Most of these national teams will be heading for an early exit—not because they lack talent, but because of questionable squad selections and poor starting XI decisions from their coaches.
We saw a perfect example with Spain yesterday. The team looked unbalanced from the first whistle, key players were either left out or deployed in unfamiliar roles, and the lack of chemistry was evident throughout the match. At major tournaments, one wrong lineup can cost you valuable points, and sometimes qualification itself.
The margins are razor-thin at this level. Coaches who ignore form players, stick with underperforming favorites, or get their tactical setup wrong often pay the price. Talent alone doesn't win tournaments—selection, balance, and game management are just as important.
As the competition progresses, don't be surprised if several big-name nations crash out, not because they were outplayed, but because they were outcoached.