Every team has weaknesses. Have Germany fixed their striker problem and do they have plenty of depth now? I very much doubt it as Gomez is still being called up. After Werner had to leave the pitch in the game against Besiktas (because of dizziness due to noise) ... Hasenhüttl said Werner suffers from circulatory diseases and has respiratory problems ... this doesn't sound good at all ... on top of that he's just a kiddo ... young strikers tend to be inconsistent or aren't as clinical as experienced strikers ... also, compared to club football you won't get as many chances in a WC game. What about Germany's FB woes ... they're not exactly world class, neither LB nor RB options (granted Kimmich shows promise yet lacks experience) ... still that's better than using Boateng at RB (who got exposed in Brazil before Lahm was moved back from the QFs onwards; luckily Algeria were wasteful in the Ro16) ... apropos, what's wrong with Boateng and Hummels this season? ... Howedes, who's filled in at LB before, will probably see a lot of the bench at his new club and Hector is nowhere near world class either ... also, without Lahm and Schweini a lot of experience is lost ... by the looks of it Germany don't really do holding midfielders as well. Maybe you can show Germany donot have any weaknesses in their starting line-up or on the bench ... be my guest ... but it's more likely Germany do have weaknesses just like every other NT ... also, depth is less important compared to club football ... an entire season lasts a fair bit longer than the WC and clubs have to battle on multiple fronts domestically and also in Europe ... besides NTs can only bring 23 players and it's smarter to bring extra attacking talent (as NT managers have fiddled a lot less with their defences at past WCs; most of the unused subs are goalies and defenders). PS any idea of Germany's WC2018 squad and Low's starting line-up?
I think maybe this: (assuming everyone is healthy). 1. Neuer 2. Ter Stegen 3. Trapp 4. Boateng 5. Hummels 6. Howedes 7. Kimmich 8. Ginter 9. Can 10. Hector 11. Mustafi 12. Rudiger 13. Khedira 14. Kroos 15. Gundogan 16. Goretzka 17. Muller 18. Draxler 19. Sane 20. Schurrle 21. Reus 22. Ozil 23. Wagner Might be a few players off, especially when it comes to injuries, but I think this is a good guess. For starting lineup there is a lot you could do, but I know Low likes the 4-2-3-1 formation. The big question is Germany don't have a world class #9 since Klose retired, so does he go with Wagner or a false #9? I believe maybe Muller as a false 9 might work well. -Muller- -Reus-Ozil-Draxler- -Kroos-Gundogan/Khedira- -Kimmich-Hummels-Boateng-Howedes- -Neuer- Depending on form, maybe take out Ozil, and move Draxler to the middle and play Sane on the RW.
Holland and Chile can already kiss their World Cup dreams goodbye. Originally Bolivia had defeated Peru 2–0 and drawn 0–0 with Chile. If Chile doesn't protest the game vs Bolivia, they would still be in the playoff match vs New Zealand. @Rickdog ... did Chile actually do that to themselves? xoxo
Bolivia only got those results, basicly by cheating in them (using a foreign player), without which, is debatable that they could still get those results. Chile got eliminated not by that case, but for what our team couldn't do against the other opponents. We were basicly out , when we lost to Paraguay at home, as everything that happened after that match, was somehow perfectly predictible it could happen since the begining of our campaign.
But had Chile not protested so vehemently, and it was them who initiated the complaints, the points would have remained with Bolivia. Two points less for Chile and three less for Peru would have sent Chile to the playoffs and eliminated Peru instead. Chile did not see Peru as a threat back when the complaints were lodged, and it ended costing them dearly.
Chile didn't protest vehemently at all. Simply pointed out to FIFA of Bolivia's wrongdoing. Everything that happened afterwards, happened by strict decission of FIFA. Remember that the TAS appeal, wasn't made against Chile. It was made by the bolivian Federation against FIFA's decission. Chile's part in it, the same as Peru's, and also the same as for the other Conmebol Feds, mainly was to act as witnesses to expose their respectful views to what happened. Fact is, other Conmebol teams didn't say anything on respect to Bolivia's wrongdoing, which is the only thing that really mattered for the TAS, and instead took the stance as to express their desire that no point exchange take place, which really was never in the TAS appeal agenda, as the punishment for those offends are perfectly written and described in the Laws of the game. Also for facts, no point exchange takes place in this cases. Those who infringe the LOTG, are punished declaring a null match, and to compensate the innocent parties (in this case, Peru and Chile), the match (not mattering the result), is declared forfait with a loss by 3 goals. Strictly speaking, Chile didn't win 2 points for that match, Chile won 3 points for that match, the same as Peru. And also got 3 positive goals for that match, the same as Peru. Fact Chile pointed this whole issue out to FIFA first, was just a matter of timing as both Federations really had agreed to present their respectful complaints, and if Chile wouldn't have presented anything, Peru were going to present theirs anyway. If Chile wouldn't have presented it, it is very likely that FIFA would have acted the same way and only Peru would have got that benefit.
In any event, the difference between the result on the field and what was given by the ruling has meant the playoff spot for Peru and elimination for Chile.
Nope. We are out because we had a poorer Goal diferentiate on regards to Peru. If we would have lost by only one goal against Brazil, whom as a diference to argentinians, have the honor that don't settle for scores that favours them and could affect a third party with that lousy atitude, we would've gone through instead of them to the playoff. But we couldn't hold on to that diference, and very fast we got scored on the 2nd time, which put the diference.
On the surface, just looking at the final standings, it may look like Chile screwed themselves over. But that decision on Bolivia by FIFA came in September of 2016 before Round 11 of the qualifiers were played. There was still eight rounds to go and every team knew the situation going forward and what they needed to do to qualify. It's like saying, using a random example: "If that penalty had been awarded in the first half Team A would have won 1-0, instead of the match ending 0-0." No. If that penalty had been awarded (and converted) it would have changed the entire complexion of the match. Both teams would have approached the remainder of the game differently than when no penalty was awarded. Same here with the CONMEBOL qualifiers with eight rounds still to play.
Right. In this case, I doubt Paraguay would've lost last night if they didn't need to win. A point was probably there for them to take if they wanted it but of course they had to go for the win, and in doing so, got nothing.
Results are not just conditioned by the Chilean players, it also depends on the opponent plus other natural variables of a match such as refereeing, venue, etc. But the "results" for Chile and Peru against Bolivia were based completely outside of the pitch, and the Chilean federation sought them with the only purpose to benefit themselves. It is very ironic that it ended up benefiting more the team that took the last spot from Chile for a chance at the World Cup.
Well possibly, but I think they could be considered third best team after Germany and Brazil maybe. Keep in mind they still have players like Iniesta, Busquets, and a few others that still have quite a bit to offer. -David Silva-Morata-Isco- -Iniesta-Busquets-Fabregas- -Azpilicueta-Ramos-Pique-Carvajal- -De Gea- This team to me looks strong enough to win it, and I am not even sure if thats Spain's best starting XI. Definitely not top favorites, but they are up there.
I think Spain will win it, but hold out hope that Argentina wakes up from a bad slumber. Spain has the deepest team in the world at the moment.
The Balon d'Or list can be criticized but just for the sake of it - number of Balon d'Or nominees per country - France leading the pack...: 4 NOMINEES: FRANCE: N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) 3 NOMINEES: BELGIUM: Dries Mertens (Napoli), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea) BRAZIL: Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Marcelo (Real Madrid) SPAIN: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Isco (Real Madrid), David de Gea (Manchester United) 2 NOMINEES: ARGENTINA: Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona) GERMANY: Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich) ITALY (TBC): Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus) URUGUAY: Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain) 1 NOMINEE: COLOMBIA: Radamel Falcao (Monaco) CROATIA: Luka Modric (Real Madrid) ENGLAND: Harry Kane (Tottenham) POLAND: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) PORTUGAL: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) SENEGAL (TBC): Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Power rankings of the 23 teams qualified so far: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/oct/11/world-cup-2018-power-rankings TOP TEN: 1. Germany 2. Brazil 3. Spain 4. France 5. Belgium 6. Portugal 7. Argentina 8. Poland 9. Mexico 10. Nigeria
There is no way we are winning this thing, so us being n°5 is way overrating us. As someone who has watched this team closely from the beginning of the advent of this generation, this is the order of the most likely outcomes: 1. A quarter-final exit 2. A round of 16 exit 3. A semi-final 4. Eliminated in the first round. 5. Making the final 6. Winning the entire thing With the caveat that I honestly believe that n°5 and n°6 are impossible.
What about Italy guys? I am Italian so I just wanted to know what other people think about my team? I believe we have a chance of winning it, but definitely not the favorites. If we do want to win it, we have to step our game up though.
You haven't qualified yet... But if you do, then sure, I would put you in top 10, over Poland, Nigeria, and such.