UEFA Football World Cup Qualifying Russia 2018

[stattointhailand]

Might as well have left Harry Kane, Vardy & Welbeck at home ......... there's nobody in midfield capable of seeing them and then finding them with an accurate pass

[Zidane]

Considering the dearth of decent players at his disposal,I think Southgate has done pretty well with his selections.
Very pleased that he hasn't picked Hart and Wilshere and great to see that he has found a place for Loftus-Cheek,who I think could play an important role in an otherwise dour looking midfield.
The only two I'm surprised he hasn't picked are Lewis Cook and Bertrand.
Realistically you have to say its a side that wont feature in the later stages of the tournament but if they get out of the group stages who knows ?
Overall I am more impressed with the choosing of Englands football team than that of the England cricket team to play Pakistan in the First Test where I am struggling to find any real positives.

[BobHelm]

France have announced their world cup squad..

France squad:

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain)

Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City), Benjamin Pavard (Stuttgart), Adil Rami (Marseille), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)

Midfielders: N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), Steven N'Zonzi (Sevilla), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Nabil Fekir (Lyon), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Florian Thauvin (Marseille)

Nice mixture from across the European leagues.
No place for Manchester United's Anthony Martial and Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette.
In the case of Martial it is hardly surprising given the amount of football he has played. A number of reports that he will be a 'make weight in a United summer transfer & so they will be disappointed that he has no chance to impress on the world stage.
Lacazette started for Arsenal like a rocket but an injury then kept him out of the game until March. I think that he might feel a little disappointed that he isn't in the full squad...

[stattointhailand]

Is it just a coincidence that the list ends on 28 Jun ??????

At least England players will have from 29 Jun to prepare for the start of next season

England's key World Cup dates
2 June v Nigeria (friendly)
7 June v Costa Rica (friendly)
12 June Squad leaves for Russia
18 June v Tunisia (opening group game)
24 June v Panama (second group game)
28 June v Belgium (final group game)

[mathusalah80]

Not got the faintest who he will "select"
Now, now Statts! The challenge was that YOU name the starting eleven and substitutes YOU would select NOT who Southgate will select!! There you go, ducking again!

Just as long as he DOESN'T pick any of the following .......

Hart
Stones
Young
Lallana
Wilshire
Livermore
Henderson
Personally I would add Welbeck to this list

hope he holds the proverbial "gun" to James Milner's head and gets him out of retirement [-o< [/quote
You will never know how much it hurts me to admit it Statts, but I agree with you. [/I An even bigger shock for you and, I suspect Zid, is that I would have included Shelvey in the squad. I think he had an incredible 2017-18 season; superior in terms of vision, tackling, leadership and fighting qualities, to both Henderson & Dier.oi
Also, you are spot on Statts, that England are totally bereft of a 'playmaker' and, for this reason alone, I cannot see the team progressing beyond it's usual pinnacle of a first round exit.

[stattointhailand]

Hate to say it, but the ex smoggie (no doubt why both Shelvey and Lascelles were overlooked) summed it up when he said he had picked players to play the system that he wanted to play .........

Well we all know what to look forward too then ............ Plan "A" bring the ball out from the back lose it (Stones and MaGuire are both masters of this) and give away a goal. Give the ball too one of the SIX wing backs who will bomb down the wing and providing they dont run it out for a goal kick will cross for the opposition goalkeeper to collect. Harry Kane will get more and more frustrated at lack of service and drop into his own half to actually get a touch of the ball. Jamie Vardy will run himself into the ground making darting runs and watching Henderson pass to Walker or Trippier or Young or Delph or Rose or Arnold who will make the next run down the wing.

Plan "B" same as plan "A" with 2 different wing backs....
Plan "C" Same as plans "A" & "B" with previously unused two wing backs
Plan "D" get on plane and come home on 29th June