World Cup: National Team threads #2

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Paolo Maldini's son Daniel (22 years, ex-Milan, currently Monza) has been called up into Italy squad for the first time.

If he makes an appearance, there can't be many families in the world, where three generations (grandfather Cesare, Paolo and now Daniel) have been NT players.

Marcos Alonso is not only the third generation to represent Spain. He is the third generation named Marcos Alonso.

 

[gary69]

Marcos Alonso is not only the third generation to represent Spain. He is the third generation named Marcos Alonso.

Should have remembered, as I saw his father play several times (most notably the CL/EC final in 1986 for Barca), although the father wasn't a star like the older Maldinis were. And the Alonso grandfather was part of the great Real Madrid teams of the 1950s.

Wonder if there are any other families like these two?

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Should have remembered, as I saw his father play several times (most notably the CL/EC final in 1986 for Barca), although the father wasn't a star like the older Maldinis were. And the Alonso grandfather was part of the great Real Madrid teams of the 1950s.

Wonder if there are any other families like these two?

The Alonsos cumulatively have, like, 1/6 of Paolo's caps, let alone adding in Cesare (or Cesare's appearances as coach, for crying out loud!). So makes sense that they'd be forgotten!

 

[Power Man]

Shame to lose Maza but I’m not shocked; just like I won’t be if we lose Wanner too. Both are really talented but they’d be in a ~15* man race for 2 attacking spots alongside Musiala & Wirtz.

*Havertz, Undav, Füllkrug, Beier, Moukoko, Kleindienst, Burkardt, Weiper, Moerstedt; Sane, Brandt, Führich, Gnabry, Gruda, Adeyemi, Brunner, Darvich, Bischof, etc.

yeah Germany has good depth

 

[cgf]

yeah Germany has good depth

At least in the front 4. Things get a lot thinner further back

 

[Power Man]

At least in the front 4. Things get a lot thinner further back

lol true

 

[cgf]

lol true

As if to illustrate this point, with Havertz dropping out of next week's international break, JN has called up Jonathan Burkardt. The former U21 NT captain has 12 goals in his last 17 BuLi matches after closing last season with 7 in his final 11 and starting this season with 5 in 6.

I'm a big fan of the kid and so happy that he's back on track after losing a year to knee surgery. He's not an unreal athlete or technician, but like Undav & Müller the kid just understands where to be, how to take his chances, and he's just tenacious.

I was so excited to watch him & Gruda together for Mainz this season...but, despite losing the tiny little magician as a creator for him, Joni is off to a killer start and I can definitely see him clicking very well with the senior NTers.

I'm sure we'll stick with the 4-2-3-1/4-2-4...subbing Burkardt or Kleindienst in for Kai, and Führich, Leweling, or Gnabry for Musiala...but given the roster we ended up with due to the absences, this could be an interesting time to test a 4-3-1-2 or 3-4-1-2:

Undav - Burkardt
Wirtz
Pavlovic - Stiller/Groß
Andrich
Mittelstadt/Raum - Schlotterbeck/Tah - Rüdiger/Tah - Kimmich
Baumann

Undav - Burkardt
Wirtz
Mittelstadt/Raum - Andrich - Pavlovic/Stiller/Groß - Kimmich
Schlotterbeck - Tah - Rüdiger/Anton
Baumann
​

Test the shape against Bosnia and if that goes well see what it looks like against a more talented team.

I feel good about our main shape if Pavlovic (or Stiller) can take over the Kroos role from Groß, but having an option that bolsters us against talented teams who flood the midfield, that the group is comfortable playing, could be very handy.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Acuna dropped from the NT and Soler gets the call up. He’s been immense in Argentina.

With Barco derailing his career, soler can nab that spot.

 

[gary69]

Bans handed out, Darwin Nunez gets 5 games.

Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, 27, has received a four-game ban.

Napoli defender Mathias Olivera, 26, Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, 25, and Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez, 29, have all received three-game bans.

Darwin Nunez: Liverpool forward hit with five-game Uruguay ban

Nunez no longer banned after decision by CAS.

 

[cgf]

Worst group of keepers Germany has ever had in the NT?

Haven't seen Blaswich in Austrian league this season, but he hasn't been good in Europe. Wasn't impressed with him last season either, even when he got an extended run in Leipzig after Gulacsi's injury.

Ortega seems better now, as has got playing time with City too.

So apparently Leno was asked and turned Nagelsmann down. Still weird that Blaswich was called up instead of Ortega, but it makes more sense if it was more of a last second call up for a practice-only role.

 

[PanniniClaus]

So apparently Leno was asked and turned Nagelsmann down. Still weird that Blaswich was called up instead of Ortega, but it makes more sense if it was more of a last second call up for a practice-only role.

I would assume that's the end of Leno being in consideration for a shirt go forward.

 

[cgf]

I would assume that's the end of Leno being in consideration for a shirt go forward.

Probably, with his age & his ego it’s not hard to see ter Stegen, Baumann, & Ortega holding things down until one of our kids is ready…even if I don’t rate Nübel.

But who knows, maybe he’ll age better than his peers and our kids will all fail, opening the door for Leno to come back as a starter in a cycle or two.

 

[cgf]

Koch has also dropped out and will be replaced by Schade. looks like we’ll see:

Führich/Gnabry/Leweling - Kleindienst/Burkardt/Schade - Undav - Wirtz
Groß/Pavlovic/Stiller - Andrich
Mittelstadt/Gosens - Schlotterbeck/Tah - Rüdiger - Kimmich
Baumann​

 

[Evilo]

Hopefully, DD does the same with Mbappe until he has found some kind of form.

 

[cgf]

Hopefully, DD does the same with Mbappe until he has found some kind of form.

You want DD to build an offense with the likes of Olise, Nkunku, Barcola, Doue, Dembele, Tel, Thuram, Kolo Muani, etc,?

That’s just crazy. His only options is for everyone to give the ball to Mbappe and hope that’s enough.

 

[gary69]

Rayan Cherki apparently misses the France U21-matches, although I didn't see confirmation of his injury yet.

Rayan Cherki to undergo medical tests after suffering from hamstring discomfort - Get French Football News