[n00bie deluxe]

Which of the 2002 teams will look significantly difference in terms of personnel come 2006?

[lanman]

Portugal - the "golden generation" will all be in their 30's, and they have a fair few good players coming through. (Viana, Quaresma)

[n00bie deluxe]

What about France? Many of their players will be in their early 30s in 2006, and they have a crop of young 20-ish players.

[lanman]

France certainly have a lot of talented youngsters, but it is mainly in the defence that you will see changes. (I'm thinking the likes of Desailly, Thuram and Lizarazu most likely won't be there) Henry and Trezeguet will still be under 30 (I think), and other than Cisse I can't think of any top quality strikers they have coming through. Zidane is the sort of player that is not going to be greatly affected by age, so he will probably still be strong at 34, so I can't see the midfield changing greatly.

That said, you never know who will come from nowhere in the next 4 years.

[deejay]

Mexico will be losing Suarez, Blanco and some other big names.

[Various Styles]

Mexico will be losing Suarez, Blanco and some other big names.


Suarez has allready been replaced by Marquez. Finding another Blanco however will be hard to come by. I am confident that a new player can just appear out of nowhere similiar to Luis Hernandez in 98..

Right now we have Adolfo Bautista (Morelia) who has similiar qualities to Blanco. There is also Torrado and Melvin Brown. One of the players that just debuted recently, (I dont even know his name) plays for Toluca a tall forward #28 has qualitys like the Paraguayo Cardozo. If you watch the pre pre libertadores games on FSWE he scored a wicked scissors kick goal in the loss to Pumas (4-3) He can be a player to look out for.

[minorthreat]

Spain's turnover will be somewhat sizable, I think.

Out
Fernando Hierro
Miguel Angel Nadal
Santiago Canizares
Pedro Contreras
Francisco Javier de Pedro
Luis Enrique
Enrique Romero
Ricardo Lopez
Gaizka Mendieta (?)

[minorthreat]

Originally posted by lanman
Portugal - the "golden generation" will all be in their 30's, and they have a fair few good players coming through. (Viana, Quaresma)

See also: Croatia and Yugoslavia.

[Various Styles]

Looks like Nigerias Golden generation has also come to an end. Senegal will most likely take their place as CAF's Best.

[Twinkies at war]

Originally posted by C-towner
See also: Croatia and Yugoslavia.

Portugal has way too much talent at the U21-U17 level coming up to get to Yugoslavia's situation any time soon.