World Cup Squads

[Cavehillspur]

Where is Soldado?

I know he's about the only striker not listed. Disappointing.

 

[chrissivad]

I think even if he'd stayed at Valencia he would have missed out. Costa, Torres, Negredo, and Llorente are just better than him.

He would have had to had an amazing season, and for a team that hasnt always play with a striker... thats a crazy amount of talent to pick from

 

[chrissivad]

Our trio have made the Belgium squad

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (Hoffenheim), Silvio Proto (Anderlecht)

Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid), Anthony Vanden Borre (Anderlecht), Laurent Ciman (Standard Liege), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit)

Midfielders: Axel Witsel (Zenit), Steven Defour, Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Nacer Chadli (Tottenham), Moussa Dembele (Tottenham), Kevin De Bruyne (Wolfsburg), Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United), Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Forwards: Dries Mertens (Napoli), Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea), Divock Origi (Lille)

 

[beats1]

Our trio have made the Belgium squad

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (Hoffenheim), Silvio Proto (Anderlecht)

Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid), Anthony Vanden Borre (Anderlecht), Laurent Ciman (Standard Liege), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit)

Midfielders: Axel Witsel (Zenit), Steven Defour, Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Nacer Chadli (Tottenham), Moussa Dembele (Tottenham), Kevin De Bruyne (Wolfsburg), Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United), Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Forwards: Dries Mertens (Napoli), Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea), Divock Origi (Lille)

Origi over Batshuayi, surprised at that. Be interesting whether Dembele starts but the other two should

 

[nightgoat]

That's a pretty handy squad Belgium have.

 

[WalkerboyUK]

That's a pretty handy squad Belgium have.

But can they put it into a team performance. Lots of very, VERY good individuals there and if they work together, who knows.....

 

[kishman]

Postiga in the Portugal squad. Appearing in his 5th major tournament for his country.

 

[Partizan]

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Perin (Genoa), Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain), *Mirante (Parma)

Defenders: Abate (Milan), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Darmian (Torino), De Sciglio (Milan), Maggio (Napoli), Paletta (Parma), Pasqual (Fiorentina), Ranocchia (Inter)

Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Motta (Paris Saint Germain), Parolo (Parma), Pirlo (Juventus), Romulo (Verona), Verratti (Paris Saint Germain)

Forwards: Balotelli (Milan), Cassano (Parma), Cerci (Torino), Destro (Roma), Immobile (Torino), Insigne (Napoli), Rossi (Fiorentina).

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Where is Soldado?

Doesn't deserve to be anywhere near Spain's World Cup squad.

Sad but true.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Cesare Prandelli's squad is here.

Mirante's asterisk is because he is solely injury cover.

Brazilian-born Romulo is a surprise inclusion but Guiseppe Rossi and Emmanuele Giaccherini OUT.

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Perin (Genoa), Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain), *Mirante (Parma)

Defenders: Abate (Milan), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Darmian (Torino), De Sciglio (Milan), Maggio (Napoli), Paletta (Parma), Pasqual (Fiorentina), Ranocchia (Inter)

Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Motta (Paris Saint Germain), Parolo (Parma), Pirlo (Juventus), Romulo (Verona), Verratti (Paris Saint Germain)

Forwards: Balotelli (Milan), Cassano (Parma), Cerci (Torino), Destro (Roma), Immobile (Torino), Insigne (Napoli), Rossi (Fiorentina).

Rossi is there...

 

[Partizan]

Rossi is there...

Yeah, I copied that from themirror.co.uk and they got that bit wrong.

Rossi is in the squad

 

[Syn_13]

Spain Squad looks handy....lol

https://twitter.com/TSBible/status/466172534191579136/photo/1/large

If Torres gets the nod over Llorente I'll go spare. The guy has been brilliant for Juve and would provide something a little different for Spain. Although I'd understand if they took Negredo to do that job as he has a little more about his general play than Llorente. Either way, Torres should not be in that squad.

 

[Partizan]

Deschamps hasn't given his list yet, but it seems all but certain that Nasri will be excluded from the squad. He's apparently seen as a bad influence for the dressing room

 

[Syn_13]

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Perin (Genoa), Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain), *Mirante (Parma)

Defenders: Abate (Milan), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Darmian (Torino), De Sciglio (Milan), Maggio (Napoli), Paletta (Parma), Pasqual (Fiorentina), Ranocchia (Inter)

Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Motta (Paris Saint Germain), Parolo (Parma), Pirlo (Juventus), Romulo (Verona), Verratti (Paris Saint Germain)

Forwards: Balotelli (Milan), Cassano (Parma), Cerci (Torino), Destro (Roma), Immobile (Torino), Insigne (Napoli), Rossi (Fiorentina).

Pretty happy with that squad. So glad he didn't call Gilardino up, he's a waste of space in an Italy shirt. Diamanti made a big mistake going to China. I'd have had him over Cerci normally, but he's been out of the spotlight. Not a big fan of Cerci for Italy. He's great for Torino, but underwhelms for Italy. I think Prandelli likes him and he gives us width up top.

Immobile is top scorer in Italy and has been on fire. To be honest, I'd have like to have seen Berardi given a call up over Destro or Cassano, although Cassano has done well at Parma. Don't think he'll make the cut though.

In the end I think the final 23 will look like this:

GK: Buffon, Sirigu, Perin
Defenders: Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli, Paletta, Abate, De Sciglio, Maggio, Pasqual
Midfielders: Pirlo, De Rossi, Marchisio, Montolivo, Thiago Motta, Candreva, Verratti
Forwards: Balotelli, Rossi, Immobile, Insigne, Cerci

 

[beats1]

Balotelli
Insigne ------------- Rossi
Marchisio Pirlo
De Rossi
Criscito Chellini Bonnuci Abate
Buffon
​

Thats a nice little team, not to be underestimated, the italians can turn it on, on the day

 

[Syn_13]

Balotelli
Insigne ------------- Rossi
Marchisio Pirlo
De Rossi
Criscito Chellini Bonnuci Abate
Buffon
​

Thats a nice little team, not to be underestimated, the italians can turn it on, on the day

Don't know where you got Criscito from.

Edit: Also, Prandelli may go for a 4-4-2 with a sort of 4 central mid diamond thing going on. He likes to do that often with Italy. He tends to prefer Motta over Marchisio, so I think he'll start, and instead of Insigne out wide he may bring Montolivo in as the attacking mid in the 4-4-2.

 

[beats1]

Don't know where you got Criscito from.

Oh bollocks, Is he injured and no Balzaretti?

De Sciglio or Pasqual at left back?

 

[Syn_13]

Oh bollocks, Is he injured and no Balzaretti?

De Sciglio or Pasqual at left back?

I'm not sure if he's injured, don't follow him since he's been at Zenit. I don't rate him much anyway, isn't good enough when getting forward. Balzaretti is injured. Pasqual's had a really good season but I reckon it'll be De Sciglio (who has also been injured but will be back soon) as the first choice. Really like him.

Another option Prandelli has used before is the 3-5-2. We dominated Spain with it at the Confederations Cup and if we meet them again we should definitely use it. Maggio was MotM, had Alba in his pocket all game.

Buffon
Barzagli Bonucci Chiellini
Abate----------------------De Sciglio
Pirlo
De Rossi----Thiago Motta
Balotelli Rossi​

Juve's back 3 partnership has been outstanding and Abate (or Maggio) and De Sciglio will run all day long down those flanks.

 

[Partizan]

FRANCE

Goalkeepers: Lloris, Landreau, Mandanda.

Defenders: Debuchy, Sagna, Koscielny, Sakho, Varane, Mangala, Digne, Evra.

Midfielders: Cabaye, Grenier, Matuidi, Mavuba, Pogba, M. Sissoko, Valbuena

Forwards: Benzema, Giroud, Griezmann, Rémy, Ribéry

The reserve list includes Schneiderlin, Remy Cabella, Gonalons, Lacazette, Perrin, Ruffier and Tremoulinas

 

[tototoner]

Oranje

Goalkeepers: Krul, Cillessen, Vorm, Zoet


Defenders: Verhaegh, Van Aanholt, Rekik, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Kongolo, Blind, Veltman, Vlaar, Janmaat

Midfielders: Sneijder, Fer, Nigel de Jong, Clasie, De Guzman, Van der Vaart, Vilhena, Wijnaldum

Attackers: Depay, Boetius, Lens, Van Persie, Kuyt, Huntelaar, Promes, Robben