The World Cup is fast approaching, and most nations have been releasing their squad lists for the tournament. Many of them will be looking to make a decent run, while others arrive with the obligation to reach the decisive stages, given their individual talent. With this in mind, nations like England, Ecuador, Brazil, and the United States are my picks to have the most pressure come June. 

England – The final roster should give you a sense of security and set expectations ahead of the sport’s biggest tournament. Thomas Tuchel’s announcement had the opposite effect on the general public. While some players are bound to miss out due to the nature of the tournament, nobody expected someone like Harry Maguire to be left out of the squad. The defender had an outstanding season with Manchester United, so much so that many saw him at the level of his Leicester City days. Excluding him conditions the squad not only on the experience level, but also on what he contributes on the field.

Tuchel may have the pieces to balance the game out up front, but he’s definitely taking a gamble by not having a key piece on the defensive end. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see just how far this England side will go this time around. As far as Foden and Palmer being absent from the list, they both had poor form during the course of the season, so they were rightfully excluded, in my opinion.

Ecuador – They are one of the nations with the most expectations coming into the tournament. They currently have two Champions League finalists and one of the most promising talents in midfield. ‘La Tri is no longer looking to “do their best.” They are a team with enough talent and experience to make a statement for years to come. If anything, they should be able to equal and /or surpass their best finish since 2006 (round of 16). 

Having said this, the team’s main issue coming into the tournament is in the attacking third. Enner Valencia is the all-time top goal scorer and one of the nation’s icons. But the legend has been going through a series of injuries lately, meaning that he can’t do it all himself. If the manager can’t find the proper supporting player, they will run into trouble once again. If you add that the current manager holds a passive mentality, it can have a counter effect on the team’s ambitious aspirations. Let’s not forget that Ecuador qualified with an alarming 7 draws. If that doesn’t raise concerns, I don’t know how far this talented Ecuadorian side can go this tournament.

Brazil- The always-favorites have gone over 20 years since they last lifted the World Cup trophy in 2002. A sentence that can sum up why they come in with pressure to another World Cup tournament. However, most of the attention has gone to one man. The inclusion of Neymar in the final roster left divided opinions on whether he deserved the call. He is the last remaining spark of Brazil’s ‘Jogo Bonito.’ However, his fitness level in recent years suggested that he wouldn’t have the same impact. In a tournament such as the World Cup, you need to be at the top of your game, and Neymar was just not at his best. Nevertheless, his presence would be a boost in the squad’s morale, and maybe in a more reduced role, his impact might be the one Brazil needs. 

If Neymar fails to contribute what’s expected of him, the manager will be the one at fault. Yes, he could have just called up someone else, but the outcry and controversy would have overshadowed the sporting motives behind the decision. Ancelotti took a very high risk, but it’s one he was willing to take. Mainly because Neymar is the one piece who can balance the egos within the squad. Only time will tell if  Ancelotti made the right decision.

USMNT – The host nation arrives with more questions than answers. Despite not having a qualifying process, the squad led by Mauricio Pochettino has failed to convince the general public. The usual names either underperform or the potential replacements don’t have the level to take over the positions. They will have a difficult test in the opening game against Paraguay; luckily, at least they will have the goalkeeping position locked in. However, there’s so much that the goalkeeper can do.  Given the circumstances, they will be compared to the heroics of the 1994 squad. It’s up to them to improve what was started, or forever be remembered as the squad who fell short despite having everything to succeed.

In the end, these are all just possibilities. If anything, I hope that Neymar bows out of the international stage the best way possible. What if England exceeds expectations without Maguire? So many questions with a variety of answers, but I hope the tournament is successful in the sporting aspect, so that it can overshadow the many non-sporting controversies that surround it.