2018 Football World Cup
-
England could easily manufacture to lose to Belgium and Tunisia. If they make it out though they are a reasonable chance of making quarters which I guess would be considered a pass mark.
Belgium should in theory do (really) well but look who is coaching them!!!
I'd like to see an African team go deep - their qualifiers are all pretty classy.
-
It seems to me that English fans/media are genuinely pessimistic. But this is one of the few times they actually seem quite good. Admittedly paper-thin depth in some areas though.
By quite good, I don't think they'll win it. I mean making the quarters. Not get knocked out in the groups stages by nations with less than a million people.
Although I don't follow it that closely anymore tbh.
-
@rapido said in 2018 Football World Cup:
It seems to me that English fans/media are genuinely pessimistic. But this is one of the few times they actually seem quite good. Admittedly paper-thin depth in some areas though.
By quite good, I don't think they'll win it. I mean making the quarters. Not get knocked out in the groups stages by nations with less than a million people.
Although I don't follow it that closely anymore tbh.
They've got two guys up front who can genuinely score goals against anyone. It's getting them decent ball that will be the worry.
If Southgate goes with some of the youth, they may actually surprise.
-
England have no chance, even with their youth.
I read a man-for-man comparison on the likely English and French squads. The conclusion was that only Kane would make the French squad.
The usual suspects will be there in the end. Although I don't expect Argentina to win it I'd actually like them to so it would stop this ridiculous argument that Messi is an inferior player to Maradona because he never won a WC.
-
I dont watch soccer, but I do enjoy the 4 yearly workplace sweepstake we do for the World Cup.
Pretty sure I collected some coin last time too, even better!I’ll let you know who I’m supporting after our draw is done (please not England, please not England, please not England).
-
@bovidae said in 2018 Football World Cup:
England have no chance, even with their youth.
I read a man-for-man comparison on the likely English and French squads. The conclusion was that only Kane would make the French squad.
Where is the article? I need to do some swatting up before the tournament starts.
-
@mariner4life said in 2018 Football World Cup:
I'll get around to this after the Champions League final
I'll do the same after the FA cup final.
Colleague is running a book on time between FA cup final and Conte getting sacked. Tuesday 10pm / 11pm is the current spread.
-
@bovidae said in 2018 Football World Cup:
I read a man-for-man comparison on the likely English and French squads. The conclusion was that only Kane would make the French squad.
The French 4th XI would be amazingly strong - however their 1st XI struggle for any sort of coherence.
Germany are sure to be strong and have many players at their peaks. Spain have the next generation in place and look strong. Brazil have been going along well. Sure to be a couple of other teams who surprise as well as a few who flop ....
-
Here is the English squad:
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley)
Defenders: John Stones (Manchester City), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Phil Jones (Manchester Utd), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Manchester Utd), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester Utd), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Fabian Delph (Manchester City)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester Utd), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur),France omits Lacazette, Martial and Rabiot. Payet got injured in yesterday's Europa League final. Koscielny was already ruled out.
Hugo Lloris, Alphonse Areola, Steve Mandanda, Lucas Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, Benjamin Mendy, Benjamin Pavard, Adil Rami, Djibril Sidibe, Samuel Umtiti, Raphael Varane, N'Golo Kante, Blaise Matuidi, Steven N'Zonzi, Paul Pogba, Corentin Tolisso, Ousmane Dembele, Nabil Fekir, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Lemar, Kylian Mbappe, Florian Thauvin
Some of the other big teams:
Brazil:
Alisson, Ederson, Cassio; Marcelo, Danilo, Filipe Luis, Fagner, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Pedro Geromel; Willian, Fernandinho, Paulinho, Casemiro, Philippe Coutinho, Renato Augusto, Fred; Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Roberto Firmino, Douglas Costa, Taison.Portugal:
Anthony Lopes, Beto, Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Cedric Soares, Jose Fonte, Mario Rui, Pepe, Raphael Guerreiro, Ricardo Pereira, Ruben Dias, Adrien Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Mario, Joao Moutinho, Manuel Fernandes, William Carvalho, Andre Silva, Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gelson Martins, Goncalo Guedes, Ricardo Quaresma -
Spain:
Goalkeepers: David de Gea (Manchester United), Pepe Reina (Napoli), Kepa Arrizabalaga (Athletic Bilbao).
Defenders: Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Nacho Monreal (Arsenal), Alvaro Odriozola (Real Sociedad), Nacho Fernandez (Real Madrid), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea).
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Isco (Real Madrid), Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich), David Silva (Manchester City), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid), Koke (Atletico Madrid).
Forwards: Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), Rodrigo Moreno (Valencia), Lucas Vazquez (Real Madrid).Argentina:
Sergio Romero, Willy Caballero, Franco Armania, Gabriel Mercardo, Cristian Ansaldi, Nicolas Otamendi, Federico Fazio, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico, Marcos Acuna, Javier Mascherano, Eduardo Salvio, Lucas Biglia, Giovani Lo Celso, Ever Banega, Manuel Lanzini, Maximiliano Meza, Angel Di Maria, Cristian Pavon, Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero -
All 32 squads here
-
Not an inspiring English squad but then nobody has been left out who could inspire. Looks like a team that could do better against a good team (where they will be pinned back and can play on the break) than a poor team (who will park the bus). Plenty of pace, not much guile.
Should make the last 16 (2 rank outsiders in the group so anything less will be disastrous). Then they avoid the big teams in the last 16 with probably Poland or Colombia. Quarters can potentially be Germany or Brazil.
-
@dogmeat said in 2018 Football World Cup:
Umai Emery tipped to be new Arsenal Manager
Lots of talk here about his limited English.
Not sure that matters looking at the Arsenal squad. Only a matter of time before post match interviews aren't necessarily done in English!
-
-
Good write up on the Russian GOAT Lev Yashin
-
