After watching Germany last night, I wouldn't mind at all if we played them in the quaterfinals. I'm sure they'll be better come World Cup time, but they made it so easy for Austria to press them and they are way too calm in tight areas.
I would. Germany are about the worst team other than Spain we could meet IMO. They’ll definitely step it up come the tournament time I think. Brazil are overrated and rely on Neymar.. their midfield seems pretty uncreative
Brazil are harder to beat IMO. Their midfield should be quite good. In all the friendlies we've played against Germany since 2014 we've always gotten plenty of scoring opportunities. We press well too.
Those were just friendlies. Germany have always been in top form when it really mattered. We don't have any cause to think they will play just as bad as they did at some friendlies.
For Brazil, a midfield of Casemiro, Fernandinho and Paulinho (against Croatia today) is a bit pedestrian, especailly with Dani Alves out. If Neymar is fit they can move Coutinho back and become so much more dangerous.
Yeah they need an attacking option in that midfield. Then they'll be creative while very tough to disposses.
WOW!! BREAKING: Manchester City forward Leroy Sane left out of Germany's World Cup squad. #SSN pic.twitter.com/eFdtZQplND— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 4, 2018
The final Belgium squad: 🗒 This is our @FIFAWorldCup squad list ! Let’s go #REDTOGETHER to Russia ! 🇧🇪🔜 #WorldCup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/4FBWfiKZGJ— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) June 4, 2018 A defender on standby possibly indicative of ongoing doubts over Kompany.
And here are all of the squads together, with some bonus stats for height and weight fans: https://img.fifa.com/image/upload/hzfqyndmnqazczvc5xdb.pdf?_branch_match_id=529402575746965446
According to that spreadsheet Harry Kane weighs 98kg That can't be correct surely? Sounds at least 10kg to heavy imo.
Germany has a ton of quality, but Sane is one of their best forwards. I don't see how Julian Brandt is better than him atm.
Sane omission, isn't really a surprise, because he doesn't produce the same results with the national team that he does with Man City. Low usually always picks national team performances over club performances and reputation. He's been inconsistent when he plays for Germany and he didn't play well against Austria. He's so young and he just needs more time.
An unlucky Alberto Quintero to miss Panama's #WorldCup campaignthrough injury @fepafut https://t.co/JgAdLPEu8m— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 7, 2018
For the first time in its history Panama will be at the World Cup. This achievement is in great part due to what former Millwall coach Gary Stempel, has done over the past 20 years with both the Panamanian national teams at all age levels and within the Panamanian domestic league. Sid Lowe travels to Panama to investigate how their national team has used these lessons and what Gary is doing to help those on the fringes society. https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...behind-panamas-journey-to-the-world-cup-video
On the bright side. At least this wasn't an England player. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/11/sports/mo-salah-egypt-chechnya.html
Will anyone tune in to watch the first match between Russia and Saudi Arabia? Based on what little evidence I've gathered, this could be the least watched opening World Cup game in a long time. Certaintly the least eye-catching because these could be the two worst teams in the tournament.