World Cup: National Team threads

[Chimaera]

If I had to guess that's Egypt against Spain. Will be great to be there live and see Salah run through their whole team.

Is it bad that I'm kinda hoping that he doesn't go bonkers at the WC? If he does it against Spain, Real will offer the moon.

 

[YNWA14]

I really doubt that Egypt or Salah is going to do much at the WC. Salah's no Messi; I don't think he's the type of player that's going to be able to carry a team as the sole threat against good teams. He needs other top players out there creating space for him and finding him when he exploits that space. So if he's going to get big offers from others teams it's going to be based on his domestic season where we see how effective he can be playing with other class players.

Though if a team out there is going to throw money at Salah they should also be throwing money at Firmino to keep them together. Personally I think they love playing for Klopp and Liverpool and will stay for the forseeable future as long as we don't fall off.

 

[John Pedro]

Justin Kluivert, Bergwijn, and Guust Til called up by Koeman.

 

[cgf]

Luuk de Jong - Based Dost
Babel

Greatest trident of all time

 

[cgf]

After the discussion of Mustafi & Rudiger, I've been thinking about of who I'd be picking between if I was the german coach. Shame Jogi doesn't return my calls cause he should be picking his 23 from these 40:

FW (10): WM-Müller | Werner | Stindl | Kruse | Reus | Phillipp | Volland | Uth | Draxler | Schurrle
10/8 (9): Özil | Gundogan | Götze | Dahoud | Demirbay | Kramer | Goretzka | Havertz | Can
6 (5): Kroos | Weigl | Geiger | Rudy | Meyer
WB (8): Sane | Kimmich | Brandt | Hector | Weiser | Henrichs | Klostermann | Plattenhart
CB (6): Hummels | Boateng | Sule | Vogt | Kehrer | Tah
GK (2): Neuer | ter Stegen | who cares?

Werner - Müller
Sane - Gundogan - Özil - Kimmich
Kroos
Mats - Boa - Süle
Neuer​

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

After the discussion of Mustafi & Rudiger, I've been thinking about of who I'd be picking between if I was the german coach. Shame Jogi doesn't return my calls cause he should be picking his 23 from these 40:

FW (10): WM-Müller | Werner | Stindl | Kruse | Reus | Phillipp | Volland | Uth | Draxler | Schurrle-nice joke
10/8 (9): Özil | Gundogan | Götze | Dahoud | Demirbay | Kramer | Goretzka | Havertz | Can
6 (5): Kroos | Weigl | Geiger | Rudy | Meyer
WB (8): Sane | Kimmich | Brandt | Hector | Weiser | Henrichs | Klostermann | Plattenhart
CB (6): Hummels | Boateng | Sule | Vogt | Kehrer | Tah
GK (2): Neuer | ter Stegen | who cares?

Werner - Müller
Sane - Gundogan - Özil - Kimmich
Kroos
Mats - Boa - Süle
Neuer​

The bold.

Philipp might be too redundant to Reus and even the Bavarian, but I didn't say I'm not biased. Gotta take a third keeper, so only 22, but I agree, the 1 and 2 is obvious. Might need another player who can play full-back though, if you want to switch formations. Weiser might be the next player in the squad. Dahoud vs. Goretzka was tough to pick, but Goretzka's a better player right now. Mo's lack of playing time might hurt his chances of playing at the World Cup.

 

[cgf]

...Stindl should start if Muller isn't in WM form...

 

[Live in the Now]

Can will go as he can play four different roles. B2B, DM, RB, CB. He probably won't play much but that's super valuable if players get hurt or suspended.

 

[cgf]

Can will go as he can play four different roles. B2B, DM, RB, CB. He probably won't play much but that's super valuable if players get hurt or suspended.

So can Kimmich & Rudy, only they're actually good

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

After the discussion of Mustafi & Rudiger, I've been thinking about of who I'd be picking between if I was the german coach. Shame Jogi doesn't return my calls cause he should be picking his 23 from these 40:

FW (10): WM-Müller | Werner | Stindl | Kruse | Reus | Phillipp | Volland | Uth | Draxler | Schurrle
10/8 (9): Özil | Gundogan | Götze | Dahoud | Demirbay | Kramer | Goretzka | Havertz | Can
6 (5): Kroos | Weigl | Geiger | Rudy | Meyer | Khedira
WB (8): Sane | Kimmich | Brandt | Hector | Weiser | Henrichs | Klostermann | Plattenhart
CB (6): Hummels | Boateng | Sule | Vogt | Kehrer | Tah | Mustafi
GK (2): Neuer | ter Stegen | who cares?

Werner - Müller
Sane - Gundogan - Özil - Kimmich
Kroos
Mats - Boa - Süle
Neuer​

Bolded are the 23 I anticipate Low taking. Not the 23 who should go, but the 23 who I think will.

 

[cgf]

Bolded are the 23 I anticipate Low taking. Not the 23 who should go, but the 23 who I think will.

That’s along the lines of what I’m expecting as well. Maybe Rudiger instead of Mustafi; Rudy in there somewhere, my bet is in place of Weiser; and I really think Stindl has earned his spot as the primary back up to Werner.

He has consistently delivered for the NT since getting his shot at the confed cup and I think Jogi has started to really appreciate having his tenacity & leadership...especially as he’s trying to start turning things over to the new generation when the World Cup winners aren’t available/needed.

So what I expect is:
(5) Muller, Werner, Stindl, Reus, Draxler
(8) Ozil, Gundogan, Goretzka, Can, Khedira, Kroos, Weigl, Rudy
(3) Sane, Kimmich, Hector
(4) Boateng, Hummels, Sule, Rudiger/Mustafi
(3) Neuer, MAtS, whoever

Even if Draxler, Can, Khedira, Rudiger/Mustafi and maybe Goretzka would be replaced by Kruse, Gotze, Brandt, Vogt/Tah, and maybe Kramer/Dahoud in my 23

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

After the discussion of Mustafi & Rudiger, I've been thinking about of who I'd be picking between if I was the german coach. Shame Jogi doesn't return my calls cause he should be picking his 23 from these 40:

FW (10): WM-Müller | Werner | Stindl | Kruse | Reus | Phillipp | Volland | Uth | Draxler | Schurrle
10/8 (9): Özil | Gundogan | Götze | Dahoud | Demirbay | Kramer | Goretzka | Havertz | Can
6 (5): Kroos | Weigl | Geiger | Rudy | Meyer
WB (8): Sane | Kimmich | Brandt | Hector | Weiser | Henrichs | Klostermann | Plattenhart
CB (6): Hummels | Boateng | Sule | Vogt | Kehrer | Tah
GK (2): Neuer | ter Stegen | who cares?

Werner - Müller
Sane - Gundogan - Özil - Kimmich
Kroos
Mats - Boa - Süle
Neuer​

Honestly, that lineup doesn't put the fear of God in me. Looks very beatable. The attack line is nothing to write home about, Muller is aging and Werner is a question mark. You have the midfield which is great on paper but Ozil is Ozil and Gundogan is a sneeze away from rupturing his spleen. Kroos who soft and lacks defence to cover for the back 3. Sane is good and having a great year under Pep how would ass scratcher use him?

Having said that they'll knock out Argentina in the semis probably 4/5- 0

Bolded are the 23 I anticipate Low taking. Not the 23 who should go, but the 23 who I think will.

You think 'who cares" will make it? He might need more seasons to prove himself.

 

[cgf]

Honestly, that lineup doesn't put the fear of God in me. Looks very beatable. The attack line is nothing to write home about, Muller is aging and Werner is a question mark. You have the midfield which is great on paper but Ozil is Ozil and Gundogan is a sneeze away from rupturing his spleen. Kroos who soft and lacks defence to cover for the back 3. Sane is good and having a great year under Pep how would ass scratcher use him?

Having said that they'll knock out Argentina in the semis probably 4/5- 0



You think 'who cares" will make it? He might need more seasons to prove himself.

Muller isn’t a starter if he doesn’t go into his usual WC-form. Stindl or Reus should quickly replace him if that switch doesn’t flip for him this time around.

...though he’ll have a tough time keeping up with Werner for the golden boot even if he does go full WM-Muller. As I am expecting a huge tourney out of Timo. He’s an awesome striker and already fits the NT beautifully. With Mesut, Ilkay, Sane, Kimmich, Kroos, Boa, Hummels & Neuer to feed him I’ll be shocked if anyone but Muller scores more goals than him this summer.

I do worry about what happens if Ilkay isn’t fit as Jogi won’t pick Demirbay, Dahoud or Kramer. So hopefully Leon is able to keep it simple in possession and just move the ball quickly to Toni, Mesut, Mats , Boa, Kimmich, etc. to do the intricate thinking that’s necessary when we don’t have space to counter into. If it worked Leon could just focus on bringing his immense physical gifts to assist Ozil & Kroos in the midfield battle, running wild with Werner & Sane on the counter, creeping into the box like Vidal or Ballack when we’re in possession

As for Sane, he’s been a beast for the NT, even before this season. Hell he was a difference maker at the EM when brought off the bench. So if he were to actually be used opposite Kimmich when we go back 3, I’d have no doubts about him thriving. Though I expect Jogi to start Hector in that spot ahead of him, using Sane as a winger unless we are ever chasing the match and need more than what Hector is giving.

It may not be very intimidating but the defense should be exceptional, and the team can be lethal both on the break and in possession...as long as Ilkay is healthy or his replacement doesn’t slow our possession down too much/become a liability opposing pressers can target. Werner and Muller/Stindl/Reus should score a lot of goals

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

So, Kun with his yearly injury just in time for Argentina's preparation. Looking forward to him hobbling along come June. Assume, this means Martinez to start vs Italy and Dybala to replace Kun.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Now mammana stretchered off... ffs!

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

He's out 6-7 months.

 

[John Pedro]

Tite has called up Brazil with some new faces to face Germany and Russia. Willian José getting his first ever call up.

Goalkeepers
Alisson (Roma), Ederson (M. City), Neto (Valencia)

Defenders
D. Alves (PSG), Geromel (Gremio), F. Luis (A. Madrid), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Miranda (Internazionale), Fagner(Corinthians), Rodrigo Caio (São Paulo), T. Silva(PSG)

Midfielders
Casemiro (Real Madrid), Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk), Taison (Shakhtar Donetsk), Fernandinho (M. City), Paulinho (Barcelona), R. Augusto(Benjing), Coutinho (Barcelona), Talisca (Besiktas)

Forwards
Douglas Costa (Juventus), William (Chelsea), R. Firmino (Liverpool), Gabriel Jesus (M. City), Willian José (R. Sociedad)

 

[Evilo]

No Malcom?

 

[John Pedro]

No Malcom?

Nope. I think he should've been called, but Tite doesn't seem to think he's ready for this WC so he won't waste time calling him up.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Brazil has excellent keepers. There was a time where their keepers were nearly as bad as Argentina's.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Not yet official but Sigurdsson suffered a bad knee injury for Everton this weekend and could miss the entire season and thus the World Cup, further tests will determine the actual duration of the injury. Huge blow for Iceland, although they are known for their team work ethic, organization etc.., Sigurdsson is pretty much their offensive engine

 

[Live in the Now]

Nope. I think he should've been called, but Tite doesn't seem to think he's ready for this WC so he won't waste time calling him up.

Him and Douglas Costa are also very similar and both won't start. Stands to reason he would only bring one.

 

[Savi]

Brazil has excellent keepers. There was a time where their keepers were nearly as bad as Argentina's.

It really amazes me how Argentina fails to produce any kind of decent goaltending

 

[John Pedro]

Him and Douglas Costa are also very similar and both won't start. Stands to reason he would only bring one.

I feel like it depends on where he sees Coutinho at. If Couts is just a midfielder in his mind, wouldn't make much sense to call Renato Augusto and the winger depth chart would look like Neymar/Douglas and William/? which probably would open a spot for Malcom. Now with Coutinho as a winger, there's little room for him and you need to call a midfielder (I'd rather Arthur over Renato, but Arthur has just returned from injury and hasn't played much this season).

It really amazes me how Argentina fails to produce any kind of decent goaltending

Boca's keeper looks promising. Agustín Rossi, 22. To your point, one of the GKs in Superliga is a 40-year-old lol

 

[cgf]

@Duchene2MacKinnon

What happened to Rulli this season? He looked really good whenever I saw him previously and seemed like an excellent modern sweeper-keeper. Now he's the only part of my fantasy draft team from last summer who isn't making me look like a genius.