2022 World Cup

We could also post links to the ratings. We already know that sofascore and whoscored will post them shortly after the game is over. Then we have http://football-ratings.blogspot.com/. I don't know of any other websites that publish them but it would be very interesting to collaborate with each other to share the ones we know. As for me, every day I buy "As" and "Marca" (unfortunately, where I live I don't get "Mundo Deportivo" and "Sport"...), so I will make an excel with the best ratings and those of the most significant players in theory. At the moment, in the excel I have about 200 players, but surely this list will grow and obviously, I will share it with you, adding all the notes to which I have access.

 

Estimates of the team strenght (before start tournament - click box at the bottom of the table).

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-world-cup-predictions/

https://goalimpact.substack.com/p/predictions-world-cup-2022
(here of euro 2020 a year ago)

Uncertain though how that factors in players playing at the same club (e.g. Spain, Germany).
______________________

https://theathletic.com/3927430/2022/11/23/germany-armband-mouths-gesture/

Classic The Athletic pandering of the demographics. Without mentioning anywhere:

- Their FA voted in favor of Qatar (many others did not). And against taking it away from Qatar.
- Their country is the biggest financial beneficiary of Qatar (ahead of France, USA, UK, China etc.). Still send government delegations and the like. Take Qatar away and their industrial advantage has a problem (more so than Italy et al).
- Their players are paid by Qatar (most famously through Bayern their sponsorship). They are millionaires because of Qatar. Well ahead of many other (main) competitors at this tournament.

They can cover their mouths; next month another paycheck, with greetings from Qatar.

At least mention this 'dualism' somewhere (as well as (Central-)Europe itself having their own problems with 'inclusivity' attitudes in football).

https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/11/17/in-defence-of-qatars-hosting-of-the-world-cup
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/11/11/liberalism-according-to-the-economist

#saynotovirtuesignalling

* They deserved to win yesterday's game and might still win it all, with a some tweaking (more defensive security, less Xg surplus in attack).

 

Hi friends,

Which are your picks for the team of the tournament thus far?


my first impressions:

Courtois

Johnston Zimmerman Milenkovic Al-Shahrani

Fernandes Courtois Gakpo Abdi

Valencia Richarlison

 

Tentatively, I'd offer this as a first round of matches attempt (not considering yesterday's games) - giving more than one option where I'd be a bit undecided (I do think Gavi would be in though with one of the other midfielders I should clarify, while Morata is maybe more a case of making a good start along with Rashford, Rodrygo etc in the race for 'Roger Milla super sub award' lol, and with the defence it's not so much that I'm clear on making 3 choices, but that I'd be particularly uncertain and without a clear 2nd option in most places)...

Courtois/Ochoa (maybe even Schmeichel coming into it for example too);
Widmer, Stones, Thiago Silva, Sandro/Shaw (maybe Jordi Alba pretty much equally an option)
Bellingham/Pedri, Gavi/Rabiot
Dembele/Ferran Torres (maybe Saka also), Griezmann, Mbappe
Kane/Morata

I might be being generous to those on the best teams and not enough so to some who starred in other games perhaps though (with Japan for example maybe it's again a case of super subs as much as anything though!).

 

Timothy Weah is probably pretty much in the mix for right wing too - that place is one I'm particularly uncertain on. I thought Lozano of Mexico was bright as a winger too again (after being a star of the early phases of the 2018 WC too), but with his end product not really matching his dribbling maybe he'd not quite be under consideration for a place so much in the end.

EDIT - Potentially Casemiro in consideration for midfield too I think...but I'll leave it there now!

 

If I did narrow down the choices to an actual XI I think I'd put both Spanish midfielders in (although Pedri went off relatively early, and they did have a DM behind them in their actual line-up), although it should be Gavi as right centre mid and Pedri as left centre mid in that case.

I'll say Dembele, Kane, Courtois and Shaw in the XI too.

 

I guess if I went 4-3-3 for that 'first match XI' Casemiro would be in (or possibly Bentancur) for Griezmann (mainly because Kane played at CF rather than AM, and unless I went with a lop-sided system Dembele and Mbappe fit better in the line-up).

I think there have been quite a few good contenders for a goal of the tournament competition already anyway, and some big shock results in games with a twist, as well as the excellent performances by those leading teams (Brazil not so much until late in the game though, and England haven't followed up with a second one). I'm thinking France vs Denmark has the potential to be an excellent game later today, although now I said it it probably won't be!

Before the tournament I really wasn't sure who to tip, but I thought I'd at least make a guess in my own head and so guessed Spain. Looking at the draw I then had Spain vs Belgium in the Final, and perhaps France taking 3rd against England (but while Spain winning seemed feasible maybe, I'd be surprised to get the 1-2-3-4 correct and almost wouldn't want to as I've not bet on it I suppose!). I might be less inclined to think Belgium will go that far now. I forget now exactly but I guess I had Brazil down to run into Spain before the semi-finals, and perhaps come up short like they did vs the Belgians 4 years ago.

 

I think I misstyped Griezmann for the midfield. You mention him aswell.
Lozano and the Spanish players are on the radar. Maybe with the upcoming matches the flanks get more clarity. Sarr from Senegal is another contender.

 

Now i'm pretty clueless about the best gk so far.
Alba and Hakimi look good for the sidebacks. Abdi is still there but Al-Shahrani is out of the tournament. Kehrer knows how to reverse possession. Pedri (PDG's call out) and Musiala are contenders for the midfield, Lozano not so much.
Tomorrow things may change once again.

 

Yeah, true. I think I'll wait until the end of the group stage before offering any other line-ups now at least, but suddenly without playing maybe Sommer of Switzerland for example could be a prime contender for GK if he even puts in a 'good' display in this next game!

I guess it's normal to some extent for some players to stand out in game 1 (for good reasons) and then some others moreso in game 2 though. I didn't think Mbappe had been particularly good until he started to score, in the second game, even, although by the end I think his case is elevated by the taking and part in the making of those goals, so I'd still have him in I'm pretty sure (for 2nd choice left wing player I'd be more uncertain so it'll come down to the 3rd games, but Mitoma despite only coming on as sub so far has done well enough to be in the mix if perhaps he starts and certainly plays well in the final game. Maybe Dembele, and Griezmann (if going 4-2-3-1 but at this point maybe even if not) seem more solidified as my choices for 1st XI players at this point too, and Pedri (maybe now more than Gavi), but the rest of midfield (with one or two in the centre undecided for sure) could be open, perhaps to Croatia players now for example too (although I didn't think Modric played particularly great himself; Sosa is perhaps another Croatian in the mix now though, joining the left back options which seem to be the most extensive - ones I mentioned before and even some others - T.Hernandez perhaps could have been mentioned before but for sure now I think I would have him in the mix for that position too anyway). If I'm going to put a 3rd centre midfielder in then I guess the other Milenkovic-Savic could come into my thoughts too, if he plays very well in the 2nd game.

I guess, as well as Valencia unless he is out injured, Preciado is one I should keep an eye on in the final group game, for Ecuador. Maybe Morata (another one who only came on as sub so far) might just about be my first choice CF now though at this moment, going ahead of Kane, and edging out Valencia and any others. If I'm undecided between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 (for which represents things better) maybe Griezmann (who based on the early games is shaping up to be hard to leave out) could even fit in as a false 9, even if he's not actually playing that role though (I guess a Christmas Tree with him and Mbappe in behind a striker would be suitable enough too though for example, and maybe in the end I'll go 4-2-3-1 without a DM even if it would still be Gavi and Pedri in the centre, which maybe makes it seem like a DM should go behind or at least a 3rd midfielder with box to box qualities in between - I guess it depends on which players play well enough (in our views) though and often all-star selections can even veer quite far away from realistic, or representative, line-ups).

 

Although I'm not really sure how much I'll see of Ecuador's 3rd group game - I guess I'll switch between that and the Netherlands game (as far as their players and a best XI go they have some work to do I guess, but for sure Gakpo has something to show already, perhaps Blind could suddenly leap to the top of that left back contingent with a great game or something even, and De Jong had an improved game in the 2nd one I thought, to an extent, so maybe with a great 3rd game he'd be in the mix given I'm possibly open to a 3rd midfielder in the line-up - maybe outside chances at this point though I think).

 

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic I'd meant before of course, and indeed he did come into it (maybe more likely for a 2nd XI but with the Switzerland game to come), for midfield or attacking midfield depending exactly what system I'm using for the XIs.

Zivkovic could even be in pole position for a second XI at right wing too perhaps, but it'll come down to the Switzerland game, also for Tadic who might not be out of the mix necessarily.

Entertainment wise that Serbia-Cameroon game just now was probably the best of the tournament anyway I think IMO! For quality defensive play not so much I guess, but Serbia did play some excellent football, and Cameroon took their chances well (especially goal number 2).

 

Blind is a mirror-image of his dad. They're both underrated centers but not sidebacks. If van Gaal doesn't fix the leaks on the flanks, especially the right, it'll be over soon. De Jong is the other contender next to Gakpo. I haven't seen anybody else.

The final formation should be dictated by the best performers. There often is a standout defensive mid or offensive back to get some balance/realism in there, like Betancur today.

Also Jean-Charles Castelletto had a decent game for Cameroon. Fernandes seems to consolidate himself for the midfield. Zivkovic is indeed a potent candidate for the right.

Tomorrow Sarr and Valencia can eliminate each other, or themselves

 

We have three sites that use OPTA data to calculate the ratings of players. Each one with a different algorithm

Best players after 2nd round matches:

Sofascore
1.Antoine Griezmann
8.70
2.Bruno Fernandes
8.60
3.Wojciech Szczęsny
8.10
4.Mehdi Taremi
7.95
5.Enner Valencia
7.90

Whoscored
1.Antoine Griezmann
8.48
2.Kylian Mbappé
8.41
3.Bruno Fernandes
8.36
4.Wojciech Szczesny
8.07
5.Jordi Alba
8.03

Fotmob
1.Kylian Mbappé
8.89
2.Richarlison
8.85
3.Bruno Fernandes
8.72
4.Mehdi Taremi
8.57
5.Antoine Griezmann
8.48

I prefer whoscored, but i would take enner valencia in place of alba

 

Fivethirtyeight daily updating favorites projection

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-world-cup-predictions/

Top favorites after 2nd round matches:

Brazil 26%
Spain 14%
France 13%
Portugal 8%
Argentina 7%
England 6%
Germany 6%
Netherlands 6%

 

I think as it turns out, I'm probably ending with a squad of 26 that I'd carry forwards as the prime candidates before the final group games (for a group stage XI), not that others can't arrive from outside it (I'd still think of more left backs as top performers than right backs, and quite a few goalies have made some nice saves I guess without it being really clear who stands out the most all things considered; like I mentioned Croatia midfielders played well in game 2 so can't be far away I guess, while some England players carry forwards their game 1 performances for example so are possibly on the cusp still too):

I've not seen every minute of every game, and won't be watching one game and a recording of the other for the final group games or anything, so it's more like a best impression.

For the goalies and right backs I picked 3 because I'm uncertain on my choice for 2nd, and whoever it is is pretty much in contention with 1st anyway I think (but 3 goalies suits well for a proper squad selection I suppose anyway). Then I've got the extra option at AM and LW (though Rodrygo might suit AM better, depending on his role if he plays a part in the final group game, and Milinkovic-Savic would be reasonable to pick as a CM potentially I'd think). I'm not needing a clear left centre back in the line-up in terms of where they've been playing (just placing the 4 I picked out in the places I might in a real line-up if having those 4 available, and maybe if it came down to it I wouldn't feel a player such as Pedri has to be LCM rather than RCM or whatever too (but atm I'm just naming a DM, a CM and an AM, but like annoyedbyneedoflogin said the DM/CM types can sometimes be among the best players all in all anyway and I think these are getting in that ballpark maybe anyway).

Maybe the knockout stages would still change quite a bit anyway....
Maybe 4-1-4-1 is the system now but I'm not really sure - 4-2-3-1 might still fit better arguably.

GK - Schmeichel, Sommer, Szczesny
RB - Widmer, Preciado, Cancelo
RCB - Stones, Andersen
LCB - Thiago Silva, Akanji
LB - Sandro, T.Hernandez
DM/CM - Casemiro, Bentancur
CM - Pedri, Gavi (obviously I could still end up with both in an XI)
AM - Griezmann, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Fernandes
RW - Dembele, Zivkovic
LW - Mbappe, Rodrygo, Mitoma
CF - Morata, Taremi

For top 5 players I'd possibly pick out Griezmann, Mbappe, Pedri, Casemiro and Gavi at this point.

For top 3 goals I think maybe Richarlison vs Serbia, Enzo Fernandez vs Mexico (although I'm not sure I could argue if it was suggested the 2nd goal Argentina conceded in the first game, rather than this 2nd one they scored in the second game, might equally be put in here) and the team goal finished by Mitrovic vs Cameroon.

 

I'm also feeling like I'd appreciate a bit more of a zoomed in coverage at times and/or an old-fashioned commentary style that announces who is on the ball pretty much all the time, rather than the conversational style often used now lol! But, yeah, like I said those names are my best impression having been watching a majority of the action at least....

 

I notice now that 90 Minutes (the website of the magazine) ranked a top 10 by position after the 1st set of matches, and appears to be in the process of updating it (as a cumulative ranking) after the 2nd set of matches - brief write-ups for each selection too:

2022 World Cup goalkeeper power rankings: Matchday 2 (90min.com)
1: Szczesny (up 8), 2: Sommer (up 1), 3: Noppert (up 2), 4: Schmeichel (new entry), 5: Simon (new entry), 6: V. Milinkovic-Savic (up 4), 7: Turner (new entry), 8: Ochoa (down 4), 9: Gonda (down 8), 10: Navas (new entry)

2022 World Cup defender power rankings: Matchday 1 (90min.com)
1: Al-Tambakti, 2: Alderweirald, 3: T.Hernandez, 4: Jordi Alba, 5: Preciado, 6: Gvardiol, 7: Gallardo, 8: Godin, 9: Shaw, 10: Thiago Silva

2022 World Cup midfielder power rankings: Matchday 1 (90min.com)
1: Gavi, 2: Rabiot, 3: Bellingham, 4: Casemiro, 5: Pedri, 6: Endo, 7: Eustaquio, 8: Fernandes, 9: Kanno, 10: De Jong

2022 World Cup forwards power rankings: Matchday 1 (90min.com)
1: Giroud, 2: Saka, 3: Richarlison, 4: Mbappe, 5: Ferran Torres, 6: Valencia, 7: Asano, 8: Al-Dawsari, 9: Kudus, 10: Gakpo


I haven't looked at all the pages, but perhaps they do have player ratings for every game - here is the page for Brazil-Switzerland
Brazil 1-0 Switzerland: Player ratings as Selecao book place in knockout stages (90min.com)

This is the main page for the World Cup anyway
World Cup 2022 news, playoff draw, fixtures & latest updates | 90min
(all yesterdays games have player ratings pages I can see, by scrolling down that page, for example)

Team of the Round - 2nd games
World Cup team of the round: Group stage round 2 (90min.com)
Szczesny; Fuller, Souttar, Saiss, Alba; Casemiro, Kudus; Kramaric, Messi, Mbappe; Cho Gue-sung

Team of the Round - 1st games
World Cup team of the round: Group stage round 1 (90min.com)
Gonda; Preciado, Al-Tambakti, Alderweirald, Al-Shahrani; Bellingham, Gavi, Rabiot; Saka, Richarlison, Al-Dawsari
(According to the power rankings page Theo Hernandez and Giroud would be in though I suppose, so I'm not quite sure of the reasons for those differences, especially with the left backs in general but also omitting the number 1 ranked forward on their list - maybe because they are by different writers, and perhaps just their own view in the end, or just journalistic 'right' to vary things a bit on close calls with some different opinions voiced perhaps among the 90 Minutes 'panel'?)