Road To Russia - World Cup Team-By-Team Preview - GROUP G
Belgium
Manager:
Roberto Martínez
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Koen
Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld
(Tottenham Hotspur), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Vincent Kompany (Manchester
City), Thomas Meunier (Paris St-Germain), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan
Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur).
Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco
(Dalian Yifang), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham
Hotspur), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester
United), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Monchengladbach),
Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Youri Tielemans
(Monaco), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian).
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi
(Chelsea), Nacer Chadli (West Brom), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United).
Key
player:
Kevin De Bruyne: dictating the tempo of matches with his
passing and control, De Bruyne is the complete midfielder and a creative
wizard.
One-to-watch:
Eden
Hazard: a truly remarkable dribbler who keeps the ball on a string, and a
clinical finisher when given the chance.
Young
gun:
Youri Tielemans: from central midfield, Tielemans is skilful
at working his way out of tight spaces, has great vision and possess an
exception long shot.
Team
overview/style of play:
Despite
being one of the most promising sides in recent years, the talented Belgians
have failed to impress in international tournaments. With former Everton
manager Roberto Martinez at the helm, the Red Devils will nonetheless be hoping
for a change in fortunes. There were certainly promising signs during the
qualifying campaign, albeit against considerably weaker opposition, with 43
goals scored and only 6 conceded. Employing an unconventional 3-4-2-1
formation, Martinez has attempted to address Belgium’s well documented
defensive woes, whilst also capitalising on their hitherto under-utilised but
exceptionally skilled midfield and attacking options. It is safe to say that we
will see more of the Spaniard’s trademark innovative and attacking football,
but what that will mean for Belgium’s already stretched defence remains to be
seen.
Strengths:
·
Belgium is not left wanting for talent,
particularly in midfield and attack, and under the guidance of Martinez and his
attacking mindset, the likes of De Bruyne, Hazard, Mertens and Lukaku would be
a handful for any defender
Weaknesses:
·
Belgium has a considerable lack of depth
in defence, and are dependent on the likes of Vertonghen, Alderweireld and the
notoriously fragile Kompany
· The new 3-4-2-1 system is reliant on
proactive wingbacks to feed midfield and attack. As seen in Belgium’s pre-World
Cup friendlies, containing the opposition wingers often means that the wing-backs
leave the Lukaku, Hazard and co. stranded in the final third
Predicted
line up:
Jerseys:
Verdict:
With
so much talent, Belgium will certainly make it out of the group. Whether they finish
first or second in their group, the quarter finals appears to be where the Red
Devils will bow out.
England
Manager:
Gareth Southgate
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke
City), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley)
Defenders: Trent
Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Fabian Delph (Manchester
City), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Danny
Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier
(Tottenham Hotspur), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Manchester
United)
Midfielders: Dele
Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson
(Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea)
Forwards: Harry
Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling
(Manchester City), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Danny Welbeck (Manchester
United)
Key
player:
Harry Kane: a clinical finisher who is so good, he can score
without even touching the ball! Simply, Kane is a world class striker.
One-to-watch:
Raheem
Sterling: coming out of his best ever domestic season, Sterling at his best is
untouchable and capable of both scoring and assisting with ease.
Young
gun:
Marcus Rashford: with speed to
burn, great stamina and a lethal shot, Rashford is one of the most exciting
youngsters in the world.
Team
overview/style of play:
England can play a very rash and unstructured game at points as the reliance on mercurial striker Harry Kane becomes evident. Manager Southgate has to keep his team in check in order to go deep in the tournament. Options a plenty in attack with the likes of Jamie Vardy and Marcus Rashford pushing on the heels of Kane, England has become a nation like many others where the defence is the real and biggest issue heading into a major tournament. With perennial right back in his career at Tottenham and now Manchester City, Kyle Walker shifts into a centre back role - negating to some effect his marauding attacking potential. However, the likely set-up of a back three for England has 3 players in Walker, John Stones and Gary Cahill who all like to adventure forward at times, leaving exposed gaps in the defensive structure. Midfielders in Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson set-up deep in the line and can be potent at covering these holes but aren't the world class talent that can stop the likes of the big nations attackers in Germany, Spain, Brazil and France. Look for the side to lean on Kane outscoring their opponents, with Spurs team mate Dele Alli and Manchester City dynamo Raheem Sterling chipping in.
Strengths:
·
Great attacking options at the managers
disposal
·
Pace down the wings
Weaknesses:
·
Unbalanced starting XI
·
Out of position players
·
Heavy reliance on Harry Kane
·
Expectation of success could hinder
inexperienced players
Predicted
line up:
Jerseys:
Verdict:
At
best, England will make it to the quarter finals. At worst, they will fail to
make it out of their group. What seems most likely? A tough battle in the round
of 16 against either Colombia, Poland or Senegal that could be either way.
Panama
Manager:
Hernán Darío Gómez
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Jose Calderon (Chorrillo FC),
Jaime Penedo (Dinamo Bucharest), Alex Rodriguez (San Francisco FC).
Defenders: Felipe
Baloy (CSD Municipal), Harold Cummings (San Jose Earthquakes), Eric Davis (DAC
Dunajska Streda), Fidel Escobar (New York Red Bulls), Adolfo Machado (Houston
Dynamo), Michael Murillo (New York Red Bulls), Luis Ovalle (CD Olimpia), Roman
Torres (Seattle Sounders).
Midfielders: Edgar
Barcenas (Cafetaleros de Tapachula), Armando Cooper (Club Universidad de
Chile), Anibal Godoy (San Jose Earthquakes), Gabriel Gómez (Bucaramanga),
Valentin Pimentel (Plaza Amador), Alberto Quintero (Universitario de Lima),
Jose Luis Rodriguez (KAA Gent).
Forwards: Abdiel
Arroyo (LD Alajuelense), Ismael Diaz (Deportivo La Coruna), Blas Perez (CSD
Municipal), Luis Tejada (Sports Boys), Gabriel Torres (CD Huachipato).
Key
player:
Gabriel Gómez: With 138 caps for his country, Gómez is a
composed presence who controls the play of his side.
One-to-watch:
Gabriel
Torres: Torres is a speedy winger who knows how to find the back of the net.
Young
gun:
Michael Amir Murillo: the 22 year-old right back loves a
foray forward.
Team
overview/style of play:
Making
their first appearance at a FIFA World Cup, this unheralded Panama side will be
looking to make the most of a rare berth that came at the expense of the United
States. Playing with a conventional 4-4-2 system, coach Hernán Darío Gómez
is aware of his team’s underdog status, instructing Los Canaleros to
play disciplined, rigidly defensive football. Making use of two speedy
wingbacks, however, may give the side the opportunity to grab goals through
incisive counter attacks, before shutting up shop.
Strengths:
·
Panama’s underdog status may render
their opponents complacent
· The Panamanian players are known to be
intensely physical and have the stamina to match
Weaknesses:
· Central midfield has been a weak point
through qualifiers and pre-World Cup friendlies, with the side losing
possession all too often in their own half
·
Despite playing well as a unit, Panama
lacks any degree of individual talent
Predicted
line up:
Jerseys:
Verdict:
Qualified
for the World Cup in dramatic fashion, and Russia will bring numerous memorable
experiences for Panamanian players and fans alike. Picking up one single point
would be a huge achievement.
Tunisia
Manager:
Nabil Maâloul
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Farouk Ben Mustapha
(Al Shabab, Saudi Arabia), Moez Hassen (Chateauroux, France), Aymen Mathlouthi
(Al Baten, Saudi Arabia)
Defenders: Rami Bedoui
(Etoile du Sahel), Yohan Benalouane (Leicester City, England), Syam Ben Youssef
(Kasimpasa, Turkey), Dylan Bronn (Gent, Belgium), Oussama Haddadi (Dijon,
France), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly, Egypt), Yassine Meriah (CS Sfaxien), Hamdi
Nagguez (Zamalek, Egypt)
Midfielders: Anice Badri
(Esperance), Mohamed Amine Ben Amor (Al Ahli Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), Ghaylene
Chaalali (Esperance), Ahmed Khalil (Club Africain), Saifeddine Khaoui (Troyes,
France), Ferjani Sassi (Al Nasr, Saudi Arabia), Ellyes Skhiri (Montpellier,
France), Naim Sliti (Dijon, France), Bassem Srarfi (Nice, France)
Forwards: Fakhreddine Ben
Youssef (Al Ittifaq, Saudi Arabia), Saber Khalifa (Club Africain), Wahbi Khazri
(Rennes, France)
Key
player:
Wahbi Khazri: with great vision, a dangerous shot and top
class free-kick taking ability, Khazri is capable of brilliance.
One-to-watch:
Naim
Sliti: The driving force of Tunisia's attack has spent his entire
club playing career in the french divisions and after debuting with the
national team in 2016 has become a regular on both wing positions
Young
gun:
Bassem Srarfi: the young attacking midfielder has looked
right at home in Ligue 1 this season.
Team
overview/style of play:
A side that has no real talent of note, manager Nabil Maaloul is prone to changes in the starting team, along with being flexible where regulars slot into the side. Predominantly a defensive set-up, a bank of four in the back-line has become a staple for the Tunisian's who look to get past the group stage for the first time ever in the countries World Cup history, having qualified for the finals 5 times. Not only is Tunisia's set-up defensive, they don't have outlets or highly technical players to create play when winning, retaining and possessing the ball. This inability will lead to very ugly viewing and the stifling of oppositions styles, which occurred in their African qualifying group, despite going unbeaten.
Strengths:
·
Maturity in playing squad
· Coaching by Maaloul has minimised the
use of tricks and low percentage flicks, while increasing directness of play
Weaknesses:
·
Loss of striker Youssef Msakni to injury
·
Poor defensive line that concedes to
easily
·
Shaky goalkeeping on crosses and corners
·
Player indecisiveness when coming out of
the back, resulting in unnecessary skill moves that relinquish possession
Predicted
line up:
Jerseys:
Verdict:
Will
almost certainly drop out in the group stage, but could pull off a surprise and
book a round of 16 spot. The latter seems highly unlikely though.
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
GROUP C - http://worldwidefantasyclub.blogspot.com/2018/06/road-to-russia-world-cup-team-by-team.html
GROUP D - http://worldwidefantasyclub.blogspot.com/2018/06/road-to-russia-world-cup-team-by-team_47.html
Make sure to follow us on twitter to read all of our 2018 FIFA World Cup articles, as well as participate in special prize giveaways!
Comments
Post a Comment