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World Cup: National Team threads #2

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Savant said:
Kovacic doesn’t really play the same position as Sucic or Majer. Kovacic players deeper than those guys. Not sure they are competing for the same spots but could be wrong.
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They're not one-for-one replacements for Kovacic, but I think they could have a nice trio with either of them complementing Modric & Brozovic.
 
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Pavel Buchnevich said:
Do you think Mouki has a serious chance? He hasn’t once made the German squad yet. Would be a big call to include him for the first time at the World Cup.
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I think he's doing well enough to get invited to the pre-tourney camp...and if he does well enough there, then why not? Musiala didn't debut for the NT until April before the EM, and Poldi didn't debut for the NT until the pre-WM friendlies in 2006.

So if Mouki keeps it up I think he has a good chance at beating out one of Adeyemi, Brandt, or Müller...and I think the last spot will come down to whichever 2 of those 4* attackers hasn't yet claimed a spot behind Musiala, Sane, Havertz, Gnabry, Werner, Nmecha, & Hofmann.

*5 if Reus gets fit in time for the pre-tourney camp.

EDIT:
Having thought about it some more I might just take all four of Mouki, Adeyemi, Brandt, & Müller and leave all of Baku / Knauff / Henrichs behind, unless one of Baku or Knauff has a particularly great pre-tourney camp.

With Flick playing a Kehrer/Klostermann at RB opposite Raum/Gosens; Havertz, Hofmann & Gnabry could cover the RW/RWB spot
 
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luiginb said:
I'd take Jakic, just found out he's one of the most progressive passers in European football this season, plus he's very versatile (played right back in the last Bundesliga match) Don't even know who Moro is.
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To this point; Jakic is playing CB in a back 3 for Frankfurt today
 
Very unfortunate for Sommer likely to miss the World Cup with an injury, but now it looks like Greg Kobel will be the starter for Switzerland.

Would be a huge upgrade for the Swiss, even if you don't want to see players get injured.
 
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Corto said:
Croatia:

Livakovic, Ivusic, Grbic

Juranovic, Stanisic, Gvardiol, Sutalo, Erlic, Sosa, Barisic, Lovren, Vida / Caleta-Car

Brozovic, Modric, Kovacic, Sucic, Vlasic, Majer, Pasalic, Moro/Jakic

Perisic, Kramaric, Petkovic, Livaja, Orsic, Budimir/Musa
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I don't think there will be major surprises though naturally before a big tournament, SN hypes up some Dinamo players (Misic, Ljubicic) to get them on the squad, I also read Dalic is seriously considering Sunjic which would be out of left field.

I'd take Grbic too, especially now he is playing here and there for Atletico but I could see Dalic brining Kalinic for continuity :skeptic: I think Lovren/Vida both make it at the end of the day, not that I agree with it. DCChas barely played this season, was a mess against Austria and I think he might have rubbed the coaching staff the wrong way scheduling his wedding during the June international window (just speculation). Vida will be ok as 5th choice CB and locker-room presence, though I fear Lovren could cause problems if he doesn't play. I'd take Jakic over Moro for versatility reasons, also Moro isn't playing much with Bologna, Mihajlovic of all people leaving probably hurts him. Budimir I think is 99% in, don't see Musa being in the picture until Euro 2024 qualifying, if anything Colak is probably next in line but doubt he makes it either
 
Reading a lot here about injuries. It seems a mid-season World Cup might be levelling the playing field, I wonder if we get a bunch of surprise teams going far.
 
GKJ said:
Reading a lot here about injuries. It seems a mid-season World Cup might be levelling the playing field, I wonder if we get a bunch of surprise teams going far.
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Belgium team/players aren't as good as they were in 2018 anymore, but even so they might actually do better this time. Hazard and Lukaku with lots to prove and have had plenty of rest. If de Bruyne stays healthy and Courtois is in the CL final mode, those rested Belgians are quite capable of having a good sprint for a month. Hazard winning the MVP.
 
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cgf said:
Is Kovacic basically a lock or could he still lose his starting spot to Sucic or Majer?

Also is Ivanusec a NT option for you? I remember there being loose links connecting him to some BuLi clubs I like before he signed his extension this summer; so it would be interesting to see him in Qatar.

...and I'm assuming teenagers like Simic, Beljo, Biuk, Baturina, etc. will be on your U21 or U19 teams, right? Or do any of them have a chance of making it if they shine in the pre-tourney training camp?
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Kovacic is a lock as it allows Modric to play further up the field where he used to play deeper.Neither Majer or Sucic have the press resistance skills of Kovacic or can break the lines like him. Majer or Sucic better in the final third then Kovacic so probably will replace Modric when he retires.
 
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Duchene2MacKinnon said:


@Evilo good news.

Someone needs to start a World Cup thread, it’s also almost time for the influx of football “fans” to invade these parts. Always a good laugh
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The best scenario is he comes back after our first game apparently. Given Varane's injury record and healing ability, I wouldn't bet on it.

cgf said:
Can't wait to debate Mesut's german-ness again.
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Can't wait to debate any black french player being not french.
 
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cgf said:
Is Kovacic basically a lock or could he still lose his starting spot to Sucic or Majer?

Also is Ivanusec a NT option for you? I remember there being loose links connecting him to some BuLi clubs I like before he signed his extension this summer; so it would be interesting to see him in Qatar.

...and I'm assuming teenagers like Simic, Beljo, Biuk, Baturina, etc. will be on your U21 or U19 teams, right? Or do any of them have a chance of making it if they shine in the pre-tourney training camp?
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Kovacic is a lock. He's absolutely world class.
If Brozovic for any reason isn't available, then Kovacic probably moves more central and takes Brozovic's spot and one of Majer (probably) or Sucic (less likely) takes Mateo's spot on the left.

Ivanusec has been rather poor for a while, just that Dinamo players get a massive media push every time they do good in Europe. Right now, he's small, not fast, good on the ball, inconsistent passer and just doesn't make a difference.

Biuk is one of the famous Hajduk prospects IMO - overhyped and doomed to fail.
Beljo hard to say still. Baturina and Simic are definitely talented enough to become serious players, but neither will be invited for the WC, both have a way to go still.
I'm not sure any of them will be invited to the camp.

Last forward spot will be between Colak and Budimir, maybe Musa if he's invited.
And agree with cgf, Jakic definitely is favorite over Moro at this point. (though it's only for the DM spot, he's not gonna get minutes at RB with Juranovic and Stanisic there, nor at CB).

Caleta Car seems to have settled in at Southampton, so he may have a shot to make the team yet.
I would definitely prefer him over Vida, but Dalic might want to take an older guy to backup Gvardiol/Erlic/Sutalo, along with Lovren.
 
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