The FIFA World Cup begins Sunday, and when it does, it’s going to be everywhere.
And that will include NHL locker rooms, inherently a multi-national environment — especially with both the United States and Canada back in the tournament this time around to pique the North Americans’ interest.
So, leading up to the start of the world’s largest single-sport event, The Athletic spent some time talking soccer in the Red Wings locker room, polling European and North American players alike on their teammates’ soccer abilities, their own World Cup comparables as players, and of course, their predictions for 2022. Here’s what they said.
(Note: some responses have been lightly edited for clarity, order and length.)
- Nationality: Sweden
- Group A winner: Netherlands
- Group B winner: England
- Group C winner: Argentina
- Group D winner: France
- Group E winner: Germany
- Group F winner: Belgium
- Group G winner: Brazil
- Group H winner: Portugal
- Tournament champion: England
Why England?
Because the Premier League is the best league in the world, and they always have a good team. It feels like a lot of other good teams like France, they’ve got good players but they can’t get it together it feels like. Same with Germany. I’m not sure about Argentina. I think that’s the most solid team. I think that’s the team to beat. Those guys or Portugal.
Best soccer memory?
I don’t know what year it was, but Sweden played against Germany, in Germany. And they were down, I think it was 2-0 after the first half, and then early in the second, Germany scored 3-0, 4-0. I don’t know if it was qualification for the World Cup or the Euros or whatever it was, but it ended up 4-4, like last 20 (or) 30 minutes. I was probably just 13, 14 years old, but I remember all the guys that were betting on Sweden before the game because it felt like a win. That’s a big memory.
And then, you know Friends Arena? The new stadium in Sweden? The first game they played there it was Sweden against England, and they were down (2-1) and Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) scored 4 goals (to win 4-2). That’s one memory too.
Who’s your personal World Cup player comp?
I played center midfielder, so probably — I don’t know. I can’t say Kevin De Bruyne, because he’s the best player in the world. I just played until I was 12, 13. I would say Thiago in Liverpool.
Which of your teammates is the best soccer player?
It’s a lot of names that I don’t want to say, but Razor (Lucas Raymond) is pretty good. He grew up with a soccer ball, and a lot of these guys haven’t seen a soccer ball for their entire life, it’s just American football. Feels like a lot of European guys are good. Kuby (Dominik Kubalik) is good. Fil (Hronek) is good. Oz (Jordan Oesterle). But probably Razor. Kuby’s good too.
Who goes further in 2022, USA or Canada?
For sure USA. Belgium and Croatia (are) going to finish 1 and 2 in (Canada’s) group. And then England is going to win their group with USA. … I don’t know how Morocco is, but (Canada) can probably win one game. Belgium is good. Croatia is good too. … So yeah I think for sure USA. They’re going to beat Iran, and then it’s going to be pretty tight against Wales. So I think USA’s going to finish like second or third in their group, depends (on the Wales game).
- Nationality: USA, with Serbian descent
- Group A winner: Netherlands
- Group B winner: USA
- Group C winner: Mexico
- Group D winner: France
- Group E winner: Germany
- Group F winner: Croatia
- Group G winner: Serbia
- Group H winner: Portugal
- Tournament champion: Serbia
Why Serbia?
Maybe it’s just their year this year. It’s just their year.
Best soccer memory?
I played a lot of FIFA (video game) when I was like 14, 15 years old. So probably getting good at FIFA.
Who’s your FIFA team?
We would always randomize and things like that. I think when I played, my favorite team was maybe Portugal. Or the Netherlands, because the Netherlands, they had those orange uniforms.
Who’s your personal World Cup player comp?
Probably Tim Howard.
Which of your teammates is the best soccer player?
Not Lindy (Gustav Lindstrom). Definitely not Lindy. Maybe like larks.
Who goes further in 2022, USA or Canada?
US
Pius Suter
- Nationality: Switzerland
- Group A winner: Netherlands
- Group B winner: England
- Group C winner: Argentina
- Group D winner: France
- Group E winner: Germany
- Group F winner: Belgium
- Group G winner: Switzerland
- Group H winner: Ghana
- Tournament champion: Switzerland
Why Switzerland, is that a hometown pick or do you have a good feeling about them?
(Laughs) Both. No, obviously, my team. Got to pick them, right?
Best soccer memory?
Well, I played when I was little, but best memory? Probably, (when I went) with my old team to Barcelona, and we went to Camp Nou, watched a game and Messi scored two free-kick goals. It was pretty crazy, because 90,000 people stood up and just (chanted) Messi. That was probably (the) most impressive thing.
Who’s your personal World Cup player comp?
I’d probably be right flank, right defenseman or something, just running up and down. I’m more of a running, passing guy, not too much skill in the middle. I don’t really have a name. They would all be way better than me.
Which of your teammates is the best soccer player?
Regular soccer or two-touch?
Either.
The Swedes got pretty good skills. Lindy, Razor.
(Raymond is) what Lindstrom said too.
I don’t want to get too much in his head then, I’ll pick somebody else (laughs). No, actually we got a pretty good group of soccer players. So there’s some skill around.
Who goes further in 2022, USA or Canada?
I’m going to have to go with the US That’s a tough group there (for Canada).
- Nationality: Canada with Italian descent
- Group A winner: Netherlands
- Group B winner: England
- Group C winner: Argentina
- Group D winner: France
- Group E winner: Germany
- Group F winner: Belgium
- Group G winner: Brazil
- Group H winner: Portugal
- Tournament champion: Portugal
Why Portugal?
Because it’s Ronaldo’s last chance. I think Ronaldo’s going to have the edge on Messi.
Best soccer memory?
I think probably when Italy won the 2006 World Cup. That was probably the best memory for me. I was 6 years old. I got into soccer when I was really young, so for me it was pretty crazy, especially growing up in an Italian community a little bit. Everyone was cheering for Italy, that’s all I can remember.
Soccer-wise, is Italy your fandom above Canada? Like if they were to play each other?
Yeah, I would say so. I think Italy’s just more popular obviously where I grew up, in that area of Montreal, it was a lot of Italians. I think it was more talking about Italy, not so much Canada. It’s not that popular, I guess, in Montreal.
Who’s your personal World Cup player comp?
I’d probably say (Romelu) Lukaku.
Which of your teammates is the best soccer player?
I don’t know, that’s tough. I’d probably say maybe Lindstrom. Gus.
Who goes further in 2022, USA or Canada?
I would say US
Lucas Raymond
- Nationality: Sweden
- Group A winner: Netherlands
- Group B winner: England
- Group C winner: Argentina
- Group D winner: France
- Group E winner: Germany
- Group F winner: Belgium
- Group G winner: Brazil
- Group H winner: Portugal
- Tournament champion: I hope it’s Argentina, but I think France is going to win it.
Best soccer memory?
I played a lot of soccer growing up, so probably one of the tournaments we played in where we were younger. I had a lot of fun throughout that.
Who’s your personal World Cup player comp?
I don’t know, that’s a tough question. It’s tough to compare. I mean I like a lot of players. My favorite players are probably Messi and those guys, but…
But you don’t want to call yourself Messi?
No. No.
Which of your teammates is the best soccer player?
Hronek is good. It’s tight, but I’d say probably Fil.
A lot of your teammates said you.
Nice. That’s nice to hear. I get some heat for my effort (when we play), but I think I have a good effort. But no, for sure. We have a lot of good players actually. It’s fun.
Who goes further in 2022, USA or Canada?
US
(Photo: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
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