With the World Cup around the corner, who appears to be a contender, and whose stay is trending toward a three-and-out?
The four years (and four months) since the last World Cup have been challenging in football, as in life in general. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant compressed seasons and an even more hectic schedule than usual, while the emergence of the UEFA Nations League has made it very difficult for countries from outside the region to secure fixtures against European opposition. Combine the probable impact of fatigue and the fact that the November start means almost nobody has proper preparation time and it all makes assessing national teams’ form and World Cup outlooks extremely difficult.