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In every way imaginable, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be unlike any other World Cup. The tournament has previously been held in the sweltering summer months, but this year for the first time ever it will be held in the cooler months of November and December. The year’s unusual tournament scheduling may actually help some players for the World Cup.
Since they have been out of the national team mix as of late, these footballers have only one goal in mind: making the final roster to Qatar for the tournament. Most of them have had a rough season and are aiming to regain form in order to keep their current roster spot, while others are on the lookout for trades in order to accomplish the same.
Here are five players that want to make a name for themselves in the national team coaches’ notebooks by having a successful next season with their club.
Jadon Sancho
If Jadon Sancho wants to be on Gareth Southgate’s roster in Qatar, he needs a tremendously influential upcoming season. Since joining Man Utd from Borussia Dortmund, he has only contributed six goals, which is not indicative of his usual level of play, but his current form is not good enough to warrant an invitation to the England squad.
The 22-year-old may find new success under the new manager. If they don’t perform well in November, the manager will have a tough time deciding which players to keep and which to release.
Jesse Lingard
Recent years of Jesse Lingard’s professional career have been quite the adventure. Lingard’s impact on the squad, which peaked during Jose Mourinho’s time as manager, diminished significantly under the subsequent coaches due to his mediocre play and, later, increased competition for his starting position in the club’s attacking midfield.
Lingard had an opportunity to make the transfer official after scoring 13 goals in a short time for the Hammers, but the club prohibited the sale. After essentially sitting out all of last season, the 29-year-old is now a free agent after declining to extend his contract.
Mario Gotze
After his legendary goal in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil, where Germany won their fourth world championship, Gotze became a household name. The super sub has been out of the national team scene since then.
As a result of his injuries and ongoing struggle with a metabolism sickness, he fell out of favor at Bayern Munich and was never able to regain his former form upon his return to Dortmund.
The 30-year-old did a respectable job for the Eredivisie club and scored his most goals since the 2013/14 season, which led to a stunning move back to his homeland this summer with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Anthony Martial
The fight to be one of the 26 French players who will travel to Qatar is fierce because of the country’s wealth of talented athletes. Martial wasn’t part of Manchester United’s starting lineup last season because he was terribly out of shape and inconsistent whenever he was used.
Even if the player from the Monaco academy makes a comeback to fame, he will be a long shot to start for France in the World Cup. However, just qualifying for the tournament would be a huge step up from where he is now.
Marcus Rashford
Fans and experts alike predicted that Rashford would one day become the club’s marquee player because of his obvious potential and because he is a native Manchesterian. A forgettable season in which he scored five goals (his lowest) for the club in 32 games across all competitions suggests he has fallen into disrepute.
No longer is the 24-year-old a sure bet to start for the Three Lions. If Rashford rediscovers his old form at the start of the new season, Southgate will be under pressure to keep him in the England camp. Perhaps this is due to the fact that Manchester United, where he plays, is undergoing some fundamental changes.
Final Thoughts
These are just some of the top players who are desperate to make it into the World Cup. You may want to catch the World Cup 2022 free livestream at Solarbet and get to bet on your favorite teams! Who knows, these players might eventually make it in?