World Cup 2014 Super Thread copyright warning #1645

Lucas Hood

Spain squad
Goalkeeper: Casillas, de Gea, Reina

Defenders: Ramos, Piqué, Albiol, Javi Martínez, Jordi Alba, Juanfran, Azpilicueta

Midfielders: Koke, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Iniesta, Cesc, Busquets, Cazorla, Mata, Silva

Forwards: Pedro, Villa, Costa, Torres

Agueroooo

Torres ?

Moreno missed the cut so his transfer might be speeded up to whoever he is going to

Dolph Starbeam

Llorente dropped and Torres isn't?

shano_88

No Negredo seems strange.

Corholio

Carvajal is extremely lucky to miss out on that squad. Was easily as good as Juanfran last year.

Talib Fiasco

I think Spain have made a big mistake not taking Navas. There is nobody in that squad that will be able to have such an energetic and alternative way of attacking than Navas. It could cost Spain against a stubborn defence.

Dolph Starbeam

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

I think Spain have made a big mistake not taking Navas. There is nobody in that squad that will be able to have such an energetic and alternative way of attacking than Navas. It could cost Spain against a stubborn defence.

True, always thought he was great off the bench, offers a very different approach being so direct.

eagle eye

The dark horses for the World Cup are Croatia imo, was really impressed by them in the Euros even though they didn't progress past the group stage(two finalists in their group). I think they are stronger than they were at that tournament and they are an experienced squad now too.

shamrock55

Belgium are gonna win the world cup

eagle eye

Corholio wrote: »

Carvajal is extremely lucky to miss out on that squad. Was easily as good as Juanfran last year.

Juanfran was outstanding all year long, even played on the left for a few games due to injuries and was excellent.

Carvajal had a very good season but nowhere near the standard that Juanfran was at.

eagle eye

shamrock55 wrote: »

Belgium are gonna win the world cup

I think they are too young and inexperienced, a developing squad that will be a serious threat in 2018 imo.

dreamers75

eagle eye wrote: »

The dark horses for the World Cup are Croatia imo, was really impressed by them in the Euros even though they didn't progress past the group stage(two finalists in their group). I think they are stronger than they were at that tournament and they are an experienced squad now too.

I think they will beat Brazil in the opener.

Smithwicks Man

dreamers75 wrote: »

I think they will beat Brazil in the opener.

11/1 is serious odds

Corholio

eagle eye wrote: »

Juanfran was outstanding all year long, even played on the left for a few games due to injuries and was excellent.

Carvajal had a very good season but nowhere near the standard that Juanfran was at.

I definitely disagree. Carvajal was an inspired signing and was probably Real's most consistent performer along with Modric. Juanfran had a great season of course, but to say Carvajal was nowhere near the standard is ridiculous.

I think the 'fairytale' story with Atletico and 'big bad' Real can affect peoples view on players. Carvajal was one of the best right backs in Europe last year.

TimeToShine

dreamers75 wrote: »

I think they will beat Brazil in the opener.

The country would go into meltdown if that happened! Probably best for all involved if Brazil got to the semi finals.

Lucas Hood

Croatia will miss Mandzukic in the opener big time.

mike65

England band banned - yipee!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10867067/World-Cup-2014-Englands-Three-Lions-supporters-band-likely-to-miss-out-on-as-organisers-refuse-to-let-them-play.html

The England Band’s run of playing at every World Cup since 1998 appears to be over after the Football Association failed to convince World Cup organisers to lift a ban on instruments at this summer’s matches.

Members of the Three Lions’ official supporters’ band had been hoping to gain an exemption from the prohibition that has been placed on all musical instruments inside stadiums in Brazil.

However, Telegraph Sport has learnt that, despite representations from the FA to Fifa, the Sheffield-based brass band has been refused permission to play at England games, ending its run of major tournaments in which the country has featured dating back to France 98.

There are likely to be few tears shed over the ban amid what appears the growing unpopularity of the England Band in recent years. Indeed, when news first emerged in December that it was facing being unable to play at the country’s matches in Brazil, the social-media reaction was overwhelmingly positive.

:pac:

Neeson

So we won't have to listen to the Great Escape then?

mike65

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10868179/World-Cup-2014-Comedian-Simon-Brodkin-tries-to-gatecrash-England-squads-departure.html

Simon Brodkin aka Lee Nelson and Jason Bent mingled with players while dressed as a memeber of the squad at Luton Airport

ArmaniJeanss

"And don't forget thats a game you can see exclusively live only with us here only on the BBC exclusively live on the 14th June. Set the date in your diary".

Has to be one of the more annoying bits of advertising from both BBC & ITV, something which they harp on about from early January. Seriously everyone in the UK that knows 50% of the games are on each station - they will switch on one station at match time, if its not there they will immediately switch to the other station to find the match.

greendom

Ribery has an injury and he won't be going to Brazil

eh i dunno

greendom wrote: »

Ribery has an injury and he won't be going to Brazil

Destro + Rossi out too...some amount of players missing thru injury

greendom

greendom wrote: »

Ribery has an injury and he won't be going to Brazil

May have been a little hasty. L'Équipe reported it but other reports state that a desision hasn't been made yet.

Turtyturd

Always thought the bands added to the atmosphere but I suppose something had to be done after the vevuzalas.

Neeson

I despise that great escape drone. It's absolutely dusgusting.

seligehgit

Neeson wrote: »

I despise that great escape drone. It's absolutely dusgusting.

Seemed to be the only tune they played,ridiculously repetitive.

RED L4 0TH

seligehgit wrote: »

Seemed to be the only tune they played,ridiculously repetitive.

Reminds me of the fund raising event Fr Ted had to get the roof fixed.......

Headshot

Löw is going to be the downfall of Germany

DubDani

Headshot wrote: »

Löw is going to be the downfall of Germany

Wouldn't read too much into it yet. They only returned yesterday evening from their Trainingscamp, where they had 3 Units a day. They also are notorious for looking slightly dodgy in the last 2 games before any tournament. Biggest problem for them is Ozil, who looks completely off the pace.

This weekend Italy, France, Germany, Portugal & Russia all failed to win their test games. Most of them were probably just testing the last few players with doubts before having to announce their squads tomorrow, resting players with slight injuries etc.

764dak

DubDani wrote: »

Wouldn't read too much into it yet. They only returned yesterday evening from their Trainingscamp, where they had 3 Units a day. They also are notorious for looking slightly dodgy in the last 2 games before any tournament. Biggest problem for them is Ozil, who looks completely off the pace.

This weekend Italy, France, Germany, Portugal & Russia all failed to win their test games. Most of them were probably just testing the last few players with doubts before having to announce their squads tomorrow, resting players with slight injuries etc.

Typical excuses always used for European teams. Same excuses used for France, Italy, Serbia etc. before the last World Cup.

Paully D

This picture certainly struck a chord

Seaneh

eh i dunno wrote: »

Destro + Rossi out too...some amount of players missing thru injury

Those two aren't injured though, just didn't make the cut, stunned about Rossi. I can't believe they took Immoble ahead of him but maybe Prandelli thought he needed someone to lead the front line in case Mario gets injured.
Immoble isn't exactly the tallest but he's good in the air and very strong.


Italy squad:
Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Perin (Genoa), Sirigu (Paris St. Germain);

Defenders: Abate (Milan), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Darmian (Torino), De Sciglio (Milan), Paletta (Parma);

Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Thiago Motta (Paris St. Germain), Parolo (Parma), Pirlo (Juventus), Verratti (Paris St. Germain);

Forwards: Balotelli (Milan), Cassano (Parma), Cerci (Torino), Immobile (Torino), Insigne (Napoli).

kfallon

What time is the cut off for the squad announcements today?

klose

I think sirigu, motta and veratti are only the 4th, 5th and 6th players to not be playing for an italian club whilst going to the world cup for italy. That psg effect

Dolph Starbeam

klose wrote: »

I think sirigu, motta and veratti are only the 4th, 5th and 6th players to not be playing for an italian club whilst going to the world cup for italy. That psg effect

Thats a bit mad. How many English players have played World Cups while not playing for an English club?

CrabieCrawford

YayaBanana wrote: »

Thats a bit mad. How many English players have played World Cups while not playing for an English club?

Hargreaves and Beckham are the only ones from recent years that I can think of. And Forester of Celtic this time

Skylinehead

YayaBanana wrote: »

Thats a bit mad. How many English players have played World Cups while not playing for an English club?

Chris Waddle was at Marseille in 1990.

Morzadec

Disappointing that Rossi didn't make the cut. He's a superb goalscorer and a player who I fancied one day could have a big World Cup and score a lot of goals.

I'm surprised they didn't bring him as I think you can afford one risk in your striking options, and he could easily have been one that wuold pay off.

A lesson in not betting until squads are confrimed as I throw a couple of euro on him at 80/1 last week

kfallon

YayaBanana wrote: »

Thats a bit mad. How many English players have played World Cups while not playing for an English club?

CrabieCrawford wrote: »

Hargreaves and Beckham are the only ones from recent years that I can think of. And Forester of Celtic this time

Skylinehead wrote: »

Chris Waddle was at Marseille in 1990.

Terry Butcher, Chris Woods, Gary Stevens, Trevor Steven were all with Rangers in '90
Possibly Ray Wilkins and Trevor Francis too in 86 and 82

kfallon

Were Tony Woodcock and Mark Hateley in WC Squads when playing abroad?

CrabieCrawford

Morzadec wrote: »

A lesson in not betting until squads are confrimed as I throw a couple of euro on him at 80/1 last week

Will that not be voided?

roanoke

England player at WC from non-English clubs

1962
Gerry Hitchens Italy Internazionale Milano F.C.

1982
Tony Woodcock West Germany FC Köln

1986
Ray Wilkins Italy Milan
Mark Hateley Italy Milan

1990
Gary Stevens Scotland Rangers
Terry Butcher Scotland Rangers
Chris Waddle France Marseille
Chris Woods Scotland Rangers
Trevor Steven Scotland Rangers

2002
Owen Hargreaves Germany Bayern Munich

2006
David Beckham (c) Spain Real Madrid
Owen Hargreaves Germany Bayern Munich


Interestingly Rep. Ireland is on the other end of the spectrum. It's the only country to have never brought a domestic player to the finals.

weldoninhio

Seaneh wrote: »

Those two aren't injured though, just didn't make the cut, stunned about Rossi. I can't believe they took Immoble ahead of him but maybe Prandelli thought he needed someone to lead the front line in case Mario gets injured.
Immoble isn't exactly the tallest but he's good in the air and very strong.


Italy squad:
Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Perin (Genoa), Sirigu (Paris St. Germain);

Defenders: Abate (Milan), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Darmian (Torino), De Sciglio (Milan), Paletta (Parma);

Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Thiago Motta (Paris St. Germain), Parolo (Parma), Pirlo (Juventus), Verratti (Paris St. Germain);

Forwards: Balotelli (Milan), Cassano (Parma), Cerci (Torino), Immobile (Torino), Insigne (Napoli).

You're stunned that Prandelli is taking the Serie A top goal scorer over a guy who's been injured for most of the season???

Liamalone

kfallon wrote: »

What time is the cut off for the squad announcements today?

11pm deadline for registration.

Gringo180

weldoninhio wrote: »

You're stunned that Prandelli is taking the Serie A top goal scorer over a guy who's been injured for most of the season???

Was just about to post the same thing, I think hes a nice each way bet for top goal scorer at 80/1.

klose

Germany and leow have cut schmelzer, volland and mustafi so their squad looks like this

GKS
Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover)

Defenders
Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Grosskreuzt (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (FC Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal)

Midfielders
Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich),

Strikers
Miroslav Klose (Lazio

Mah man klose is the only recognised striker going but there is of course a host of wide/attackng mids who could also play there and assumably will. They've thrown a bit of a curve ball with regards to lb, durm naturally plays there but he is young enough and inexperienced, jack of all trades Grosskreuzt can also play there, lahm too athough it means playing boateng at right back.

Seaneh

weldoninhio wrote: »

You're stunned that Prandelli is taking the Serie A top goal scorer over a guy who's been injured for most of the season???

Despite his goalscoring this season I really don't think Ciro is a top level striker I've been watching him play for 6 years not and nothing he's done has convinced me otherwise, if he moves to Dortmund I can't see him being first choice striker. He's good, but he's not great. Rossi is a much, much better player and if he's fit I'd pick him every time.

x43r0

klose wrote: »

Midfielders
Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich),

That midfield is an embarrassment of riches

Seaneh

Gringo180 wrote: »

Was just about to post the same thing, I think hes a nice each way bet for top goal scorer at 80/1.

He won't start, how will he be top scorer?

Seaneh

klose wrote: »

GKS
Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover)

Defenders
Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Grosskreuzt (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (FC Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal)

Midfielders
Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich),

Strikers
Miroslav Klose (Lazio

Few of those could be moved from one area to another.

Ginter could be in with the defenders and Podolski, Rues and Muller could all be listed as strikers.

Crazy strong squad.

Anyone wanna predict a starting XI?