23 man rosters right now

[Smoga]

One month until March, which will bring with it the only FIFA dates prior to the Cup camps. Because there is not much going on until then, to spice up a rather dead February here we can post the 23 man rosters for Germany as they would appear if the WC were to be held next month. Here is my idea of what the Poland team would be like (I am using the standard 3 goalies/two man for each outfield spot rule, even though some players can play in more than one position). And if my Polish friends disagree, feel free to comment as well:

Goalkeepers:

Artur Boruc (Celtic)
Tomasz Kuszczak (West Brom Albion)
Wojciech Kowalewski (Spartak Moscow)

Defense:

Marcin Zewlakow (Anderlecht)
Tomasz Klos (Wisla Krakow)
Mariusz Jop (FC Moscow)
Jacek Bak (Al Rayyan)
Marcin Baszczynski (Wisla Krakow)
Tomasz Rzasa (ADO Den Haag)
Dariusz Dudka (Wisla Krakow)
Mariusz Lewandowski (Shakhtar Donetsk)

Midfield:

Jacek Krzynowek (Bayer Leverkusen)
Ebi Smolarek (Borussia Dortmund)
Kamil Kosowski (Southampton)
Radoslaw Sobolewski (Wisla Krakow)
Miroslaw Szymkowiak (Trabzonspor)
Sebastian Mila (Austria Vienna)
Arkadiusz Radomski (Austira Vienna)
Damian Gorawski (FC Moscow) - going out on a limb with this one

Forward:

Maciej Zurawski (Celtic)
Tomasz Frankowski (Wolverhampton)
Marek Saganowski (Vitoria Guimaraes)
Grzegorz Rasiak (Tottenham) - everyone hates him, but will get to Germany nonetheless.

[karny9]

To answer this before everyone starts asking, Jerzy Dudek has not played football since CL Final, and it is the belief of most of us in the Poland forum that he doesnt deserve a spot at the WC.

I do believe that Sagan should go, but I dont think Janas likes him a lot.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Germany:

Oliver Kahn
Jens Lehmann
Timo Hildebrand

Arne Friedrich
Andreas Hinkel
Per Mertesacker
Lukas Sinkiewicz
Christoph Metzelder
Robert Huth
Philip Lahm
Marcel Jansen

Michael Ballack
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Torsten Frings
Fabian Ernst
Bernd Schneider
Sebastian Deisler
Tim Borowski
Sebastian Kehl

Miroslav Klose
Kevin Kuranyi
Lukas Podolski
Gerald Asamoah

[The Beautiful Frame]

Here's who I think should go:

Goalkeepers:
Oliver KAHN (Bayern München)
Jens LEHMANN (Arsenal FC)
Timo HILDEBRANDT (VfB Stuttgart)
-actually, I'd take Enke or Weidenfeller over Hildebrandt, but I'm convinced these three will be Klinsmann's choice.

Defense:
Arne FRIEDRICH (Hertha BSC Berlin)
Andreas HINKEL (VfB Stuttgart) - (has more upside than Owomoyela IMO)
Per MERTESACKER (Hannover 96)
Christoph METZELDER (Borussia Dortmund)
Christian WÖRNS (Borussia Dortmund) - (you need some vets)
Robert HUTH (Chelsea FC)
Philip LAHM (Bayern München)
Marcell JANSEN (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

Midfield:
Michael BALLACK (Bayern München)
Tim BOROWSKI (Werder Bremen)
Torsten FRINGS (Werder Bremen)
Sebastian KEHL (Borussia Dortmund)
Sebastian DEISLER (Bayern München)
Bastian SCHWEINSTEIGER (Bayern München)
Bernd SCHNEIDER (Bayer Leverkusen)
Fabian ERNST (FC Schalke 04)

Forwards:
Miroslav KLOSE (Werder Bremen)
Lukas PODOLSKI (1. FC Köln)
Kevin KURANYI (FC Schalke 04)
Oliver NEUVILLE (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Grzegorz Rasiak (Tottenham) - everyone hates him, but will get to Germany nonetheless.

I dunno why people hate him, but he is a good weapon for you guys imo. He is a big target man. He's not in form right now but if he catches fire, he may be one of your most important players.

[The Beautiful Frame]

Germany:

Oliver Kahn
Jens Lehmann
Timo Hildebrand

Arne Friedrich
Andreas Hinkel
Per Mertesacker
Lukas Sinkiewicz
Christoph Metzelder
Robert Huth
Philip Lahm
Marcel Jansen

Michael Ballack
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Torsten Frings
Fabian Ernst
Bernd Schneider
Sebastian Deisler
Tim Borowski
Sebastian Kehl

Miroslav Klose
Kevin Kuranyi
Lukas Podolski
Gerald Asamoah

Interesting. Apart from Wörns/Sinkiewicz and Asamoah/Neuville, we both came up with the exact same squad. :)

[karny9]

I dunno why people hate him, but he is a good weapon for you guys imo. He is a big target man. He's not in form right now but if he catches fire, he may be one of your most important players.

shh, hes our secret weapon:p

You are right to an extent though. Most important players may be pushing it, but he can be useful against costa rica and ecuador who are generally pretty small.

[Smoga]

It amazes me that nearly the entire German squad plays in the Bundesliga.

[The Beautiful Frame]

It amazes me that nearly the entire German squad plays in the Bundesliga.

Yeah. Frightens me a bit, too.

What frightens me even more is that almost the entire defense plays at second tier clubs.

[karny9]

I noticed that too. But look at England, they have a good league, and most of their first team squad plays there, actually everyone except Becks and Woodgate, though I dont know if hes at first team stature. Comparing the German league to the English league is pushing it a little too, but its somewhat the same scenario.

[prymetyme]

Yeah. Frightens me a bit, too.

What frightens me even more is that almost the entire defense plays at second tier clubs.

I think it certainly helps the teams chemistry, and inspires some friendly competition which can bring them togather. They also get comfortable with playing with each other. I really like how they all play in Germany.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

A potential problem of this is that they may not know some things...some players who play in Spanish league may know some Spanish players and know their tics and what they do.

But this is a very small thing...most nations should know by the time they play what the strengths and weaknesses of each other.

[benztown]

Here's my bet for Germany

Oliver Kahn
Timo Hildebrand
Robert Enke (I don't think Lehmann will accept #2 status and resign)

Arne Friedrich
Andreas Hinkel
Per Mertesacker
Lukas Sinkiewicz
Christoph Metzelder
Robert Huth
Philip Lahm
Marcel Jansen

Bernd Schneider
Sebastian Deisler
Michael Ballack
Tim Borowski
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Thomas Hitzelsperger
Torsten Frings
Fabian Ernst (I'd prefer Sebastian Kehl though)

Lukas Podolski
Miroslav Klose
Kevin Kuranyi
Gerald Asamoah

[Smoga]

shh, hes our secret weapon:p

You are right to an extent though. Most important players may be pushing it, but he can be useful against costa rica and ecuador who are generally pretty small.


I just watched him (Rasiak) in a game agaisnt Fulham, the man was a complete embarassement. The American Fulham defender Bocanegra was robbing him of virtually every ball. I was relieved when Rasiak finally came off. But then again, maybe he is not getting a fair shake at the Spurs, and needs to start more often, score a goal or two, and then he'll be OK.

[karny9]

i watched that game too. how embarassing was it when he ran into lennon when they had a 3 on 2...

I guess he did some good things right, and was somewhat unlucky that he was always fighting for headers against that mammoth central defender, but he should've shot it at one point, and sometimes just ran into the wrong places.

[yoryi]

Here are the Ecuadorian warriors.(this is my personal squad.not everyone listed here will be in the WC,perhaps a 85%.

Edwin"a.a."Villafuerte(D.Quito)
Christian Mora(LDUQ)
Bonard Garcia(Aucas)

Ulises DelaCruz(Aston Villa)
Neicer Reasco(LDUQ)
Ivan"bambam"Hurtado(Al-Arabi)
Renan Calle(Nacional)
Jorge Guagua(Nacional)
Geovanny"sombra"Espinoza(LDUQ)
Jose Valencia(Willem 2)
Paul Ambrossi(LDUQ)

Edwin Tenorio(Bareclona-Gye)
David"cholo"Quiroz(Nacional)
Patricio"pato"Urrutia(LDUQ)
Santiago"pepo"Morales(Nacional)
Antonio"tsunami"Valencia(Recreativo Huelva)
Christian"diablito"Lara(Nacional)
Edison Mendes(LDUQ)
Luis Saritama(D.Quito)**if salas is still hurt**

Agustin"tin"Delgado(LDUQ)
Ivan"nine"Kaviedes(Argentinos jrs)
Joffre Guerron(LDUQ)
Carlos"che carlitos"Tenorio(Al-Saad)
Franklin"tigre"Salas(LDUQ)

This would be my starting line up,,,,
Villafuerte
DelaCruz Hurtado Guagua J.Valencia
E.Tenorio Urrutia
A.Valencia Mendes
Kaviedes Delgado:cool:

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

Yeah. Frightens me a bit, too.

What frightens me even more is that almost the entire defense plays at second tier clubs.

Yes, the defense is the main problem at Klinsmann´s team,
our defenders aren´t even good enough to play at top teams,
at Bayern and HSV there play no German defender.

But perhaps a defender surprises like Metzelder in 2002
and furthermore we have good goalkeepers.

So, let´s see, how the team does at the WC.

[Dirkhrod]

GERMANY

01. Oliver KAHN
12. Jens LEHMANN
23. Timo HILDEBRAND

02. Andreas HINKEL
03. Arne FRIEDRICH
04. Per MERTESACKER
05. Robert HUTH
06. Christoph METZELDER
17. Lukas SINKIEWICZ
21. Philipp LAHM

07. Bastian SCHWEINSTEIGER
08. Torsten FRINGS
10. Sebastian DEISLER
13. Michael BALLACK
14. Gerald ASAMOAH
15. Fabian ERNST
16. Thomas HITZLSPERGER
18. Thomas BOROWSKI
19. Bernd SCHNEIDER

09. Mike HANKE
11. Miroslaw KLOSE
20. Lukas PODOLSKI
22. kevin KURANYI


POLAND

01. Artur BORUC
12. Wojciech KOWALEWSKI
23. Marcin CABAJ

02. Tomasz KLOS
03. Tomasz RZASA
04. Marcin BASZCZYNSKI
06. Jacek BAK
14. Michal ZEWLAKOW
15. Mariusz JOP
22. Dariusz DUDKA

05. Kamil KOSOWSKI
07. Radoslaw SOBOLEWSKI
08. Jacek KRZYNOWEK
10. Miroslaw SZYMKOWIAK
13. Sebastian MILA
16. Arek RADOMSKI
18. Eusebiusz SMOLAREK
20. Bartosz KARWAN

09. Maciej ZURAWSKI
11. Grzegorz RASIAK
17. Tomasz FRANKOWSKI
19. Andrzej NIEDZELAN
21. Pawel BROZEK



ECUADOR

01. Edwin VILLAFUERTE
12. Damian LANZA
23. Christian MORA

02. Jorge GUAGUA
03. Ivan HURTADO
04. Ulysses DE LA CRUZ
13. Renan CALLE
14. Walter AYOVI
15. Marlon AYOVI
17. Giovanny ESPINOZA
18. Neicer REASCO

05. Luis Antonio VALENCIA
06. Paulo Vicente AMBROSSI
08. Edison MENDEZ
16. Luis SARITAMA
19. Mario LASTRA
20. Edwin TENORIO
21. Luis CAICEDO
22. Roberto MINA

07. Franklin Agustin SALAS
09. Felix BORJA
10. Ivan KAVIEDES
11. Agustin DELGADO



COSTA RICA

01. Alvaro MESEN
18. Jose Francisco PORRAS
23. Donny GRANT

02. Jervis DRUMMOND
03. Luis MARIN
04. Michael UMANA
05. Gilberto MARTINEZ
06. Danny FONSECA
12. Leonardo GONZALES
13. Roy MILLER
15. Harold WALLACE

07. Oscar ROJAS
08. Mauricio SOLIS
10. Walter CENTENO
14. Alonso SOLIS
16. Christian BOLANOS
17. Steven BRYCE
20. Douglas SEQUEIRA
22. Jafet SOTO

09. Paulo WANCHOPE
11. Ronald GOMEZ
19. Alvaro SABORIO
21. Winston PARKS

[karny9]

where did you get this from? I have never in my life heard of Cabaj or Karwan being at all close to having a spot on the B team, let alone the WC squad. Saganowski will go in place of Brozek. Piechna might also go.

[Dirkhrod]

I based the squads on the players rotated during the preliminaries. Cabaj has been usually substituting for Dudek or Boruc when one of them was injured. Karwan is at Right Midfield the most used player, alongside Gorawski. So wither one should make the squad if Janas doesn't have anyone else in mind (Rachwal perhaps ?).