Who do you think will win the World Cup and why?

I think it’ll be either Germany or France



Other notables in the hunt but who I think won’t win: Brazil, Argentina, Belgium, Portugal, Spain
 
Germany and Spain have to be favorites. Pogba is shit not so France won't be as good. Argentina barely got into the WC so can't consider them favorites. Neymar is injured with a broken bone so come WC his fitness will be quesionable and therefor Brazil will be a lot weaker. England, depends on the Spurs lads. Don't think they have it in them to win it like Portugal does. Belgium will be a dark horse along with Portugal and England (if you can call it a dark horse).

These 7 teams will compete for it and I'm predicting the Germans will do it. Their team looks right in every aspect and Bayern are on a good role so Müller will be cheery. Anything less than 9 points from them would be an upset so we'er probably looking at them playing against Belgium/England or Poland/Columbia in the quarters. I don't know, match them against any team in the competition and I feel that they are favorites but both England and Belgium would be very tough for them.

I'm not confident in Iceland's chances of qualifying from the group. Too many fitness issues from key players (Gylfi and Alfreð injured and the captain hasn't played for 3 months). My expectations are 3 points but 2 wouldn't be that bad either. 4 would be great.
 
Would be great to just get an iconic world cup side that comes in as a breath of fresh air and does it with style and some joy. Football needs it I think.

I always hope for an exciting Brazil team but fancy Spain to get back to a top level
 
El-Buitre said:
——————Diego Costa——————
——Isco———-Silva ———Thiago/Asensio——-
————Iniesta — Busquets
Alba—- Ramos — Piqué— Carvajal
——————De Gea—————

You can't go wrong with that starting eleven, it's the best 11 on paper imo, France have an average goalkeeper and pretty average fullbacks.
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That was a great team but I think the majority of those players are ever so slightly past their best.
 
Iniesta perhaps (even if he is doing really good for Barcelona this season) but the others not at all imo.
 
SER19 said:
Would be great to just get an iconic world cup side that comes in as a breath of fresh air and does it with style and some joy. Football needs it I think.
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Brazil, France, Spain and Germany have really strong squads. Overall way better top-end quality than in '10 & '14.
 
I fancy Argentina to win it. Sampaoli has a good pedigree as he has won a Copa America with Chile. I know Argentina were not great in qualifying but they still have the talent and they obviously have the best player in the world in their ranks.
 
I think brazil has a very good chance of doing it . They will be the ones i will put my money on. Semi finalists would be france, brazil, argentina and maybe england is they dont clash in the previous stages.
 
I think it'll be Spain or Germany. France's squad is brilliant but I don't think they have the mentality that the other two have which could be key. Argentina aren't good enough at the back to win it despite having the best attacking options. Brazil is a bit like France IMO but with a inferior squad. Belgium have as good a team as any but again lack that mentality to go and actually win it all. I'd love to see them do it, though.
 
I see no dark horses anywhere around. Germany has the benefit of a well-tuned one-club defence and a very well-stacked midfield. With in-form Kroos and Müller, one does not necessarily need a world-class striker upfront. Brazil looks strong on paper but some of their stars are a bit hyped I think.
 
Brazil.

For me is the better side (players and manager) but I expect a great world cup by Belgium this year.
 
crappycraperson said:


I think that's a tasty team and if it works then has the potential to be one of the great brazilian sides.

Marcelo plus Neymar can be a deadly left wing pair. 2 good DMs will allow the attacking full backs to flourish. Coutinho and Firmino showed good link up during their liverpool time. Only weak spot could be RB IMO.
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I dont think Tiago Silva is a starter nowdays?
 
GloryHunter07 said:
I dont think Tiago Silva is a starter nowdays?
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Seems to be a little bit in and out, but injuries have also played their part.

This season only:
01/09/17 - Qualifier v Ecuador (H) - Miranda started, Silva came on in his place at half time
05/09/17 - Qualifier v Colombia (A) - Started, subbed off deep into 2nd half injury time (to waste time? Rodrigo Caio came on)
05/10/17 - Qualifier v Bolivia (A) - Started alongside Miranda, got taken off injured in the 29th minute (Marquinhos on)
11/10/17 - Qualifier v Chile (H) - pulled out of the squad because of the previous injury
10/11/17 - Friendly v Japan (A) played the full 90 alongside Jemerson
14/11/17 - Friendly v England (A) Unused sub (Miranda and Marquinhos started)

Miranda looks like his main competition. Perhaps we could read something into him and Jemerson playing against Japan and not England as Brazil prioritising for the bigger game? Might be reading too much into it though as it could've just be semi-random squad roatation. Russia today for them, Germany on Tuesday. Might be worth looking out to see if something similar happens as the Germany game is obviously the big one, although Marquinhos apparently has a slight knock so that could also play a part in who they go with.
 
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Chipper said:
Seems to be a little bit in and out, but injuries have also played their part.

This season only:
01/09/17 - Qualifier v Ecuador (H) - Miranda started, Silva came on in his place at half time
05/09/17 - Qualifier v Colombia (A) - Started, subbed off deep into 2nd half injury time (to waste time? Rodrigo Caio came on)
05/10/17 - Qualifier v Bolivia (A) - Started alongside Miranda, got taken off injured in the 29th minute (Marquinhos on)
11/10/17 - Qualifier v Chile (H) - pulled out of the squad because of the previous injury
10/11/17 - Friendly v Japan (A) played the full 90 alongside Jemerson
14/11/17 - Friendly v England (A) Unused sub (Miranda and Marquinhos started)

Miranda looks like his main competition. Perhaps we could read something into him and Jemerson playing against Japan and not England as Brazil prioritising for the bigger game? Might be reading too much into it though as it could've just be semi-random squad roatation. Russia today for them, Germany on Tuesday. Might be worth looking out to see if something similar happens as the Germany game is obviously the big one, although Marquinhos apparently has a slight knock so that could also play a part in who they go with.
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Thanks - great research! I think Tim Vickery said that he has lost his place but might have misunderstood. Will be interesting to see what they do at the WC.
 
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Super unbalanced but I would love to see Brazil 442 or 4141 and just go all out attack

Ederson
Alves Silva Marquinhos Marcelo
Willian Casemeiro Coutinho Costa
Firminho Neymar

Ederson
Alves Silva Marquinhos Marcelo
Casemeiro
Willian Firminho Coutinho Neymar
Jesus​
 
GloryHunter07 said:
Thanks - great research! I think Tim Vickery said that he has lost hos place but might have misunderstood. Will be interesting to see what they do at the WC.
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Tim Vickery is right. The starters are Marquinhos and Miranda. Thiago Silva only play when one of those two were injured/rested.
 
If I was putting money on anyone it would be the Germans. On paper you’d think Belgium might go close but somehow I see them cocking it up, perhaps it’s lack of conviction in my thinking that Martinez can guide them all the way to glory.
 
Frank Grimes said:
I fancy Argentina to win it. Sampaoli has a good pedigree as he has won a Copa America with Chile. I know Argentina were not great in qualifying but they still have the talent and they obviously have the best player in the world in their ranks.
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This as Messi last chance realistically of reaching anywhere near Maradona status in his homeland and who’d bet against the little magician?
 
Frank Grimes said:
I fancy Argentina to win it. Sampaoli has a good pedigree as he has won a Copa America with Chile. I know Argentina were not great in qualifying but they still have the talent and they obviously have the best player in the world in their ranks.
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ronaldo swopped nationalitys then
 
ZAGREB RED said:
Think it's pretty open, but Spain and Germany will be the obvious favourites. Not sure who could be dark horses, Russia maybe being the hosts, but I doubt it, Belgium maybe.
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It was only a friendly and there a few months to go until the tournament starts, but after watching Russia in their friendly with Brazil yesterday, I'd say they look pretty poor, so even as hosts, their chances look pretty remote.
 
I have a sinking feeling its going to be Germany again. Boring as hell but they have balance, tournament experience, and more steel than the French, who I'm pretty certain will go far but bottle it again. Spain are a pretty close second for me.

I'd love it to be Argentina or Portugal though. Portugal have the best squad since 2004 and I think they'll do well, while it's Messi's last realistic chance, and the romantic in me wants him to win a world cup before he bows out on the international stage.
 
Argentina for me. But that's just me being biased. Most likely it'll be Germany again.
 
Raees said:
Super unbalanced but I would love to see Brazil 442 or 4141 and just go all out attack

Ederson
Alves Silva Marquinhos Marcelo
Willian Casemeiro Coutinho Costa
Firminho Neymar

Ederson
Alves Silva Marquinhos Marcelo
Casemeiro
Willian Firminho Coutinho Neymar
Jesus​
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Its impossible to play that way because Dani Alves is in decline this season and Marcelo is not great at defending.

Also, against Russia we saw that Coutinho can't play in the middle. He's always in the attack and the midfield vulnerable.

There are some new skilfull/passing midfielders arriving but they are all for 2022: Arthur, Fred, Lucas Paqueta and some others who will allow Brazil to play a more modern style. In the moment i think Tite should just lock the midfield with Paulinho-Casemiro-Fernandinho to free the attack.
 
Pink Moon said:
I think it'll be Spain or Germany. France's squad is brilliant but I don't think they have the mentality that the other two have which could be key. Argentina aren't good enough at the back to win it despite having the best attacking options. Brazil is a bit like France IMO but with a inferior squad. Belgium have as good a team as any but again lack that mentality to go and actually win it all. I'd love to see them do it, though.
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Funny thing is, before 2008 that was the perfect description of Spain. Seriously talented group of players, not enough bottle to do anything with it. Or the same for the Germans between 2006-2014 where they reached the SF or better of every tournament since 2006 but still didn't win.

Doesn't take much to change that though, and this France squad is stacked with a stupid amount of talent - and can compete with anyone on their day.
 
Charles Miller said:
Its impossible to play that way because Dani Alves is in decline this season and Marcelo is not great at defending.

Also, against Russia we saw that Coutinho can't play in the middle. He's always in the attack and the midfield vulnerable.

There are some new skilfull/passing midfielders arriving but they are all for 2022: Arthur, Fred, Lucas Paqueta and some others who will allow Brazil to play a more modern style. In the moment i think Tite should just lock the midfield with Paulinho-Casemiro-Fernandinho to free the attack.
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Sensible advice but disagree with needing three of those guys.. way too negative and it will be too easy to mark their attacking players if too rigid.
 
Pink Moon said:
I think it'll be Spain or Germany. France's squad is brilliant but I don't think they have the mentality that the other two have which could be key. Argentina aren't good enough at the back to win it despite having the best attacking options. Brazil is a bit like France IMO but with a inferior squad. Belgium have as good a team as any but again lack that mentality to go and actually win it all. I'd love to see them do it, though.
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I don't think it's a mental issue it's just they're tactically not as refined and I put that down to the coach who lacks the ability to make them aware on and off the ball and too naive in defence and attack. This allied to the youthful and inexperienced nature of their squad makes them likely to fall down if against a more solid well drilled outfit who is similar on a talent level.

Mentally they're very confident and vibrant but possibly reckless. They won't hide though.. team of ball players.
 
Germany are a machine, they are as slick as a team can be. Spain are not as slick as Germany but they have that little something that make them very special. Brazil, I have only seen them twice but they seemed strangely dangerous, a little bit like Monaco last season, they can beat anyone and could lose against any of the big teams.
 
Charles Miller said:
Its impossible to play that way because Dani Alves is in decline this season and Marcelo is not great at defending.

Also, against Russia we saw that Coutinho can't play in the middle. He's always in the attack and the midfield vulnerable.

There are some new skilfull/passing midfielders arriving but they are all for 2022: Arthur, Fred, Lucas Paqueta and some others who will allow Brazil to play a more modern style. In the moment i think Tite should just lock the midfield with Paulinho-Casemiro-Fernandinho to free the attack.
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That sounds so uninspiring. Unless the front three go into Rivaldo-Ronaldo-Ronaldinho level, it'll be a difficult watch.

It's a shame one of Sandro or Felipe Luis isn't a RB. Any chance Fabinho will go?
 
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