England
World ranking: 5th
Manager: Sarah England Captain: Vincent Kompany Star player: Kevin de Bruyne – he has lit up the Premier League this season, moving clearly into the category of elite footballers. Given license to roam in the number 10 position, England will expect a similar level of performance from the Belgian international. |
England started DWC life on fire, as they dropped only two points in qualifying to enter the inaugural tournament as ones to watch. However, they were hit by the familiar bug that World Cups appear to bring, as they were lucky to draw with the Dutch before beating a combined Mediterranean side only after their opponents had incurred a red card. A poor performance saw England lose to Romania but squeeze into the knockout stages, where they were put out of their misery by Portugal, despite a red card for the eventual quarter-finalists.
This year: 1st in European Qualification Group D
With no squad value limit, this was an unrecognisably different England side that kicked off the 2018 DWC campaign. Despite a nasty qualifying group including Denmark, Czechia and 2017 opponents Romania, England sailed through qualification with 28 points out of 30, just as they had last year.
Last year’s England side, heavily hamstrung by the squad value limit, played quite basic rudimentary football. This year is very different, with the silky skills of Guardiola’s fantastic Man City team influencing a change to a more technical style. The balance of the midfield will be key, as Paul Pogba is not a naturally-defensive-minded player. If he doesn’t succeed in breaking down opposition attacks, N’Golo Kante is the obvious replacement. Only two English players have made the cut.
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DF: Alderweireld, Azpilicueta, Danilo, Kompany, Koscielny, Mendy, van Dijk, Walker
MD: de Bruyne, Eriksen, Hazard, Kante, Pogba, Sanchez, Silva
FW: Aguero, Firmino, Kane, Mane, Salah
Key: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
China
World ranking: 10th
Manager: Dongmei Zhonggou Captain: Javier Mascherano Star player: Hulk – the powerful Brazilian forward was fantastic at times for China last year, and if he can click with the players around him – including plenty of compatriots – then he has the potential to light up the tournament. |
Thrilling everyone with their fluent attack and chaotic defending, China surprised France to win their qualifying group. However, their start to the finals was catastrophic, as they lost 5-2 to Uruguay. They recovered to finish second in their group, earning them a second-round clash with North Africa. A fantastic performance from Carlos Tevez saw them get through 3-1, leading to a quarter-final with Germany. A tight game was settled when Ricardo Carvalho’s suicidal backpass released Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score the only goal.
This year: 2nd in Asian 2nd-Round Qualifying Group A
Going into Asian-only qualifying groups, Chian were expected to breeze through with no complications. They certainly looked the part in winning their Round 1 group, although they found Round 2 a bit more of a challenge. Their battle with Kuwait at the top of the table left the other sides in their wake, meaning that China did indeed become the first side from Asia to qualify for the finals. However, a thrilling 4-4 draw with Indonesia on the final day saw Kuwait leapfrog China to win the group, a result which has cost China a chance to be a seeded side here in the finals.
Behold! The result of China having no quality full backs, a surplus of attacking midfielders and a lack of obvious centre forwards. With an emphasis on fluidity and changing positions, matches involving China are at the very least going to be thrilling! This naturally places a huge burden on a defence which has been China’s weak point historically. New recruit and captain Mascherano is the perfect addition to help out at the back, whilst the Chinese Super League rule of Chinese-only goalkeepers further increases the pressure on the defenders.
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DF: Fonte, Gil, Mascherano, Mbia, Mikel, Rodriguez, Urso
MD: Carrasco, Fernandez, Gaitan, Gervinho, Guarin, Hulk, Lavezzi, Oscar, Ramires, Witsel
FW: Bakambu, Pato, Zahavi
Key: Beijing Guo'an, Beijing Renhe, Dalian Yifang, Guangzhou Evergrande, Guangzhou R&F, Hebai CFFC, Jiangsu Suning, Shandong Luneng, Shanghai Shenhua, Shanghai Shenxin, Shanghai SIPG, Tianjin Quanjian, Tianjin TEDA
Denmark
World ranking: 34th
Manager: Victor Danmark Captain: William Kvist Star player: Rasmus Falk – the fearless attacking midfielder is creative and can spot a pass. He will play close to the striker. Goals have not flowed for Denmark generally, so they will hope Falk will make a difference this time round. |
Things went very badly for a Danish side seeded second in their qualifying group. Despite the odd moment of inspiration from playmaker Rafael van der Vaart, Denmark couldn’t pick up points from anywhere and finished second-bottom, with a 2-0 defeat to a combined Oceania team the low point.
This year: European Play-off winners
There was a clear improvement as Denmark held their own well in a difficult group containing England, Romania and Czechia. Whilst Denmark couldn’t compete with the English, they won the battle for second spot to get into the play-offs. They lost the first leg against Switzerland 2-1 after taking the lead, but at home they score in the 7th minute to go ahead on away goals, and successfully saw out the remainder of the leg to narrowly qualify for the finals.
A no-nonsense defensive pairing of Denis Vavro and Erik Johansson will provide a good foundation for Denmark, allowing marauding left back Nicolai Boilesen the freedom to push up, in a role similar to that utilised by Peru's Vargas in last year’s DWC to spectacular effect. Five playmakers in the side means that Denmark should be confident of keeping the ball when necessary.
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DF: Ankersen, Bengtsson, Boilesen, Hansen, Johansson, Larsson, Rocker, Vavro
MD: Christensen, Falk, Fischer, Jensen, Kvist, Mukhtar, Norgaard, Poulsen, Tibbling, van der Vaart
FW: Pukki, Santander
Key: Brondby, Kobenhavn, Midtjylland, Nordsjaelland
DR Congo
World ranking: 41st
Manager: Claude Congo Captain: Patrick Ilongo Star player: Tresor Mputu – a star for Central Africa last year, this forward is a versatile and speedy presence who was compared to Samuel Eto’o by the latter’s former international manager and has led his club side to back-to-back African Champions League victories. He is likely to play on the wing here, where he can exploit space left by opposition full backs, or lack thereof. |
DR Congo contributed numerous players to the combined Central Africa side that started DWC life spectacularly with a 0-0 draw with Spain. They built on that and actually beat Spain 3-1 in the return fixture, a result which saw Central Africa win the group and qualify for the finals. They were not rewarded well, put in a nasty group with Portugal, Italy and Turkey. They couldn’t repeat their qualifying exploits, and finished without a point.
This year: 1st in African 3rd-Round Qualifying Group A
With other big African sides falling in the dramatic second round of qualifying, DR Congo will have been pleased just to get beyond Kenya, even if a 3-2 aggregate score wasn’t convincing. In the final round DR Congo looked to have a nice draw with Libya, Mozambique and Burundi, but were caught unawares by a lightning start by Mozambique. DR Congo eventually recovered and thanks to their rival’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Burundi, they were able to steal top spot with a good win over Libya. Their qualification meant DR Congo were also the first side from outside Europe to make it to the finals.
With no natural central midfielders, DR Congo have elected for two defensive midfielders in their 4-2-3-1 formation. This may leave the forwards isolated, but should give plenty of protection at the back. Given Singuluma can hold up the ball for the likes of Mputu and AfCoN-winner Rainford Kalaba. From the squad list on the next tab you may somehow be able to identify the dominant side in DR Congo’s domestic league...
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DF: Coulibaly, Issama, Kabundi, Kasereka, Kimwaki, Nkulukuta, Vanden Borre
MD: Asante, Awako, Cedrick, Ilongo, Kalaba, Sakuwaha, Sinkala, Sissoko, A Traore, I Traore, Zito
FW: Mputu, Singuluma
Key: AS Vita Club, CS Don Bosco, Daring Club, St. Eloi Lupopo, TP Mazambe, unattached
England start as solid favourites to go far in this tournament, and the group stage should pose very little danger to them. China’s spectacular tactics may work wonders or horribly backfire. If it’s the latter, then Denmark are well-placed to pick up the pieces. DR Congo do have their share of talented individuals, and certainly should hope to pick up a point or three somewhere. The opening-round match between England and China will be a fantastic spectacle, but the real crux of the group may be the final-round clash between China and Denmark.
Predictably, the next update will cover Group F. That contains Portugal, Ukraine, Chile and Mail.