Road To Russia - World Cup Team-By-Team Preview - GROUP C
France
Manager:
Didier Deschamps
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham
Hotspur/England), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Alphonse Areola (Paris
Saint-Germain);
Defenders: Djibril Sidibe (Monaco),
Benjamin Pavard (Stuttgart/Germany), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona/Spain), Raphael
Varane (Real Madrid/Spain), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Adil Rami
(Marseille), Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City/England), Lucas Hernandez (Atletico
Madrid/Spain);
Midfielders: Paul Pogba (Manchester
United/England), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich/Germany), Blaise Matuidi
(Juventus/Italy), Ngolo Kante (Chelsea/England), Steven Nzonzi (Sevilla/Spain);
Forwards: Antoine Griezmann
(Atletico Madrid/Spain), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea/England), Kylian Mbappe (Paris
Saint-Germain), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona/Spain), Florian Thauvin (Marseille),
Nabil Fekir (Lyon), Thomas Lemar (Monaco)
Key
player:
Antonie Griezmann: the leading goal-scorer of Euro 2016, Griezmann now
aged 27 is in his prime and with his all-round attacking class will be key to
France’s hopes of lifting the World Cup trophy.
One-to-watch:
Djibril Sidibé: the powerful defender is a unit both in attack and
defence.
Young
gun:
Kylian Mbappe: Considering the high level Mbappe has been playing at over
the past two seasons, it’s hard to believe this kid is only 19.
Team
overview/style of play:
• France
seem to be in serious contention to add to their solitary world cup victory
this year, with an embarrassment of riches in almost every position. Arguably
the best team on paper, Deschamps will likely be seeking to make use of his
versatile, spritely midfield and staggeringly quick wingers to catch opponents
on the break. Utilising a dynamic 4-2-3-1, or possibly even a 4-3-3 system, it
is hard not to feel sorry for anyone tasked with containing this explosive,
talented team.
Strengths:
• Unrivalled
depth in almost every position means versatility and the invaluable ability to
rotate players with confidence
• With
pinpoint passers in midfield and incredibly fast wingers, France will be deadly
on the counter-attack
Weaknesses:
• Les
Bleus may struggle under the weight of expectation placed upon them by fans and
onlookers alike
• France
are left lacking in defence - despite boasting a promising back four, the
defensive quartet have failed to gel in recent appearances, and may be
destabilised further by the prolonged absence of left-back Benjamin Mendy from
the line-up
Predicted
line up:
Jerseys:
Verdict:
If everything goes to plan, Les Blues will storm out of the group stage and
into the semis where they will face Brazil in a blockbuster.
Squad:
Peru
Manager:
Ricardo Gareca
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Pedro Gallese (Veracruz), Carlos
Caceda (Veracruz), Jose Carvallo (Universidad Tecnica);
Defenders:
Luis Advincula (Lobos), Miguel Araujo (Alianza Lima), Aldo Corzo (Universitario
de Deportes), Nilson Loyola (Melgar), Christian Ramos (Veracruz), Alberto
Rodriguez (Junior), Anderson Santamaria (Puebla), Miguel Trauco (Flamengo).
Midfielders: Christian Cueva (Sao Paulo), Edison
Flores (Aalborg BK), Paolo Hurtado (Vitoria Guimaraes), Renato Tapia
(Feyernoord), Yoshimar Yotun (Orlando City), Pedro Aquino (Lobos), Wilder
Cartagena (Veracruz), Sergio Pena (Granada), Andy Polo (Portland Timbers);
Forwards:
Andre Carrillo (Watford), Raul Ruidiaz (Morelia), Jefferson Farfan (Lokomotiv).
Key player:
Jefferson
Farfán: no matter what side or league Farfán plays in, he is always a prolific
scorer and assister. With star attacker and captain Paolo Guerrero lacking match fitness after only recently returning from his drug ban, a lot of weight will fall onto the shoulders of Farfán.
One-to-watch:
André
Carrillo: looked good during his stint at Watford this season, and has the
pace needed to threaten any defence.
Young gun:
Renato
Tapia: having played all of his senior career in the Eredivisie, Tapia is
technically sound and a very useful player.
Team overview/style of
play:
After
an extended hiatus of 36 years, Peru are back at it on the world stage. Known
in recent years for being forced to resort to unglamorous football against
their more technically gifted South American neighbours, coach Ricardo Gareca
has instead introduced a new brand of football that plays on their strength in
midfield to pile on pressure whilst off the ball, seizing on mistakes made in
the final third before dispatching with clinical precision. With a compact
defensive line, there may be some weakness on the flanks, but also an ability
to pick up loose balls and pass the ball into the box. As seen with other
teams, this adaptability is well suited to a tournament featuring so many
variations in tactical approaches.
Strengths:
• Team
cohesion - what Peru lack in individual, stand-out talent, they more than make
up for in their ability to play as a team.
• Stamina
- used to playing in high-altitude environments, Peru has an ability to
conserve their energy and simply outlast their opponents
Weaknesses:
• Peru
will be forced to play without talisman Paolo Guerrero, who faces an extended
doping ban. As the captain and the main goal scoring threat, it remains to be
seen if Peru can survive without him
• A
compact defence means Peru are often left exposed on the flanks
Predicted line up:
Jerseys:
Verdict:
On
paper, it’s not the best team, but they seem to come away with positive results
frequently. Could falter on the big stage, but may also cause some shocks.
Denmark
Manager:
Age Hareide
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester), Jonas Lossl
(Huddersfield), Frederik Ronow (Brondby), Jesper Hansen (FC Midtjylland)
Defenders: Simon Kjaer (Sevilla), Andreas Christensen (Chelsea),
Mathias Jorgensen (Huddersfield), Jannik Vestergaard (Borussia
Moenchengladbach), Andreas Bjelland (Brentford), Henrik Dalsgaard (Brentford),
Peter Ankersen (FC Copenhagen), Jens Stryger (Udinese), Riza Durmisi (Real
Betis), Jonas Knudsen (Ipswich), Nicolai Boilesen (FC Copenhagen)
Midfielders: William Kvist (FC Copenhagen), Thomas Delaney (Werder
Bremen), Lukas Lerager (Bordeaux), Lasse Schone (Ajax), Mike Jensen
(Rosenborg), Christian Eriksen (Tottenham), Daniel Wass (Celta Vigo),
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Southampton), Mathias Jensen (FC Nordsjaelland), Michael
Krohn-Dehli (Deportivo La Coruna), Robert Skov (FC Copenhagen)
Forwards: Pione Sisto (Celta Vigo), Martin Braithwaite
(Bordeaux), Andreas Cornelius (Atalanta), Viktor Fischer (FC Copenhagen),
Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig), Nicolai Jorgensen (Feyenoord), Nicklas Bendtner
(Rosenborg), Kasper Dolberg (Ajax), Kenneth Zohore (Cardiff)
Key player:
Christian
Eriksen: the great Dane is easily his country’s most important player and an
immense attacking force.
One-to-watch:
Kasper
Schmeichel: has experience and his reflexes make him an exciting player to
watch.
Young gun:
Yussuf
Poulsen: uses his pace to great affect getting in-and-behind defences and by
whipping in excellent crosses. Is also known for his defensive contributions.
Team overview/style of
play:
The
Danes were once the joy of football hipsters the world over, earning plaudits
throughout the 80s for their ambitious possession based football before Morten
Olsen continued the tradition up until 2015. Now, eight years since their last
appearance on the world stage, attractiveness has made way for pragmatism, with
coach Åge Hareide favouring a more direct approach that is adaptable to the
situation at hand. As he attests to himself, Hareide does not stick to one
particular formation, preferring a more fluid approach that capitalises on
opponent’s mistakes before launching a rapid counterattack. Call it hoof-ball
if you like, but Hareide is intent on getting the ball into the box, no matter
how it looks. Giving Tottenham star Christian Eriksen the room to move, the
Danes still have that touch of creativity, whilst 6’4 target-man Andreas
Cornelius will also give them an imposing edge in the final third.
Strengths:
• Adaptability
- Hareide’s penchant for changing tact depending on the opponent may suit them
well in a group featuring teams with vastly different approaches
• Christian
Eriksen - somewhat under-utilised under former coach Olsen, the Tottenham star
has really come into his own under Hareide, scoring 11 goals in 12
qualification matches
Weaknesses:
• Although
a talented squad, in the absence of Eriksen, Denmark lack that star power that
often makes the difference in World Cups, and may find themselves depending on
the midfielder for success
Predicted line up:
Jerseys:
Verdict:
Will
be very tough to beat and are favoured by many to progress to the knockout
stages. An over-reliance on Eriksen may be the downfall though.
Australia
Manager:
Bert van Marwijk
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Brad Jones
(Feyenoord), Mat Ryan (Brighton & Hove
Albion), Danny Vukovic (KRC Genk);
Defenders: Aziz Behich
(Bursaspor), Milos Degenek (Yokohama F. Marinos), Matthew Jurman (Suwon Samsung Blue Wings), Fran Karacic (NK Lokomotiva), James
Meredith (Millwall), Josh Risdon (Western Sydney), Trent Sainsbury (Grasshopper
Zurich), Aleksandar Susnjar (FK Mlada Boleslav);
Midfielders: Josh Brillante
(Sydney), Jackson Irvine (Hull City), Mile Jedinak (Aston Villa), Robbie Kruse
(VfL Bochum), Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers), Mark Milligan (Al Ahli),
Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town), Tom Rogic (Celtic), James Troisi (Melbourne
Victory);
Forwards: Daniel Arzani
(Melbourne City), Tim Cahill (Millwall), Tomi
Juric (Luzern), Mathew Leckie (Hertha Berlin), Jamie Maclaren (Hibernian),
Andrew Nabbout (Urawa Red Diamonds), Dimitri Petratos (Newcastle Jets), Nikita
Rukavytsya (Maccabi Haifa)
Key player:
Mat
Ryan: Given Australia’s recent defensive instability, the Socceroos will need
the Brighton stopper to be commanding and ready to stop anything that comes his
way.
One-to-watch:
Tom
Rogic: the ‘wizard of Oz’ continues to shine in Scotland for Celtic, and is as
classy an attacker as there comes.
Young gun:
Daniel
Arzani: the teenager has speed, trickery, creativity and composure. A star in
the making.
Team overview/style of
play:
The
Socceroos certainly took the scenic route to Moscow, having only just achieved
qualification in November of last year with a playoff victory against Honduras.
Former coach Ange Postecoglou’s unconventional possession based tactics
represented a stark shift from a traditionally physical, no nonsense Australia
side. The Soceroos however, may be left on shaky ground following his sudden
departure immediately after qualifying, whilst his stopgap replacement, former
Saudi Arabia coach Bert Van Marwijk, may instead signify a reversion to the
direct approach of the Socceroos of old, utilising his favoured 4-2-3-1
formation. With only a few months to become acquainted with his new troops, van
Marwijk looks set to rely on Australian talisman Tim Cahill as the target-man
up front.
Strengths:
• Australia
is known for their physicality and the imposing presence of their players, so a
reversion back to a familiar system that builds upon this may serve them well
• A
more defensive minded formation may help to plug the gaps in what was an
otherwise porous Soceroos defence under Postecoglou
Weaknesses:
• Lack
of a goal scoring threat – this will be talisman Tim Cahill’s fourth and likely
final World Cup appearance. Although it has been shown that Timmy lives for
these occasions, it may not bode well for Australia that again their hopes
upfront continue to depend on a 38 year old who failed to make an impact at
Millwall
• Van
Marwijk took the reigns only a matter of months before the World Cup -
considering his radically different approach compared to his predecessor, it
may not be enough time for the squad to gel
Predicted line up:
Jerseys:
Verdict:
Will
fight valiantly in every match, but will most likely leave their fans
disappointed. Reaching the round of 16 would be a massive achievement, but another group stage exit is on the cards.
GROUP A - http://worldwidefantasyclub.blogspot.com/2018/05/road-to-russia-world-cup-team-by-team.html
GROUP B - http://worldwidefantasyclub.blogspot.com/2018/05/road-to-russia-world-cup-team-by-team_31.html
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