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By Tyler Erzberger
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The World Cup is upon us, and you're wondering: Who can actually win this thing?
If you're looking for favorites among nations with rosters overflowing with talent, France and Spain stand out as the two clear Goliaths of the 48 nations coming to North America this summer.
If you're looking for teams with experience and special players who could take them to the top, there are the likes of Portugal, England, and the defending champions from Argentina.
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But do you want to stand out from your friends, all talking about Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi? Here are three distinctly different teams, depending on your appetite, who have the potential to make some noise these next two months.
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The Attacking Monster: Norway
Norway is going to be the trendy pick for many fans this summer who don't want to just hand the trophy to Spain, France, or another country that's won it before.
The Vikings are coming abroad, with Erling Haaland leading the charge upfront as arguably the best striker in the world, shadowed by two other star offensive players: Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) and Alexander Sørloth (Atlético Madrid).
In their qualifying group, Norway scored 35 goals in eight games. If you're looking for a team that is going to push the pace and can score goals in an avalanche, Norway is for you.
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The Defensive Juggernaut: Ecuador
If you're someone who scoffs at Norway's full-on attack and believes that defense wins championships, then I have the South American team for you.
Ecuador can stop any offense at the World Cup with its star-studded defense centered around Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain) and Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea).
In a South American region where Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia have some elite attackers, Ecuador conceded only 5 goals in 18 matches.
While it might not be pretty, Ecuador has it in them to grind teams into extra time and force them into a coin flip, regardless of how deep their talent is.
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The Team: Japan
Norway has the attack, Ecuador has the defense, and Japan has the chemistry that makes them such a dangerous team at the World Cup.
Japan punches above their weight due to their incredible team cohesion and working together as one, which has brought them incredible success in the run-up to the World Cup, beating teams like Brazil and England.
The names on the roster sheet aren't going to have many standouts or future superstars in Europe, but they're well-conditioned, drilled, and have shown, time and time again, that they are far greater than the sum of their parts.
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