Wayne Rooney picks Brazil, Argentina, Belgium and England as FIFA World Cup semi-finalists
In Short
Brazil have qualified for the last-16 stage of World Cup
Argentina have to beat Poland to reach knockout stage
If Argentina lose or play out a draw, their fate will depend on Saudi Arabia
By India Today Web Desk: Former England forward Wayne Rooney and ex-Portugal winger Luis Figo named Brazil and Argentina as favourites to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Brazil and Argentina had contradictory starts to their campaigns, with Brazil dispatching Serbia while Argentina suffering a shock defeat 1-2 at the hands of low-ranked Saudi Arabia. Brazil secured their last-16 berth with a 1-0 win over Switzerland, whereas Argentina defeated Mexico 2-0 to keep themselves alive in the tournament.
Argentina (3 points) have to beat Poland (4 points) in their final group match in order to book their spot in the knockouts. But if Argentina lose or play out a draw with Poland and elsewhere Saudi Arabia beat Mexico, then Saudi Arabia will put Argentina in a tight spot.
Rooney also picked Belgium and England to make it to the semi-finals, while Figo named Spain and Netherlands as his other two teams to make it to the semi-finals.
“My four semifinalists are Brazil, Argentina, Belgium and England,” Rooney said on Sports18 and JioCinema. Meanwhile, Figo said: “Brazil, Spain, Argentina and Netherlands.”
England currently lead Group B with four points and need a win or a draw with Iran to qualify for the knockouts. Spain and Netherlands also lead their Groups E and A, respectively, and have an upper hand to book their last-16 spots in their last group matches.
For Belgium, Croatia are standing between them and a place in the knockouts. Belgium, who started their campaign with a win over Canada, suffered a shock defeat 0-2 against Morocco, which put them in a tight spot.
