Three attackers in reserve sounds odd (actually 4/5 with Ben Yedder/Sissoko). Nice to see Zouma on the reserve list though.Martial, Coman, Rabiot and Lacazette in the reserve list.
Bit shocked that Laporte didn't even make the reserve list. He declared himself for France.Three attackers in reserve sounds odd (actually 4/5 with Ben Yedder/Sissoko). Nice to see Zouma on the reserve list though.
Deschamps really doesn't like him for whatever reason.Bit shocked that Laporte didn't even make the reserve list. He declared himself for France.
Giroud is better.Didn't take Lacazette ?!
Also now he has left Spain he surely can't jump ship to them now. Problem he has is France keep finding young CB's. So he will constantly get overlooked.Bit shocked that Laporte didn't even make the reserve list. He declared himself for France.
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That was the first provisional squad list.WTF. Nani was in as of a couple of days ago.
He was in the preliminary squad. They cut it to 23 today.WTF. Nani was in as of a couple of days ago.
How can you take Giroud and Thuavin and leave out Lacazette and Martial? And is Benzema still being frozen out or has he retired from internationals? If not he should be there as well.Tweet
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No surprise that Martial is left out.
If Danilo wasn't injured Neves had 0 chance of making it. People here are acting like it's a massive shock but that's not the case, it was between him and Manuel Fernandes who also had a pretty good year. He most likely should have made it since I have no idea how we'll setup a midfield if William gets injured but it's hardly unfair. I'm a lot more surprised that Semedo and Andre Gomes didn't go.No Neves That's an absolute joke, really. It's not as if Portugal have the squad to justify the omission.
Not maybe. There's about 20 different english centrebacks that would start for Portugal.No Ruben Neves for Portugal? And those CB are just awful lot. Maybe more awful than England's.
Never mind all that....is Wass going to make your squad. 11 caps since 2011 despite playing really well in Spain last few years.As a dane looking at your squad, what screams to mind, is the poor midfield i think. It really is a shame that Scholes, Lampard, Gerrard and Carrick all more or less came at the same time, 'cause boy could two of them be of use now. Henderson and Dier i don't think are that good at linking defense to attack, Lingard and Alli are more or less CAMs and I'm still trying to figure out what Loftus-Cheek's role will be, if any. That being said, the lack of world class midfield material isn't Southgate's fault and i think he's done great as a team selector getting rid of Rooney, Hart & Wilshire (though Welbz will forever be a mystery to me).
Why would they? Lacazette didn't make euro 2016 squad despite his 20 + goals for Lyon. Been limited most of this season for Arsenal until late goal rush. Griezmann, Mbappe and Giroud as super sub can do the last shoulder of defender job.Didn't take Lacazette ?!
I dont know what Santos thinking to still bring Bruno Alves Fonte and Pepe. Dont you have any younger CB there?If Danilo wasn't injured Neves had 0 chance of making it. People here are acting like it's a massive shock but that's not the case, it was between him and Manuel Fernandes who also had a pretty good year. He most likely should have made it since I have no idea how we'll setup a midfield if William gets injured but it's hardly unfair. I'm a lot more surprised that Semedo and Andre Gomes didn't go.
Neves is a very specific type of player, not very fast and athletic but he's a Xabi Alonso type who dictates the tempo and we don't really play like that. We play a 4-4-2 but our wide players like to play inside a lot, Manuel Fernandes can play both in the middle or in that wide role. He reminds me a lot of Maniche (if people here remember him, I'm sure @KirkDuyt does), not sure how many minutes he'll get but he could be very important.
Not maybe. There's about 20 different english centrebacks that would start for Portugal.
We won't be able to defend and we won't be able to play out from the back if teams press us
Not just Morocco, Iran has also been doing very well. We're in a more dangerous situation than most people realize, I think. We'll lose the first game against Spain as we always start tournaments poorly then even 4 points in the next 2 games can mean we get knocked out. Usually we tend to pull through in these moments but it's not going to be easy. There are plenty of question marks around the team and our friendlies in March didn't help.Those cut from Portugal squad....Rolando, Luis Neto, Antunes, Nelson Semedo (that one surprises me), Joao Cancelo, Andre Gomes, Ruben Neves, Sergio Oliveria, Nani, Eder, Rony lopes and Paulinho.
Did Santos ever play any young players when he managed the Portuguese big three? I find it bizarre he hasn't found space in the squad for some of Semedo, Neves, Rony Lopes etc. Surely you can take them for tournament experience and then they'll all be ready for euro 2020 when half the squad will be too old.
Get the feeling some of these have been called up for a farewell tournament, Bruno Alves hardly played at Rangers recently.
Given Portugal have got Spain first (so similar to getting thrashed by Germany first game in 2014) I can honestly see Portugal going out in the groups as Morocco have got decent looking team.
Ruben Dias who also got called up but that's pretty much it. This is probably Pepe's last tournament too, we're screwed.I dont know what Santos thinking to still bring Bruno Alves Fonte and Pepe. Dont you have any younger CB there?
He has barely played, lots of fitness issues in the past years. Played just 626 minutes in the whole season for Lazio. I still think we could have used his experience and that he could have risen to the occasion but players like Guedes or Gelson have been doing better.No Nani.
Has he not played well lately?
What is up with that french squad? 6 CBs and just 2 FBs?Tweet
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No surprise that Martial is left out.
Benzema hasn't played for France since 2015...How can you take Giroud and Thuavin and leave out Lacazette and Martial? And is Benzema still being frozen out or has he retired from internationals? If not he should be there as well.
But to be fair, why would you ever watch other countries' national teams apart from in a few games in WC and EC.Benzema hasn't played for France since 2015...
Don't understand all this Lacazette fascination all of a sudden, he didn't make France 2016 squad when he was in much better shape for Lyon. Giroud always gets called up.
You can tell the posters on this thread who last watched international football in 2014.
Some international football is quite good....South American qualifiers are brilliant and better than many domestic games which isn't surprising with most of the best players in the world in that zone and the competitiveness to get those 5 spots.But to be fair, why would you ever watch other countries' national teams apart from in a few games in WC and EC.
Haha why are Portuguese so defeatist?Ruben Dias who also got called up but that's pretty much it. This is probably Pepe's last tournament too, we're screwed.
Is it not possible to debate a point in a mature way without resorting to this?Haha why are Portuguese so defeatist?
This squad will do exactly what Portugal does best. Surprise.
This is a 7 game tournament.
Pepe is solid enough to compete at the highest level still, as evidenced by his Besiktas season, and Ruben Dias is a top-rated starting center back for Benfica.
Fonte and Bruno Alves do what Bruno Alves did perfectly in the semi-final against Wales at Euro 2016 just two years ago. Provide EXPERIENCED cover, when needed.
Because this a World Cup. And that experience is key.
That squad is so stacked that Barcelona players, a starting one including that in Nelson Semedo, couldn't make the squad.
Experience coupled with dangerous youth like Goncalo Guedes, Bernardo Silva, Gelson Martins, etc. etc. with others like William Carvalho and Raphael Guerreiro.
Young guys who already played crucial parts in the conquest of a European Championship.
If you don't rate this squad you're either unreasonably pessimistic or don't watch much football.
Portugal will show Euro 2016 was no fluke. Because this time, their team will be significantly better.
And they'll have CRISTIANO RONALDO.
Please tell me what was immature about that post. And if you could also tell me what was wrong about what was written, that'd be great too.Is it not possible to debate a point in a mature way without resorting to this?
For this World Cup, I rate this squad as capable of getting to the quarters but it's also capable of getting knocked out in the group stages like it happened in 2014. William has had a terrible season, Guerreiro has played 15 games all season due to injuries and most of them from the bench. They can either show up at their best or they can massively disappoint but these are question marks and they're good reasons to be worried. I have no idea how Moutinho's been doing so I'm not sure how our midfield will look. Joao Mario has had a bad 2 years, the Fernandes are question marks, Renato Sanches is done, Danilo who was in great form got injured..Haha why are Portuguese so defeatist?
This squad will do exactly what Portugal does best. Surprise.
This is a 7 game tournament.
Pepe is solid enough to compete at the highest level still, as evidenced by his Besiktas season, and Ruben Dias is a top-rated starting center back for Benfica.
Fonte and Bruno Alves do what Bruno Alves did perfectly in the semi-final against Wales at Euro 2016 just two years ago. Provide EXPERIENCED cover, when needed.
Because this a World Cup. And that experience is key.
That squad is so stacked that Barcelona players, a starting one including that in Nelson Semedo, couldn't make the squad.
Experience coupled with dangerous youth like Goncalo Guedes, Bernardo Silva, Gelson Martins, etc. etc. with others like William Carvalho and Raphael Guerreiro.
Young guys who already played crucial parts in the conquest of a European Championship.
If you don't rate this squad you're either unreasonably pessimistic or don't watch much football.
Portugal will show Euro 2016 was no fluke. Because this time, their team will be significantly better.
And they'll have CRISTIANO RONALDO.