World Cup: National Team threads #2

[Rob]

lol Conmebol is proposing a 64 team World Cup

Heck no. The quality of football in the group stages is going to be bad enough with 48 teams.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Heck no. The quality of football in the group stages is going to be bad enough with 48 teams.

It’s gonna happen

 

[cgf]

It’s gonna happen

Hopefully they expand rosters again so top teams can rotate more in the group stage.

 

[luiginb]

It's futsal but it's still a nice gesture in the face of UEFA's stupidity

Before the UEFA Futsal EURO 2026 qualifying match between Romania and Ukraine, held in Poland, the Romanian team defied UEFA's directive by observing a moment of silence to honor the victims of a recent Russian attack in Sumy, Ukraine.

Despite UEFA's firm refusal to permit a minute of silence, the Romanian players, led by forward Darius Nastai, initiated an impromptu tribute. As soon as the referee signaled the start of the game, Nastai stopped the ball at the center circle, and all players, along with coaches and spectators, stood motionless in silence. The official game clock was halted at 13 seconds, and an explanatory message was read over the public address system.

On Palm Sunday, Russian rockets hit the city of Sumy directly, where more than 30 civilians were killed, many of them children (in addition to over 100 injured).

It was the second major bombing in April, after the one in Kryvyi Rih, where 19 people lost their lives, including nine children

This act of solidarity by the Romanian team was widely praised, especially in light of UEFA's initial prohibition of the tribute.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Maor

 

[cgf]

Maor

I'm never going to get to enjoy a WM

Was gunna go down to Brazil until things got very sketchy with the company we were working with down there. Could've gone to Russia and would've probably gotten insane seats from my father's low-level oligarch friends, but didn't want to support that tourney and was furious with Low. Was never gunna go to the Qatari world cup in the middle of winter, and now if Germany plays in mexico or canada, I won't be able to go or cheeto will revoke my greencard & send me to el salvador *sigh*

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Lmao Brazil

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Perez does not want to pay an exit fee.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Perez does not want to pay an exit fee.

Or is that what Carlo telling everyone so he can make bank in Saudi?

 

[koyvoo]

Perez does not want to pay an exit fee.

Carlo should say “fine, I’ll stay on then”.

They’d pay the exit fee in no time.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Or is that what Carlo telling everyone so he can make bank in Saudi?

Maybe.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Barco back and it’s well deserved. Still some notable omissions since these games are meaningless

 

[ahmedou]

UEFA: "First organisational meeting (Friday May 16th 2025) for men's Finalissima between Argentina and Spain. The final match will be played between the champion teams of the past editions of the CONMEBOL Copa América (Argentina) and the UEFA EURO (Spain). More details on the organisation of the match will be announced in due course.''

 

[Savi]

After losing a couple of double nationality players recently, Belgium have now convinced Portuguese left-back Diego Moreira to join the NT. He mostly played for the Portugal national youth teams even though he was born in Belgium.

He's only 20 but he played 32 games for Strasbourg in L1 this season

 

[Evilo]

Cherki called up for the NT.
DD will have Cherki, Doue, Barcola, Thuram, Dembele, Olise, Kolo and Mbappe to choose from.
Insane.

 

[ahmedou]

France midfield doens't make dream. Like before. They gotta find new talents in that position.

France wingers is so full tho.

 

[Evilo]

France midfield doens't make dream. Like before. They gotta find new talents in that position.

France wingers is so full tho.

Camavinga is injured. We still have Tchouameni, Kone, Rabiot, Zaire Emery, etc...

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Scaloni deserves a statue never would i ever have thought we’d be blessed like this. Never gonnna take it for granted and just enjoying the ride.

 

[Power Man]

I hate Petkovic sometimes


Like, wtf ….

 

[cgf]

UEFA: "First organisational meeting (Friday May 16th 2025) for men's Finalissima between Argentina and Spain. The final match will be played between the champion teams of the past editions of the CONMEBOL Copa América (Argentina) and the UEFA EURO (Spain). More details on the organisation of the match will be announced in due course.''

So an even more empty version of the confed cup, wonderful.

 

[cgf]

No Musiala, Havertz, Kleindienst, Stiller, Rüdiger, Schlotterbeck, Thiaw, or Chabot, but I'm still excited for the NL semifinals this week. Wirtz is always worth watching and with Füllkrug/Woltemade & Undav/Burkardt we have quality forwards for him to work with.

Curious to see how Nagelsmann lines them up. Do we play a front 4 or just a 3? Do we roll with 3 CBs to compensate for the absences around Tah? Do we play a midfield trio rather than a double pivot? For me, these 10 spots would be givens:

FW: Füllkrug/Woltemade
FW: Undav/Burkardt
AM: Wirtz

DM: Pavlovic
DM: Nmecha/Andrich

LB: Mittelstädt/Raum/Gosens
RB: Kimmich
CB: Tah
CB: Anton/Koch

GK: Baumann/ter Stegen

 

[cgf]

Burkardt is the next to drop out due too injury.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Stark family vibes.

 

[cgf]

I know that feel, we're an injured RB and 6 away from having a pretty strong starting 11 not even part of the squad for the NL semi ...hell you could play 4 CBs and promote Jeltsch from the U21s to play the 6:

Kleindienst
Burkardt - Musiala - Havertz
Stiller - Jeltsch
Schlotterbeck - Rüdiger - Chabot/Bisseck - Thiaw​

 

[Bures Elbow]

Great news.

Reports out of Portugal indicate unless Martinez wins Nations League he's gone. Considering the last time we beat Germany was when Sergio Conceicao scored a hattrick in Euro 2000 vs them...I'm not holding my breath. Playing Germany, whose always owned us the previous 2 decades, in Germany, doesn't bode well.

Jorge Jesus or Mourinho ready to take over.

Yes this isn't the Jorge Jesus from 2009-2020 for Benfica/Flamengo etc, or Mourinho in his prime...but both are massive upgrades and would give us a real chance to take advantage of our talent right now and challenge for the World Cup...hard say if we'll have a better squad than this in 4 years.

Well maybe...we won the U17 euros last week beating France in the final (first time we EVER beat them at this age group). Great team with some great talents to add to Rodrigo Mora and Quenda.

Hopefully they continue to improve.