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      This winter will be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last dance at the World Cup – are Dream Team World Cup bosses overlooking him?

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO has scored 117 goals in international football, more than any other player in the history of men’s football.Since his 30th birthday, he’s scored 66 goals in 73 appearances for Portugal.
      The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s pedigree is well known, yet it’s worth repeating on the brink of the 2022 World Cup – and amid the launch of Dream Team World Cup! – as Qatar is likely to play host to his last dance at the most prestigious tournament of the lot.
      Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time and victory at Euro 2016 ensured he ticked off an international trophy on his elite checklist (he also collected a Nations League medal in 2018/19) but the World Cup has rarely been a joyous stage for him.
      Whereas Pele and Diego Maradona both defined their legacies with World Cup triumphs, the Portuguese No7 and his contemporary, Lionel Messi, have achieved greatness despite frustrations on the biggest stage of them all.

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      Ready for the last danceCredit: getty/DREAM TEAM
      In 2006, Ronaldo was one of the most promising young talents on display but he was developing as a more traditional winger, hence why he scored just the one goal as Portugal finished fourth in Germany.
      In South Africa in 2010, his only goal came in a 7-0 thrashing of North Korea – a strike which ended a rare drought of 16 months in international football.
      Four years later, he played through a injury and was noticeably hampered, not even his late winner against Ghana could drag Portugal to the knockout stages.
      This was a case of terrible luck and timing for Ronaldo as the tournament in Brazil coincided most closely with his peak years – he scored 61 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid in the season that followed.
      All this meant that by the time he was preparing for his fourth edition of the tournament in 2018, his record at the world’s most-watched sporting event read: three goals in 14 games.
      Injuries hindered Ronaldo at the 2014 World Cup
      Ronaldo set about realigning the numbers with a superb hat-trick against Spain in his first outing in Russia – his most memorable World Cup moment to date.
      A goal against Morocco in the following group game bolstered his record further but defeat to Uruguay in the round of 16 meant Portuguese fans were once again left disappointed with their side’s efforts at the tournament that matters most.
      Now 37 years old, Ronaldo is ready for one final throw of the dice in a World Cup setting and anyone who has observed his career even casually will know his mentality towards the task at hand, such is his relentless desire for accomplishments.
      And it’s his state of mind that could be his greatest asset in Qatar now that his speed and physical sharpness have diminished with age.
      Erik ten Hag has made sparing use of Ronaldo for Man United this season and, truth be told, the Red Devils have generally played better without their legendary No7 on the pitch.
      Still Ronaldo possesses a sense of inevitability and hunger for goals that is unmatched in world football.
      Fernando Santos, whose stint as Portugal coach has coincided with the best years of Ronaldo in international football, will hope to harness his captain’s main character energy in Qatar and may even be thankful that his workload at club level has been managed this term.
      Ronaldo has conquered Europe but the World Cup has eluded himCredit: getty
      And it wasn’t that long ago Ronaldo claimed the Golden Boot at Euro 2020, which is why it’s surprising how few Dream Team World Cup gaffers have included him in their provisional teams so far.
      It’s early days but an ownership of 6.5% makes him just the 12th-most popular striker in the game.
      Portugal have been drawn against Uruguay, Ghana and South Korea in Group H and while that promises to be one of the more competitive sets of fixtures, Santos’ side are favourites to come out on top.
      Darwin Nunez and Aleksandar Mitrovic currently appear in more teams.
      Ronaldo may be at the tail end of his career and his record of seven goals in 17 World Cup games might not align with his greatness in other competitions but at the end of the day he is still Ronaldo – betting against him in rarely profitable.
      Dream Team World Cup managers are encouraged to select provisional teams now, prices and updated squads will be finalised next week – you can make as many changes to your XI as you like until the tournament gets underway.

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      Dream Team World Cup: France’s star players, potential flops and bargain options

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      FRANCE are the reigning World Cup champions and so it’s natural they are among the favourites to triumph in Qatar this winter.However, for all their talented players and historical success, Les Bleus have wobbled this year, winning just one of their last six games.
      They’ve also had their famous squad depth tested with some disruptive injuries – hardly ideal preparation for a major tournament.
      And yet there’s no doubt almost every Dream Team World Cup gaffer will be keen on more than one of Didier Deschamps’ troops as they build their provisional teams this week.
      France face Denmark, Australia and Tunisia in Group D and are expected to earn a favourable round of 16 draw in the form of either Mexico or Poland (assuming Argentina top Group C).

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      Can Kylian Mbappe lead France to another World Cup win?Credit: Getty
      So who should Dream Team World Cup bosses be considering, who should they avoid, and who (if any) are the potential bargains?
      The temptation with France is to work from front to back, such is the star power in their forward line.
      Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema are two talismanic forwards with both set to be among the most-expensive and most-popular assets in the game.
      The former lit up Russia in 2018 but underwhelmed at Euro 2020 while the latter is coming off the back of a campaign that saw him lift the Ballon d’Or.
      Both are top-tier options having plundered bucket-loads of goals for club and country in the last two years.
      It should noted, however, that Antoine Griezmann has arguably been France’s main man at major tournaments under Deschamps.
      The 31-year-old is having his minutes managed at Atletico Madrid this season but it’s worth remembering he won the Golden Boot at Euro 2016 and was second only to Harry Kane for goals scored at the last World Cup.
      Whether he has another major tournament glory in him at this stage of his career remains to be seen and Dream Team World Cup gaffers should expect him to play deeper than Benzema and Mbappe.
      Griezmann was his country’s joint-top scorer in qualifying – perhaps one to have a look at first.
      Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni could have big parts to playCredit: Getty
      In midfield, Kingsley Coman feels like a player to avoid despite his undoubted talent.
      Competition for places is fierce and Dream Team World Cup gaffers should be eyeing up certain starters only.
      France will be without the injured Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, two stalwarts of their 2018 victory.
      Real Madrid youngsters Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga may be tasked with stepping up, though Deschamps generally values experience.
      The former is a more likely starter though he does not fit the profile of a midfielder capable of producing plentiful points – you should focus on players who specialise in goals and assists.
      Incredibly, Adrien Rabiot may have an important role to play, he’s been a regular in the last two years after a somewhat turbulent start to his international career.
      Will Raphael Varane win his race against time to be fit?Credit: Reuters
      In defence, it’s unclear what combinations Deschamps prefers.
      Raphael Varane’s latest injury scare left him as a doubt to make Qatar as he faces a race against time – the Manchester United centre-back is a veteran of 87 international caps and was a class act in Russia four years ago.
      Presnel Kimpembe, Jules Kounde and William Saliba are all pushing for a place in the starting line-up though Benoit Badiashile is one to keep an eye on given he played 90 minutes in both of France’s last two Nations League games.
      The Monaco man has battled with injury issues of late but looks to have returned to fitness in time to be in contention.
      Benjamin Pavard starred for France in 2018 but faces a battle with Jonathan Clauss for the right-back spot, with the latter a potential bargain if given the nod.
      Hugo Lloris is likely to overtake Lilian Thuram to become France’s most-capped player of all time during the tournament – if you think Les Bleus will keep it tight at the back then he’s your man between the sticks.
      However, the 35-year-old is equally capable of the sublime as he is the ridiculous these days, as we’ve seen in a Tottenham shirt recently.

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      Who are the favourites to win the World Cup Golden Boot this winter?

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      DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP managers are spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting their forward line.Goals remain the game’s primary currency and so every self-respecting XI will need plenty of firepower up front.
      With that in mind, let’s run through the bookies’ favourites to win the the Golden Boot in Qatar this winter.

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      Harry Kane will be an immensely popular selection among Dream Team World Cup gaffers.
      The England skipper needs three goals to break Wayne Rooney’s all-time Three Lions record — what better stage to achieve the feat than a World Cup?
      Chances are, that is exactly what will happen, with Kane leading the betting to finish the tournament as the top scorer at 7/1.
      Let’s not forget the 29-year-old already has a World Cup Golden Boot on his mantelpiece.
      Harry Kane is the pre-tournament favourite to win Golden BootCredit: PA
      Gareth Southgate’s men have a relatively favourable group with Iran and USA up in the first before a mouthwatering clash with Wales on November 29th.
      With provisional pricing currently in place, Kane is among the most-expensive strikers in Dream Team World Cup but given his impressive form for Spurs this season, he could well be worth the investment.
      He’s joined at the top of the favourites list by Kylian Mbappe (8/1), Karim Benzema (12/1) and Lionel Messi (12/1).
      The former has 18 goals and five assists in 19 appearances for PSG this term and will be determined to perform on the international stage after an underwhelming showing at Euro 2020.
      Benzema, fresh from his Ballon D’Or win, has been quieter in front of goal recently but his record of ten goals in 16 caps for Les Bleus since his return to international football speaks for itself.
      Those keen to back a France forward from the get-go have a difficult decision to make – some may even feel compelled to double up.
      Kylian Mbappe is set for a huge tournamentCredit: Getty
      With this likely to Messi’s final World Cup, many are backing the little Argentine to finish with a flourish.
      Not only is he 12/1 to win the Golden Boot, Argentina are second favourites to lift the trophy having not lost a game in over three years.
      With Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland in their group, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner could rack up plentiful points from the off and transfer his impressive club form to the World stage.
      The 35-year-old has scored 11 goals and provided 14 assists in just 17 appearances across Ligue 1 and the Champions League in 2022/23.
      It may feel strange to some to see Robert Lewandowski (33/1) at such long odds but this is merely a reflection of Poland’s fortunes rather than the prolific No9’s individual quality.
      He has 18 goals in 17 Barcelona games at this stage but it will be a challenge for him to reach the knockout stages in Qatar.
      Golden Boot bettingBetfair odds

      Harry Kane 7/1
      Kylian Mbappe 8/1
      Neymar 12/1
      Karim Benzema 12/1
      Lionel Messi 12/1
      Cristiano Ronaldo 14/1
      Romelu Lukaku 18/1
      Vinicius Junior 25/1
      Lautaro Martinez 25/1
      Memphis Depay 25/1
      Richarlison 30/1
      Robert Lewandowski 33/1
      Alvaro Morata 33/1
      Kai Havertz 33/1
      Ferran Torres 33/1
      Raheem Sterling 33/1

      Neymar will play a huge role for pre-tournament favourites Brazil and is likely to be a fraction cheaper than the absolute most-expensive forwards in Dream Team World Cup once prices are finalised.
      At 12/1 he’s on par with Benzema and Messi yet may be a marginally more affordable pick-up – a tempting prospect.
      Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon lie in wait for Brazil, who are confident of adding to their trophy haul in this prestigious tournament.
      Neymar and Brazil are primed for a big tournament as favouritesCredit: Getty
      Neymar has 14 goals and 11 assists in 18 games for PSG this season and will be at the heart of a formidable Seleção front line.
      We simply have to mention Cristiano Ronaldo (14/1) when discussing Golden Boot candidates – he claimed the equivalent award at Euro 2020.
      Portugal have Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in their group, representing a great opportunity for progression as group winners.
      The experienced No7 hasn’t played all that much under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United and while he would have liked more game time, perhaps fresher legs will be a benefit in Qatar?
      Among the dark horses, Memphis Depay (25/1) and Netherlands have a very winnable group with Senegal, Ecuador and hosts Qatar involved.
      Though he hasn’t seen much game time, the Barcelona forward comes into the tournament fresh and could rack up plenty of early points for Dream Team World Cup managers who take the punt.
      Depay has scored 21 international goals since the start of 2021!

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      Enter and see if you’ve got what it takes to win Dream Team’s World Cup £25k Survivor Game?

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      Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply.THE 2022 World Cup is on the horizon and YOU could win a life-changing sum with Dream Team’s Survivor competition!
      The tournament in Qatar will undoubtedly yield some historic moments, and you could be immersed in them all while having the chance to win a share of a whopping £25,000 — ENTER HERE!
      Can you be the last player standing? Longest survivors WIN 50% of the prize pool!Credit: DREAM TEAM
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      What’s the game? It’s very simple.
      Use your football knowledge to pick a team to win on each day of the competition. That’s right, just pick ONE winner each day.
      You have two lives, and will lose one each time you predict incorrectly. But if you’re right, you keep your lives and progress.
      You can only pick each team once in the Group Stages, and the longest survivors WIN 50% of the prize pool.
      Why should I play Dream Team World Cup Survivor?

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      You’re ready to go – ENTER HERE
      Simply enter the competition before Qatar vs Ecuador takes place on November 20 at 4pm.
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      Gen Z’s world-class midfielders set to take World Cup by storm this winter

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      In case you haven’t noticed, Dream Team World Cup is now live across all platforms!Gaffers are invited to select a provisional team now before player prices are finalised on November 14th.

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      The next generation of midfielders are set to flourish in Qatar
      One aspect to consider when selecting your XI is the array of young midfield talent that will be on display in Qatar.
      As the most-watched sporting event in the world, the World Cup has long been the platform from which youngsters can launch themselves to superstardom.
      This year’s tournament will be no different with several notable young midfielders seemingly on the cusp of greatness already.
      We make no apologies for the England-centric view by highlighting Jude Bellingham first of all.
      Still just 19 years old, Borussia Dortmund’s No22 is earning huge plaudits in Germany for his all-round performances and a sense of maturity beyond beyond his years.
      A diligent worker in defence, Bellingham is also blessed with a deftness of touch and natural technique that makes him effective in tight areas.
      And this season the former Birmingham midfielder has shown a sharper eye goal – he’s scored nine goals for Dortmund in all competitions already.
      Such has been the impressive nature of his development in recent months, it now seems likely that Bellingham will be a starter for England at the World Cup.
      Kalvin Phillips has struggled with injury setbacks recently and Bellingham’s added edge going forward makes him a superb candidate for a spot alongside Declan Rice whether Gareth Southgate opts for a 3-4-3 or 4-3-3 formation.
      Barcelona and Spain’s futureCredit: getty
      Never to be outdone where technically gifted midfielders are concerned, Spain boast two teenage talents likely to win swathes of admirers in Qatar.
      Pedri is arguably among the world’s best players in his position already and previously flaunted his ability on the international stage to considerable degree at Euro 2020.
      Recently he’s been joined at club and country level by Gavi, a La Masia graduate who shares many of the same attributes.
      Naturally there are whispered hopes from fans of Barcelona and La Roja that Pedri, 19, and Gavi, 18, can emulate Xavi and Andres Iniesta’s partnership that formed the foundation of some of the greatest triumphs of the modern era.
      It’s a similar situation in France where Didier Deschamps may call upon Real Madrid pair Eduardo Camavinga, 19, and Aurelien Tchouameni, 22, as Les Bleus seek to defend their crown this winter.
      The latter is virtually guaranteed a spot in the squad and he may be joined by his younger team-mate because of N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba’s absences through injury.
      France have injuries in midfield and so Deschamps may turn to youth
      Both starlets blend athleticism and physicality with a certain poise in possession, making them very modern midfielders.
      More casual fans will remember Camavinga’s match-shaping performances off the bench during Real Madrid’s latest Champions League glory.
      Germany have Jamal Musiala, the most attack-minded of the lot.
      Once a England youth representative and Chelsea academy player, the 19-year-old has become hugely important to Bayern Munich – he’s scored nine goals and provided six assists for the Bundesliga champions already this term.
      Die Mannschaft are hardly lacking in midfield options but there is an increasingly loud clamour for the national team to be built around Musiala’s blooming talent.
      If Hansi Flick concurs then Musiala may be the pick of the lot in terms of Dream Team World Cup viability, purely because he’s the most likely of the players mentioned to contribute goals and assists.
      More broadly, all the youngsters listed have shown enough in the early stages of their careers to suggest they could become world-class midfielders – some may have already reached that level – and there’s no better stage than the World Cup for a player to stamp their authority on the game.
      Musiala has rapidly become a key player for club and countryCredit: getty
      And the tournament comes at a fitting time too with several leading midfield lights at the back end of their careers.
      Qatar will surely be Luka Modric’s last World Cup at 37 years old, Toni Kroos is 32 and already retired from international football, Angel Di Maria is 34 and currently sweating on an injury ahead of the World Cup.
      Casemiro, Ilkay Gundogan and Sergio Busquets are all in the 30s, as is Kevin De Bruyne.
      These experienced names still have plenty to offer of course, many are still at the top of their game, but every player succumbs to the passing of time eventually.
      The 2022 World Cup could act as a passing of the torch from one crop of decorated midfielders to an exciting host of youngsters hoping to emulate their heroes.

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      Kevin De Bruyne is Dream Team World Cup’s most-expensive midfielder… and for good reason

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      IT’S very early days but Kevin De Bruyne is currently the most-popular player in Dream Team World Cup.40.6% of gaffers with provisional team have selected the brilliant Belgian despite the fact he’s the most-expensive asset in his position.
      The 31-year-old has been assigned a price bracket of £6.5m – £7m and even if he ends up at the lower end of that range he’ll still be the most-costly midfielder in the game.

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      Worth every pennyCredit: getty/DREAM TEAM
      No football fan needs to be convinced of De Bruyne’s talent.
      He is one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history and among the very best of his generation on a global scale.
      And while some supporters in Belgium have been frustrated by their national team’s inability to convert a golden generation of players into tournament glory, it can’t be said that De Bruyne hasn’t pulled his weight.
      A veteran of 93 senior caps, he’s scored 25 goals and provided 46 assists on the international stage.
      That breaks down further to a goal involvement every 104 minutes, an astonishing record for a career spanning 12 years.
      It’s De Bruyne’s combination of style and substance that makes him such a formidable Dream Team asset – he passes the eye test every time and his stats are incredible too.
      Belgium’s hopes rest of De Bruyne’s shouldersCredit: getty
      He’s currently the outright best midfielder in Dream Team’s classic Season game, by a comfortable distance too.
      With 95 points to his name he’s got a 17-point cushion over his closest midfield rival, team-mate Phil Foden (£5.5m).
      No doubt his current domestic and continental form for City has contributed to his sizeable Dream Team World Cup ownership.
      He’s already running away with the Playmaker of the Year award having provided nine assists in the Premier League – nobody else has more than five.
      Add in three Champions League assists and he boasts a tally of 12 in all competitions – an incredible tally for early November.
      De Bruyne has also scored three goals, his most recent being the inch-perfect free-kick at Leicester that ensured Pep Guardiola’s side left with all three points.
      And of course, he’s never far away from a Star Man award.
      De Bruyne’s individual quality is not in question but Dream Team World Cup gaffers should also consider Belgium’s prospects as a collective when selecting their provisional teams.
      Roberto Martinez’s men are set to face Canada, Morocco and Croatia in Group E – the bookies’ have them as favourites to the top the group ahead of Luka Modric’s mob.
      De Bruyne’s 2022/23 numbers are indicative of a world-class playerCredit: getty
      However, it has to be said that Belgium are not as strong on paper as they were at the least two major tournaments.
      Eden Hazard’s dramatic decline (caused by injury setbacks) has rendered the winger a shadow the player he was in 2018, when he was among the brightest stars on display in Russia.
      Romelu Lukaku’s return to Chelsea resulted in a significant drop-off in form among injury frustrations – although the hulking striker’s record of 68 goals in 102 international caps speaks for itself.
      And perhaps most notably, their defence still relies on Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, two centre-backs whose best days are behind them.
      Still, they have De Bruyne and that counts for plenty.
      Acquiring the strawberry-blonde playmaker will take up a significant chunk of budget but Dream Team World Cup managers should ask themselves whether they can afford not to have in midfield?

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      3 wildcard players who could enhance your Dream Team before World Cup break

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      DREAM TEAM gaffers who are on the ball this month will gain ground in their mini-league – that’s a guarantee.With the World Cup calling a halt to proceedings to the regular season in a couple of weeks’ time, November’s transfers should be used to tailor your XI to the fixtures taking place across Game Weeks 13 and 14, especially with a PlayStation 5 up for grabs in the monthly competition.
      And don’t worry about veering too far away from your blueprint team – you’ll have unlimited transfers during the World Cup to reset before the Season game gets going again on Boxing Day.

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      With such a short scoring period between transfer batches, there’s every reason to get inventive this month.
      With that in mind, here are three wildcard options who could be difference-makers in the next fortnight.
      Marcus Rashford (£4.3m)
      An in-form option with favourable fixturesCredit: getty
      Man United’s No10 was one of Dream Team’s biggest flops last season but he’s refocused this term with excellent results.
      The England international has scored seven goals and provided three assists in all competitions for a return of 74 Dream Team points – only six assets in his position have more at this stage.
      The Red Devils have a double header against Aston Villa coming up, a trip to Villa Park in the league and a Carabao Cup third round clash at Old Trafford.
      The Villains will be hoping Unai Emery can steady the ship but the fact is they are coming off the back of a 4-0 hiding at Newcastle – an in-form Rashford will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing an error-prone defence twice in the coming days.
      Man United then see in the World Cup break with a trip to Craven Cottage.
      Seventh-placed Fulham pack a punch going forward but only three teams (Nottingham Forest, Leicester, Bournemouth) have conceded more goals this season.
      Jarrod Bowen (£4.1m)
      Points have been hard to come by recently but that could all change this month
      West Ham have the luxury of three consecutive home games over the next two Game Weeks.
      Crystal Palace, Blackburn and Leicester will all make the trip to the London Stadium before the World Cup, a relatively favourable set of fixtures.
      Blackburn are flying high in the Championship, currently in the automatic promotion spots, and are likely to see the Carabao Cup as a potential distraction – if Bowen is unleashed upon a second-string defence from the league below then there is potential for healthy returns.
      The Foxes’ defence has strengthened in recent weeks but they still have the third-worst defensive record in the league – Hammers’ attacking assets look promising.
      Lewis Dunk (£2m)
      Clean sheets ahead?
      If you really want to target specific fixtures then Brighton’s captain could be your man.
      The Seagulls face Wolves and Aston Villa in their two league fixtures this month – the former have mustered just six goals (the lowest tally in the league) while the latter’s total of 11 is the joint-third worst attacking record.
      You don’t have to be a football analyst to see the considerable potential for Brighton clean sheets and Dunk is the first name on the team sheet.
      The one potential negative of this punt is the fact Roberto De Zerbi’s side travel to high-flying Arsenal for their Carabao Cup clash.
      But again, are the Gunners going to go all out in the secondary cup competition while they’re in a title race? Probably not.

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      Which teams should Dream Team World Cup gaffers back and who should they avoid?

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      DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP is live and one of the very first things you’ll need to consider before selecting your XI is which teams will be in the best shape in Qatar.The logic is simple: the better a team performs, the more likely they are to score goals and keep clean sheets, meaning plenty of Dream Team points.
      So who are the favourites to lift the prestigious trophy on December 18th?

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      The South American giants are favourites with the bookies with Brazil generally priced at 4/1 and Argentina at 11/2.
      Tite’s side have won their last seven games in row, scoring 26 goals and conceding just two.
      The Selecao have only lost one game in the last two years and eleven months and their attacking pedigree is virtually unmatched on the world stage.
      With the likes of Neymar, Vinicius Junior, Raphinha and Richarlison having impressed on the international stage so convincingly in recent times, quality forwards like Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino may not even make the squad.
      Richarlison has been a regular goalscorer for Brazil in recent months
      Argentina are widely fancied because, as reigning Copa America champions, they easily defeated Euro 2020 winners Italy in the first ever Finalissima.
      Lionel Scaloni’s men haven’t tasted defeat in over three years and while the squad may not be as star-studded as previous generations, they are as galvanised and disciplined as they have been in years.
      The Albiceleste will once again be heavily dependent on the brilliance of Lionel Messi, who has recaptured something close to his best form this season at the age of 35.
      Argentina’s iconic No10 has scored 19 goals in his last 22 international appearances – he bagged five in one game against Estonia earlier this year to send out something of a warning to the world’s defenders.
      France are third favourites, closely followed by England, though both teams have suffered disappointing results this year.
      The defending world champions have just won of their last six games, a run that includes three defeats.
      Les Bleus will also be without injured absentees N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, two midfielders who have been regulars during Didier Deschamps’ reign.
      France will be without Pogba and Kante this winterCredit: getty
      Similarly, the Three Lions have lost to Hungary twice this year and went five games without a goal from open play before an entertaining 3-3 draw with Germany at Wembley in their last outing.
      However, France and England both boast talented squads that have performed well in recent major tournaments.
      Spain and Germany are next in line according to the bookmakers though again, both sides have found wins harder to come by than they would have liked this year.
      What may surprise some casual fans is that Netherlands (12/1) are shorter odds than Portugal (14/1) and Belgium (16/1).
      Louis van Gaal has done a good job at the helm of the Oranje so far, registering two wins over Belgium and a 4-2 victory over an organised Denmark side this year.
      Memphis Depay has scored 21 international goals in the last two years and should be a popular selection in Dream Team World Cup, despite the fact he’s not getting many minutes for Barcelona this season.
      Netherlands have reached the World Cup semi-finals five timesCredit: getty
      If you’re looking for a dark horse then Denmark may fit the bill.
      No European team earned more points when qualifying for the tournament and they beat France home and away in the Nations League earlier this year.
      As luck would have it, they’ve been drawn alongside Kylian Mbappe and co in Group D and will secretly fancy their chances of causing an upset or two in Qatar.
      Croatia, Uruguay and Senegal follow in the odds with the rest of the participants all 100/1 or more.
      So what can we gauge from this overlook?
      Dream Team World Cup bosses should definitely be thinking of backing at least two assets each from Brazil and Argentina – although be aware that neither have faced many European opponents recently.
      Brazil and Argentina are the two favourites for the 2022 World CupCredit: getty/DREAM TEAM
      It may not be wise to overinvest in the likes of France and Germany – perhaps England too although Gareth Southgate’s team have been gifted a relatively friendly group.
      You should probably give appropriate consideration to both Netherlands and Denmark as both nations should offer decent value for money if you do a bit of research.
      Remember, you can make as many changes to your XI as you want before the tournament gets underway so there’s no reason to shy away from getting involved right now!

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