Australia goal keeper Patrick Beach who surprisingly starts ahead of veteran Captain Matthew Ryan is having a generational game. The Socceroos are on a roll.

2010. South Africa. They said theft will be at an all-time high. Unsafe for world cup. Didn't happen. 2014. Brazil. Complained about some of the remote places the venues were. Unsafe for players. Didn't happen. 2018. Russia. "It's not a democracy". There would be marginalization. People would not even be free or allowed entry. Didn't happen. 2022. Qatar. " Slave built stadiums ". A morally bankrupt nation. " It cannot be fun". The tournament is horrible. No alcohols. Religious intolerance. Didn't happen. 2026. US. All the above happening. We see.

AUSTRALIA. Nickname: Socceroos. Personal nickname: Sleeping giants Head coach: Tony Popovic. The former Australian defender who represented his country in the 2006 World Cup took over from Arnold Graham in 2024. Group D( U. S. A, Turkiye, and Paraguay) World rankings: 27th. Opening match: Turkiye. Formation: 5:4:1. Popovic is a very defensive coach. It is a traditional 5 at the back although he tries to employ wingback who provide width. Pattern of play: Popovic spent his playing career as a defender. He seemed to have retained that defensive solidity in management. They will be hard to break down. Expect them to have little to no possession. Do not be deceived. Although they're defensive, their counter attacks are perhaps one of the best the tournament has to offer. Best world cup finish: Round of 16. They have finished in this position twice (2006 and 2022). Team captain: Matthew Ryan. Oddity: Australia holds the record for the biggest ever win in a World Cup qualifier when they thrashed America Samoa 31:0 in 2001. Archie Thompson scored a whopping 13 goals that day. Best world Cup moment: There are so many that stands out. Tim Cahill phenomenal volley against Netherlands must count for something. What a goal that was. Harry Kewell's late equalizer against Croatia that sent Australia into the round of 16 in 2006 deserves mentioning. I have opted for Tim Cahill's late double against Japan in 2006 that turned the game around as the best. Australia were trailing Japan late into the game before Tim Cahill hit a double in the 84th and 89th minute to turn the game round. Worse moments: There is only one. 2006 against Italy second round. Italy were already 10 men down and was surely heading to defeat until the cheat Fabio Grosso dived in the 95th minute to earn Italy a penalty. It was a blatant dive that would probably have been overturned in this era. The penalty was converted by Totti. Australia were cruelly eliminated and Italy went on to win the tournament. Perhaps, the downfall of Italy started with that moment in history. Cheats! Players to watch: Main Man: Nestory Irankunda: The Watford man is a generational talent. There are no words to describe how good he can get. He has a remarkable ceiling. He is explosive, a good dribbler, can shoot and makes really good decision for a 20 year old. I expect him to be plunged into the limelight this summer. Jackson Irvine: The St Pauli midfielder would be the engine of the Australian National team. Powerful and controlling. A lot of the midfield stability will come down to him. He is a racing against time to be fit fully for the tournament. Cristain Volpato: The Sassuola man represented Italy at youth level but made the allegiance in time for this tournament. Creativity will be on his shoulders. Capable of picking a pass, he is a player I enjoy watching. Australia would rely on his innovation. Expectations: The group has been kind. A round of 32 is not out of reach. It would be expected that they get there. My prediction: I believe they make the round of 32. I see them finishing ahead of Paraguay at least and that could be enough.

x.com/i/status/2060344617447… A brief review of the Socceroos chances. Nestory will turn heads.

Up by 2 AM to watch Mc Ginn and Mc Tominay ball. Be wary of Haiti. A decent physical side.

Scotland. Nickname: The Tartan Army. Personal nickname: Brave hearts Head coach: Steve Clarke. The Scot has transformed Scotland. He has qualified them for the last two major tournaments since his appointment in 2019. Group B( Brazil, Morocco and Haiti). World ranking: 43rd. Opening match: Haiti. Formation: 4:2:3:1, 5:3:2. I expect him to adjust according to his opponents. Expect him to play a 4:2:3:1 against Haiti and then revert to a more defensive 5 at the back against Brazil and Morocco. Pattern of play: They're not a very attacking and entertaining side. Steve Clarke is pragmatic and will set his team not to get beat first and foremost. Expect the midfield to be overloaded and the nastiest of low blocks to be employed. Best world Cup finish: They have been to the world Cup 8 times(1954, 1958,1974,1978,1982,1986,1990 and 1998) and are yet to get out of the group stage in each attempts. Team captain: Andy Robertson. Oddity: Scotland holds the Guinness World Record for the most qualification to a world Cup (8 times) without ever getting pass the group stage. Best World Cup moment: There can be only one Winner. Archie Gemmill's incredible solo effort against eventual runners up Netherlands in 1978 stands head and shoulders above all else. The goal will forever be one of the greatest artistic moment in World Cup history. Worse moments: There are two to choose from. The ridiculous 7:0 loss in 1954 deserves mentioning. It still remains Scotland's heaviest defeat. Yet, I have gone for perhaps the most shocking result in world cup history. Scotland played Costa Rica in their opening match of 1990. The Costa Ricans were comprised basically of amateured players. It was expected to be a landslide victory for Scotland. They ended up losing the game 1:0 which ultimately ended their chances to advance. That results still remain one of the most shocking in world cup history. Players to watch: Main man: Scott McTominay: The napoli man has legendary status in Scotland. His bicycle kick goal against Denmark that sent them to the world cup is getting nationally honoured. He is by far Scotland's main man. He will carry them on his shoulders. Anything good Scotland does, he will be involved. Notable mentions: John Mcginn: He is my favorite premier League player. An underrated player. The villa captain is highly intelligent, physical and a hard worker. Expect him to parade the midfield to add steel and technique. I love watching him play and I believe his qualities will shine through. Ross Stewart: I was excited beyond belief when the Saints man got the call up. Injuries have blighted his career. He has been out of the national team for four years. His surprising inclusion might spell positive signs for Scotland. Steve Clarke calls him a "big game scorer" and he indeed his. Watch out for Stewart. He will make good use of whatever time he gets on the pitch. Expectations: The Tartan army will be expected to finally break the hoodoo and finally make a knockout game. The draw has been relatively kind and so expectations will be high that it's 9th time lucky. Predictions: Their first game against Haiti is a must win. If they're to advance they have to win that game and convincingly too. I expect them to get the job done effectively. The Tartan army makes history this tournament and advances to the round of 32. World cup chances: They will make history this world Cup by getting pass the group stage. Anything from then on is a bonus. The world cup is beyond reach.

🚨🇧🇷🇲🇦 OFFICIAL: Vini Jr wins FIFA Man of the Match Award for Brazil-Morocco. 🏅

We have seen Ronaldo in 2022 crying during Portugal's national anthem. Neymar did the same in 2014 for Brazil. Serey Die of Ivory Coast was in uncontrollably tears during the 2014 world Cup against Colombia. Just recently, I have watched Obed Vargas cry during the Mexican anthem. I have compiled the top 10 most passionate and moving anthems of teams in the world cup. Top ten National anthems in the World Cup. 1. New Zealand: "God defend New Zealand". An anthem that combines the maori language and English. The first verse is sung in Maori and the second in English. Thomas Bracken wrote the English version of the anthem while Thomas Henry Smith wrote the Maori version. 2. Scotland: " Flowers of Scotland ". Written by Roy Williamson, this is the official anthem of Scotland in sporting events. Expect it to be sung passionately and very loud. 3. Japan: " Kimigayo ". It is basically a prayer and has one of the shortest lyrics ever of any anthem. It is the oldest anthem in the world. The translation of the anthem in English is "May your reign continue for a thousand, eight thousand generations, until the pebbles grow into boulders, lush with moss." 4. Canada : "O Canada". The first of the host nation to make the list. It is a bilingual anthem that will definitely spark patriotism and love. The French lyrics was written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier while the English lyrics was written by Robert Stanley Weir 5. England:" God save the king ". Perhaps the most iconic anthem of all teams participating. No one truly knows who wrote it. It is a fluid anthem as it can quickly change from king to queen depending on the gender of the monarch on the throne. The shorter versions are used for sporting events. 6. Spain:"LA marcha Real". One of four anthems in the world without a lyrics. It has no words but just performed with instruments. The composer is unknown. 7. Brazil: "Hino Nacional Brasileiro". If you want to know how passionate this anthem can be go watch Brazil's opening match against Croatia in 2014. It was written by Joaquim Osório Duque-Estrada. An anthem that tells about the magnificence of nature and size of mother Brazil. It is sure to inspire emotions. 8. South Africa " Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" (God Bless Africa). This anthem seems to evoke more emotions when their Rugby team sings it for whatever reason. A unique anthem that finds his way on my list because it comprises of 5 languages. Yes, 5 languages in one anthem. It is an anthem that preaches healing, unity and freedom. 9. France" La Marseillaise". A call to arms written by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle. It is an anthem that arouses the people to defend against tyranny. There are several controversial wordings on the anthem like referring to France's enemies as "impure blood". We would not get into that now. A very rousing anthem sure to inspire players. 10. USA: " Star spangled banner ". The last on the least that just narrowly made it over Mexico is the US anthem. Composed by Francis Scott Key the anthem always serve as national pride for the Americans. I expect it to be resoundingly sung throughout their matches. Which anthem did you think I missed or should make the list?