![]() ![]() Here are three teams who, at the moment, do not look like they are making their talent shine on the field. This is a team with a robust defense and a match-winning creator in Christian Eriksen that is a formula for serious success.ġ0. If they won the entire tournament in December only those who haven't been paying attention to European football for the last two years, or even just their win over France earlier this week, would be stunned. Their clean sheets against Poland and Belgium would also suggest that Virgil van Dijk's travails are isolated to Liverpool.Īs for Denmark, perhaps it is time to upgrade them from dark horse status. The Netherlands are similarly easy on the eye with Cody Gakpo blossoming alongside Memphis Depay. Spain controlled their game in Portugal though it was a familiar experience that took a lifetime to be expressed on the scoreboard on this occasion, Alvaro Morata struck late but there are so many occasions when Luis Enrique's side let their best chances slip away. Others, meanwhile, look to be grasping what needs to be done ahead of the tournament. You could say the same of Didier Deschamps' France. Meanwhile, Hansi Flick's side have the players for a fast-moving, ball-dominant style but rarely seem to get out of second gear. They were apparent when the two teams met on Monday Gareth Southgate can ill afford to play in such a conservative fashion if his defense cannot be relied upon to avoid basic errors. Is it only a lower-stakes tournament when you are not winning?Īt least for Germany and England, it has given them a magnifying glass with which to observe the weaknesses of their squad. How much does this arriviste competition mean to international managers? After all, it has given them what they wanted, games with stake against opposition on a similar footing. The Nations League makes for just as confusing a picture among its competitors as it does for South American teams. ![]() Argentina (-) Tier 2: Possible contenders ![]() Four years ago it seemed the great man had missed his last chance at glory. Lionel Scaloni may not be committed to unleashing his attacking talent en masse but instead, he has a side that are hard to break down, keep the ball well and get the best out of Lionel Messi. Tite's full-backs look a little weaker than the rest of the squad but you'll have to get the ball off them if you really want to test that Achilles' heel.Īrgentina, meanwhile, look like a team who can swat aside weaker nations. 9 jersey with club and, in the former's case, country. Brazil have competition for places across their frontline with Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus putting up quite the fight for the No. Argentina have played one European side in recent years but they comprehensively swept aside Italy in the summer's Finalissima at Wembley.įor now, we do not have as much as we would like to go on with regards to these two's recent games but the friendlies in which they have played suggest these are the two nations to beat in Qatar. Brazil have not played a European team since beating the Czech Republic in a friendly in March 2019. In years gone by friendly meetings between the best of Europe and South America were a rite of passage pre-tournament. The hulking presence of the Nations League on the international calendar serves to confuse matters somewhat. Here is how the 32 teams are shaping up after the final international break. Game faces on, we're in the big time now. The time for experimentation, blooding fringe players and honing the starting XI is gone. For many of those competing in Qatar there will be no more international fixtures between now and their first game at the tournament. ![]()
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