Who will win the World Cup? Olly Murs, Tom Grennan, Joel Corry and more musicians have their say
The big kick-off is finally here.
After years of controversy, talking and preparing, Qatar 2022
will start at 16:00 GMT on Sunday when the hosts face Ecuador in the tournament
opener.
Thirty-two teams will battle it out over 28 days for the
ultimate prize, but who will be crowned champions?
BBC pundits, statisticians and readers have already had their
say - now it's time for some of the music industry's finest to try their hand
at football punditry.
Singer Olly Murs
Olly Murs has released a new album called Marry Me and is
set to tour the UK and Ireland next year
Who will win the World Cup? Brazil. They are a
very strong squad. Full of top players, and who doesn't love watching the
mighty Brazil in a tournament? It's always special.
Who will win the Golden
Boot? Kylian Mbappe for me. He is having a super season, already
scoring 12 goals in 14 matches for Paris St-Germain. France do have a very easy
group, and with the quality of players they have I see him scoring plenty, but
also having a brilliant tournament. I'm excited to watch him.
Who will be the
tournament's surprise team? Senegal - especially after winning the Africa Cup of
Nations recently. I feel they will be full of confidence and predict a great
tournament for them.
What is your favourite
World Cup moment? For me growing up, it was the special World Cup goal by
Michael Owen at France 1998. What an incredible goal - it was just a shame we
didn't win the game. I picked that moment as it was my first World Cup that I
was really into my football. I watched every game and loved every minute of it.
DJ Joel Corry and singer
Tom Grennan
DJ Joel Corry and singer Tom Grennan have released a World
Cup version of their new single Lionheart
Who will win the World
Cup? Corry: I'm going to be fearless like a Lionheart and stick my neck on
the line here... England all the way! The pain of last summer against Italy
will only add to the hunger of our brave young lions. Semi-finals in 2018,
final at Euro 2020 - the natural next step is going all the way in Qatar. It's
Coming Home!
Grennan: I've previously said
France, but looking at that Brazil squad I can't actually see past them. Twenty
years since their last win too, it could be their year.
Who will win the Golden
Boot? Corry: Harry Kane - he won the Golden Boot at Russia 2018 when England
only reached the semis. Since then he's been even more prolific for Tottenham
and, at 29, is probably at his peak. Not to mention his incredible goals tally
[of 12] throughout qualifying - joint highest in Europe with Memphis Depay.
Who will be the surprise
team? Corry: Canada. They have some of Europe's hottest young prospects
- Jonathan David [from Lille] and Alphonso Davies [from Bayern Munich]. They
also have Cyle Larin who has scored more goals -13 - than any other player at
Qatar during the qualifying stages, including Harry Kane. He only signed for
Club Bruges in the summer and since then the club have reached the Champions
League knockout stage for the first time ever.
Grennan: I fancy Senegal as
the wildcard for this World Cup - they have some under-the-radar ballers.
What is your favourite
World Cup moment? Corry: In the 1994 World Cup hosted in the USA. It was my earliest
World Cup memory. Me and my dad were watching Italy v Brazil in the final
together. Roberto Baggio for Italy missed the decisive penalty. My family is
Italian, so my dad was going crazy! It was an emotional, action-packed final
and one I will never forget.
Grennan: Robbie Keane for Ireland
in 2002 against Germany. Half my family are Irish so the house just erupted.
Keano is a legend and now a good friend which blows my mind.
Musician and songwriter
Maulo
Musician and songwriter Maulo has just released his new
single Roll It
Who will win the World
Cup? I'd say England - bring it home lads. I chose England because of
how close we came to winning the Euros. And I'm sure watching the ladies win
the Euros will inspire them as well to want to do it. I believe they can.
Who will win the Golden
Boot? Probably Cristiano Ronaldo as this might be his last World Cup
and we can see how much happier he is with the national team.
Who will be the surprise
team of the tournament? I'll say Wales because no-one expected them to make it
having missed out for a while.
What is your favourite
World Cup moment? Watching Ronaldo - R9 - do the stepover against the Ghanaian
keeper and then scoring.
You Me At Six lead singer
Josh Franceschi
Josh Franceschi's band You Me At Six have released a new single called Mixed Emotions
Who will win the Golden
Boot? I really fancy Lautaro Martinez. Playing alongside Messi and the
group games for Argentina, there should be goals galore. My only concern is how
Argentina fare post group stage.
Who will be the surprise
team of the tournament? Senegal. I think they have a squad that could turn up and
it wouldn't surprise if they overachieved.
What is your favourite
World Cup moment? Has to be France 98. Michael Owen against Argentina, my
earliest and fondest memory of the English national team. Incredible goal and
just absolute scenes.
Ashley Fongho from band
Rak-Su
Rak-Su are about to release their new single Neymar
Who will win the World
Cup? I'd love England
to win it, the whole country would be partying for a week, but Brazil's squad
is so full of talent that I think they'll win.
Who will win the
Golden Boot? Kylian Mbappe. I think
France will go quite far and I can see him scoring a lot.
What is your favourite
World Cup moment? My favourite
World Cup moment was heartbreaking but Zinedine Zidane headbutting Marco
Materazzi in the 2006 final. I remember it being so emotional and thinking
'what has just happened?'
