World Cup: National Team threads

[Evilo]

Must be nice. If you’re not going to use him can we have him?

My fear is that Spain will get him.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

My fear is that Spain will get him.

Didn't he get called up for France a couple of years ago because of this fear? At this point though you can hardly blame him for "choosing" Spain. If he can still go. If you're willing to trade I have a lethal striker who captains one of the most prestiges clubs in Serie A.

 

[Evilo]

I think he got called up, but either didn't play or played in a friendly.
I'll have to look it up.

 

[Evilo]

Yeah he's still eligible to play for Spain.
But he says he doesn't consider it and wants to play for France, that he's played for every youth category for France.

Kudos to him.

 

[Power Man]

Lol those guys aren’t under 20

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

It’s just hilarious at this point

 

[robertmac43]

Asamoah Gyan to rescind retirement decision after presidential intervention

One cannot say no to the President! Happy to see Gyan coming back for one more AFCON, I wish he was still captain!

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I'm not one to usually be saying any older looking player from Africa is over the age-limit because I think its talked about too often for how often cheating is found, but Nigeria does have a long history of being caught cheating in youth tournaments. They cheat more often than other countries that are often called cheaters.

We always draw them as an opponent in these tournaments. A few years back in the U17 World Cup, we faced them with the Pulisic and Adams group of players, and they completely wiped the floor with us. Looking at their roster, only 1-2 of their players now are still known names.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Not sure where to put this but FIFA today announced that the 2022 World Cup will remain at 32 teams, there were rumors of it expanding to 48 with neighboring countries involved in hosting but it wasn’t feasible in short notice as qualifying starts already this summer

 

[robertmac43]

I don't want the size to make the tournament feel like a gimmick which the 48 teams would have done, but I also want Canada to stand more of a chance in qualifying. The decision left me feeling a little torn but overall I think they made the right decision.

 

[koyvoo]

Dani Alves to replace Neymar as Brazil captain at Copa America

Brazil head coach Tite has stripped Neymar of the captaincy, instead naming Dani Alves as skipper for the Copa America.

 

[Corto]

Dani Alves to replace Neymar as Brazil captain at Copa America

I mean, he's older... But he's a sh*thouse artist himself, I never saw him as a leader of any sort.

 

[koyvoo]

Maybe Silva would’ve been a smarter option?

 

[Corto]

Maybe Silva would’ve been a smarter option?

Dunno. We don't have access to the lockerroom. But I would've thought a guy like Marcelo would've been a better option.
Generally well-liked, alternate captain at Madrid, experienced, etc.

 

[koyvoo]

Marcelo isnt on the Copa squad

 

[Evilo]

Marquinhos has the making of a great captain.

 

[Chimaera]

I know with Thiago Silva, there's been crap about how he was a weak captain from 2014, and I don't think he wants it if it comes down to it.

 

[Corto]

Marcelo isnt on the Copa squad

Didn't know that.

Looking at it, I can't say that Brazilian squad is bursting with strong leadership.

 

[Chimaera]

No, it isn't. In some ways, that's probably their biggest weakness. I would think Fernandinho is an option, but how much he plays is going to be interesting.

 

[YNWA14]

Is Militao a starter yet? Give him the captaincy he could be captain for the next 2 decades.

 

[Corto]

Rebic and Rakitic are out for the Wales tie.

From a NT perspective, this year has been pretty horrible lol, soooo many players paying dues for playing through the WC injured etc.

Rebic, Lovren, Vrsaljko, Pjaca, Brozovic, Strinic, now even Rakitic and Vlasic, etc... So many injuries, and that's even ignoring the fact the all missed training camps for their teams and lagged behind physically for half a season.
A summer off could do wonders for guys like Rakitic, Rebic, Vrsaljko, Lovren, Modric- who need serious time off to get their bodies in top shape again.

 

[Savi]

Rakitic you could see at all throughout the year. He was amazing in 2017-18, probably his best season for Barça, followed by a great World Cup. But this season he often looked tired and didn't have that same drive you saw with him last year.

 

[Corto]

Rakitic you could see at all throughout the year. He was amazing in 2017-18, probably his best season for Barça, followed by a great World Cup. But this season he often looked tired and didn't have that same drive you saw with him last year.

He had a pretty good first half of the season, much better than some of the other NT players who just looked completely drained.

But towards the end of the season, he looked spent. Which, btw, is why he's not playing vs Wales.
These are rumors, but apparently he asked Dalic to skip the game this time as he's physically and emotionally completely spent.
No injury, just the dude who played more football games than anyone on Earth in the last 2 years being spent.

 

[HajdukSplit]

I have a feeling there is more to this Rakitic story, I know Cro media is prone to click bait stuff but it wouldn’t shock me if Rakitic retires from the NT which was rumored anyway after the WC. SN had a story of how Rakitic doesn’t feel appreciated in Cro

Edit: Now there are stories saying Rakitic will continue playing for the NT

I don’t have good feeling about NT this cycle, only thing that saves them is the qualifying format where even if they finish 3rd they will still probably make it. Also as much as I want them to play in Split I don’t think a match there will go without incident so there’s that to think about in a few months

 

[kovacro]

Croatia always make qualifying for a major tournament harder than it should be and this cycle is shaping up no differently.

They should get to EURO 2020 but, they are going to leave it to the death.