World Cup teams on show
Club soccer takes a back seat as the managers of the 32 finalists for the World Cup in Russia in June and July try to get their ducks in a row.
It seems like just yesterday, but South Africa’s 2010 World Cup is now well in the past and almost eight years on preparations are proceeding apace for the 2018 finals in Russia. All of the 32 finalists heading to the tournament in June and July will be preparing over the next week as they utilise the FIFA window for international matches to call up players and compete in vital warm-up games.
For most it is a chance to hone the team, spend time together and pick up from where they left off after the qualifiers last year.
Some managers have brought new players on board at the expense of out-of-form players, who are being given a warning to lift their game or face the possibility of missing out on the tournament. Christian Benteke of Belgium is an example and has been dropped by his country because of his inability to score for relegation-threatened Crystal Palace. Others are the Chelsea trio of Alvaro Morata and Pedro (both Spain), and Gary Cahill (England).
Then there is the case of Australia and Saudi Arabia, who both qualified from the Asian zone and who play under new coaches for the first time.
The Saudis inexplicably sacked the Dutch coach Bert van Maarwijk after they secured qualification last year, while the intense pressure of international football management accounted for Ange Postecoglou after he was heavily criticised as the Socceroos squeezed through a play-off against Syria to qualify.
Van Maarwijk is now in charge of Australia, while Juan Antonio Pizzi has been handed the reins at Saudi Arabia.
They have much work to do in the coming weeks to be effective in Russia.
The team to watch this week is Argentina, who bumbled through the qualifiers and looked poor last November in friendlies against Russia and Nigeria, who beat them 4-2.
Argentina meet Italy on Friday in Manchester and then play Spain next Tuesday in Madrid. TAB soccer punters might be tempted to bet against Argentina in these games, but the World Cup represents Lionel Messi’s last chance for success with the national team and he may prove a match-winner yet again.
Other choice friendlies on Friday are England away at the Netherlands, with Gareth Southgate having picked a young squad minus injured Harry Kane, and Germany hosting Spain in Dusseldorf.
For TAB soccer pools players, these matches will be a good indicator of how these teams are likely to fare in the group stages of the World Cup.