2014 World Cup

[pineapple stu]

Surprised there's no thread for this yet!

Squads starting to roll in now; today is the final day for announcing them. Wikipedia has them all here.

Ashley Cole being left out of the England squad (and then released by Chelsea) was a bit of a surprise, especially as Gerrard and Lampard are both included. The US left out Landon Donovan, which I can't understand at all; they've possibly the toughest group of the lot and surely need every bit of experience they can draw on (and Donovan's still a decent player). Spain have left out Navas and Negredo from Man City. Falcao has made Colombia's squad, though I don't think he's played since the injury in January.

Colombia have Faryd Mondragon, their goalkeeper from the 1994 World Cup in their current squad; he's 42. He's 4½ years older than the next oldest player, who's his own centre back.

I fancy Germany for this one. I know a lot is made of every South American World Cup being won by a South American team, but I reckon football becoming increasingly globalised has reduced that impact to an extent (Brazil have only four home-based players, for example). Brazil and Argentina should certainly challenge, you'd imagine.

Would like to see something memorable from Messi in this World Cup. But maybe that's being greedy.

12th of June is the start.

[osarusan]

I know a lot is made of every South American World Cup being won by a South American team, but I reckon football becoming increasingly globalised has reduced that impact to an extent (Brazil have only four home-based players, for example)

As well as that, players are so much more used to partisan crowds, and huge media attention than ever before. I don't think it's realistic any more that any of the big teams will go there and be overawed by the occasion.

[pineapple stu]

I think even partisan crowds aren't a factor any more. Games in the last few World Cups seem to be more a festival, and certainly nothing like the ticker-tape stuff of 1978, for example. Haven't been to a major final myself, but from watching on telly, I'd say half the crowd at least is neutrals and corporates?

Germany have announced their squad meanwhile, with Miroslav Klose as the sole striker. Even allowing for changes in formations and evolving positions (Reus and Podolski down as midfielders and stuff like that), it seems a bit of a weird decision. Gomez being injured is a blow, but there must be someone to act as back-up to a 36-year-old?

[DeLorean]

Falcao has failed to make the final Colombian squad. It was never a runner really I'd imagine. I'd be surprised if he was even fit for the beginning of the club season.

[pineapple stu]

Must have only been a provisional squad he was in; thanks for the correction!

Shame he has to miss out.

[DeLorean]

Yeah it's an awful shame really. One of the main guys you'd look forward to watching, especially as we wouldn't see him as often as some of the other stars. The notion of recovering from an anterior cruciate injury in less than five months always seemed far fetched though, bit of a Diego Costa desperation about it. They still have that Seville guy, Bacca, at least. Hardly in Falcao's league but looks decent all the same.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Germany have announced their squad meanwhile, with Miroslav Klose as the sole striker. Even allowing for changes in formations and evolving positions (Reus and Podolski down as midfielders and stuff like that), it seems a bit of a weird decision. Gomez being injured is a blow, but there must be someone to act as back-up to a 36-year-old?

Podolski, also counted as a striker, apparently.

[DeLorean]

Belgium squad named

[DannyInvincible]

Podolski, also counted as a striker, apparently.

FIFA don't require teams to designate outfield players to specific positions within the squad, do they? They require a minimum of three players to be designated as goalkeepers, but in terms of out-field players, can't managers select as many defenders, midfielders or strikers as they like within the overall squad limit?

Belgium squad named

I see Januzaj makes their squad then. He had his first cap for Belgium (against Luxembourg on the 26th of May) wiped from the records by FIFA as Wilmots used one more substitute than the permitted six. That's an incredibly unprofessional error to make in this day and age.

[pineapple stu]

So the whole game has been declared null and void by FIFA? Seems a bit excessive.

Agree on the error being basic, but presumably the four officials all missed this as well? Bit mad.

[DeLorean]

Nevermind Januzaj, poor Lukaku presumably has his hat-trick written off?!

[BonnieShels]

FIFA don't require teams to designate outfield players to specific positions within the squad, do they? They require a minimum of three players to be designated as goalkeepers, but in terms of out-field players, can't managers select as many defenders, midfielders or strikers as they like within the overall squad limit?



I see Januzaj makes their squad then. He had his first cap for Belgium (against Luxembourg on the 26th of May) wiped from the records by FIFA as Wilmots used one more substitute than the permitted six. That's an incredibly unprofessional error to make in this day and age.

So the whole game has been declared null and void by FIFA? Seems a bit excessive.

Agree on the error being basic, but presumably the four officials all missed this as well? Bit mad.

Caps are given out by the FA. So he can have his cap if the Belgian FA decide to give them it. This just means it wasn't an official "A" international.

Just like Damien Duff getting that cap against Hungary annulled by FIFA.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ivory Coast v El Salvador on Setanta Ireland for anyone who's interested. Most of their games are on BT or Setanta 1 but they have the odd late night game on the free channel.

[A N Mouse]

FIFA don't require teams to designate outfield players to specific positions within the squad, do they? They require a minimum of three players to be designated as goalkeepers, but in terms of out-field players, can't managers select as many defenders, midfielders or strikers as they like within the overall squad limit?

The official squads are up on fifa site.

Not sure how this designation is arrived at, but rarely does it match up to those given elsewhere in time between countries announce final squad, and fifa make announcement.

For example Schurrle, Goteze, Mueller and Reus join Klose as forwards in 'official' final squad

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/t...8/players.html

[NeverFeltBetter]

Ribery out: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/world...-of-world-cup/

France could really struggle against the Swiss and Ecuador.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

F***ing hell!

Shirokov, Ribery, Van Der Vaart and Falcao all out of the World Cup.

[Charlie Darwin]

Shirokov was hardly going to be a star, was he?

[BonnieShels]

Any weakening of France works for me.

I'm an avowed Dutch-Colom-Argen-Ger-Chile supporter for this tournament.

With added Italy and begrudging Belgium.

An Anglo-Franco-Ibero-Brasileiro clusterfupp will suit me down to thon ground.

[bennocelt]

See he wasn't on the list of squads that was up on Wikimedia, might not be that unexpected so, big loss though

[pineapple stu]

Marco Reus out of the German squad.

Armenia equalised against them in the 70th minute last night; Germany upped the pace a bit and won 6-1. Klose got his 69th goal for Germany, passing our Gerd Muller.