They lack the Star Quality which they had in the 2006 World Cup Squad With the Likes of Mark Viduka,Harry Kewell,Tim Cahill(His Prime),Bret Emerton,Lucas Neill,Craig Moore,Mark Schwarzer etc.They had Decent Balance in Attack,Midfield and Defence as all these players were spread across the field.All of them were Prominent players for their clubs in England.
Now,Their most prominent players are Aaron Mooy(Huddersfield),Matt Ryan(Brighton),Mile Jedinak(Championship).two of them are Defensive Midfielders and one is Goalkeeper.So,they have certainly gone down in my opinion.
Russia were never a force to reckon after the breakup of USSR. In 1986 WC they started with a bang by winning 6-0 against Hungary , and dominated Michael Platini's France even though it ends in draw. They were rated the dark horse in the tournament . But in the round of 16 they lost to unfancied Belgium in extra time 3-4. USSR were unlucky in that match as two goals which they conceed was controversial and they were not allowed a goal . A sad end for talented group . Some of the players in that squad has played in Nehru cup previous year in Thiruvananthapuram. Like Egor Belanov, Alexi Mikhaeal Chenkov etc. That was the last time Russia has done some thing in the world cup and after that it was gradual decline in their football. Hope this time they will prove the critics wrong and come up with good results in their on soil.
Harsh Cold weather in Russia doesnt permit access to playgrounds 365 days a year. This is the reason Football never became popular there. When it was USSR, there were other republics with more favourable climate for Football and players came from all those regions like Latvia Armenia or Uzbekistan.
They were formidable force before breakup of USSR in 1991. In 1988 Euro Cup, they reached Finals and defeated Italy, England on the way. only due to Riuud Gullit, Marco Van Basten, Holland were able to defeat them.
Just like Brazilians find their soul in Football, Russians find it in Ice Hockey. That is what everybody dreams of coupled with great respect and prizes for Olympic Glory.
Defenders (9): Carlos Salcedo (Eintracht Frankfurt), Nestor Araujo (Santos Laguna), Diego Reyes (Porto), Hector Moreno (Real Sociedad), Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Oswaldo Alanis (Chivas), Edson Alvarez (Club America), Jesus Gallardo (Pumas), Miguel Layun (Sevilla)
Midfielders (8): Jesus Molina (Monterrey), Rafa Marquez (Atlas), Hector Herrera (Porto), Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Erick Gutierrez (Pachuca), Marco Fabian (Eintracht Frankfurt), Giovani Dos Santos (LA Galaxy)
Forwards (8): Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez (West Ham United), Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Oribe Peralta (Club America), Jesus "Tecatito" Corona (Porto), Carlos Vela (LAFC), Javier Aquino (Tigres), Hirving Lozano (PSV), Jurgen Damm (Tigres)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano, Ángel Di María, Ever Banega, Lucas Biglia, Manuel Lanzini, Gio Lo Celso, Ricardo Centurión, Guido Pizarro, Leandro Paredes, Maximiliano Meza, Enzo Pérez, Pablo Pérez, Rodrigo Battaglia.
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, Gonzalo Higuaín, Paulo Dybala, Mauro Icardi Cristian Pavón, Lautaro Martínez y Diego Perotti.
Comments
S.Korea I agree...
are you sure about Australia ? 19 points and lost just one game...
It's just that Saudi did exceptionally well..
They lack the Star Quality which they had in the 2006 World Cup Squad With the Likes of Mark Viduka,Harry Kewell,Tim Cahill(His Prime),Bret Emerton,Lucas Neill,Craig Moore,Mark Schwarzer etc.They had Decent Balance in Attack,Midfield and Defence as all these players were spread across the field.All of them were Prominent players for their clubs in England.
Now,Their most prominent players are Aaron Mooy(Huddersfield),Matt Ryan(Brighton),Mile Jedinak(Championship).two of them are Defensive Midfielders and one is Goalkeeper.So,they have certainly gone down in my opinion.
Squad in full
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Roma), Ederson (Man City), Cassio (Corinthians)
Full-backs: Marcelo (Real Madrid) Danilo (Man City), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Fagner (Corinthians).
Centre-backs: Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (PSG), Miranda (Inter Milan), Pedro Geromel (Gremio).
Midfielders: Willian (Chelsea), Fernandinho (Man City), Paulinho (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Fred (Shakhtar).
Forwards: Neymar (PSG), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Douglas Costa (Juventus), Taison (Shakhtar).
Goalkeepers (3): Guillermo Ochoa (Standard), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul)
Defenders (9): Carlos Salcedo (Eintracht Frankfurt), Nestor Araujo (Santos Laguna), Diego Reyes (Porto), Hector Moreno (Real Sociedad), Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Oswaldo Alanis (Chivas), Edson Alvarez (Club America), Jesus Gallardo (Pumas), Miguel Layun (Sevilla)
Midfielders (8): Jesus Molina (Monterrey), Rafa Marquez (Atlas), Hector Herrera (Porto), Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Erick Gutierrez (Pachuca), Marco Fabian (Eintracht Frankfurt), Giovani Dos Santos (LA Galaxy)
Forwards (8): Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez (West Ham United), Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Oribe Peralta (Club America), Jesus "Tecatito" Corona (Porto), Carlos Vela (LAFC), Javier Aquino (Tigres), Hirving Lozano (PSV), Jurgen Damm (Tigres)
Argentina preliminary World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero, Nahuel Guzman, Willy Caballero, Franco Armani.
Defenders: Gabriel Mercado, Nicolás Otamendi, Federico Fazio, Nicolás Tagliafico, Marcos Rojo, Marcos Acuña, Ramiro Funes Mori, Cristian Ansaldi, Eduardo Salvio, Germán Pezzella.
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano, Ángel Di María, Ever Banega, Lucas Biglia, Manuel Lanzini, Gio Lo Celso, Ricardo Centurión, Guido Pizarro, Leandro Paredes, Maximiliano Meza, Enzo Pérez, Pablo Pérez, Rodrigo Battaglia.
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, Gonzalo Higuaín, Paulo Dybala, Mauro Icardi Cristian Pavón, Lautaro Martínez y Diego Perotti.