World Cup Squads 2022

France squad looks super strong, except the midfield who is basically completely new and unproven in big international tournaments.

Lot of pressure on the new players who will play their first big tournament ever for France.
 
Im not sure if this is the thread for this post, but i dont want to open another thread either, anyone so far has tracked how many players each of the 20 EPL clubs have so far been called up to the WC? Anyone know where or any website with the stats? Much appreciated if anyone has done that much stats attack and got it presented. Cheers.
 
Belgium Final Squad
Belgium:

GK:
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge), Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg)

DF: Toby Alderweireld (Antwerp), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Leander Dendoncker (Aston Villa), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht)

MF: Axel Witsel (Atlético Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City), Yannick Carrasco (Atlético Madrid), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund), Amadou Onana (Everton), Timothy Castagne (Leicester City), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge)

FW: Romelu Lukaku (Inter), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Leandro Trossard (Brighton), Charles De Ketelaere (Milan), Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahçe), Dries Mertens (Galatasaray), Loïs Openda (Lens), Jérémy Doku (Rennes)
 
Germany Final Squad
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No Timo Werner then. This Flick guy knows his stuff.

EDIT: didn't realise he is injured. Still a good decision from Flick!
 
Werner is injured. Otherwise he would have been part of the team.
 
Our striker options (a list):

-Niklas Füllkrug

Apart from that, OM is very good, DM very good but few options, CBs solid but few options. FBs not really existent. Goalies very good.
Getting the players to function as a team is the mystery to solve here. A few times there have been glimpses under Flick, but whether it will be enough for a somewhat successful tournament remains to be seen.
 
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Our striker options (a list):

-Niklas Füllkrug
Havertz is regularly playing center forward for Chelsea and of course there is Moukoko as another true striker.

Three different options should be enough I think
 
Belgium:

GK:
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge), Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg)

DF: Toby Alderweireld (Antwerp), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Leander Dendoncker (Aston Villa), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht)

MF: Axel Witsel (Atlético Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City), Yannick Carrasco (Atlético Madrid), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund), Amadou Onana (Everton), Timothy Castagne (Leicester City), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge)

FW: Romelu Lukaku (Inter), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Leandro Trossard (Brighton), Charles De Ketelaere (Milan), Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahçe), Dries Mertens (Galatasaray), Loïs Openda (Lens), Jérémy Doku (Rennes)

Courtois better have a tournament like in 2018 or we're gonna ship a lot of goals with that defense.
 
Courtois better have a tournament like in 2018 or we're gonna ship a lot of goals with that defense.
Yeah, it's been a clear weak spot for a while now. At least he didn't take Boyata or Denayer. Though the latter is on the standby list.
 
Havertz is regularly playing center forward for Chelsea and of course there is Moukoko as another true striker.

Three different options should be enough I think
Well Havertz has rarely convinced in that role, hasn't he? Moukoko is promising but still very green. We'll see what happens soon enough.
 
Havertz is regularly playing center forward for Chelsea and of course there is Moukoko as another true striker.

Three different options should be enough I think

Müller played centre forward with Musiala and Sane behind him two or three matches before he had Covid. Even if media did not recognize it - we already played and functioned well with Müller in that role before EMCM came in. This three together just functioned great. Then Gnabry added and that is fine.

We were World Champion with Müller mainly playing as no. 9 in 2014. Klose did not play in many phases of that World Cup.
 
France (only 25 players):

GK:
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Rennes), Alphonse Areola (West Ham)

DF: Raphaël Varane (Manchester United), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Theo Hernandez (Milan), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool)

MF: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille), Jordan Veretout (Marseille), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco)

FW: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Olivier Giroud (Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich)
Deschamps left out Diaby, Kone, Gusto, and Digne/Mendy.
 
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France (only 25 players):

GK:
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Rennes), Alphonse Areola (West Ham)

DF: Raphaël Varane (Manchester United), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Theo Hernandez (Milan), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool)

MF: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille), Jordan Veretout (Marseille), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco)

FW: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Olivier Giroud (Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich)
A bit bummed about Lafont not being included while Mandanda and Areola are there, he's the 3rd best french GK after Maignan and Lloris imo but I'm biased obviously. No real surprise in the rest of the squad, it's as expected. The midfield is really weak, it's basically Tchouameni only. We'll probably play a 2men midfield with him and Rabiot so we should still be fine. A bit surprised by the lack of FB/WBs, only Theo Hernandez is a real one, his brother can back him up and I expect either Pavard or Coman to start as WB depending on the opposition. Kounde and Saliba can also play FB in a 4men defense but we'll probably play 5 at the back most games.
My main concern is health though, half of the squad is coming off a recent injury and/or is injury prone.
My expectations arent really high for that tournament anyway, a semi-final would be a good result.
 
Disappointed for Reus, such a talent but we've not seen the best of him in tournaments (although he seemed to have a poor attitude at the last World Cup?) A player I don't see much of, but that I always look forward to watching.
No Hummels feels strange, and I missed Goetze's name myself when looking through the list initially - agreed, that's exciting.
 
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How has Gotze played this season?
 
How has Gotze played this season?
It's the best Götze since 2014 probably, although I haven't seen too much of his time in Eindhoven.

At Frankfurt Götze, Lindström, Kolo Muani and Kamada play arguably the best football besides Bayern. It's great to watch.
 
We probably have 14 players in the world cup, distributed amongst Brazil, Argentina, France, England, Netherlands, Uruguary, Denmark, Portugal. Basically 8 of the top 11 bookers' favorites for the winners contain at least a man Utd player. If De Gea didn't miss out it would be 9 :/
 
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At Frankfurt Götze, Lindström, Kolo Muani and Kamada play arguably the best football besides Bayern. It's great to watch.
Frankfurt in general really evolved into an absolute top team and Götze represents the next step in their development. When they won the cup under Kovac some years ago they were mostly outfighting their opponents, but slowly they evolved into a team that's able to outplay anyone, and Götze is one key reason for that (along with Kolo Muani I'd say, sad that he wasn't included in the French squad)
 
Maybe I'm out of touch with the talent this time round but all the squads feel slightly weaker than usual with talent spread more evenly.

Looking at the Ballon d'Or, you've 8 nationalities in the top 10 players, 15 in the top 20.
 
Is this a rhetorical q?

It looks pretty good on paper and might cause one or two upsets in the tournament!
I pay so little attention to the USMNT outside of big tourneys, I have no idea who 75% of the players are.

I love the Caf. You said we could upset a few teams, someone else said earlier in another thread we aren’t getting out of the group!
 
Brazil's 26-man Qatar World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras).

Defenders: Bremer (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid) Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Danilo (Juventus), Daniel Alves (Pumas), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Alex Telles (Sevilla).

Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham).

Forwards: Antony (Manchester United), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Neymar Jr (Paris Saint-Germain), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)


The forward talent on that team is fuking INSANE.....am surprised at only taking 6 CM's and 9 FWD's

Allison
Danilo - Marquinhos - Silva - Alex Sandro
Casemiro - Fabinho
Rodrygo - Neymar - Vini Jr
Jesus
Best to maximise their attack talent, is to play Neymar behind, with Jesus up front.

I think Vinicius Junior could be one of the star in this tournament.

People keep saying its either Antony or Raphinha on the right, but I'd definitely have Rodrigo there instead. 7 goals 6 assists this season for Real already, more than current Ballon D'or winner Benzema.

This season stats:

Neymar - 13 goals 11 assists
Vinicius Junior - 10 goals 4 assists
Rodrigo - 7 goals 6 assists
Jesus - 5 goals 6 assists

Martinelli - 5 goals 2 assists
Antony - 4 goals 2 assists
Raphinha - 2 goals 4 assists
Richarlison - 2 goals 2 assists
 
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Portugal Final Squad
Portugal:

Goalkeepers
- Rui Patricio (Roma), Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves)

Defenders - Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Raphael Guerreiro (Dortmund)

Midfielders - Vitinha (PSG), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Ruben Neves (Wolves), Danilo Pereira (PSG), Palhinha (Fulham), Joao Mario (Benfica), Otavio (Porto), Matheus Nunes (Wolves), William (Real Betis)

Forwards: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Andre Silva (Leipzig), Goncalo Ramos (Benfico), Ricardo Horta (Braga)
 
I dont think we needed, Livaja or Petković can play as a true strike, or Kramarić but you're right about posession. We have a midfield which can or should have most of the ball, Perišić is a true winger who bombs down the left side. Pašalić is a specific player who thrives in the last 3rd and has a great feeling for a goal, not a true CM or an AM, something in between, really useful player. But if we would choose a false 9 kind of play he'd be ideal.
And Majer should start at a right wing, has a good dribbling and a nice long shot with his left, really talented player.

Saying that Gvardiol broke his nose yesterday and had a concussion. :nervous:

Yeah, I think Pasalic as a false 9, Perisic out wide and Majer out right and just dominating possession is better than a mediocre #9. People deride Spain for having Morata as a #9 but the truth is he's Lewandowksi compared to the Croatian strikers, and I think Croatia's midfield 3, Gvardiol and fullbacks are good enough to dominate games for at least an hour.
 
Simple really. He's either going to play a 343 or a 3412. Mendy isn't attacking enough for that and France already have a multitude of Centre Backs anyway.

I read that Deschamps confirmed they'll play 4 at the back because 3 didn't work. If he was playing 3 at the back I think he'd have taken Clauss who is comfortable as a wingback, even if he'd still be a backup to Kounde or Pavard.
 
Belgium squad looks pretty strong to me. Would not shock me at all if they go on a Croatia style run seemingly *after* their golden generation was meant to deliver, and KDB gets close in the Golden Ball rankings.
 
Uruguay Final Squad
Uruguay Squad

Goalkeepers
: Sergio Rochet, Fernando Muslera y Sebastián Sosa.

Defence: José María Giménez, Sebastián Coates, Diego Godín, Martín Cáceres, Ronald Araujo, Mathias Olivera, Matías Viña, José Luis Rodríguez, Guillermo Varela.

Midfielders: Lucas Torreira, Manuel Ugarte, Matías Vecino, Rodrigo Bentancur, Federico Valverde, Nicolás de la Cruz, Giorgian de Arrascaeta

Forwards: Agustín Canobbio, Facundo Pellistri, Facundo Torres, Luis Suárez, Darwin Núñez, Edinson Cavani y Maximiliano Gómez.

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Portugal:

Goalkeepers
- Rui Patricio (Roma), Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves)

Defenders - Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Raphael Guerreiro (Dortmund)

Midfielders - Vitinha (PSG), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Ruben Neves (Wolves), Danilo Pereira (PSG), Palhinha (Fulham), Joao Mario (Benfica), Otavio (Porto), Matheus Nunes (Wolves), William (Real Betis)

Forwards: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Andre Silva (Leipzig), Goncalo Ramos (Benfico), Ricardo Horta (Braga)

Is this the best squad ahead of this tournament? Their weak point is the manager.
 
Fully fit starting XI Portugal look good. But we are rubbish when playing outside of Europe and this collective hasn't shown any mental strength in holding onto wins or turning around deficits. No expectations going into this World Cup.
 
Is this the best squad ahead of this tournament? Their weak point is the manager.

No, they aren't close to Brazil.

Also, only one of their forwards has been in a good form this season and he'll most likely not be playing.
 
Fully fit starting XI Portugal look good. But we are rubbish when playing outside of Europe and this collective hasn't shown any mental strength in holding onto wins or turning around deficits. No expectations going into this World Cup.
Would be a shame as, with the heat, I'd expect this WC to be primarily about fitness and strength in depth.

I reckon Brazil's weakness is only really having that upfront, whereas they usually have it across the board.
 
Fully fit starting XI Portugal look good. But we are rubbish when playing outside of Europe and this collective hasn't shown any mental strength in holding onto wins or turning around deficits. No expectations going into this World Cup.

Portugal have the same problem England do. The manager.

With the talent Portugal have, they should be playing alot better than they do, they are set up defensive.
 
Just realized how many big players might be playing their last world cup. Müller, Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez, Neuer, Cavani, Benzema etc.
 
Just realized how many big players might be playing their last world cup. Müller, Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez, Neuer, Cavani, Benzema etc.
We have five players playing their fourth World Cup together. That must be some sort of record, surely?