2026 World Cup

Your right and he might replace Carlos Cuesta.

 

The idea of James, Villa and Duran frightens me because of their egos. I really don't want to see a France 2002 implosion in the locker room.

 

I am not as concerned about Villa as others are. I think he will just be relieved and happy and grateful to be on the roster after all of his off the field stuff the last few years (self-inflicted of course).
But the competition is fierce with Gomez, Carbonero and Campaz.

Duran has mostly behaved for Lorenzo but yes he is very volatile. Which is why I am already conceding he might not be on the roster. In which case I hope Cucho makes it. (Which is also doubtful.)

 

i'm not a sports psychologist, but from all the things i've heard about Villa the past couple of months, he seems like he's been on good behavior or wouldn't have even made the 55-list. he's the captain of his club team and plays pretty much 90 minutes every week. to me that speaks volumes of him and it shows the growth of someone who when he was at Boca, had a number of incidents that lacked maturity (i think there was a barbershop incident, and i specificially remember seeing a near riot ensue inside the stadium when he was throwing around fixtures with other people around).

if i were a wagering person, i would bet that Villa would value a world cup call up over someone like Duran who just comes across as lacking maturity on and off the field. Villa would be more likely to know his place in the pecking order in 2026 vs 2022 where he was more volatile...

 

He definitely has that Speed we need on the right wing.

 

The only thing that I am truly going to be baffled by is if Castaño makes the squad. If he makes it over Solis, Portilla or even Barrios I will be shaking my head.
There's really no logical reason he should be called when he has basically sat on the bench or not even made it to the bench in most of River's matches this year.

 

France 2002 was not that bad if you compare that to USA 94... It was mostly el Tino being el Tino...

 

Tino still Tino too. Man will never change.

 

France 2010 was much worse

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37396592/france-proves-turned-page-woeful-2010-world-cup

 

because it's quiet at work today, i just looked up on futmob the number of appearances and minutes played for James, Castano, Duran and Yaser....

* James has 400 minutes of playing time in 2026
* Castano has 164 minutes of playing time in 2026
* Duran has 700 minutes of playing time in 2026
* Yaser has 351 minutes of playing time in 2026 (was injured and surplus for Galatasary)
* Rios (for refence) has 1,355 minutes of playing time in 2026

Since the final 2 WCQ games
* James has 1,343 minutes (14.9 full games worth) of playing time over 23 appearances for club/country

* Castano has has 1,129 minutes (12.5 full games worth) of playing time over 21 appearances for club/country

* Duran has 1,121 minutes (12.5 full games worth) of playing time over 24 appearances for club only

* Yaser has 1,094 minutes (12 full games worth) of playing time over 26 appearances for club and country

* Rios has 3,206 minutes (35.6 full games worth) of playing time over 42 appearances for club and country

since we have been very diligent in tracking James' appearances the past 6+ months, you know it's bad when you have been playing less than James Rodriguez...

 

I was talking specificlly about Colombia, besides you said France 2002, so I assumed that you referred to Tino's shenanigans and Bolillo's pusillanimity..

 

How's Lerma's minutes look in this time frame? He doesn't really start for Palace. Seems like one of their first substitutes. I'm thinking most of his minutes have come with the national team this past year.

 

of 2,266 minutes across 45 matches in all competitions for Crystal Palace F.C..

 

Lerma has started in a lot of CP games about 17. and the others as a sub

 

thanks for the info. I'm guessing a lot of his minutes came in '25. He seemed to play less and less as the season went on. I'm not sure about his minutes playing in the Conference League.

 

to your point, in 2026, Lerma has averaged about 45 minutes a game over his last ten appearances for club/country. His first 10 appearances in 2026 he was putting in 75 minutes a game. In any case, i wouldn't consider Lerma a match fitness concern like the other names mentioned.

 

I always thought the timing is awkward. Clubs need the players and this World Cup starts in 3 weeks. FIFA did nothing to for these players.