Favorites to win in Russia' 2018?

Discussion in 'FIFA and Tournaments' started by MIGkiller, Jun 27, 2016.

?

Favorites to win in Russia' 2018

  1. Argentina

  2. Brazil

  3. Chile

  4. England

  5. Germany

  6. Italy

  7. France

  8. Spain

  9. Uruguay

  10. Netherlands

  11. Portugal

  12. Other

  13. Belgium

Multiple votes are allowed.
Results are only viewable after voting.
  1. benficafan3

    benficafan3 Member+

    Nov 16, 2005
    Irrelevant? He's 23 and starting games for Barcelona, will be 24 or 25 at the next WC. You're making it sound like he's a 17 year old kid.
     
  2. BocaFan

    BocaFan Member+

    Aug 18, 2003
    Queens, NY
    So those facts put him in Rafinha territory. Nothing more, nothing less.
     
  3. GunnerMan8705

    GunnerMan8705 Member

    Oct 3, 2016
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Argentina v. Portugal in 2018 would be great....but I'm still upset we didn't get A Neymar lead Brazil v. Argentina with Messi in 2014...... Nothing could have matched that environment.
     
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  4. Mengão86

    Mengão86 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Flamengo
    Brazil
    Nov 16, 2005
    Maryland, RJ/ES/PE
    Club:
    Flamengo Rio Janeiro
    Nat'l Team:
    Brazil
    Early signs show that isn't the case.
     
  5. zahzah

    zahzah Member+

    Jun 27, 2011
    Club:
    FK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
    Early signs show that Guardiola is overrated.
     
  6. GunnerMan8705

    GunnerMan8705 Member

    Oct 3, 2016
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    I dont think Guardiola is overrated. But he has found out that while playing out from the back is nice, its difficult to do in the Premier League. He also still has some guys that just arent great fits for his system. He needs to get younger at CDM and get guys there who are much better at distributing. He needs a younger LB and RB with better pace. He needs at least 1 CB with better ball skills and either Bravo needs to pick it up or Pep needs to look elsewhere. The front 3 of Sane, Jesus and Sterling looked phenomenal with DeBrunye supplying them. Pep will make the necessary adjustments.
     
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  7. GunnerMan8705

    GunnerMan8705 Member

    Oct 3, 2016
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Brazil is gonna be TOUGH in Russia... Best Front 3 IMO in the world in Coutinho, Jesus and Neymar...
     
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  8. GunnerMan8705

    GunnerMan8705 Member

    Oct 3, 2016
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    There are really 2 reasons why Brazil will be IMO the favorite and will win 2018:

    1) Gabriel Jesus and Gabigol. Then main piece Brazil has been missing recently is an out and out CF. Both Jesus and Gabigol can provide that. What it does is frees up Neymar and Coutinho. Right now the front 3 of Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, and Coutinho is the best in the world.

    2) The exit of Dunga. Tite cut the front 3 loose. Dunga and his methods held their attacking players back. They now have the freedom to be extremely effective in the attacking third. Also, Tite has brought BALANCE, specifically along the back line and in the midfield. Yes there are bigger names than Renato Augusto, Fernandinho and Paulinho, but they are the perfect fit for supplementing the attack, and also giving the back line a shield. Since the hire of Tite Brasil has given up only 1 goal in 6 WCQ matches that includes games against Ecuador and Argentina. The only goal they gave up was against Colombia and it was an own goal.

    The interesting thing for me will be who is selected for 2018. Fernandinho will be 32, Augusto will be 29, and Paulinho will be 29. Its going to be a huge chore filling out the 12 extra players when choosing from this list: Willian, Douglas Costa, Gabigol, Firmino, Thiago Silva, David Luis, Felipe Luis, Hulk, Oscar, Robinho, Lucas, Lucas Lima, Pato, Casemiro, Rafinha, Danilo, Fabinho, Alex Sandro, Gil, Giuliano, Fagner, Rodrigo Caio, Fernando, Felipe Anderson, I mean, I cant begin to figure out which of those will make up the 12 extra spots.

    If I had to make the Roster Today:

    1)Gabriel Jesus
    2) Neymar
    3) Coutinho
    4) Paulinho
    5) Renato Augusto
    6) Fernandinho
    7) Dani Alves
    8) Marcelo
    9) Marquinhos
    10) Miranda
    11) Alisson
    12) Casemiro
    13) Fabinho
    14) David Luis
    15) Thiago Silva
    16) Willian
    17) Douglas Costa
    18) Firmino
    19) Felipe Luis
    20) Alex Sandro
    21) Gabigol or Lucas
    22) Gil or Rodrigo Caio or Lucas Lima
    23) Extra Keeper
     
  9. Unak78

    Unak78 BigSoccer Supporter

    Dec 17, 2007
    PSG & Enyimba FC
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Nigeria
    It would have been interesting to see what would have happened had Neymar not gone down injured before the match that eliminated them. Brazil wasn't great but not as bad as they seemed in that one. I think they were psychologically beaten early on. Chile is definitely a dark horse after their two Copa America performance, so they'll have confidence going in. We'll see how they're seeded and who they're grouped with.
     
  10. Hayaka

    Hayaka Member+

    Jun 21, 2009
    San Francisco North Bay, Bel Marin Keys
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Denmark
    Or if Chile even makes it to Russia. They are currently on the bubble with some tough matches coming up, including away in both Argentina and Brazil.
     
  11. AlbertCamus

    AlbertCamus Member+

    Colorado Rapids
    Sep 2, 2005
    Colorado, USA
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Had the ref been tighter though, they would have been beat by Columbia in the quarterfinals. They should have had earlier yellows and/or a red card.
     
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  12. Rickdog

    Rickdog Member+

    Jun 16, 2010
    Santiago, Chile
    Club:
    CD Colo Colo
    Nat'l Team:
    Chile
    Everyone in Conmebol has tough matches coming up (so it's not really much diferent one to the other)

    Chile, currently, mostly depends on how we do at home, to get the WC tickets. For any points we get away, will only mean, that we would need fewer points from the matches to be played at home. Besides from those matches against Argentina and Brazil, we must also face Bolivia away, where in the last WC qualifiers, we've won almost all our matches there (playing in Bolivia, in the last 20 years, the foreign team from Conmebol, that usually gets the best results, happens to be Chile, as we've lost there only once, for 2000). At home, we still got to play Venezuela, Paraguay and Ecuador, against whom, we've hardly lost much points/matches playing at home.

    Compared to all other teams from Conmebol, excepting Brazil (whom are almost qualified with what they already have), together with Uruguay, we probably have the best fixture of remaining matches.
     
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  13. zahzah

    zahzah Member+

    Jun 27, 2011
    Club:
    FK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
    I always understood the Gabriel Jesus hype, but the Gabigol hype is getting old. His goalscoring record in Brazil belies his name and he's a benchwarmer in Inter.
     
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  14. Pipiolo

    Pipiolo Member+

    Jul 19, 2008
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    Icardi is better than Gabigol for sure.
     
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  15. Pipiolo

    Pipiolo Member+

    Jul 19, 2008
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    However, Brazil has currently the most depth of attacking mids and forwards:

    Neymar/Lucas Moura/Luan---- Gabriel Jesus/Firmino/Gabigol
    ---------Douglas Costa/Renato/Oscar-------------Coutinho/Willian/Felipe Anderson

    Their central midfield is not as deep but still has good options in Fernandinho, Paulinho, Casemiro, Rafinha and Lucas Leiva. By the time the WC comes around, Casemiro and Rafinha should be the starters.
     
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  16. Unak78

    Unak78 BigSoccer Supporter

    Dec 17, 2007
    PSG & Enyimba FC
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Nigeria
    #241 Unak78, Feb 7, 2017
    Last edited: Feb 7, 2017
    With good coaching, Brazil should have the depth and talent to contend. The only question is whether or not they have the leadership. Neymar has the potential skill-wise, but he's still young and isn't yet the man on his Barca team. He also doesn't seem to be very vocal when playing with Brazil or Barca; just my impression. I think pulling Kaka up, even with a benchwarming role is beneficial due to his experience and gravitas, but such luxuries are not always possible. Hell, even a fat Ronaldinho. Someone who can talk to the team as a peer and keep them focused.

    It's always a question, even for a man like Messi who's proven a leader with Barca. He's vocal when he leads Argentina, but his near retirement was a weak point on his resume. Granted, that may have been a calculated move to get the Argentine public on his side and silence his detractors in the wake of a second Copa loss as well as to take the pressure off of his teammates and now put it soley on his own shoulders (as if it wasn't there before). Several players on Chile's roster are often vocal and emotional. Alexis Sanches is expressive on the field but mostly leads with the ball at his feet. But Chile impresses me in that they play as a team moreso than Brazil and even Argentina has of late.

    A player like Paul Pogba, considering his skillset and the position that he plays, should be a leader on the field and inspires goals more than producing them himself. Haven't seen as much of this with Man U as I'd like this year but he showed a lot of that with Juventus. But he's also been underwhelming with the French Nats. He's exciting to watch when he's on though. I hope for a great WC performance of him rather than expect it.

    So leadership is a question imo for Brazil going into Russia because I believe that the talent is there.
     
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  17. Rickdog

    Rickdog Member+

    Jun 16, 2010
    Santiago, Chile
    Club:
    CD Colo Colo
    Nat'l Team:
    Chile
    Specially in messing up with the wives of his team mates (reasons why most players in Argentina don't want to have him anywhere near them).
    :p
     
  18. Kaka10725

    Kaka10725 Member+

    Jun 1, 2007
    Kaka and Ronaldinho wasn't leaders either. When I think leaders guys like Dunga or Lucio.

    Neymar isn't fit to be a leader not because he in not vocal but he is a complete hothead. He is too immature for that responsibility thus why he isn't captain anymore.

    Thiago Silvia probably has the most leadership qualities but he hasn't really shown them for Brazil. Daniel Alves would be my pick but he is on the tail end of his career and who knows if he will be there in 2018.
     
  19. GunnerMan8705

    GunnerMan8705 Member

    Oct 3, 2016
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    I think Casemiro could be a leader...And Miranda too. A guy I forgot about is Luis Gustavo as well.

    To me I wanna see if Brazil and remain consistent defensively. If they can do that it adds an element that Brazil isn't exactly known for. Brazil at their peak wasn't great defensively...They just overpowered you offensively...

    I think by the time 2018 rolls around Alex Sandro is their starting RB, Casemiro is in the midfield...Rafinha could start and I think Felipe Anderson's Serie A performance earns him a spot.

    If Brazil beats Uruguay they will probably take over the #1 world ranking... It will be the first time in over 7-8 years they have been ranked #1.
     
  20. Milan05

    Milan05 Member

    Dec 2, 2015
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Why is Allan from Napoli constantly ignored? He is an excellent defensive midfielder and it baffles me to why he's never even called up.

    He should surely be ahead of Lucas Leiva in the pecking order.
     
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  21. Kaka10725

    Kaka10725 Member+

    Jun 1, 2007
    Lucas Leiva is nowhere near the national team at the moment. Rafinha isn't either.
     
  22. HomokHarcos

    HomokHarcos Member+

    Jul 2, 2014
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think Germany, France and Brazil will enter Russia as the main favourites.
     
  23. Milan05

    Milan05 Member

    Dec 2, 2015
    Club:
    AC Milan
    France in 2018 are going to be incredibly strong

    [​IMG]
     
  24. Gustavo Fonseca

    Jul 10, 2014
    Club:
    Gremio Porto Alegre
    I think Brasil is back in the game! With Tite as coach the team has acquired much more confidence and morale. The players are visibly much more happier and motivated. Since Tite took over the job the team won all six games in the Qualifiers for Russia and allowed only one goal. I think Brasil is the favorite.
     
  25. GunnerMan8705

    GunnerMan8705 Member

    Oct 3, 2016
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Another team that a ton of people are sleeping on in 2018 that I am liking a ton is Italy. They have some studs coming up with incredible potential.

    GK: Donnarumma, Buffon, Perin

    CB: Rugani, Chiellini, Bonucci, Romagnoli, Barzagli, Acerbi, Mandragora, Tonelli

    FullBacks: Florenzi, De Sciglio, Mattiello, Piccini, Conti, Vagnioni, Zappacosta, Darmian

    CM: Verratti, Benassi, Marchisio, Pellegrini, Baselli, Locatelli, Saponara, Jorginho, De Rossi, Bonaventura, Sturaro, Candreva, Bertolacci,

    Forwards/Wingers: Belotti, Insigne, Bernardeschi, Berardi, Gabbiadini, El Shaarawy, Immobile, Balotelli, Orsolini (who looks absolutely filthy), Giovinco, Sansone

    Theres a solid 40 to choose from... Of those 40+ - There are over 25 that are 25-26 or under.

    Where they are old is along the back line, but they have really solid young guys they are starting to work in like Rugani Tonelli and Romagnoli...plus you can afford to have some guys creeping into their 30's at CB...especially if they are of the quality of Bonucci, Chiellini, and Barzagli. They are loaded with CM's and Forwards. Their forwards are full of pace. Veratti can make an argument that he is the best CM in the world right now.
     

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