With no more international fixtures to be played between now and the end of the season, national team bosses won’t have another opportunity to bring their players together before naming their initial squads for this summer’s 2018 FIFA World Cup.
While there’ll be some happy managers, including Spain’s Julen Lopetegui and Brazil’s Tite, others such as Portugal’s Fernando Santos and Argentina’s Jorge Sampaoli have been left with plenty to ponder following mixed results in their two March friendlies.
Here we take a look at five things to consider ahead of the World Cup following the latest round of international matches…
MESSI’S REST WILL SERVE ARGENTINA WELL IN RUSSIA
Lionel Messi trained with Argentina but didn’t play against Italy or Spain
Will he? Won’t he? No-one was quite sure what was going on with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi during the international break, before he eventually missed both games due to a slight hamstring injury. While there’s no doubt he would have liked to have played against his Barcelona teammates in Argentina’s game against Spain, by not featuring in either of the two friendlies, Messi will have earned himself a full two-week break by the time he plays for Barcelona again. Club boss Ernesto Valverde will be happy, but so too will Jorge Sampaoli, as his key man will be fresher come crunch time in Russia.
WALKER’S THE MAN FOR SOUTHGATE’S DEFENSIVE PLAN
Kyle Walker was named man of the match for his display against Italy
When Kyle Walker was named as the right-sided defender in a three-man backline by Gareth Southgate for the game against the Netherlands, eyebrows were raised. But the Manchester City man showed just why his national team boss has moved him away from his natural position with impressive displays against the Dutch and then Italy. Kieran Trippier will likely start at right-wing back with Walker on the cover, forming a crucial part of Southgate’s plans for England in Russia. The Three Lions will need to be brave at the World Cup this summer, and their manager is leading the way.
BRAZIL’S PROGRESS HIGHLIGHTED IN BERLIN
Four years on from their 7-1 hammering in Belo Horizonte, Brazil beat Germany
Memories of that 7-1 defeat in Belo Horizonte will never truly disappear, but Brazil went some way to showing they’ve put that mauling in the past with a 1-0 victory against Germany. Marcelo and Fernandinho were the only two who started that loss four years ago as well as the friendly on Tuesday night, emphasising the transformation Brazil have made under Tite. This Brazil look like the team to beat in Russia this summer, and defeating Germany was a psychological hurdle which will have done them the world of good. They’re joint favourites for a reason.
FRANCE’S OPTIONS COULD BE THEIR UNDOING
France boss Didier Deschamps must decide his best XI and formation
Didier Deschamps is arguably blessed with more strength in depth than any other national team manager. The French boss certainly has a plethora of options in every area, but that could well cause problems in itself. He made seven changes from the 3-2 defeat to Colombia in the first friendly for the 3-1 win against Russia, playing two different formations. With so many options, it’s easy to understand why he perhaps doesn’t know his best XI – or even his best formation. The problem is, he’s not going to get many more chances to decide. If France are to go one step further than they did at EURO 2016, Deschamps must make some big decisions – and fast.
WORLD AND EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS? PORTUGAL CAN FORGET IT
Cristiano Ronaldo is desperate to win a World Cup, but Portugal will need big changes to challenge
Portugal were surprise winners of the European Championships in 2016, but two years on it’s difficult to see them replicating their success at the World Cup in Russia. A narrow win against Egypt, saved only by Ronaldo’s two injury-time headers, and a 3-0 defeat to an experimental Netherlands side, don’t make for ideal preparation and confidence. Very few expected Fernando Santos’s to win EURO 2016, but there’ll be even fewer believing they can enjoy a positive World Cup. With aging central defensive options, Ronaldo’s goals will be more important than ever.
