Change of guard in Qatar?

Just weeks away from the start of a World Cup like no other the poor form of Europersquos powerhouses suggests there could be a changing of the guard in QatarEuropean nations have won every World Cup since Brazil lifted the last of their five titles in Japan and South Korea in 2002 Europe has supplied 13 of the 16 semifinalists at the past four World Cups with Italy Spain Germany and France coming out on topBut reigning European champions Italy have failed even to qualify for Qatar while there are doubts over the chances of England France Germany and SpainEnglandrsquos sixgame winless run is their worst ever heading to a major tournament with the Three Lions relegated from the top tier of UEFArsquos Nations LeagueAlso Read English FA chief says LGBTQ fans wont face arrest for kissing at FIFA World Cup 2022Lucky FranceWorld champions France only avoided the same fate thanks to other results going their way as Les Bleus and Germany won just one of their six Nations League group gamesSpain have progressed to the semifinals of that competition but were beaten 21 at home by Switzerland last week Adding to the uncertainty is a firstever midseason World Cup for European teams with no time for pretournament training camps and friendliesBetween now and the break for the World Cup on November 13mdasha week before the tournament startsmdashplayers at Europersquos top teams could play up to 13 times for their clubsldquoEverybody has got the same challenge Itrsquos a strange period because so many teams are a little bit up in the airrdquo said England manager Gareth Southgate ldquoTherersquos very few teams that have been able to find form Wersquove all had the players for three or four days two games in quick succession and now this gap where you are sitting hoping you donrsquot pick up big injuries but wersquore going to pick up somerdquoAlso Read Italy beat Hungary for consolation semis spotBlame gameInjuries fatigue and the competitive nature of the Nations League have been pinpointed as the reasons for the struggles of some of the traditional giants England Germany and Italy were all in the same Nations League group as were Spain and PortugalldquoWersquore playing and have been playing some toplevel sides and we will be better for thatrdquo said Southgate ldquoIn the past wersquove had runs of friendlies or whatever the matches are and then wersquove gone into tournaments This is the first time wersquove hit highlevel oppositionrdquoFrance were without a host of stars that Didier Deschamps hopes will be fit for the World Cup for their 20 defeat to Denmark on Sunday ldquoThe important thing is to be able to recover all our strength in the next two monthsrdquo said Deschamps52No of days for the FIFA World Cup to kick off in QatarThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever