but Miami got more shots on target (2-0) and both of those went in. It was the second consecutive first half in which Orlando failed to get a single shot on frame and the Lions had only one on target in its last three halves.

The Lions brought on offensive-minded reinforcements to start the second half as Pareja withdrew Akindele, Michel, and Smith, sending Kara, Ivan Angulo, and Ruan onto the pitch. The changes made Orlando seem more dangerous immediately. Angulo got in the box, made a good move to bypass two defenders and took a shot. The Lions screamed for a handball but Victor Rivas did not give it and a check by the video assistant referee maintained the call on the field. The only replay shown on the broadcast was inconclusive.

But Rivas wasnt opposed to giving Miami a penalty moments later when the Lions were bit again by a bad bounce. A ball in for Lassiter skipped up off the Miami forwards foot and hit Ruans arm at close range. The fullbacks arm wasnt extended unnaturally, nor was the play intentional, but the call was upheld again and Higuain scored on the ensuing penalty to make it 3-0 in the 53rd minute.

Three minutes later, Lassiter added to Orlandos misery with a shot just inside the right post, making it 4-0. Dont ask me why Carlos was trailing on the play, my stream froze a few seconds earlier and started back up right where this video begins.

Things got worse for Orlando City moments after the fourth goal when Carlos was booked, meaning hell miss Sundays regular-season finale against Columbus with a suspension for yellow card accumulation.

Its a little bit soon to answer it but we always have to think about whats next, Pareja said when asked if he had formulated a plan for the back line on Sunday yet with Carlos suspended and Robin Jansson injured. (The booking) was probably the thing that frustrated me the most. Its the lack of common sense from the referee. Its unbelievable. Their responsibility is to protect the game and they need to have the context of the players. And it was a very, very, very unnecessary yellow card, and thats what disappoints me. Not a good call for me, and it affects us not having Antonio, but we have to find a different answer and see how we can set out that back four. Somebody needs to do the job.

Kara spoiled Miamis shutout bid in the 71st minute, taking a pass from Torres at the top of the box, then turning and firing a well-placed shot just inside the left post. It was the big Austrians 11th goal of the season.

Ruan had a chance to set up Kara for another moments later. With Kara running free to his left, Ruan tried to chip a pass across to him over Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender. Unfortunately, he didnt quite get the pass high enough and Callender caught it to prevent the easy header at the back post.

Orlando squandered a late series of corner kicks and Ruan got deep into the box but sent a pass behind both of his teammates crashing the net and that was basically the end.

As a product of chasing the game for all but a few seconds of the match, Orlando finished with more possession (60%-40%), shots (16-6), corners (8-1), and passing accuracy (89.1%-83.4%), but Miami got more shots on target (4-1). Every shot on target in the match ended up in the net. The Lions now have one shot on target in each of the last two matches, which is just two on 29 attempts.

I dont know how to explain it, Urso said of the lack of precision. We had good passing, we had good combinations, but like Oscar told us we have to get more confidence in front of the target and to shoot well. I think we have to be more calm in front of the goal, but no excuses for us.

Were going to leave it there, were going to make our corrections, Pareja said. Weve got to move on. This is a quick turnaround. We have a possibility at home that nobody gave us. We fought for that one during the season and this opportunity belongs to us. Well see. If we dont beat Columbus then maybe we didnt deserve to be in the playoffs, but certainly we have a great opportunity at home to get our qualification.

The Lions have a knockout game in the final match of the regular season on Sunday, when the Columbus Crew visit Exploria Stadium. A draw wont be good enough unless Cincinnati somehow loses at D.C. United.

Read more:
Orlando City vs. Inter Miami CF: Final Score 4-1 as Lions in Free Fall with Another Loss - The Mane Land

The knockout game was down but clearly not out.

Four recent, unprovoked sucker-punch attacks across New York City the latest on a 74-year-old woman have signaled the return of the insidious game, a sicko street challenge where thugs attempt to render an unsuspecting innocent unconscious with a single blow, a law enforcement expert told The Post.

Knock-out games are back. The attack on New Yorkers is very real. We have to keep our heads on a swivel, said Michael Alcazar, a retired NYPD detective and an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Its not only the mentally ill who are committing these assaults. There are individuals who are angry, bored and brazen, who know they are not going to be prosecuted.

At least a dozen of the social-media driven assaults done for online attention, kicks or gang initiation plagued the city in 2013.

While the NYPD said it doesnt track such knockout-type assaults specifically, this year there have been closer to 20 sucker-punch incidents, media reports show. Among them:

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Former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton who served the city from 1994 to 1996 and again from 2014 to 2016 said the incidents are not confined to the Big Apple, and are happening all over the country.

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Read more:
Brazen Knockout Game Back in NYC, Expert Warns - American Renaissance

Tipps Liam Poronsky leads the Red Devils in quest of a third straight win over Troyin the other other Miami County rivalry game. (Press Pros Feature Photos)

Week 7 of the high school football schedule features some games the people have waited to see really want to see and will say something about whos a serious threat in the post-season.

An encouraging week last weekas we hit on ten of ten and prepare now for some games over the next four weeks that, short and sweet, 1) people have waited to see, and 2) really want to see. Some of traditional league rivalries in the MAC and MVL begin to take shape, and of course, well be there to see em.

None better in the MVL this week than Troy and Tipp, where Tipp coach Matt Burgbacher has coached both schools, and Troy is rebounding after a flummoxed start to be 4-2. Tipp is 5-1.

In the MAC, surging Minster is suddenly 4-2 and the talk of those whove taken time to remember that a year ago Seth Whitings young Wildcats were more like Wildkittens, finishing with a 1-9 record and a lengthy injury list.

But also in the MAC this week defending champion Versailles has suddenly lost two of three and has to travel to Anna to face the pesky Rockets, a team thats 2-4, but capable of springing the surprise on unsuspecting opponents. Dont expect Versailles to be one of them.

For added flavor, cast your eyes west to the WOAC this Friday for the game between 5-1 Ansonia and 5-1 National Trail, a game between teams with surprising wins that may have something to say about their their respective regions in the post-season.

The areas quietest Div. VII team, New Bremen, is also 5-1 and tunes up for next weeks date with Coldwater by playing St. Henry, whos on the flip side of 5-1 (1-5). New Bremen will be a, or the, post-season favorite in Region 28.

This is just part of this weeks lineup on the Friday night Picks, sponsored, as always, by the Nidec/Minster Corporation, in Minster, proudly support all things good, and good for, the community of Auglaize County and the people who live there.

Nidec proudly sponsors the Friday Night Picks on Press Pros and your favorite area high school sports.

Without further ado, heres who we like in Week 7 in a game near you:

St. Henry @ New Bremen...We mentioned a quiet 5-1 when we spoke earlier of New Bremen, and thats because the Cardinals, while impressive, havent had that kind of knockout win over a traditional MAC opponents that gets peoples attention. Quarterback David Homan is that good, running back Hunter Schaefer is that steady, and the rest of the roster is improving around them to make Bremen capable against just about anyone they play. On a regular year this would be one of those games. But nothing has been regular in St. Henry this fall, the Redskins being 1-5, and the prospects for turning it around will be tough against the likes of Bremen, and then Versailles and Marion, following. Short and sweet, New Bremen is too quick, and has a lot of momentum building towards that knockout game that comes next week when they travel to play #1-ranked Coldwater (Div. VI, Region 18). This is the head of the homestretch, and the Cardinals move to 6-1 Friday, by two scores over St. Henry.

Versailles and quarterback Connor Stonebraker seeks to rebound in a road test with Anna.

Anna @ VersaillesLets get right to this one, an important game, actually for both teams, depending on your perspective. Versailles is coming off a disappointing loss to Marion last week, a game which was probably closer than the score indicated (27-7), but a game that also gave Versailles some opportunity that they squandered. Anna is young, needs a qualifying win to help build for the future, and that opportunity is here and now, with Versailles this week and Marion Local next week. Versailles is clearly the better, and more experienced team in this game, but Anna will competeand showed against St. Henry that they can be really tough if they get an early lead. I dont expect that, though. Versailles will bounce back, and win by two scores!

Fort Recovery @ Marion LocalNot a lot of drama here, but for out-of-the-area readers from northwest and northeast Ohio theres plenty of interest in the Flyers. Last week, fully one half of our readership for the Marion-Versailles game came from outside the area. This is 6-0 vs. 2-4, and way too much Marion for Fort Recovery to beat. Flyers go to 7-0 with little trouble.

Ansonia @ National TrailA matchup between 5-1s looking for that defining win that speaks volumes over just beating the teams you should beat. Ansonias lone loss came against Tri-Village (5-1), and Trails loss came against Milton Union (6-0). We dont see these teams that much, but when you look at stats it says a lot about the way they play. They run it. And when you play at home I think it portends an advantage. Its great for a pair of teams from the old CCC daysto have this much to play for at this stage of the season. I havent said it for a long time, but I think..Trail!

Piqua back Sam Schmiesing and the Indians will tune up for next weeks Tipp game against Greenville.

Greenville @ PiquaComing off a 63-0 whipping of Fairborn, Piqua comes home to tune up for Tipp next week against Greenville, a team thats 1-5 and who lost to Fairborn two weeks ago, 36-35. The Indians have a healthier Brady Ouhl back at quarterback, and just way too much firepower. Short and sweetrunning clock after the bands play, and a convincing Piqua win.

Columbus Academy @ Fort LoramieShort and sweet again, Loramie moves to 5-2 with this game, but this about the Redskins. In region 28 there are three very interesting post-season schools thatll have a chance to decide the regional champion, and theyre all within ten miles of each other Minster, Fort Loramie, and New Bremen. If you think Im vaping, check their comparative strength of schedules and get back to me. Yes, there are some other good teams, but not with the kind of previous testing that those three can boast. Loramie wins easily over Columbus Academy (1-5).

Minster @ Parkway...The Minster Wildcats are probably the areas best turn-around story in 2022, having won just one game in 2021, and got beaten up doing it. Injuries were a big issue, but what doesnt kill ya makes you better, apparently. After losing to Fort Loramie the Wildcats have won four of five, and sophomore quarterback Brogan Stephey is leading the MAC in passing with 1,261 yards. Teammate James Niemeyer is leading the league in receiving with 34 catches for 422 yards. In Seth Whitings second year hes made believers out of a group of young players who seem to compete better with each passing week. Parkway has shown its ability to throw it, too, but ranks, overall, ninth in total offenseand seventh in team defense. Minsters two losses have come to Loramie and Marion. Go with the flow? I like surging Minster to win their fourth straight game, by a pair of scores.

Northridge @ BethelSo,whats happened to the Northridge Polar Bears? Well, they got cancelled last week when Covington didnt have enough players to play. And prior to that they lost, curiously, to Riverside, in a game where they simply got outplayed. But still, I think the TRC comes down to Ridge, Milton, and Riverside, as all three still have dates with each other. Shouldnt be a problem herePolar Bears moved to 5-1 with a solid win over the Bees.

Just for kicks: Tipps Jackson Kleather booted a 46-yard field goal against Xeniaand is a perfect 24-for-24 on extra points.

Coldwater @ St. JohnSt. John has always been a trap game for visiting teams, but not this time, not this year, and not against a team with the statistical firepower of Marcel Blasingame at quarterback. The Coldwater senior has the Cavs leading the conference with 2,334 yards of total offense, 818 of that his own rushing stats. Blasingame has been what every good Coldwater team usually has, but whats gone unnoticed is their defensive stats. The Cavs are only eight yards behind Marion Local in total yards allowed per game, 179. St. Johns is 2-4, and those wins came against Anna and Jefferson (Delphos Jefferson). No match for ColdwaterCavs win by four scores.

Tipp @ TroyThis sets up as the most intriguing game on Friday night for a couple of reasons. Tipp and Troy are actually closer together distance-wise than Piqua and Troy. Tipp coach Matt Burgbacher coached at Troy for four seasons before leaving Troy to go back to Tipp City, where he previously coached as an assistant to his father, Charlie. In the last three meetings Burgbacher has bested Troy, including last year, 31-16. And after a pair of horrendous losses early to Xenia and Piqua Troy coach Troy Everhart has the Trojans turned around and on a three-game win streak. So, everyone the respective partisans are going to be feeling pretty good about themselves. Tipp (5-1) suffered its only loss last week, to Xenia, and has played as consistently as anyone outside of Xenia and Piqua in the MVL this year. Both teams favor running the football, but Tipps Liam Poronsky also ranks fifth in league passing. Troys Jahari Ward and Nick Kawecki are both on track for thousand-yard rushing years. But this game will be determined by defense, where Tipp ranks third in the conference, giving up about 200 yards a game. Troy ranks fifth, surrendering almost 275. Very emotional game, given the proximity of the schools and the recent events of the past, so this will be close. Ill take their consistency, the value of a senior leader at quarterback, and for the fact that Tipp has a Division I kicker (Jackson Kleather) going to Bowling Green next fall. I think Tipp wins thisby a score or less, even, and maybe a kick!

Nidec/Minster is the exclusive sponsor for the Friday Night Picks on Press Pros Magazine.com.

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Week 7: Short And Sweet, Heading For The 'Stretch' - Press Pros Magazine

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Neville was called a "little Bulgarian weightlifter" by team-mates.

The 47-year-old played for his boyhood club and became one of the most decorated players in Premier League history.

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One-club man Neville won eight Premier League titles during his 19-year stint at Old Trafford.

Neville commanded respect on and off the pitch.

But that didn't stop him from being given a cheeky nickname by the other players in the dressing room.

Man Utd stars used to call Neville a "little Bulgarian weightlifter" and "Gary Nevilleov".

Neville recalled his dressing room nickname while training his legs in former team-mate Paul Scholes' new gym as a part of The Overlap.

He said: "This would have been my game as a footballer. Power stuff.

"What is it you all used to call me?"

Scholes replied: "A little Bulgarian weightlifter, weren't it? Gary Nevilleov!"

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Neville then confirmed: "Gary Nevilleov, they used to call me."

The ex-United captain tried coaching and management after his playing career.

He was England assistant to Roy Hodgson between 2012 and 2016.

Neville then landed his first managerial post at Valencia in Spain, but it was short-lived, getting the sack after just three months.

The former right-back then moved into punditry, and is a mainstay on Sky Sports alongside Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher.

Neville also runs a number of businesses and is the co-owner of League Two side Salford City.

He did, however, have a serious health scare last summer.

Neville collapsed at England's Euro 2020 knockout game against Germany.

He has vowed to not slow down despite knowing "it will cost me".

On collapsing, he told Geoff Shreeves last month: "I collapsed atEnglandvs Germany game atEuro 2020; I had a fit on the floor.

"There were some people who saw me, I don't know how it didn't get out, to be honest with you.

"There was an enquiry, but they said: 'oh no, he just fell over when they scored the goal'."

Neville added: "Brian Kidd [Neville's former coach] used to have this thing 'get your pace early, you can't make it up at the end' and it used to stick with me.

"Sprint, go as fast as you can and fall on the floor earlier than trying to think you can measure it, jog and then do it at the end.

"It's my philosophy. Go for it, just sprint, go as fast as you can and to be fair it will cost me, I know it will cost me at some point but I can't stop. I can't stop."

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Original post:
Gary Nevilleov Man Utd legend Neville reveals former team-mates used to call him a little Bulgarian we... - The US Sun

The last international break before the World Cup is done and that means, a smattering of pre-tournament friendlies aside, its all off to Qatar next. Once everyones played about 27 club games in the next nine weeks first anyway.

So why not have a quick look at the current top 10 in the betting, then? We could think of literally no reason not to do it, and so we have done it. Teams ranked by best odds currently available at oddschecker.com

1) BrazilAlways up there, arent they? Always There Or Thereabouts. Its Brazil! Carnival, Sex, Pele! But when it comes to the World Cup, theyve been really quite underwhelming for a couple of decades now. Since Ronaldos Redemption in 2002 theyve only made it past the quarter-finals once and given what happened next on that occasion would probably rather they hadnt.

Still the only non-Europeans to triumph since Diego Maradona dragged Argentina to glory in 1986 and right now they do once again look the likeliest to break that cycle of European dominance. Already this year theyve won three games 4-0, another couple 5-1 and yet another 3-0. And the teams theyve beaten arent joke teams, either. Chile, Paraguay, South Korea, Tunisia and Ghana are among those swept away by Tites side, one that has a distinctly Premier League flavour with your Alissons, your Thiago Silvas, your Casemiros and the Richarlisons of this world all key figures. Although Brazils depth and lets be real Tites eccentricities meant the final pre-World Cup squad for the September friendlies had no room for Arsenals trio of Gabriels; Jesus, Margalhaes and Martinelli.

Cruised through South American qualifying, winning 14 and drawing three of their 17 games (scoring 40 goals and conceding just five) and being so far clear they never even bothered replaying the Argentina game that was abandoned when Brazilian health officials stormed the pitch demanding four Argentine players go into isolation for breaching Covid rules.

2) FranceHolders and possessors of legendarily absurd strength in depth, with the added bonus that the draw throws up the high possibility of a last-16 clash with Mexico, which is basically a bye to the quarter-finals under the ancient, unbreakable if inexplicable World Cup Law that decrees Mexico must always go out in the last 16.

France are second favourites and to be honest their second XI would be about sixth favourites and their third XI would be dark horses.

Didier Deschamps side qualified for Qatar in comfortable if not quite entirely convincing fashion, drawing home and away with Ukraine and also failing to beat Bosnia at home.

As ever when it comes to major tournaments, we like the chances of the French but they can be a little bit French. Tend to either crush all-comers (see Russia 2018) or go out in pitifully meek fashion as talent succumbs to squabbles and infighting (see Euro 2020 et al) and it is generally impossible to know which one youre going to get.

If the Nations League is any guide (and it probably isnt) then itll be the latter. They werent England-level bad, but only narrowly avoided relegation after taking a single point from four games against Croatia and Denmark.

3) ArgentinaMessis Last Chance at the Big Dance, and it might just be his best opportunity as well. Argentina have a formidable squad that blends youth and experience perfectly and they havent lost a game since the 2019 Copa America.

They won the 2021 edition to finally end Messis wait for a major international honour and do appear to have an excellent chance of adding global glory to continental success after an unbeaten World Cup qualifying campaign. They will, though, need to overcome a relatively modest recent record at the World Cup.

Since winning it twice and finishing runner-up once in the space of four tournaments from 1978 to 1990, Argentina have been beyond the quarter-finals only once, when they narrowly lost the final to Germany in Brazil in extra-time after a goalless 90 minutes.

But their recent form really does suggest something quite special could happen. They gave Italy a 3-0 shoeing in the Finalissima and have won their last four games by a combined score of 14-0.

The group stage draw in Qatar appear to have been relatively kind too, pitting them as it does against teams who can generally be relied on to follow a set pattern and in none of those cases does that pattern involve winning their group. Mexico always finish second before going out in the last 16, Poland always underwhelm, and Saudi Arabia mainly get thrashed horribly. It all points, then, to Argentina cruising into the knockouts looking a million dollars before getting bantered off by tricky Group D runners-up Denmark in the last 16.

4) EnglandAlways and inevitably far too short with British bookmakers, Englands position in the betting as ever owes more to the vast liabilities racked up than an objective rating of their chances. Especially as they currently find themselves in the midst of a horror run of form and calls for the managers head.

Didnt win a single game as they bombed out of the top tier in the Nations League, losing home and away to Hungary in the process. Theyve conceded seven goals in their last two home games, which seems decidedly sub-optimal but their recent tournament form deserves our grudging respect.

They once again made short work of qualification for this World Cup, something that isnt necessarily true of all the top European sides, and are the only team to have reached the last four of both the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020 where they went all their way to a first major final since 1966 before going down to Italy on penalties.

Have had luck with draws opening up for them, but could well do so again in Qatar. If they can top an initial group containing Iran, USA and Wales admittedly a bigger if than might have been expected then a last-16 clash against (probably) Qatar, Ecuador or Senegal doesnt look too awful. Then its just a case of hoping this is one of the tournaments where potential quarter-final opponents France are rubbish for some reason and BOOM! Southgate is back in the semi-finals again and all the doubters and haters will be in the mud.

Its all technically possible. But, to reiterate, this is a team that will go in to the tournament on a six-game winless run and with problems all over the pitch.

5) SpainIt seems somehow old-hat to think of Spain as serious contenders these days. Theyre somehow a team that rose to astonishing prominence and widespread acceptance as the very best in the world and then just suddenly sort of werent anymore, really, without ever being short of good players or anything.

Since the absurd glory days that saw them win three straight tournaments two Euros and a World Cup between 2008 and 2012, theyve been very meh in the majors. This is a strong case of What have you done for me lately? but the facts are that theyve gone out in the group stage and last 16 of the last two World Cups since ending their long wait for a global crown in South Africa. The Euros hinted at a return to the very top table with a run to the last four ended only on penalties by eventual champions Italy.

It was a strange old run, though, involving a couple of staid group-stage draws before giving Slovakia an absolute humping and then knocking out Croatia 5-3 after extra time in an immensely silly game. Then they needed penalties to scrape past Switzerland.

Have just qualified for the Nations League finals as well, pipping Portugal to top spot thanks to a late Alvaro Morata winner in Braga on the final matchday. How much the Nations League actually matters is up for debate, but its arguably notable that the other top European sides towards the head of the World Cup market Germany, France, England have made varying degrees of a bollocks of it.

6) GermanyA team in decline at the Euros 18 months ago, to the extent that they managed to be fairly comfortably beaten in a knockout game by England having already lost at home to giant-bothering scamps North Macedonia in a World Cup qualifier.

Did seem to put all that confusing unpleasantness behind them by crushing all-comers in all of their remaining qualifiers for Qatar, but then had a confusingly uneven Nations League campaign in which they thrashed eventual group winners and European champions Italy 5-2, but lost at home to Hungary and most embarrassingly of all failed to beat Gareth Southgates disastrous England side home or away.

In general, though, Hansi Flick has started to mould a pretty compelling squad that contains enough of the old guard to keep things sensible but has successfully integrated assorted exciting young talents such as former England Under-21 star Jamal Musiala.

For a team with such a formidable record in major tournaments, though, this is a team charged with arresting something of a decline. After reaching at least the last four of six majors in a row between 2006 and 2016 they have gone out in the group stage and last 16 at their last two attempts.

7) NetherlandsThe 2010 beaten finalists and 2014 semi-finalists failed to qualify at all for Russia four years ago, but put at least that right by seeing off Turkey and Norway in a competitive qualifying group and there is arguably no team hitting Qatar in better form than the Dutch.

They havent lost a game since their 2-0 defeat to the Czechs in the last 16 at last summers Euros and have just absolutely pulverised a top-tier Nations League group featuring fellow World Cup qualifiers Belgium, Poland and Wales.

Louis van Gaals side won five and drew one of their six games to march into the finals, most notably giving Belgium a 4-1 beating in Brussels on the opening matchday.

Their recent tournament record (outside the Nations League anyway) is wretched as well as missing out on the 2018 World Cup, they also failed to qualify for Euro 2016. Things were looking up at last summers Euros, but waltzing through the group stage with three wins before immediately getting knocked out by one of the lucky third-place teams to sneak through felt incredibly Dutch of them.

Its coming up on a decade since the Netherlands had any kind of tournament run. And that is far too long really, isnt it?

8) PortugalThe Euro 2016 victory remains one of the all-time great smash-and-grab tournament successes, Portugal somehow contriving to win an event after finishing third in their group and in which a 2-0 semi-final win over Wales was the only time they won any game in 90 minutes.

That ability to shithouse success from the most unlikely of scenarios, alongside the presence of A Certain Mr Cristiano Ronaldo and all manner of Wolves players, means bookmakers are taking no chances with their Portugal prices.

Their recent form is reasonable, coming within minutes of reaching the Nations League finals before having their hearts broken by Spain and Alvaro Morata.

Theyve also got precisely the sort of World Cup group that should suit them, because with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in there it has precisely the look of the sort of pool where you can banter your way to top spot with one win and a couple of ugly draws. Youre definitely going to want to win that group, though, with Brazil likely in wait for whichever team scrambles to second place in what we (and nobody else) are already calling the Group of Draws.

9) BelgiumIs this the actual final last chance after all the other last chances for the Golden Generation to land a major tournament? The reality is that this is a squad whose best days are already behind it, but what they certainly wont lack in Qatar is experience.

There is every chance that Belgiums squad will contain six players with over 100 caps Vertonghen, Witsel, Alderweireld, Hazard, Mertens, Lukaku as well as a couple of novices with only 90-something international appearances in Courtois and De Bruyne.

A smattering of quarter-finals and one semi-final really isnt a good enough return for the insane quantity and quality of talent Belgium have churned out in the last decade, but theyve got a tough task in Qatar.

Their group isnt the worst, with Morocco and Canada unlikely to be much of a threat. And there are few group stage games were looking forward to more than their clash with Croatia, a game where its entirely possible there will be 10 players on the pitch with over 100 caps (Modric, Perisic, Vida, since you asked) if Courtois plays in three of Belgiums four games before then.

The last 16 looks problematic, though. Its almost certainly going to be Spain or Germany.

10) DenmarkIn many ways the most interesting team of all, one that on an almost crassly simplistic level seems to have been forged into something far greater than the sum of its parts by its shared experience of Christian Eriksens collapse and near-death on the pitch in their opening game of the Euros and his subsequent recovery.

Despite losing their best player, a tightly-knit Danish squad managed to galvanise themselves and emerged from that trauma to march through to the semi-finals where they were, lets be real, deeply unfortunate to go out in extra-time against England, whose winning goal came from a Harry Kane rebound after the softest of soft penalties.

Since then theyve eased through what was left of World Cup qualifying, topping their group with nine wins from 10 games, and beaten France home and away in the Nations League.

Thats doubly significant because they will face France again in Qatar in Group D, a section that also includes a non-vintage Australia side and Tunisia. Argentina or Mexico appear the likeliest last-16 opponents.

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Who are the favourites for the 2022 World Cup? England remain really quite high on the list - Football365