Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been rated among the ten most valuable national teams that failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Completesports.com reports.
According to a study conducted by Safebettingsites.com, Gil Azzurri [The Blues] of Italy, currently sixth in the FIFA Ranking, top the Study’s list of 10 most valuable national team’s that the world will miss at Qatar 2022, after previously making 18 appearances in the world’s biggest football tournament. The four-time world champions have an estimated value of €579million.
The Super Eagles, currently ranked 32nd in the world by FIFA, with an estimated worth of €255.45million by the study, are the sixth most valuable national team that will not feature at the 2022 World Cup.
Nigeria’s quest for the seventh FIFA World Cup finals appearance was truncated by Ghana who will be in Qatar for their fourth appearance in the Mundial.
The Elephants of Ivory Coast, currently ranked 48th in the world by FIFA – with an estimated value of €382.95million – are Africa’s most valuable team that didn’t qualify for Qatar 2022 World, according to the Safebettingsites.com’s Study. Ivory Coast have previously featured three times at the FIFA World Cup.
The Eagles of Mali, without any previous FIFA World Cup appearance, are the third African team that made the Study’s list of most valuable national teams that won’t feature in Qatar 2022. They have an estimated value of €186.40million and are in the ninth position in the top 10 list. The Malian team is currently ranked 46th in the world by FIFA.
Senegal, Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia and Ghana are the five African teams that qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The farthest that African teams have gone in the quest for World Cup laurels is the quarterfinals.
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon became the first to achieve that feat at Italia ’90 edition. Senegal, at Korea-Japan 2002 and Ghana at South Africa 2010, are the two other African nations that have reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup.
Italy Makes It the Most Valuable Team That Didn’t Qualify for 2022 World Cup
According to a Safebettingsites.com data presentation, the Azzurri team that failed to qualify for WC Qatar 2022 was worth an estimated €579 million.
Safebettingsites’ financial expert Edith Reads blames the team’s poor performance for failing to qualify for the WC. Their performances in the qualifiers were lacklustre to her, and they were a pale shadow of the team that won the EUFA Euro 2020 title.
On their way to achieving the feat, the Azzurri cut the image of a fine-tuned machine creating chances and scoring goals with ease. That, coupled with robust defensive displays, was vital to them clinching the title. Come to the WC qualifiers, Edith suggests, an ineffectual midfield and blunt attack was Italy’s bane.
What Does This Mean for Italy’s National Soccer Team?
It’s important to remember that Italy may not have qualified for the 2022 World Cup, but they are still one of the best teams in Europe. Second, the Italian national team players are some of the best in the world. The team has plenty of talent to tap into as it looks to rebound from this disappointment.
However, some concerns need addressing. The biggest of these is that some of Italy’s top players, such as Giorgio Chiellini, are getting older. The 37-year-old is among those retiring following the debacle, paving the way for new players earning their called-ups to replace them. Their exits will be a significant blow for manager Roberto Mancini as he tries to rebuild the team.
