World Cup fever is in the air. Honestly, it barely felt like a World Cup year until about two weeks ago. Perhaps serious world events have made a football tournament- as glittering as it is- seem somewhat inconsequential.
I also think that broad anti-American sentiment has dampened the mood (the idea of FIFA Peace Prize honouree Trump handing over the World Cup is unpalatable to some). But with club intrigue all but over for now, the nostalgic twinge of World Cup fervour is slowly starting to take hold. That wonderfully retro Adidas add featuring Timothee Chalamet got me in the feels (even if the de-aged Beckham was the stuff of nightmare fuel). But what really piqued my interest were some of these recent squad announcements. Granted, not all the lineups have been announced (teams have until the 1st of June to formally register their 26-men squads). But I just wanted to do a brief assessment of five contenders who have formalized their lineups.
Portugal- Ronaldo’s last dance
Portugal have emerged as many pundits’ pre-tournament favourites. And there is some logic to that thinking. Roberto Martinez has assembled an in-vogue lineup, with the midfield pairing of Vitinha and Neves one of the hottest combinations in world football. Bruno is in devilish form while Bernardo is the emotional heartbeat of the squad. They also have plenty of in-form defenders, with the likes of Nuno Mendes, Joao Cancelo and Matheus Nunes shining for their respective clubs. And you can’t ignore the grand, overarching narrative that is CR7’s quest for footballing immortality. However, there are a few worrying signs for me. Portugal are one of the few teams to have selected four goalkeepers. Why? I also detect a lack in central defensive depth, with five fullbacks in their defensive ranks. And I do take issue with the ‘depth’ of their attacking ranks. Rafael Leao and Pedro Neto have been disappointing this season while Joao Felix is incredibly lucky to receive a callup. I think some of their hype is down to the power of the Ronaldo cultists, who need him to win this tournament to justify their obsession with his ‘GOAT’ status.
My Rating: 6/10
England- Tuchel’s time
Thomas Tuchel has made some bold omissions, opting to exclude the trio of Maguire, Palmer and Foden. Personally, I think he’s made the right choice in all those cases. He wants to play a high-octane, possession-based game with either a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 formation. Maguire doesn’t have the mobility to operate in that system (Burn can at least place in a variety of positions). He appears to want old-fashioned wide players- Gordon, Madueke- to stretch the opposition. Foden and Palmer both tend to want to come inside and operate in that no.10 role. Tuchel has enough 10’s, with Bellingham, Eze and Rogers vying for that slot. I do think there are some defensive concerns. Why is Trent not in this squad? Reece James has been injury prone, and Alexander-Arnold offers something that very few fullbacks can. Why wouldn’t you want that bit of magic up your sleeve? And then to include Jordan Henderson ahead of Adam Wharton? Still, I do like the fact that Tuchel isn’t picking a side based on popular opinion, but rather on how they will work in his preferred system.
My Rating: 7/10
France- Bringing the joie de vivre
It’s hard to criticise a side with a potential front-three of Mbappe, Olise and Dembelle. And can you imagine Cherki playing in the pocket behind them? Didier Deschamps has a wealth of other attacking options too, with the likes of Barcola and Doue primed to shine on the world stage. Unfortunately, veteran playmaker Antoine Griezmann was sacrificed on the altar of youth. Still, this must be one of the most exciting attacking lineups I have ever seen at a major tournament. Les Bleus also have pace and power in defence, with Saliba, Upamecano and Konate competing for those central defensive slots. They are perhaps slightly light in that right-back area (Gusto hasn’t been great while I still think of Kounde as more of a converted centre-half). On paper, their midfield looks rather unremarkable, with 35-year-old N’golo Kante offering cover to the likes of Tchouameni and Rabiot. But the pragmatic, no-frills midfield allows his attacking options to truly express themselves. All in all, Deschamps appears to have an embarrassment of riches at his disposal.
My Rating: 9/10
Germany- Lacking in Vorsprung durch Technik?
This German side is a shadow of the 2014 unit that achieved world domination (it’s always a bit weird to see Germany and world domination appear in the same sentence, but I digress). I just think there is a lack of big-match flair in this lineup. Even the big names haven’t fared all that well this season: Wirtz has struggled at Liverpool while Musiala has battled to stay fit. I find it slightly disconcerting that Germany’s one pure no.9 option is the erratic Woltemade. Nagelsman will likely do an Arteta and play Havertz as a false nine. They have a serious lack of depth in the fullback areas, meaning Joshua Kimmich may be prove a sacrificial lamb once again (he’s so often been a victim of his own versatility). I’m just not overly enthused by this side. Rudiger has struggled with injury and could be a liability in the heart of defence. Oh, and Nagelsmann has recalled 40-year-old keeper Neuer as his No.1. This is just a squad lacking in-form gamechangers.
My Rating: 5/10
Brazil- Banking on experience
Neymar: the selection heard around the world. Carlos Ancelotti has defended his controversial call, saying the 34-year-old has worked tirelessly on his fitness and consistency. To me, this looks like a ‘vibes’ pick. Joao Pedro has scored plenty of goals for Chelsea and would have made a more sensible inclusion. Perhaps Ancelotti wants to use Neymar like a talisman, tapping into that wealth of experience. I am slightly concerned with the overall age of this squad (11 of the 26 players are over 30). They obviously have some marquee names up front, with Vini Jr and Raphinha regularly in the Ballon d’Or conversation. But they only have four traditional midfield options, and Casemiro and Fabinho are getting on in years. I’m also worried about the level that some of these guys are competing at, with five playing Brazil, two in Russia, two in Saudi and one in Turkey. There’s a lack of elite-level mentality in this lineup. With Raphinha and Vini Jr pillaging the flanks, I do think that Brentford star Igor Thiago could be a breakout star.
