SalfordRed18
Netflix and avocado, no chill
No Nani? No martial, no smalling.
Seems to be a tournament where big players are gonna be missing out. Strange.
Seems to be a tournament where big players are gonna be missing out. Strange.
If you think this, you don't know the teams you're comparing well enough. (2014 & 2016)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.
Ricardo Costa would be a starter in this team, Veloso would make the 23 man squad and I think Varela that year was pretty good (maybe it was 2012). It is a stronger squad in general though, that year we got completely fecked by injuries and Pepe getting sent off.If you think this, you don't know the teams you're comparing well enough. (2014 & 2016)
This team has champions with a champion mentality.
That team was led by Paulo Bento and had players like Miguel Veloso, Varela, Ricardo Costa, etc. These players are not at the level the current crop is, from top to bottom.
The current crop are high performers at a continental level, and have proven so through form and conquest. And again, they were led by Paulo Bento.
Most importantly, however, they were led by Cristiano Ronaldo with only one knee.
This time he'll have both knees. And if you think that isn't a crucial distinction in and of itself between 2014 and now, then I'll be very frank and say that you are not analyzing correctly.
I'll let the players speak for themselves come the tournament.
Бамби на льдуWhat's Russian for Bambi on Ice?
Have you seen my tagline? You’re telling that to the wrong person, I’m fully aware of what having a fit Ronaldo means.I'd make a correction to my last post.
The most important distinction between 2014 and 2018..... this is CRISTIANO RONALDO's last chance at World Cup victory. And he's already conquered Europe.
At club and national team level. He is the undisputed King of the Champions League and will be forever as his closest competitor to that title is Lionel Messi.
And all Messi does is continue to see the distance between him and Ronaldo, in the most difficult competition of all time (The Champions League) grow with each passing year.
And if you think Cristiano Ronaldo, the most driven person this sport has seen and will see, will not give his absolute everything to attain to the highest title.
Win the Ultimate and achieve Perfection in front of the eyes of the World...
You don't know who he is and what that Portugal team will be capable of.
I'll tell you before they show everyone else. They can beat anyone.
Those selections are actually reasonable.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.
Puts thing into perspective. Only Kane would get into the French XI, perhaps Sterling depending on the setup.Pickford
Walker Stones Maguire
Trippier Henderson Dier Loftus-Cheek Rose
Sterling Kane Lingard
I assume that's the eleven for England? Maybe Young for Rose, Delph for RLC, Cahill for Maguire?
Just realised I named 12 playersPuts thing into perspective. Only Kane would get into the French XI, perhaps Sterling depending on the setup.
It was on the tip of my tongue. Thanks.Бамби на льду
Don't forgot Iran who have the trump card of being coached by Carlos Queiroz who will know Portugal team and players inside-out. He will play for the draw and frustrate Portugal, who will have 1 point from 2 games and need to beat Morocco or risk an embarrassing group-stage exit after winning the Euro's, which isn't easy as they have some decent players.. Portugal relying too much on Pepe to hold this fragile defence together but this Pep isn't in his pomp.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.
Danny WelbeckWhat's Russian for Bambi on Ice?
FFS. The way Glaston has put people off about Spurs, you lot are going to put people off about Ronaldo.I'd make a correction to my last post.
The most important distinction between 2014 and 2018..... this is CRISTIANO RONALDO's last chance at World Cup victory. And he's already conquered Europe.
At club and national team level. He is the undisputed King of the Champions League and will be forever as his closest competitor to that title is Lionel Messi.
And all Messi does is continue to see the distance between him and Ronaldo, in the most difficult competition of all time (The Champions League) grow with each passing year.
And if you think Cristiano Ronaldo, the most driven person this sport has seen and will see, will not give his absolute everything to attain to the highest title.
Win the Ultimate and achieve Perfection in front of the eyes of the World...
You don't know who he is and what that Portugal team will be capable of.
I'll tell you before they show everyone else. They can beat anyone.
Damn you Peyroto and your endless Ronaldo bashing!Have you seen my tagline? You’re telling that to the wrong person, I’m fully aware of what having a fit Ronaldo means.
That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be worried about several problems in the team.
He's been poor for the national team whenever he's had chances. Cedric was the starter at the Euros and deserves to keep his spot and Ricardo Pereira had a great season. It's a surprise that Pereira got picked ahead of him but we have too many great rightbacks and Santos has never really seemed like a big fan of him.Why isn't Barcelona's right back playing for Portugal? N. Semedo is surely better than any other alternative, or?
Great post and well said! It was about time someone showed some balls and called out @Peyroteo for his contstant downplaying of Ronaldo's ability.I'd make a correction to my last post.
The most important distinction between 2014 and 2018..... this is CRISTIANO RONALDO's last chance at World Cup victory. And he's already conquered Europe.
At club and national team level. He is the undisputed King of the Champions League and will be forever as his closest competitor to that title is Lionel Messi.
And all Messi does is continue to see the distance between him and Ronaldo, in the most difficult competition of all time (The Champions League) grow with each passing year.
And if you think Cristiano Ronaldo, the most driven person this sport has seen and will see, will not give his absolute everything to attain to the highest title.
Win the Ultimate and achieve Perfection in front of the eyes of the World...
You don't know who he is and what that Portugal team will be capable of.
I'll tell you before they show everyone else. They can beat anyone.
Damn the FA. How about we see how Martinez does at the WC before extending himRoberto Martinez unexpectedly extends his contract with the Belgium NT for 2 more years. He always said he was going back to England after the WC.
I guess he's been a breath of fresh air to the players, after Wilmots. Maybe they've indicated that they want him to stay, who knows.Damn the FA. How about we see how Martinez does at the WC before extending him
Plenty surprise. Nzonzi gets involved in place of Rabiot despite rarely got into the squad even now. Sidebe and Mendy injuries ain't preventing the call up. Rami still being trusted while Laporte is left out.Tweet
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No surprise that Martial is left out.
They can play 3 at the back with wingers system (will be more attacking than defensive than 5 at the back). Their CBs is comfortable to step into midfield acting as temporary midfielder so there is no real worries about being left outnumbered. Just because the the formation look not different it doesn't mean the functionality would be the same. Pogba has been playing in midfield 2 for France for awhile. While one can say France as a whole hasn't completely clicked, it's far from non functional.What is up with that french squad? 6 CBs and just 2 FBs?
One fullback injured and your game becomes lopsided, two fullbacks injured and your attacking play will look like it was coached by Mourinho
Also, I don‘t understand the formation. You need 442 for Griezmann, but Kante and Pogba 2-man-midfield is bound to fail. No protection in front of the defence.
He is not that good. Just because one play for Barcelona doesn't mean he's better.Why isn't Barcelona's right back playing for Portugal? N. Semedo is surely better than any other alternative, or?
Costa, sure. But Veloso? Even if he made it, he likely wouldn't play. I think Adrien and Moutinho are better players, fullstop.Ricardo Costa would be a starter in this team, Veloso would make the 23 man squad and I think Varela that year was pretty good (maybe it was 2012). It is a stronger squad in general though, that year we got completely fecked by injuries and Pepe getting sent off.
I agree that the mentality of this team is a big factor, we have leaders and experienced players on the big stages. I just dislike how people are underrating Morocco and Iran as if we'll easily make it through when I guarantee you that won't be the case if we lose the first game against Spain.
N'Zonzi over Rabiot is a great call. There's an obvious 6 shaped hole in the French team and Diarra not bossing the league means N'Zonzi finally gets that spot. Rabiot is a good midfielder but Tolisso and Matuidi are there to backup Kante and Pogba if they play 3 proper central midfielders and one of those 2 can start and one replace them with fresh legs if Kante is the 6 ahead of N'Zonzi.Plenty surprise. Nzonzi gets involved in place of Rabiot despite rarely got into the squad even now. Sidebe and meny injury ain't preventing the call up. Rami still being trusted while Laporte is left out.
Can't see taking Sterling over Mbappe, Dembele or Fekir as the 3rd or 4th attacker along with Kane and Griezmann and Pogba probably should be in a midfield 3 anyways so it's really just one of that first French group. Do think Walker would play even though I'm not his biggest fan. Maybe Rose too (he and Walker do have experience with Lloris at least) though it would be good if he was in better form.Puts thing into perspective. Only Kane would get into the French XI, perhaps Sterling depending on the setup.
Moutinho's better. Adrien has barely played this season due to not getting signed on time and when he's played he hasn't looked good. 2014 Miguel Veloso wouldn't start but he'd have a place in this squad. We definitely have more and better options in midfield now thoughCosta, sure. But Veloso? Even if he made it, he likely wouldn't play. I think Adrien and Moutinho are better players, fullstop.
Don't you think Gomes provides the composure Veloso did and Adrien more of a battler? I think squad layout means he'd miss out, though I ain't Portuguese so could be wrong/misremembering.Moutinho's better. Adrien has barely played this season due to not getting signed on time and when he's played he hasn't looked good. 2014 Miguel Veloso wouldn't start but he'd have a place in this squad. We definitely have more and better options in midfield now though
He usually played the more defensive midfielder so he'd be the alternative to William that we're currently missing. It could have been Neves, I have no idea how our midfield will look if William gets injured.Don't you think Gomes provides the composure Veloso did and Adrien more of a battler? I think squad layout means he'd miss out, though I ain't Portuguese so could be wrong/misremembering.
Nani was a big(ger) player. The others never were.No Nani? No martial, no smalling.
Seems to be a tournament where big players are gonna be missing out. Strange.
Besides Anthony Martial, France has a couple of world-class forwards like Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (Paris St Germain), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Nabil Fekir (Olympique Lyonnais), Florian Thauvin (Olympique de Marseille), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona) and they are very dangerous to any other team in the world.Wait Martial isn't in the French squad? As a Germany fan, I'm loving that, he's played really well against us in the last two friendlies we've had aganist France.
There’s a very slim chance England will win any WC.I think this really is England's best squad and gives them a chance to perform better than any previous tournament. No big egos, a lot of simple (and under-profile) personalities, and relatively young squad. There is a very slim chance that England will win the WC this year anyway - so why not build a team which gels together and plays for a few years! If they can show the kind of teamwork that England haven't been able to show before, they could very well pull off a surprise semi final finish (similar to South Korea in 2002!)