Fifa World Cup legend Cafu breaks down Qatar 2022 group draw, tips Brazil, England and African nations to shine

Two-time World Cup winner Marcos Cafu believes Brazil, England, and several African nations are in with a chance of winning this year’s tournament in Qatar. The former Brazil skipper – who holds his country’s record for most international caps (142) and World Cup match appearances (20), and is the only player in history to reach three consecutive World Cup finals – helped with the group draw on Friday. England were drawn with Iran, USA and either Scotland, Wales or Ukraine in Group B; Brazil were drawn with Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G; while African teams Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco, Cameroon and Ghana are peppered throughout. “I am a patriot – Brazil has a big chance to win the title, yes,” Cafu said via an interpreter at a group media event organised by the Laureus Sport For Good. “From [the perspective of] an ex-World Cup champion, we have a great team. We hope to put what the trainers have been teaching the players in practice.” Cafu, considered one of the greatest full-backs to grace the game, lifted Brazil’s last World Cup trophy in 2002. The “Seleção” have not come close in four attempts since, with the nightmares of their 7-1 loss to Germany at home in 2014 still haunting some fans. “That result has gone, passed, many years ago,” the 51-year-old said. “Football is dynamic, it continues to move on, so there is not much more to say about 7-1. It was an atypical game where Germany played very well. “They will [meet in future] and I think it will be very difficult to see a result as significant for [either] Brazil or Germany.” Home affiliation biases aside, Cafu predicted that England, who reached the semi-final in 2018, would “cause trouble” and be “hard work” for opponents four years on. “The England team is very good and with each year that goes by they keep growing,” he said. “This year, I’m sure they will be even more experience and more aware of what they have to do to win the World Cup.” The former Champions League winner with AC Milan also touted African teams to shine, echoing Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto’o’s comments that the continent was due a World Cup title. African countries have traditionally sparkled in the group rounds, but have never gone beyond the quarter-finals since Egypt first debuted at a World Cup 90 years ago. None of the five African teams from 2018 qualified from their groups. “All teams that get into the World Cup have the possibility to win, principally the African teams,” Cafu said. “I’m a fan. African football has the same style as Brazilian football. They’ve got good spirit, are fun, happy and play up front. “It’s difficult to say which has more or less of a chance of winning, but as long as they concentrate, I’m sure African teams will [be] a lot of work in the World Cup.” As for Brazil’s long-time rivals Argentina, nominated for the Laureus World Team of the Year after winning the Copa America last summer, Cafu said a successful World Cup campaign would depend on the team as a whole and not just the performance of Lionel Messi. “The Argentina national team is, individually, one of the best in the world in my view,” he said. “But what’s lacking is playing together. Messi needed [an] international title for the national team. He’d never won an important title for the team even though he’s such an important player – one of the best in the world – but when he got together with the national team, there wasn’t the support he needed. “I’m a fan of Messi, and seeing [him] win the [Copa America] against Brazil was really important.” Cafu also touted Spanish wonderkid Pedri, nominated for Laureus’ Breakthrough of the Year award, to shine in Qatar. He has been crucial to Barcelona and the national team’s revamp despite only being 19. “He is a player who stands out in Barcelona. He is a footballer that all clubs would want because of his young age and personality,” Cafu said. “I’m sure that with he will be radiant with the [other] youths we’ll have [among] the best footballers at the World Cup.”