FIFA Confederation Cup 2013

[beats1]

As I argued at the beginning of the thread, Brazil are most definitely in contention to win this tournament and as I said before to people who said I was wrong, they will click together and when it happens they will be up there. Also this team is incredibly young and from now to next year they have time to improve that first 11. Looking at some of the guys that missed out today for some reason or another, they do have room to improve:

Leandro - If he comes to the PL and takes it by storm, he could potentially improve the striker option

Lucas Moura - Will have his first full season at PSG and is better than Hulk

Sandro - I don't need to say, if him and Paulinho make a strong partnership for us, he will improve them, we could potentially give Brazil their strongest midfield pairing in a long time

Ramires - very good player but may miss out if Sandro has anything to do about it

Dante - Could get even better under Pep, which considering he was the best CB is interesting to see how it will develop

Bernard - looks good and will be decent off the bench, not as good as the other two

Costa - Potentially huge season for him, will interesting how it works out with Negredo

Than the current 11 look like they may become even better, with the likes of Paulinho, Neymar and Oscar all likely to improve

 

[beats1]

As for Spain they will still be favourites imo, but they have a stranger problem than everybody else. They have too much quality in most positions and they don't have anyone to replace the glue that keeps them together. I think Xavi is their most important player in their team and Fabregas, was supposed to be the player to replace him but I question his performance in the xavi role tbh. I think Spain should reassess the defence as well. Pique has had his worst season and has been slowly getting worse since meeting shakira

As for their first team I think they should line up like this

Striker​

Villa ------------------- Wideman​

Iniesta Xavi​

Martinez​

Alba Martinez DEF Carvajal​

Casillas​

The striker being from Soldado, Negredo, Villa and Llorente NOT TORRES UNLESS A MIRACLE HAPPENS
The wireman or Widemen being one of Isco, Mata, Silva, Carzola, Pedro and etc.
The Defender being Ramos or Pique, which ever one hasn't lost it

Also I think Xavi would potentially be pushed by Thiago or Fabregas

The Spain players(minus 1 or 2 positions) at the moment did look like complacent with their positions, i.e. they know they are going to play regardless of what happens, look at Torres, how he is international striker atm is beyond me tbh

 

[tobi]

At the World Cup, Navas (or any other direct winger) has to start for Spain, they need someone that has pace and is direct.

I'd also drop Xavi for Thiago, enough with the loyalty/pecking order.

Arbeloa shouldn't be anywhere near the squad, Iker needs to play all season otherwise I'd start De Gea.

Drop Pique too, he's declining fast.

 

[CphCOYS]

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES COCK OUT!

 

[Blaugrana]

Arbeloa is seriously woeful, bodes well for us cules that Neymar well and truly ripped him to shreds in that final, although seems like carvajal will get the nod ahead of him for real, which bodes the question, why on earth does VDB start a RB who will be displaced by the RB who is backup in the u21 NT? Ive said before, the quicker Tito decides to put his faith in Montoya the better for La Roja and Barca.

Theres no need for any major overhaul, A loss to brasil in the maracana 2 days after playing 120 mins is always going to be a tough ask, Useless wasters like Torres need to be shot out of a cannon high into the sky, and if Pedro, Silva don't show some sign of improvement then alternatives need to be looked at. Ramos-Pique is fine as a CB partnership, lets not forget the unbelievable record they've had as a duo, the first 2 and arguably the 3rd were the faults of the full backs, iker didn't have a good game either.

Xavi is still fine until there's a better alternative, he's not what he once was but suggesting raw talents like thiago to start ahead of him is madness at this stage.

At this stage I'd like to see for the WC

Iker
Montoya Pique Ramos Alba
Busquets
Xavi Iniesta
Pedro Cesc Villa