World Cup Teams Starting XI

[Dutchy]

Since the England WC team starting XI thread only includes England (and they aren't very good - love you though), post your (potential) best, worst, ugliest, prettiest starting XI of your own, favorite, underdog, ... country.

I'll start with my own country, the founders of total football, the Netherlands.
IMO this is the best starting XI we can field next summer, bar injuries etc.

Krul
Van der Wiel - Van Dijk - Vlaar - Blind
Nigel de Jong
Strootman - Van der Vaart (or Sneijder)
Robben - Van Persie - Depay

Decent goalie. Decent defence; VDW is a good player for PSG, Van Dijk is a big talent and very strong, Vlaar is very average, Blind is a good player in the Eredivisie. Good midfield; De Jong is a workhorse, Strootman is class and will play in EPL in one or two years, VDV when fit can be of great value, like Sneijder. Top class attack; Robben is world class, RVP same, Depay is potential world class if he keeps working hard and keeps both feet on the ground.

Tbf we have had much better teams over the years, so i don't expect us to be a serious contender. With a bit of luck we can finish second in our group (Spain is nailed on 1st, Chile is tough). Next we most probably face Brazil. After that we are at home watching the rest of the WC.

 

[JDK]

A little surprised to see Depay in there. I love the bits I've seen from him and have always hoped Spurs were keeping an eye on him but starting in the WC is a big step up. You think he's ready?

As it has been with the Dutch recently the front 6 looks amazing but you have to feel a little nervous about the back 4.

Also could Blind be a viable LB option for Spurs?

 

[Dutchy]

A little surprised to see Depay in there. I love the bits I've seen from him and have always hoped Spurs were keeping an eye on him but starting in the WC is a big step up. You think he's ready?

As it has been with the Dutch recently the front 6 looks amazing but you have to feel a little nervous about the back 4.

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Couple of options for that position, like Lens, Elia, Boetius (big talent as well), Ola John, Persie (Huntelaar central), Kuyt (ugh), maybe Sneijder/VDV. Choose Depay cause i think he is strong, fast, has the mentality and is very unpredictable and thus difficult to defend. Definitely not as good as his attacking companions, but imo the best option.

 

[koppel]

Also could Blind be a viable LB option for Spurs?

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I don't think so. He's not very comfortable at LB and has been playing in a more holding role for Ajax this season. He's brilliant on the ball but too slow to play at LB for me.

 

[Dutchy]

I don't think so. He's not very comfortable at LB and has been playing in a more holding role for Ajax this season. He's brilliant on the ball but too slow to play at LB for me.

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This.

 

[JDK]

I don't think so. He's not very comfortable at LB and has been playing in a more holding role for Ajax this season. He's brilliant on the ball but too slow to play at LB for me.

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Interesting. What's going on with Jetro Willems? He looked like the next big thing after the Euros

 

[Dutchy]

Interesting. What's going on with Jetro Willems? He looked like the next big thing after the Euros

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Did not develop, at all. More a failed winger than a defender. Not even considered good enough right now by Van Gaal for a pre-selection, and rightly so.

 

[JDK]

Did not develop, at all. More a failed winger than a defender. Not even considered good enough right now by Van Gaal for a pre-selection, and rightly so.

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Oh wow, he looked like such a promising talent. Rare to see a young Dutch player not develop. Seems like you guys have such a high percentage success rate in developing youngsters.

 

[Dutchy]

Oh wow, he looked like such a promising talent. Rare to see a young Dutch player not develop. Seems like you guys have such a high percentage success rate in developing youngsters.

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Well, most of our talents that do develop mostly possess amazing footballing qualities or sometimes a fantasic mentality to compensate a lack of qualities (Kuyt for example). If you don't have one of both, like Willems (who has a dreadful mentality), your are not going to make it.

 

[Freudlyuchenko]

Wonder if Kaboul storms back into form between now and the end of the season if he'll get the call

 

[Deuce]

The 2014 World Cup Champs:

[formation=4231, Howard, Cameron, Beisler, Gonzalez, F. Johnson, Bradley, Jones, Donovan, Dempsey, E. Johnson, Altidore][/formation]

Subs: Zusi (Will likely start in place of Eddie Johnson, but I don't think he can last a full 90 and be effective like EJ can), Guzan, Johannson (hopefully), others tbd.

 

[koppel]

The 2014 World Cup Champs:

[formation=4231, Howard, Cameron, Beisler, Gonzalez, F. Johnson, Bradley, Jones, Donovan, Dempsey, E. Johnson, Altidore][/formation]

Subs: Zusi (Will likely start in place of Eddie Johnson, but I don't think he can last a full 90 and be effective like EJ can), Guzan, Johannson (hopefully), others tbd.

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That's one sad collection of players. Where's DaMarcus Beasley?

 

[Deuce]

That's one sad collection of players. Where's DaMarcus Beasley?

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He sucks. He is just pacey af, but that is about it. He's worse than Naughton at LB.

 

[Punt]

Players from our first team squad that technically could go (available to nation so not retired ie friedel, nation is at world cup)
Goalkeepers
Lloris - Nailed On
Gomes - No chance

Defence
Walker - Nailed On
Rose - Highly unlikely would need numerous injuries.
Kaboul - Slight Chance would need to hit form
Vertonghen - Nailed On
Naughton - lol
Dawson - Little chance
Fryers - Double lol
Assou Ekotto - Nailed on

Midfield
Lennon - Really depends on form with Walcotts injury
Paulinho - Pretty much nailed on
Lamela - If fit, will go
Capoue - Probably go
Townsend - Wont deserve to go, probably will go
Dembele - Nailed On
Chadli - Nailed On
Sandro - Definitely should go, but unsure if he will get picked
Bentaleb - Have to assume hes chosen Algeria for a reason
Livermore - Tiny chance
Holtby - Very unlikely but slight chance
Falque - lol
Carroll - I wish

Strikers
Soldado - Last year Nailed on, now I have no idea
Defoe - Slight chance
Kane - lol

 

[SchmoodSpur2013]

My favourites, Argentina.

------------------------Romero------------------------
Zabaleta------Collocini-------Garay-------Rojo
Lamela---Mascherano---Banega---Di Maria
------------------Higuain-----Messi-----------------

 

[Carlspurs]

------------------Ospina----------------
Zuñiga-----Yepes-----Zapata-----Armero
------------Sanchez-----Guarín----------
Rodriguez-----------------------Cuadrado
------------Martinez-----Falcao(Hopefully)---
Subs:Mondragon, Valdes , Perea, Medina ,Arias, Mosquera, Aguilar,Torres, Quintero, Muriel (Ramos), Gutierrez, Bacca (Ibarbo)
Hopefully we won't take things for granted like in 1994,i'd love to see this team lift the world cup the celebration would be epic,but realistically i see us reaching the quarterfinals at least

 

[SchmoodSpur2013]

Spain should be as good as ever but are a team coming to the end of a very successful period and there will be a few retirements after the WC with youngsters like Isco, Illaramendi, Koke, Thiago and Martinez coming in.

Valdes looks likely to take over the number 1 jersey if Casillas can't muscle himself back into Real Madrid's first team.

---------------------Valdes--------------------
Arbeloa-----Ramos-----Pique-----Alba
-------------------Busquets-------------------
--------------Alonso-----Xavi----------------
Pedro-----------Fabregas---------Iniesta

They'll more than likely rotate throughout the tournament with David Silva, Alvaro Negredo, Thiago and Javi Martinez featuring prominently.

 

[ArcspacE]

Isco will most likely play, especially ahead of someone like Fabregas or even Pedro

 

[JDK]

Spain should be as good as ever but are a team coming to the end of a very successful period and there will be a few retirements after the WC with youngsters like Isco, Illaramendi, Koke, Thiago and Martinez coming in.

Valdes looks likely to take over the number 1 jersey if Casillas can't muscle himself back into Real Madrid's first team.

---------------------Valdes--------------------
Arbeloa-----Ramos-----Pique-----Alba
-------------------Busquets-------------------
--------------Alonso-----Xavi----------------
Pedro-----------Fabregas---------Iniesta

They'll more than likely rotate throughout the tournament with David Silva, Alvaro Negredo, Thiago and Javi Martinez featuring prominently.

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Blech. You're right that's probably what they'll play because they like the Barcelona continuity but they would be so much more fun if they went:

------------------Valdes--------------------
Carvajal-----Ramos-----Pique-----Alba
-------------------Busquets-------------------
--------------Koke-----Xavi----------------
Silva-----------Negredo--------Iniesta

 

[JDK]

Isco will most likely play, especially ahead of someone like Fabregas or even Pedro

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Come on Arcy, you're our resident Barcelona hater. If you're not here to tell us that the Spanish national team team is biased towards Barcelona players—which it totally is—then who will?

I'm disappointed in you mate.