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

:confused:
fcbforever said:
Draxler isn’t even playing, Khedira isn’t set in stone either.

Also: too short? Are you kidding? :wenger:
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I was pretty sure "too short" was actually... english. Sorry about that. We maybe say "lacking" or "insufficient". However, I just wanted to say the team seems not good enough comparatively to Spain and Brazil to win it even it the players do have the mentality and are used to win tough games.

I heard the team against Spain should be the 11 and Draxler was in. The only person who can put Draxler on the bench is Reus but at the time we speak he is still not fit.

You're right when you say Khedira is in danger. But is there actually someone who can replace him ? Gundogan often is useless. Goretza ? Gotze ? Can ? Rudy... ? :confused:
They don't have more references at this position with the NT; and it's not really better than Khedira. Anyway it just prove that the team is not ready yet.
 
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With the level of talent on Belgium's team they should be at least getting to the semis.
 
SaintTresano said:
It definitely won't be England. And you can quote me on this.

France will succumb to the pressure of having the best team on paper. Spain to win it all. Peru in the quarter finals.
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France don't have the best team on paper. Spain, Germany and Brazil have better teams.
 
Aurell said:
:confused:

I was pretty sure "too short" was actually... english. Sorry about that. We maybe say "lacking" or "insufficient". However, I just wanted to say the team seems not good enough comparatively to Spain and Brazil to win it even it the players do have the mentality and are used to win tough games.

I heard the team against Spain should be the 11 and Draxler was in. The only person who can put Draxler on the bench is Reus but at the time we speak he is still not fit.

You're right when you say Khedira is in danger. But is there actually someone who can replace him ? Gundogan often is useless. Goretza ? Gotze ? Can ? Rudy... ? :confused:
They don't have more references at this position with the NT; and it's not really better than Khedira. Anyway it just prove that the team is not ready yet.
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Reus was just left at home as precaution. If he’s fit at the World Cup, he will play. And I don’t know what your problem with Khedira is, he’s still a starter at one of the best clubs in the word. But even then, Goretzka is excellent and absolutely capable of driving him out of the team.
 
Spain I reckon. They have the quality so it's jjust whether it can all come together.

France probably have the best group of players but too many of them are inconsistent. In fact, pretty much all of them are. They're just as likely to crash out in the group stage as they are to win it I reckon, though they could do either.
 
Tbh I don't get at all what this huge fuss over Brazil is about. Sure they have a have a good, solid squad that looks pretty well rounded on paper, but that doesn't really set them apart form other top teams: Thiago Silva and Alves are aging, Marcelo does not perform as well as he does for Real, Willian, Coutinho, Fernandinho, Paulinho, Jesus are good players, but not anything other top teams don't have themselves. I have similar objections over France. In terms of talent they are easy up there at the top, but they lack in experience and they never really seemed to me like a good cohesive team.

Tier 1
Spain, Germany
the best teams (as in combination of individual talent, tactics and cohesion). I think Spain has a bit more individual quality than Germany and I have this feeling that with Iniesta, Silva Pique, Alba, Ramos, Busquets all being around/over 30 their squad is at a peak, so they are my favourites.

Tier 2
Brazil, France
Brazil is a good team, but I think individually they don't hold up to Spain and Germany. France have alle (attacking) talent in the world, but as I've mentioned, I don't think they look like a cohesive team. Both teams can win it, but they will need a bit of luck against the other favourites.

Tier 3
Argentina
Mainly because I wouldn't put it past Messi to carry them, but I see them a good way behind the other four teams.

The other teams I think have next to no chance of winning the cup.

I think in the end Germany's team will look something like this:
Neuer - Kimmich, Hummels, Boateng, Hector - Khedira, Kroos - Müller, Özil, Reus - Werner

The defense seems pretty set in stone to me (MAtS if Neuer doesn't get fit in time). Khedira's spot is probably one of the more open choices for Löw, but I think experience and loyalty will swing it for him - initially at least. Reus came back in surprsingly good shape after his injury, if he stays fit he will finally make it to a big tournament. Werner's form has cooled off a bit for Leipzig in recent weeks, which may or may not cost him his spot in the starting XI.
 
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As a Belgian, I'm hoping Martinez can recreate some of that memorable inspiration/luck that helped him win the FA cup with Wigan.
He's generally viewed as a bit clueless by the Belgian media and fans (and some of the players), so it's basically our only hope; that he's a "cup manager".

Realistically though, I fear we'll be out in the QF, when we'll likely face Brazil.
 
The French aren't winning this one, this French side don't have the bottle to win big. Have no idea who's gonna win this, though.
 
Sanche7 said:
Germany may not have many superstars but as a team they play very well
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I honestly consider the likes of Neuer, Boateng, Hummels, Kimmich, Kroos, Khedira, Özil, Gündogan, Müller, maybe even (if they hit form) Reus, Sane, Draxler, Werner, Goretzka, potential superstars in their positions. I don't think many teams have more superstars than us.

But for the past 2 years we've been declining in my opinion. I don't think we'll win it. But there is still no reason for us, not to be one of the main favorites.


France has the most talented squad, but i don't think they will get the most out of it. Somehow i believe it's finally Argentinas destiny to win it, just like Chelsea 2012 or Portugal 2016. As long as they don't face Germany, they can do it (they lost to us thrice in a row, 06, 10, 14).
 
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Tomuś said:
The French aren't winning this one, this French side don't have the bottle to win big. Have no idea who's gonna win this, though.
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Yup, people should really look at the amount of CL games played by France potential starting eleven and then look at the amount of KO games, it's very slim compared to Spain, Germany or even Brazil.
 
OutlawGER said:
I honestly consider the likes of Neuer, Boateng, Hummels, Kimmich, Kroos, Khedira, Özil, Gündogan, Müller, maybe even (if they hit form) Reus, Sane, Draxler, Werner, Goretzka, potential superstars in their positions. I don't think many teams have more superstars than us.

But for the past 2 years we've been declining in my opinion. I don't think we'll win it. But there is still no reason for us, not to be one of the main favorites.

France has the most talented squad, but i don't think they will get the most out of it. Somehow i believe it's finally Argentinas destiny to win it, just like Chelsea 2012 or Portugal 2016. As long as they don't face Germany, they can do it (they lost to us thrice in a row, 06, 10, 14).
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What I meant by superstars is match winners, people who can single handedly win games, specifically forwards.
Muller is not in top form, can't really depend on Reus, Sane could potentially be good, same with Draxler and Werner.At the same time those youngsters could have a bad outing.
Comparing that to other favorites, Brazil have Neymar, Jesus, Willian, Costa; Argentina have Messi, Aguero Higuain, Icardi,Di Maria, Dybala ; France have Griezmann, Mbappe, Dembele, Martial, Coman, Fekir and many others.

But the thing with Germany is that they don't need star attackers, they do not depend on individuals like Argentina or France do.
As I mentioned in that post, Argentina and France are just a collection of very good footballers, but Germany and Brazil are more than that, they feel more like a team when I watch them.

And I disagree with your opinion that this could be Argentina's year because I feel half their team are cowards, with no one really giving a damn about the jersey they wear.
The best examples for this are guys like Higuain and Aguero. Higuain never turns up and what's worse he often bottles it and Aguero is almost always injured for the national team, like way too often.
Add to that the politics involved and a rather weak midfield and backline, I really don't see it, but I could be wrong
 
I'm not sure by what logic guys like Costa, Willian, Coman, Martial and Jesus are star attackers, but the German guys aren't.
 
I think Spain will win it. Their squad is amazing and beautifully balanced. They've got lots of really exciting young players like Isco, Koke and Asensio, even De Gea will be at his first world cup. Whilst at the same time having some of the old classics like Ramos, Pique, Iniesta and Silva. Playing exactly where you'd want your experienced players to be playing in the middle of the midfield and centre of defence.
 
Hope Spain (just because of DDG) or Argentina (just because of Messi) win it.
 
do.ob said:
I'm not sure by what logic guys like Costa, Willian, Coman, Martial and Jesus are star attackers, but the German guys aren't.
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How about Coutinho, Firmino, Neymar and Mbappe ( costliest teenager in the history ) , Fekir, Griezmann, Dembele ( second costliest transfer in the history)
 
Germany B team who played against Brazil is stronger than Spain. "Bu but they draw against Germany A". Yeah, i know it.

Spain will need 1.875,000 minutes close to your box to score a goal. "But they scored 6 against Argentina". Yeah, i know it.
 
I hope if Argentina bore their away to the final like last time, Messi gets all the credit for his great defensive prowess. ;)
 
Sanche7 said:
How about Coutinho, Firmino, Neymar and Mbappe ( costliest teenager in the history ) , Fekir, Griezmann, Dembele ( second costliest transfer in the history)
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What about them? I never said that France and Brazil didn't have quality players? Though you name Fekir, who has zero CL goals and less than 90 minutes of NT football to his name in the past couple of years. What makes you think he's going to play and do well at the world cup? Coutinho from what I saw has not set the world alight for Brazil and Dembele is a complete wild card, because while he has endless amounts of talent he's not very mature yet, which can create a lot of problems for his own team, because they need to work out a concept to back up his unrestricted movement and high risked dribblings. Firmino - from what I can tell - doesn't start and scored his last goal for Brazil two years ago.
They are quality players, but that doesn't mean that they will be top performers at the WC.

FWIW I wouldn't be surprised if all the guys you have named (minus Neymar) have less NT goals between them than Müller. I'm not trying to paint him as some kind of Messi, but that has to count for something.
 
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Spain or Germany. Brazil will do well to get to the semis but I can’t see them winning it.
 
Sanche7 said:
What I meant by superstars is match winners, people who can single handedly win games, specifically forwards.
Muller is not in top form, can't really depend on Reus, Sane could potentially be good, same with Draxler and Werner.At the same time those youngsters could have a bad outing.
Comparing that to other favorites, Brazil have Neymar, Jesus, Willian, Costa; Argentina have Messi, Aguero Higuain, Icardi,Di Maria, Dybala ; France have Griezmann, Mbappe, Dembele, Martial, Coman, Fekir and many others.

But the thing with Germany is that they don't need star attackers, they do not depend on individuals like Argentina or France do.
As I mentioned in that post, Argentina and France are just a collection of very good footballers, but Germany and Brazil are more than that, they feel more like a team when I watch them.

And I disagree with your opinion that this could be Argentina's year because I feel half their team are cowards, with no one really giving a damn about the jersey they wear.
The best examples for this are guys like Higuain and Aguero. Higuain never turns up and what's worse he often bottles it and Aguero is almost always injured for the national team, like way too often.
Add to that the politics involved and a rather weak midfield and backline, I really don't see it, but I could be wrong
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What a trainwreck of a post. Müller not in top form? Have you watched football, like, at all the past 6 month? He's probably Bayerns best player at the moment.

Then you talk about how there are questionmark over our wingers, yet you mentioned the failure that is Douglas Costa, the average Willian, the just-having-his-breakout-season Coman, Dembele with his nightmare season, Martial with pretty much a similarly bad season and Fekir who has done feck all one the international stage as somehow superior star players.
 
do.ob said:
Tbh I don't get at all what this huge fuss over Brazil is about. Sure they have a have a good, solid squad that looks pretty well rounded on paper, but that doesn't really set them apart form other top teams: Thiago Silva and Alves are aging, Marcelo does not perform as well as he does for Real, Willian, Coutinho, Fernandinho, Paulinho, Jesus are good players, but not anything other top teams don't have themselves. I have similar objections over France. In terms of talent they are easy up there at the top, but they lack in experience and they never really seemed to me like a good cohesive team.



Tier 2
Brazil, France
Brazil is a good team, but I think individually they don't hold up to Germany

I think in the end Germany's team will look something like this:
Neuer - Kimmich, Hummels, Boateng, Hector - Khedira, Kroos - Müller, Özil, Reus - Werner

The defense seems pretty set in stone to me (MAtS if Neuer doesn't get fit in time). Khedira's spot is probably one of the more open choices for Löw, but I think experience and loyalty will swing it for him - initially at least. Reus came back in surprsingly good shape after his injury, if he stays fit he will finally make it to a big tournament. Werner's form has cooled off a bit for Leipzig in recent weeks, which may or may not cost him his spot in the starting XI.
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Alisson > Neuer

Alves < Kimmich
Silva > Hummels
Miranda < Boateng
Marcelo > ?

Casemiro > Khedira
Fernandinho < Kroos
Paulinho < Ozil

Neymar > Muller
Coutinho = Reus
Jesus > Werner

Looks pretty even to me individually speaking.
 
bebeanderson said:
Alisson > Neuer

Alves < Kimmich
Silva > Hummels
Miranda < Boateng
Marcelo > ?

Casemiro > Khedira
Fernandinho < Kroos
Paulinho < Ozil

Neymar > Muller
Coutinho = Reus
Jesus > Werner

Looks pretty even to me individually speaking.
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Allison better than Neuer....fecking hell I'm glad newbies have post restrictions :wenger: Also, you should maybe look at a whole squad instead of the perfect 11 which might never be able to play at the same time.
 
bebeanderson said:
Alisson = Neuer

Alves < Kimmich
Silva > Hummels
Miranda < Boateng
Marcelo > ?

Casemiro > Khedira
Fernandinho < Kroos
Paulinho < Ozil

Neymar > Muller
Coutinho = Reus
Jesus > Werner

Looks pretty even to me individually speaking.
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These two are highly arguable, Silva is far from his former self, Marquinhos is probably better at this point and Hummels is better too. Jesus and Werner are in the same bracket.
 
bebeanderson said:
Alisson > Neuer

Alves < Kimmich
Silva > Hummels
Miranda < Boateng
Marcelo > ?

Casemiro > Khedira
Fernandinho < Kroos
Paulinho < Ozil

Neymar > Muller
Coutinho = Reus
Jesus > Werner

Looks pretty even to me individually speaking.
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Bold ones are the better players in my opinion. The rest are about equal. Werner is a great player if he is well mentally for the WC. So i'd say Germany is just slightly better stacked in individual talent than Brazil. Now if you consider the 2nd lines then the Germans are even better. The biggest difference though, will be how the managers put the system into practice.
 
broccoli said:
Bold ones are the better players in my opinion. The rest are about equal. Werner is a great player if he is well mentally for the WC. So i'd say Germany is just slightly better stacked in individual talent than Brazil. Now if you consider the 2nd lines then the Germans are even better. The biggest difference though, will be how the managers put the system into practice.
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No way that Miranda is better than Boateng. Also no way that the ancient Alves is better than Kimmich.
 
I hope Argentina win it, it will lift Messi unequivocally above Maradona and Pele as the undisputed best. Sadly their defence just doesn't look strong enough, and Sampaoli appears to be making a number of errors in his team selections.

I think Spain will go in as favourites. There's not many weaknesses in their side, if any at all. I wouldn't bet against Isco turning out as Player of the Tournament either.
 
Cal? said:
I hope if Argentina bore their away to the final like last time, Messi gets all the credit for his great defensive prowess. ;)
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You are so obsessed with Messi its worrying :wenger:

anyways I think Argentina will win the World cup but it won't be pretty and they'll need alot of luck.
 
France v Spain.

France are this year's '2014 Germany' or '2010 Spain' - i.e. the side with the most quality to call on, on paper.

Spain look 'back' to me now - they've shaken off the bits of the Del Bosque generation that needed shaking off, they've got the key players (Thiago, Isco) clicking and they finally seem to have sorted out a few proper centre forwards who will actually score goals. Plus De Gea, obviously.
 
Think I said it in another thread, but I'm going with Spain. Germany would be my second favorites.

Brazil seem a lot better than they were a four years ago but I think their midfield seems a bit too workmanlike, lacking much quality in Casemiro, Paulinho and Fernandinho.

May come back to bit me, but I really don't see France winning it. They have a lot of good players, but as a unit, I think they lose comfortably to any one of the three teams above if they meet.
 
fcbforever said:
No way that Miranda is better than Boateng. Also no way that the ancient Alves is better than Kimmich.
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Boateng is the better athlete but Miranda is more cunning and more effective defensively. Boateng seems to have a mistake or two in him yet. But in any case it's a tiny margin we are talking about here and of course just my opinion.

I'm not a big fan of Alves but for this World Cup i reckon he will still be more of threat than Kimmich but then i also haven't watched much from the latter.
 
broccoli said:
Boateng is the better athlete but Miranda is more cunning and more effective defensively. Boateng seems to have a mistake or two in him yet. But in any case it's a tiny margin we are talking about here and of course just my opinion.

I'm not a big fan of Alves but for this World Cup i reckon he will still be more of threat than Kimmich but then i also haven't watched much from the latter.
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Different styles, but Miranda is very effective I wouldn't underestimate the Brazilian backline if I was a German or Spanish fan, beside that Tite gave them the organization they probably didn't had at least since Parreira in 94 imo, actually I think the last great NT coach they had was Tele Santana but that is another story, don't want to say nothing about Scolari.

Having said that, my number 1 to win is Spain.
 
broccoli said:
Boateng is the better athlete but Miranda is more cunning and more effective defensively. Boateng seems to have a mistake or two in him yet. But in any case it's a tiny margin we are talking about here and of course just my opinion.

I'm not a big fan of Alves but for this World Cup i reckon he will still be more of threat than Kimmich but then i also haven't watched much from the latter.
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15 assists in 35 games for Kimmich. Also goalthreat we haven't had as fullback in long time. He's having his absolute breakout season for Bayern after already being extremely good last season (but then he had his best performanes as a central midfielder). I reckon that if Germany reaches the semis at least, Kimmich will be hailed as the worlds best RB after this worlcup.

Alves has looked extremely wonky this season for PSG; I reckon he's done for. Brazil just doesn't have a replacement at all.
 
Raees said:
Germany have an experienced defence and midfield, though at full-back they're a tad short and in midfield, one has to question whether the likes of Kroos/Ozil will have the same intensity as yesteryear. Sane and Werner will be key if they're to win.. but lets be honest here, it is ridiculously hard to win back to back world cups.. even Spain couldn't manage it and the last team to pull it off is Brazil in 1962. Due to the statistical improbability of them pulling it off, I don't think it is going to be them.. solid team though, definite QF's - anything less than Semi's is a dissappointment.. after that anything could happen.

France - most talented team in the competition for me, but they have a very poor manager in charge who makes strange decisions and lacks imagination. It is rare you see a hopeless manager in charge of a top side and win a major international competition, so for me.. they'll probably take the breath away in patches, become everyone's favourite team only for it to end in glorious failure. This team can be the total footballing side of the World Cup and Mbappe will shine IMO.

Brazil.. for some reason whenever I watch them, they still don't get the pulse racing bar Neymar. It is because they lack class in the CM positions and it means the wingers/attackers have to drop deep and playmake, which means a slow ponderous tempo. Brazil being Brazil, you can never rule them out and they do have history of grinding wins out on the back of great individual performances but I think QF/SF is max they can go.

Argentina.. people didn't think they could get to the final in 2014, but Messi somehow grinded them towards the final and I think the support staff, the manager and Messi himself are better than in 2014 IMO. Very unpredictable side, they could be downright awful and get knocked out in group stage but I just can't see Messi letting his last chance of glory getting away from him with a whimper. I think they'll surprise a lot of people.

Spain.. just a very strong strong outfit. They'll never hit the heights of the tiki taka side led by Xavi, but they're just so damn competent and experienced. They'll dominate any given game they take part in, and I can't see how a side like Argentina would beat them even with Messi.. finalists. Big issue for them is sheer lack of goal threat. Games involving them will generally be very tight.
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Soo...In short, you have no clue who will win?
 
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