Havertz is regularly playing center forward for Chelsea and of course there is Moukoko as another true striker.
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.
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.
Just plug in Gnabry at CF...
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.
Excited to see Götze, Moukoko and Füllkrug in the squad
Deschamps left out Diaby, Kone, Gusto, and Digne/Mendy.
Is this a rhetorical q?
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.
Very well, I'd say. It is a feel-good story, but also deserved for him to make the squad.
It's the best Götze since 2014 probably, although I haven't seen too much of his time in Eindhoven.
Massively devastating for Reus. How many tournaments has he now missed through injury?
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)
I pay so little attention to the USMNT outside of big tourneys, I have no idea who 75% of the players are.
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.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.
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.
Is this the best squad ahead of this tournament? Their weak point is the manager.
No, they aren't close to Brazil.
Would be a shame as, with the heat, I'd expect this WC to be primarily about fitness and strength in depth.
Portugal have the same problem England do. The manager.
We have five players playing their fourth World Cup together. That must be some sort of record, surely?
