World Cup Squads

[Mazuuurk]

Any player doing amazing things and fighting on the pitch can be inspiring to the team of course. But when it's your captain, it's extra inspiring.

Being captain carries a significance like that, which phonics is trying to claim doesn't exists. It is for sure in the mind of players, but also the crowd seeing what the team captain is doing can help spur them on.

[phonics]

Any player doing amazing things and fighting on the pitch can be inspiring to the team of course. But when it's your captain, it's extra inspiring.

Do you genuinely believe that? How much extra inspiration is it? 5%? 10%? Is this what causes players to perform at the mythical 110% I've heard so much about?

[Spikey M]

I’m sure it’s quantifiable in that way, isn’t it? Have a day off Phonics, your fanny has been bleeding for atleast 2 weeks now.

[bruhnaldo]

phonics have you not played team sports before? serious q not trying to be a dick.

[Mazuuurk]

Of course you can't "measure" it. What makes a player run a little more some games and a little less other games? Having had a proper nighs sleep, a motivating managerial speech, promise of a blowjob from the missus if you win, win bonuses, good crowd turnup...

Of course having a strong and inspiring captain is one of the components on that list, that can make a player or a whole team up his perfomance a bit.
Like I said, the duty of being captain most likely often stretches beyond the pitch, rallying the team before they go on etc, being more exposed to media as well... All those responsibilities will affect the rest of the team a little more because it's the captain, but so will their pitch performance and presence.

[SincereTheRebel]

Rabiot has supposedly refused to be on standby for France

http://www.sportbible.com/football/news-reactions-why-adrien-rabiot-is-straight-up-refusing-to-join-frances-wc-squad-20180523

[Mazuuurk]

How Francais of him.

[Giggles]

phonics have you not played team sports before? serious q not trying to be a dick.

I don't think he's ever watched anything other than arsenal fan TV or Twitter.

[Panda Bear]

I don't think that I have ever felt extra inspiration from a captain.

[phonics]

I don't think that I have ever felt extra inspiration from a captain.

You've clearly never even watched sport let alone participate in it then.

[Pepe]

I'm on the team captained by phonics on this one. Truly inspirational figure.

[igor_balis]

captaincy can mean something to some players, and mean fuck all to others. it varies across footballing cultures and contexts generally. to say it never means anything ever is obvz bollocks but its importance is definitely over-stated by some. i definitely lean towards it not really mattering, and agree with the sentiment that the inspirational leadership stuff would come through regardless of whether they had the armband or not, but there obviously must have been a few galvanised by it.

[igor_balis]

though Maz certainly wouldn't have made captain of the READING COMPREHENSION squad based on this thread!!!

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's too far you prick.

[Disco]

though Maz certainly wouldn't have made captain of the READING COMPREHENSION squad based on this thread!!!

He doesn't even live there for a start.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:D

I like that.

[Mazuuurk]

^^

[bruhnaldo]

You've clearly never even watched sport let alone participate in it then.

What I mean is usually the captain has certain responsibilities during the entire gameweek, not just during the actual game.

Dismissing their potential influence because you can't see or quantify it isn't exactly fair.

A player could be inspired because the captain will always make sure everyone does their training reps to the fullest, and when said player is struggling to keep going because of fatigue, remembers the captain holding everyone accountable and uses that to fight on.

Players, especially top players, always try to find any motivation they can to get those extra reps, run that extra mile, etc. etc.

That's why I asked if you had played before, cause I feel like as apart of a team you always have those types of moments (albeit they can be positive or negative, say if the captain is slacking off for example).

[Magic]

Omg bruh agrees with me. I'll have to be extra mean to him from now on.

[Pepe]

O Captain! My Captain!

[SincereTheRebel]

Can we just ban the thread starter?


Peru

Goalkeepers: Gallese (Veracruz-MEX), Carlos Caceda (Veracruz-MEX) and Jose Carvallo (UTC).

Defenders: Aldo Corzo (Universitario), Luis Advincula (Lobos BUAP-Mexico), Miguel Araujo (Alianza Lima), Alberto Rodriguez (Junior-Colombia), Christian Ramos (Veracruz-Mexico), Anderson Santamaria (Puebla-Mexico), Luis Abram (Velez Sarsfield-Argentina) and Miguel Trauco (Flamengo-Brazil).

Midfielders: Renato Tapia (Feyenoord), Pedro Aquino (Lobos BUAP), Yoshimar Yotun (Orlando City), Sergio Pena (Granadan), Edison Flores (Aalborgk), Paolo Hurtado (Vitoria de Guimaraes), Wilder Cartagena (Veracruz), Nilson Loyola (Melgar), Christian Cueva (Sao Paulo), Andre Carrillo (Watford).

Forwards: Jefferson Farfan (Lokomotiv), Andy Polo (Portland Timbers), Raul Ruidiaz (Morelia).






Sweden

Goalkeepers: Robin Olsen (Copenhagen), Karl-Johan Johnsson (Guingamp), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Swansea).

Defenders: Mikael Lustig (Celtic), Victor Lindelof (Manchester United), Andreas Granqvist (Krasnador), Martin Olsson (Swansea), Ludwig Augustinsson (Werder Bremen), Filip Helander, Emil Krafth (both Bologna), Pontus Jansson (Leeds United).

Midfielders: Sebastian Larsson (Hull), Albin Ekdal (Hamburg), Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig), Gustav Svensson (Seattle Sounders), Oscar Hiljemark (Genoa), Viktor Claesson (Krasnador), Marcus Rohden (Crotone), Jimmy Durmaz (Toulouse).

Forwards: Marcus Berg (Al Ain), John Guidetti (Alaves), Ola Toivonen (Toulouse), Isaac Kiese Thelin (Waasland-Beveren).

[Amigo]

You're doing such a good job, I thought I'd entrust you with the responsibility of posting updates.

[Mazuuurk]

Our team is so shit.

[Amigo]

I thought Marcus Berg would be about 40 years old since he's been around forever and is playing in the Gulf but, no, only 31.

[Baz]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/De1R82-XkAEPoci.jpg

[Giggles]

Does it match the mattresses?

[niko_cee]

Januzaj? Blimey! What's he up to these days?

Also Chadli. I don't think I've heard anything of him for ages. Has he even played for West Brom this year?

[Queenslander]

We will do over Peru.

Socceroos Russia 2018 squad
Goalkeepers: Brad Jones, Mat Ryan, Danny Vukovic

Defenders: Aziz Behich, Milos Degenek, Matt Jurman, Mark Milligan, James Meredith, Josh Risdon, Trent Sainsbury

Midfielders: Jackson Irvine, Mile Jedinak, Massimo Luongo, Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic

Forwards: Daniel Arzani, Tim Cahill, Tomi Juric, Robbie Kruse, Mat Leckie, Jamie Maclaren, Andrew Nabbout, Dimitri Petratos

Axed: Josh Brillante, Fran Karacic, James Troisi, Nikita Rukavytsya

[SvN]

How has Januzaj got into that squad?

[-james-]

Australia will do over nobody.

[Queenslander]

France will be lucky as well.

[Foe]

Jackson Irvine player of the tournament. :yn:

[SincereTheRebel]

Tim Cahill still going strong.

[Queenslander]

Hopefully our new Dutch bloke makes us more entertaining.

[phonics]

Sane hasn't made the Germany squad...

[SincereTheRebel]

Sane hasn't made the Germany squad...

Julian Brandt has been chosen instead. Ive seen several levurkson games this year and in no way have i thought, he is comparable to sane and should go instead. Brandt should take it upon himself and refuse to go so they take Sane instead.

[SvN]

That's an inSane decision.

[John Arne]

That's pretty Löw.

[phonics]

I've just seen he's got cornrows in these days. Deservedly dropped.

[John Arne]

Racist.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's barely played under Low.

He wouldn't have started but to not take him as an IMPACT SUB is mental.

[phonics]

Racist.

Look at the state of these:

https://i.imgur.com/7EgN6Bg.png

[John Arne]

Looks like Loic Remy.

[CJay]

Sounds like he’s been no good for the national team and hasn’t done what Löw has asked him to when he has played. Seem pretty sensible. Not like they’re short on talent.

[SincereTheRebel]

Germany

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris St-Germain)

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris St-Germain), Leon Goretska (Schalke), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich)

Strikers: Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)

He is a super goalkeeper but Neuer walking back in after nine months in surgery is don. Hopefully Stegen and Neuer have a Kahn and Lehmann relationship

[Mazuuurk]

It's so weird that Germany after all these years still haven't produced a properly world class striker.

[SincereTheRebel]

Thomas 'The Mule' Muller would disagree with you I wouldnt class him as a proper world class striker. He is more of a space invader

[Mazuuurk]

Yeah I mean they have some good ones for sure, but both Reus and Muller aren't proper "number 9" strikers really, and this Werner seems a bit like a one-trick pony.

I mean Muller is great at scoring important goals in tournaments, like Klose was, but he's not the same level as people like Aguero, Neymar, Greaseman, etc.

I mean the fact that Mario Gomez still manages to make the squad year in and year out alone.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Wash your fucking mouth out you ignorant shit.

Mario Gomez is a God.

[wullie]

If Gomez starts for Germany I'm putting something on him getting the Golden Boot. I've done the same for the last 12 tournaments or so, has to come good eventually.

[SvN]

£500 on Luca Toni is the way to go.

[Disco]

Wash your fucking mouth out you ignorant shit.

Mario Gomez is a God.

The god of overrated lumps maybe.

[Magic]

Hopefully the Nazis implode in a sea of brutal inefficiency and tactical ineptitude.

[SincereTheRebel]

They go out in the group stages. I'll keep posting it until it happenes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The god of overrated lumps maybe.

Go stick Spikey's head up your arse.

[Magic]

Be like chucking a penny down a well.

Take that how you will.

[Disco]

As long as you warm it up a bit first.

[Baz]

Sane hasn't made the Germany squad...Whats worse than getting a rifle tattoo on your leg?

https://www.askideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Leroy-Sane-Full-Back-Tattoo-of-himself-celebrating-a-goal-against-Monaco.jpg

[Lewis]

Is that meant to be him? It looks like a generic scary clown.

[phonics]

And both of his ankles have been broken several times over.

[SincereTheRebel]

And I thought some of the women I know are mad vain having wallpapers and screensavers of themselves on their phones. Also, pictures of themselves hanging on the walls of their house (they live alone). If that is Sane with a tattoo of Sane on his back, that is on another level.

[wullie]

https://bodyartguru.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Steve-o.jpg

[Pleb]

Final England 23:

1 Jordan Pickford (Everton)
2 Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
3 Danny Rose (Tottenham)
4 Eric Dier (Tottenham)
5 John Stones (Manchester City)
6 Harry Maguire (Leicester)
7 Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
8 Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
9 Harry Kane (captain, Tottenham)
10 Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
11 Jamie Vardy (Leicester)
12 Kieran Trippier (Tottenham)
13 Jack Butland (Stoke)
14 Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)
15 Gary Cahill (England)
16 Phil Jones (Manchester United)
17 Fabian Delph (Manchester City)
18 Ashley Young (Manchester United)
19 Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
20 Dele Alli (Tottenham)
21 Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea)
22 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
23 Nick Pope (Burnley)

[bruhnaldo]

to be fair to Steve-O he got that tattoo when he was still on copious amounts of drugs.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44356860

Defender Kamil Glik was named in Poland's 23-man squad for this summer's World Cup - but injured his shoulder on the day the squad was named.

The 30-year-old Monaco player hurt himself while attempting a bicycle kick in training after coach Adam Nawalka submitted his squad list to Fifa.

:lol:

Fuck knows why a 30 year old centre back is attempting a bicycle kick.

[SincereTheRebel]

Didn't Emerson do something similar and Gilberto Silva stepped up to replace him? Maybe its a celebration.

[Giggles]

Loftus Cheek? Did he play in 2017/18?

[John]

He did.

[randomlegend]

Fuck knows why a 30 year old centre back is attempting a bicycle kick.

Fancied the summer off.

[niko_cee]

He played a lot more than I recall. I looked at a comparison between him and Shelvey when the squad came out and there wasn't as much difference as I thought.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Loftus-Cheek's face fits as well which is the main thing. They're basically copying the England cricket model and if that isn't a surefire route to sustained success, I don't know what is.

[Giggles]

Hadn't realised he'd went on loan to Palace.

[Giggles]

Hope Solo :drool:

https://www.rte.ie/amp/968565/

[Spikey M]

:sick: she’s got a chuff like a punched lasagne.

[Giggles]

It's a filthy one alright.

[bruhnaldo]

Nothing about Hope Solo is attractive in 2018.

[Baz]

Hard to decide who are worse between Panama and Saudi Arabia. :harold:

[Jimmy Floyd]

USA probably had one of the worst non-qualifications ever with the players available, right up there with Holland 2002 and Portugal 1998.

Italy at least have the excuse of having no matchwinners and having a hard-ish draw.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44383950

England have a 4% chance of winning with Brazil having a 21% chance of winning.

[bruhnaldo]

USA probably had one of the worst non-qualifications ever with the players available, right up there with Holland 2002 and Portugal 1998.

Trinidad and Tobago hadn't ever won a WCQ match and all we needed was to draw.

4 days prior I actually got to go see the WCQ against Panama that we won 4-0 in Orlando. One of the best nights of my life, so much fun, and they fucking go and ruin it.

[niko_cee]

How did T&T manage to qualify whenever they did (2006?) without ever having won a qualifying game?

The power of Jack Warner?

[bruhnaldo]

Hmm. I'm clearly remembering the ridiculous stat. Let me try to find what it actually was, sorry.

[Pepe]

:face:

[bruhnaldo]

It was something ridiculous, probably was T&T had never beat us or something. Like a traumatic experience my brain has blocked most of the memories from those days so that's my fault.

[Pepe]

Whatever the real statistic is, losing to them was bad, really bad.

[ItalAussie]

I went through and compiled a list of teams who went unbeaten in qualifying but failed to reach the World Cup once. It was quite interesting - there were less than half a dozen, even including two-leg play-in ties. Cuba did it once.

[phonics]

Lanzini has had to withdraw after doing his ACL in training.