World Cup: National Team threads #2

[cgf]

Solid read:

In the Rain, in the Cold, in the Dark | By Ángel Di María

At times, the negativity and criticism is out of control. It is not healthy. We are all human beings.

www.theplayerstribune.com

 

[PanniniClaus]

Klinsmann gets fired... Did they expect anything different from that hire?

 

[Power Man]

Specific stat is specific

Time to call him, especially if he's a good as his father

 

[BMann]

Solid read:

In the Rain, in the Cold, in the Dark | By Ángel Di María

At times, the negativity and criticism is out of control. It is not healthy. We are all human beings.

www.theplayerstribune.com

Angelito is an absolute legend of Argentine football. He encompasses the technical and flair and trickery that is Argentine wing play from.former greats like Corbatta Houseman and others.

He's right up there with ghe very best in history of Argentine football and has been clutch. I am sure 2014 would have had a different result had he played.

From.firsr seeing him.with that spectacular goal against Chile in the u20 WC in Canada you could see his talent. He'll be hard to replace. I think.persobally he's an.incredibly under rated player. I hope he bows out in style this summer in the US.

Gracias Fideo.

 

[John Price]

Argentina is coming to DC to play a friendly Guatemala. in pre-sale tickets are 120 before fees.



I may still go but that's a f***ing lot.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Wait till the Copa America tickets drop, which is crazy the tournament is four months away and tickets aren't on sale yet, while you could get Euro tickets (at least apply for them) like a year in advance

I did attend a Gold Cup double header in Orlando (during Covid times but FL was still open lol) and I paid $30 for two matches, not bad considering it was your typical Gold Cup group stage teams in question (Costa Rica vs. Suriname and Jamaica vs. *random Caribbean team)

 

[BMann]

Argentina is coming to DC to play a friendly Guatemala. in pre-sale tickets are 120 before fees.



I may still go but that's a f***ing lot.

I wonder if it's CONMEBOL riding the Argentina Messi train for all it's worth. Some utterly ridiculous prices which will price out many genuine fans versus tourists or the Messi fan club.

I just paid £50 to see Finalissima which was just one great party outside Wembley and inside it.

 

[Evilo]

@Power Man
Yacine Adli has come out and declared he wanted to play for France and not Algeria.

 

[Power Man]

@Power Man
Yacine Adli has come out and declared he wanted to play for France and not Algeria.

yeah saw that

He isn't good enough to play for either NT lol

I had completely forgotten about him until I opened Twitter today

 

[Evilo]

I think he could play for either tbh. He's been replaced as 6 and efficient there.

 

[Power Man]

I think he could play for either tbh. He's been replaced as 6 and efficient there.

You think he could play for France?
Just asking because french football is stacked with talent

 

[Evilo]

I think in midfield he has an outside chance to be a depth player/injury callup.
No doubt Tchou, Cama, Rabiot, WZE are way over him.
Then Bouba Kamara, Youssouf Fofana and Adli isn't far from those.

Forgot Guendouzi who is playing well this season.

 

[Power Man]

I think in midfield he has an outside chance to be a depth player/injury callup.
No doubt Tchou, Cama, Rabiot, WZE are way over him.
Then Bouba Kamara, Youssouf Fofana and Adli isn't far from those.

Forgot Guendouzi who is playing well this season.

Ah ok

tbh I haven't watched a lot Milan games this season, so I didn't realize he could play as a 6

 

[luiginb]

@Power Man
Yacine Adli has come out and declared he wanted to play for France and not Algeria.

I'm coming out and declaring I want to play for France and not Algeria too. About the same chances of that happening.

Ah ok

tbh I haven't watched a lot Milan games this season, so I didn't realize he could play as a 6

He's been very good for Milan as a 8, but sucked every time I've seen him as a 6. He's better with a more defensive minded midfielder behind him.

 

[Evilo]

I'm coming out and declaring I want to play for France and not Algeria too. About the same chances of that happening.

I think he would be selected for Algeria so it's definately a gutsy move by him.

 

[Power Man]

I think he would be selected for Algeria so it's definately a gutsy move by him.

We'll be fine without him
(I know fine sonuds wird given our amazing perfornance in the latest afcon)

I'm curious to see if Petkovic will take a closer look at our homegrown players

 

[Evilo]

And here we go again....

https://twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/1765458443329012066?s=20

Maignan starts.
Saliba/Upa/Konate walk right into the lineup instead of Maguire. Arguable over Stones.
Theo or Lucas both easily start at LB
We have an 8, either Tchouameni or Camavinga. And I'd personally pick Tchou over Rice without a blink (so I'd count 2).
Mbappe starts over Foden any day.
That's at least 5 players (6 or 7 in my count), and that's not even taking into account the GULF between a Maguire and a Konate or Mbappe over anybody, etc...

As usual english pundits are being ridiculous in their expectations.

 

[Evilo]

In fact, there are only 3 english players that clearly start for France : Walker, Bellingham and Kane. All the others are arguable (Stones, Rice, Saka) or not even close (Maguire, Foden at LW, whoever starts at LB and GK).

 

[luiginb]

Merson might have had a couple too many again.

Plus Deschamps forgot more football than Southgate's ever known.

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Merson is a moron, it need always be said. My friend texted me today that he had predicted Liverpool over City this weekend saying "aw man, City win at Anfield incoming.*

A joint XI is, to me, likely 50-50.

Mbappe (duh)
Kane (duh)
Saka/Foden (unambiguous to me over all of France's RW options)

Bellingham (duh)
Tchouameni/Cama/Griezmann (any of the three!)
Rice (I would take him and one of the Frenchmen)

Theo (pretty clear to me, if Chilwell were in form it's trickier but he's not!)
Saliba (duh)
Stones (I would say better than both Konate and Upa)
Walker (would be James if he were fit!)

Maignan (indisputable)

Comes down as 6-5 England.

Games also not played on paper, and England played France very close at the 2022 World Cup.

 

[cgf]

Psh, you're both cowards. Try playing without CBs or 6s, like real men. Then maybe the English or French would be able to beat the German NT

All a real NT needs to be scary is Wirtz, Musiala, Sane (or Brandt / Havertz / Müller), Gundogan (or Kroos / Kimmich / Goretzka), and ter Stegen.

 

[cgf]

Anyways Serbia is making a push for Pavlovic. I'm sure he'd get to the senior NT faster, but unlike with the Dardai's, Samardjzic, or even Wanner, I dunno that it would be the best decision for his career. Can & Khedira were excellent last season, but Can's almost 30 already & Rani already is.

Martel is the only young German 6 who's doing well at the senior level. So there's a very realistic path to senior team PT if he sticks with us. Martel is a stud, but he's just one kid, and Pavlovic could have the inside track with the chemistry he already has with Bayern contingent.

 

[Power Man]

In fact, there are only 3 english players that clearly start for France : Walker, Bellingham and Kane. All the others are arguable (Stones, Rice, Saka) or not even close (Maguire, Foden at LW, whoever starts at LB and GK).

Merson is rarely sober tbh

 

[luiginb]

I know it was in a different thread but I'm gonna try my hand at the England team in the correct one. This is if everyone were healthy (lol good luck with that) and the tournament started tomorrow:

Nick Pope (Jordan Pickford)(James Trafford)

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Reece James)
James Tarkowski (Fiyako Tomori)
John Stones (Harry Maguire)
Luke Shaw (Joe Gomez)

Declan Rice (James Garner)
Conor Gallagher (Rico Lewis)

Jude Bellingham (C) (James Maddison)

Phil Foden (Bukayo Saka)
Harry Kane (Ollie Watkins)
Jack Grealish (Dwight McNeil)

extras: Cole Palmer, Kieran Trippier, Solly March


Notes: I know Pope has made some mistakes playing goal for England but I still think he's the better goalkeeper, maybe he got them out of the way.

I think Trent's offensive importance makes up for his less than stellar defense, but starting him means I'd go with a double pivot (have Gallagher play a little more D than he does for Chelsea) and a more defensive left back in Shaw, who can become part of a back 3 if necessary. Gomez over Chillwell because of versatility and the latter's form. Rico Lewis is also there because of versatility and the fact England doesn't have that many defensively capable midfielders. Palmer and March can also slot into multiple positions and play well. No Rashford, I think he's too lazy/inconsistent for what he brings, rather have the workhorses Grealish and McNeil on the left.

I also kept the team more or less free of distractions, so no Walker, Toney, Rashford, Sancho, Greenwood etc

Flame away haha

 

[cgf]

England have some really great attacking talents...Jude, Foden, Saka, Grealish, Kane, etc....but Jogi & that defense still make it hard for me to really fear them; despite what a s***show we've been since the end of qualification for the 2018 WM.

But maybe I'm just under-rating their talent because I don't watch the EPL.