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Contained Within This Post Is A Comprehensive Preview Of Every Goddamn Team In The World Cup

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Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

Over the past couple weeks Defector has been publishing team-by-team World Cup previews. Below you will find links to all of these previews, so that you may easily access them and learn how to pretend to be an international soccer expert during the event.


Almoez Ali with an overhead kick
Koki Nagahama/Getty Images

Qatar Bought The World Cup, Now Has To Prove It Can Play In It


Fans celebrate the tying goal scored by Enner Valencia of Ecuador during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification match between Ecuador and Argentina at Estadio Monumental on March 29, 2022 in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
José Jácome - Pool/Getty Images

Ecuador’s Bright World Cup Future Starts Now


AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 25: Virgil van Dijk of Netherlands celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 4 match between Netherlands and Belgium at Johan Cruijff Arena on September 25, 2022 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

The Netherlands Is Ready To Go Where It’s Never Been Before


Senegal celebrates AFCON win
Photo by Haykel Hmima/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Africa’s Best Hope For Glory Lies With Sadio Mané’s Senegal


ST. POELTEN, AUSTRIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Mehdi Taremi of Iran celebrates with team mates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the International Friendly match between Iran and Uruguay at NV Arena on September 23, 2022 in St. Poelten, Austria.
Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Iran Has More Than Just Soccer On Its Mind At The World Cup


Jude Bellingham
Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Will England Ever Be Brave Enough To Reach For Greatness?


Wales Team celebrates at full time during the UEFA Euro 2020 Group E Qualifier match between Wales and Hungary at the Cardiff City Stadium on November 19, 2019 in Cardiff, Wales.
Athena Pictures/Getty Images

This World Cup Is Wales’s Last Hurrah With Gareth Bale


United States midfielder Weston McKennie (8) celebrates with forward Christian Pulisic (10), midfielder Tyler Adams (4) and teammates after scoring a goal during a CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying game between the United States and Mexico on November 12, 2021 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, OH.
Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

At Long Last, The USMNT Is Back At The World Cup


Ali Albulayhi of Saudi Arabia reacts during the international friendly match between Saudi Arabia and Colombia at Estadio Enrique Roca on June 05, 2022 in Murcia, Spain.
Silvestre Szpylma/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Saudi Arabia’s Coach Is Hunky But Its Team Is Junky


RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Lionel Messi of Argentina lifts the trophy after winning the final of Copa America Brazil 2021 between Brazil and Argentina at Maracana Stadium on July 10, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Gustavo Pagano/Getty Images

Lionel Messi And Argentina Are Ready For World Cup Glory


Grzegorz Krychowiak (L) and Robert Lewandowski (R) of Poland clap for fans during the celebration after Poland qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup after 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier knockout round play-off match between Poland and Sweden at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland. Poland beat Sweden 2-0.
Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Robert Lewandowski Alone Might Not Be Enough For Poland


Australia soccer
Jason Heidrich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Australia Has One Cool Old Guy And One Cool Young Guy


Hiving Lozano #22 of Mexico celebrates a goal against Peru in the second half at Rose Bowl Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Pasadena, California.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Mexico Is Going Nowhere


Some France national team guys in cold-weather workout clothes, prominently featuring Kylian Mbappé and Karim Benzema
FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images

The Defending World Cup Champs Are Still Absolutely Loaded


TOPSHOT - Denmark's forward Kasper Dolberg (L) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammate Denmark's midfielder Christian Eriksen during the UEFA Nations League football match between Denmark and France in Copenhagen on September 25, 2022. - Denmark OUT (Photo by Liselotte Sabroe / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP) / Denmark OUT
Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scannix/AFP via Getty Images

With Christian Eriksen Back, Denmark Can Go Deeper Than Ever


Tunisia players celebrate during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group G match between Panama and Tunisia at Mordovia Arena on June 28, 2018 in Saransk, Russia.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Tunisia Has The Coolest Nickname In The Whole World Cup


Bryan Ruiz
Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

If Nothing Else, Costa Rica Has Sentimentality On Its Side


Alvaro Morata of Spain celebrates scoring Spain goal during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 2 match between Portugal and Spain at Estadio Municipal de Braga on September 27, 2022 in Braga, Portugal.
Carlos Rodrigues/UEFA via Getty Images

It Is Illegal To List Spain Among The World Cup Favorites


German national team
Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Die Mannschaft Is Dead, Long Live Die Mannschaft


Japan celebrate after the FIFA World Cup Qualifier football match between Australia Socceroos and Japan on March 24, 2022 at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia.
Steven Markham/Icon Sportswire

Fate Has Handed Japan A Nearly Impossible Task


Tajon Buchanan #11 of Canada celebrates a goal during a 2022 World Cup Qualifying match against Jamaica at BMO Field on March 27, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

At Its Second-Ever World Cup, Canada Is Here To Stay


Belgium's midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (R) celebrates with teammates after opening the scoring during the Nations League League A Group 4 football match between Belgium and Wales at The King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on September 22, 2022.
John Thys/AFP via Getty Images

The End Is Near For Belgium


SEVILLE, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 27: Hakim Ziyech of Morocco looks on prior to a friendly match between Paraguay and Morocco at Estadio Benito Villamarin on September 27, 2022 in Seville, Spain.
Fran Santiago/Getty Images

Morocco Has All Of Its Weapons Back Just In Time


Serbia's players cheer in front of their supporters after Serbia's forward Aleksandar Mitrovic scored 0-2 during the UEFA Nations League Group 4 between Norway and Serbia in Oslo on September 27, 2022.
Fredrik Varfjell/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

Serbia Will Try To Score Its Way Out Of Its Group


Luka modric
Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Croatia Will Say Goodbye To A Legend In Qatar


Neymar Junior of Brazil celebrates his goal during the international friendly match between Brazil and Tunisia at Parc des Princes on September 27, 2022 in Paris, France.
Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

Can Brazil Be Brazil Again?


Cameroon's coach Rigobert Song (C) celebrates with his coaching staff after qualifying for the 2022 Qatar World Cup African after winning the football match between Algeria and Cameroon at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in the city of Blida on March 29, 2022.
Photo by AFP via Getty Images

Cameroon Fought Hard For A Short Trip To Qatar


Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland (L) celebrates Remo Freuler of Switzerland (R) for his goal during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 2 match between Switzerland and Czech Republic at Kybunpark on September 27, 2022 in St Gallen, Switzerland.
Vedran Galijas/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

Switzerland Can Dare To Dream


Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal during the UEFA Nations league match between Portugal v Spain at the Estadio Municipal de Braga on September 27, 2022 in Braga Portugal.
David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images

Portugal Is Still All About Ronaldo, Even When It Shouldn’t Be


Ghana Black Stars
RYAN LIM/AFP via Getty Images

The World Cup Is The Perfect Place For Ghana To Start Over


Luis Suarez of Uruguay celebrates with teammates after scoring the first goal of his team during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification match between Chile and Uruguay ay Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo on March 29, 2022 in Santiago, Chile.
Alberto Valdez - Pool/Getty Images

Uruguay Will Try Once Again To Upset The Soccer World


Heung-min Son of Korea Republic poses during the official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 portrait session at on November 16, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
Patrick Smith/FIFA via Getty Images

South Korea Will Need Son Heung-Min To Be Heroic

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