World Cup Squads 2022

Croatia:

Keepers: Livaković, Ivušić, Grbić

Defenders: Gvardiol, Lovren, Sosa, Juranović, Šutalo, Vida, Erlić, Stanišić, Barišić

Midfielders: Modrić, Brozović, Kovačić, Pašalić, Majer, Vlašić, Sučić, Jakić

Forwards: Perišić, Petković, Kramarić, Budimir, Livaja, Oršić.

Sić team
 
Sić team
Haha yes, 7 of them. :lol:

Also one more interesting fact, names of our both leftbacks are Borna (Sosa and Barišić) and names of both rightbacks are Josip (Juranović and Stanišić).
 
Interesting, thanks. Here's hoping for another good tournament for you guys (still feel you were unfortunate in the last final).
Thanks mate! :) I think we chosed the wrong tactic, were too open in the final and referee feked us up a bit too. Also Subašić was playing injured and didnt move for 2 of French goals which he maybe could have saved. But a huge success nevertheless which was celebrated here to no end. You dont end up in WC final every day.

This team is better and has more depth than the one in 2018 so here's hoping we'll have another good tournament.
 
Switzerland Final Squad
Switzerland the first team to be taking 4 goalkeepers.

Switzerland:

Goalkeepers:
Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jonas Omlin (Montpellier), Gregor Kobel (Dortmund), Philipp Kohn (Salzburg).

Defenders: Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino), Fabian Schar (Newcastle United), Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Silvan Widmer (Mainz 05), Eray Comert (Valencia).

Midfielders: Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Remo Freuler (Nottingham Forest), Denis Zakaria (Chelsea), Djibril Sow (Eintracht Frankfurt), Renato Steffen (Lugano), Fabian Frei (Basel), Michel Aebischer (Bologna), Ardon Jashari (Luzern), Edimilson Fernandes (Mainz), Fabian Rieder (Young Boys).

Forwards: Breel Embolo (Monaco), Ruben Vargas (Augsburg), Noah Okafor (RB Salzburg), Haris Seferovic (Galatasaray), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys).
 
They only lost to Croatia on penalties in 2018 and very nearly reached the final of the Euros last year, they're a very solid team. As you say the lack of real individual talent in attack probably limits what they can do, plus if they finish 2nd behind France then they will likely face Argentina in the last 16.

That Brazil squad looks very strong going forward but I'm not sure why they've taken 10/11 players for their 4 attacking positions but only 8 defenders, 2 of whom are 38 or older. If they don't end up winning it it will probably be the weakness in the fullback areas that costs them because they should have enough creativity and firepower to score goals.
You’re quite right on both teams. This Brazil team lacks in fullback area but it’s international tournament, old boys tend to give it a last hurrah.
 
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

Would they be better off playing fabinho at right back like he use to at monaco considering his good options in midfield
 
I don't think Bruno G is going to start games for Brazil, Paqueta will probably keep his spot even if he hasn't been great for West Ham yet.

So neymar as a false 9? Can't imagine it'll be a Neymar-Paqueta-Casemiro central mid. Personally, I'd rather have Jesus as a 9 for defensive reasons alone over Paqueta and just give Bruno a go.
 
Would they be better off playing fabinho at right back like he use to at monaco considering his good options in midfield

I'm with you. Could look like this in practice:

-------------------------STRIKER-------------------------------
Vinicius-----------Neymar-----------------------------RW
----------------LCM-Casemiro--Fabinho------
-------------Militao-Thiago-Marquinhos------

LCM - Paqueta/Fred/Bruno
Striker - Jesus/Richarlison, or even Neymar in some games with Paqueta as a 10
RW - Antony is better defensively, but he and Raphinha probably split time anyways
 
We actually have even better FBs now, at least on the left side. Sosa is a really good player and Juranović on the right isnt bad either. Vrsaljko was instrumental in 2018 but he played injured then when he needed operation and that took its toll later big time. He barely played and he recently retired from national duty. Rebić made some stupid instagram post after Spain defeat in Euros and never apologized but honestly he isnt a big miss at all.
Strinić needed to retire cause of heart problems, yes, sad stuff.

Have y'all tried playing with a false 9? Seems like the highest potential XI for this team might be Pasalic (or Majer? Haven't seen him enough to say but so highly rated) and just trying to hit Spain levels of possession with that great midfield 3, Majer and Pasalic dropping deep and Perisic providing width.

Defensively, that could be an elite team with Gvardiol passing at CB and quality fullbacks on the ball. Try to win 1-0 with 65% possession. Again, Spain-ball.
 
Post Deschamps and Fernando Santos era of international football is going to be so good
 
Wales Final Squad
Wales:

Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Adam Davies.

Defenders: Ben Davies, Ben Cabango, Tom Lockyer, Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham, Ethan Ampadu, Chris Gunter, Neco Williams, Connor Roberts, Sorba Thomas.

Midfielders: Joe Allen, Matt Smith, Dylan Levitt, Joe Morrell, Jonny Williams, Aaron Ramsey.

Attackers: Harry Wilson, Rubin Colwill, Gareth Bale, Kieffer Moore, Mark Harris, Brennan Johnson, Daniel James.
 
France Final Squad
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)
 
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)

Incredible set of defenders and forwards, but gonna be quite a bit of pressure on youngsters Camavinga and Tchouameni to run the midfield right? maybe Rabiot starts over the former but it definitely looks the weak spot.
 
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)
Only surprise is neither Mendy or Digne at LB behind Theo. Laurens was full of sh*t with his 4 GK and Camavinga missing when we have Pogba & Kante out.
 
Still expecting to see Tim Cahill for Australia. Looks a weak squad
Wales:

Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Adam Davies.

Defenders: Ben Davies, Ben Cabango, Tom Lockyer, Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham, Ethan Ampadu, Chris Gunter, Neco Williams, Connor Roberts, Sorba Thomas.

Midfielders: Joe Allen, Matt Smith, Dylan Levitt, Joe Morrell, Jonny Williams, Aaron Ramsey.

Attackers: Harry Wilson, Rubin Colwill, Gareth Bale, Kieffer Moore, Mark Harris, Brennan Johnson, Daniel James.

Wales midfield going to be so bad when Ramsey and Joe Allen retire (which could be after this tournament).
 
That was basically a CONMEBOL spot. How Peru lost it to a side led by Aaron Mooy and Mathew Leckie, i will never know.
giphy.webp
 
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)
I keep rereading but I can't find Lemar anywhere :nervous:
 
I think Croatia and France, the last two finalists, are a little worse off than they were in 2018.

Aside from the age factor, Croatia doesn't have a world-class striker like Mandzukic. France has Benzema, but I don't think they can build a better midfield than Pogba, Kanté and Matuidi.
 
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)
Some managers and their freaking egos
Why would you pick 25 players when you can pick 26
Just give somebody a chance or the experience for Godsake
 
Switzerland the first team to be taking 4 goalkeepers.

Switzerland:

Goalkeepers:
Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jonas Omlin (Montpellier), Gregor Kobel (Dortmund), Philipp Kohn (Salzburg).

Defenders: Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino), Fabian Schar (Newcastle United), Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Silvan Widmer (Mainz 05), Eray Comert (Valencia).

Midfielders: Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Remo Freuler (Nottingham Forest), Denis Zakaria (Chelsea), Djibril Sow (Eintracht Frankfurt), Renato Steffen (Lugano), Fabian Frei (Basel), Michel Aebischer (Bologna), Ardon Jashari (Luzern), Edimilson Fernandes (Mainz), Fabian Rieder (Young Boys).

Forwards: Breel Embolo (Monaco), Ruben Vargas (Augsburg), Noah Okafor (RB Salzburg), Haris Seferovic (Galatasaray), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys).

Well I don't expect any surprises with how Yakin will line up.
It's a shame we don't have a better left back option than RiRo, or not even a backup at all.
Otherwise, I really like that squad, our spine (Akanji, Xhaka, Embolo) are all in the best form of their lives, it's up to them now!

- - - - - - Sommer - - - - - -
Widmer-Elvedi-Akanji-Rodriguez
- - Freuler - Xhaka - Sow - -
- - Shaqiri - Embolo - Okafor - -

Hope he doesn't change it to 5 at the back, that experiment should be over by now.
Maybe Schär for Elvedi, who has been a bit struggling as of late.
Vargas could be an option instead of Okafor, and of course Kobel in goal in case Sommer's foot isn't ready.
 
United States Final Squad
United States:

GK:
Ethan Horvath (Luton Town), Sean Johnson (New York City FC), Matt Turner (Arsenal)

DF: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Sergiño Dest (AC Milan), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Tim Ream (Fulham), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami CF), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

MF: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Kellyn Acosta (LAFC), Tyler Adams (Leeds United), Luca de la Torre (Celta de Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC)

FW: Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (Lille), Haji Wright (Antalyaspor)
 
I keep rereading and I can't believe Veretout made it.
I know he's more of a teambuilder/people manager type than a pick-a-balanced-squad-from-the-nation's-top30-40-players, but at times it stuns me more than Enrique does with how he gets to his decisions...
 
United States:

GK:
Ethan Horvath (Luton Town), Sean Johnson (New York City FC), Matt Turner (Arsenal)

DF: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Sergiño Dest (AC Milan), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Tim Ream (Fulham), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami CF), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

MF: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Kellyn Acosta (LAFC), Tyler Adams (Leeds United), Luca de la Torre (Celta de Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC)

FW: Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (Lille), Haji Wright (Antalyaspor)
How good is this team?
 
I’ve never understood the furore over World Cup squads. If there is a debate to be had over whether a player should/will go or not, then rightly or wrongly, the manager clearly won’t start him even if he does select him. Take Maddison as an example - he is simply not playing over the likes of Kane, Sterling, Rashford, Saka, Foden, Mount, Bellingham, Grealish etc in any position, even though the stats suggest that he should. So why bother?

The debate is surely over what a country’s best starting 11 is.
 
Does every International team squad have to be announced by tomorrow is it? Surely there's a deadline ?
 
Cameroon Final Squad
Cameroon:

Goalkeepers:
Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Marseille), Devis Epassy (Abha), Andre Onana (Inter Milan).

Defenders: Nicolas Nkoulou (Aris), Christopher Wooh (Rennes), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders), Olivier Mbaizo (Philadelphia Union), Collins Fai (Al-Tai), Jean-Charles Castelletto (Nantes), Enzo Ebosse (Udinese).

Midfielders: Olivier Ntcham (Swansea), Pierre Kunde (Olympiacos), Martin Hongla (Hellas Verona), Samuel Gouet (Mechelen), Gael Ondoua (Hannover 96), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli), Jerome Ngom (Colombe Dja).

Forwards: Moumi Ngamaleu (Dynamo Moscow), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Besiktas), Vincent Aboubakar (Al-Nassr), Karl Toko Ekambi (Lyon), Jean-Pierre Nsame (Young Boys), Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich), Christian Bassogog (Shanghai Shenhua), Marou Souaibou (Coton Sport).
 
Switzerland the first team to be taking 4 goalkeepers.

Switzerland:

Goalkeepers:
Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jonas Omlin (Montpellier), Gregor Kobel (Dortmund), Philipp Kohn (Salzburg).

Defenders: Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino), Fabian Schar (Newcastle United), Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Silvan Widmer (Mainz 05), Eray Comert (Valencia).

Midfielders: Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Remo Freuler (Nottingham Forest), Denis Zakaria (Chelsea), Djibril Sow (Eintracht Frankfurt), Renato Steffen (Lugano), Fabian Frei (Basel), Michel Aebischer (Bologna), Ardon Jashari (Luzern), Edimilson Fernandes (Mainz), Fabian Rieder (Young Boys).

Forwards: Breel Embolo (Monaco), Ruben Vargas (Augsburg), Noah Okafor (RB Salzburg), Haris Seferovic (Galatasaray), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys).

I think I'm gonna hedge on them by doing something like betting them to score under 1.5 goals and also to qualify for the group stage. Solid XI if they play a 3-5-2 and the strikers are a bit more mobile than usual but also very stale team and the key midfielders apart from Xhaka and Sow seem to have regressed a bit.
 
Only surprise is neither Mendy or Digne at LB behind Theo. Laurens was full of sh*t with his 4 GK and Camavinga missing when we have Pogba & Kante out.

What's with Deschamps not rating Ferland Mendy? He's probably the most consistent LB defensively around.
 
What's with Deschamps not rating Ferland Mendy? He's probably the most consistent LB defensively around.

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’ve never understood the furore over World Cup squads. If there is a debate to be had over whether a player should/will go or not, then rightly or wrongly, the manager clearly won’t start him even if he does select him. Take Maddison as an example - he is simply not playing over the likes of Kane, Sterling, Rashford, Saka, Foden, Mount, Bellingham, Grealish etc in any position, even though the stats suggest that he should. So why bother?

The debate is surely over what a country’s best starting 11 is.

Whether or not a player should go the WC or be in the starting 11 is pretty much the same type of debate anyway. You are just arguing over whether a player is worthy of a place.
 
Have y'all tried playing with a false 9? Seems like the highest potential XI for this team might be Pasalic (or Majer? Haven't seen him enough to say but so highly rated) and just trying to hit Spain levels of possession with that great midfield 3, Majer and Pasalic dropping deep and Perisic providing width.

Defensively, that could be an elite team with Gvardiol passing at CB and quality fullbacks on the ball. Try to win 1-0 with 65% possession. Again, Spain-ball.
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:
 
I think Croatia and France, the last two finalists, are a little worse off than they were in 2018.

Aside from the age factor, Croatia doesn't have a world-class striker like Mandzukic. France has Benzema, but I don't think they can build a better midfield than Pogba, Kanté and Matuidi.
Actually I think we're better quality and width wise. We dont have a striker like Mandžukić sure, but have players who can step in in that position definitely. France looks kind of thin in midfield.