Last time out we did the draw for the 2020 Draft World Cup:
We're going to go through and preview each group, starting with Group A.
For each team there's an overview of key facts. Those who've followed preview DWCs will see that the old managers have moved on. This is because FM20 Touch is terrible at allowing you to modify managers' faces. So, there's new managers, based on random names generated by FM, with faces created from real footballers (bonus points if you recognise any).
There's also an overview of each team's history in DWC-land, how they performed in qualifying this year and a list of who has made each squad.
For each team there's an overview of key facts. Those who've followed preview DWCs will see that the old managers have moved on. This is because FM20 Touch is terrible at allowing you to modify managers' faces. So, there's new managers, based on random names generated by FM, with faces created from real footballers (bonus points if you recognise any).
There's also an overview of each team's history in DWC-land, how they performed in qualifying this year and a list of who has made each squad.
Germany
World ranking: 1st
Manager: Marcel Klaus Odds to win tournament: 9/2 Captain: Axel Witsel Star player: Robert Lewandowski - in real life the Polish striker is having a season for the ages; for the first time in his career he is scoring at over a goal per game. His complete game would see him lead the line for any team, and he is well-suited to Germany's trademark high-press. |
2017 Draft World Cup: Winners
2018 Draft World Cup: Second round
2019 Draft World Cup: Winners
2019 Nations Cup: Did not qualify (Division A)
2020 European Championship: Quarter final
2018 Draft World Cup: Second round
2019 Draft World Cup: Winners
2019 Nations Cup: Did not qualify (Division A)
2020 European Championship: Quarter final
The only two-time winners of the event, Germany have regained their position at the top of the rankings. However, they didn't do well in the European Championships. They were the only top seed to fail to win their group, and it lead to a quarter-final with England where they were hammered 4-0.
GK: Burki, Gulácsi, Neuer
DF: Alaba, Boateng, Guerrero, Hummels, Kimmich, Odriozola, Sule
MD: Bailey, Can, Coutinho, Gnabry, Goretzka, Olmo, Reus, Sancho, Thiago, Witsel
FW: Haaland, Lewandowski, Werner
Key: Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig
DF: Alaba, Boateng, Guerrero, Hummels, Kimmich, Odriozola, Sule
MD: Bailey, Can, Coutinho, Gnabry, Goretzka, Olmo, Reus, Sancho, Thiago, Witsel
FW: Haaland, Lewandowski, Werner
Key: Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig
Turkey
World ranking: 10th
Manager: Zehra Zülaloğlu Odds to win tournament: 40/1 Captain: Radamel Falcao Star player: Luiz Gustavo - after a truly miserable showing in the European Championship Turkey need better defensive cover, and the former Champions League winner should give exactly that. Relatively limited in terms of technique, he is a classic destructive defensive midfielder. |
2017 Draft World Cup: Group stage
2018 Draft World Cup: Quarter final
2019 Draft World Cup: Group stage
2019 Nations Cup: Quarter final
2020 European Championship: Group stage
2018 Draft World Cup: Quarter final
2019 Draft World Cup: Group stage
2019 Nations Cup: Quarter final
2020 European Championship: Group stage
One of only a few ever-presents at the Draft World Cup, this is made more impressive given that Turkey aren't always top seeds in qualifying. Their best run came in 2018 as they won their group and beat Mexico, only to get thrashed by eventual winners Spain. However, they had a terrible European Championship as they lost all 3 group games, including a 6-0 loss to France.
GK: Cakir, Gunok, Muslera
DF: Caicara, Clichy, Linnes, Luyindama, Novák, Ruiz, Skrtel, Vida
MD: Elneny, Lemina, Luiz Gustavo, Ndiaye, Rodrigues, Sosa, Tekdemir, Visca
FW: Boateng, Falcao, Kruse, Podolski
Key: Antalyaspor, Basaksehir, Besiktas, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, Trabzonspor
DF: Caicara, Clichy, Linnes, Luyindama, Novák, Ruiz, Skrtel, Vida
MD: Elneny, Lemina, Luiz Gustavo, Ndiaye, Rodrigues, Sosa, Tekdemir, Visca
FW: Boateng, Falcao, Kruse, Podolski
Key: Antalyaspor, Basaksehir, Besiktas, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, Trabzonspor
Colombia
World ranking: 21st
Manager: Luciana Pérez Odds to win tournament: 100/1 Captain: Andrés Pérez Star player: Teófilo Gutiérrez - the veteran striker is still the main man for Colombia. At 34 years he is slowing down, but he is good at bringing teammates into play and finding space for himself. He can drop into the hole, although he is likely to be operating as the lone striker. |
2017 Draft World Cup: Did not qualify
2018 Draft World Cup: Group stage
2019 Draft World Cup: Second round
2019 Nations Cup: Semi final
2020 South American Championship: Semi final
2018 Draft World Cup: Group stage
2019 Draft World Cup: Second round
2019 Nations Cup: Semi final
2020 South American Championship: Semi final
Colombia are continuing to improve. Both times they've qualified they have had to take on South Africa for 2nd place in their group. After losing out in 2018 they emerged victorious last year. It earned them a clash with Italy, and they did themselves proud but ultimately lost by a single goal. Since then they have made the semis in the two minor tournaments they've entered, showing that they are a very dangerous team.
GK: Cuadrado, Farinez, Zapata
DF: Braghieri, Domínguez, García, Mosquera, Ospina, Piedrahita, Torijano, Torres
MD: Balanta, Barrera, Cárdenas, Costa, Hernández, Pérez, Pisano, Ramírez, Ricuarte
FW: Duque, Gutiérrez, Ruiz
Key: Alianza Petrolera, América de Cali, Atlético Junior, Atlético Nacional, Cúcuta Deportivo, Deportes Tolima, Independiente Medellín, Jaguares, Millonarios, Rionegro Águilas, Santa Fe, unattached
DF: Braghieri, Domínguez, García, Mosquera, Ospina, Piedrahita, Torijano, Torres
MD: Balanta, Barrera, Cárdenas, Costa, Hernández, Pérez, Pisano, Ramírez, Ricuarte
FW: Duque, Gutiérrez, Ruiz
Key: Alianza Petrolera, América de Cali, Atlético Junior, Atlético Nacional, Cúcuta Deportivo, Deportes Tolima, Independiente Medellín, Jaguares, Millonarios, Rionegro Águilas, Santa Fe, unattached
Algeria
World ranking: 47th
Manager: Nour Khelifi Odds to win tournament: 600/1 Captain: Mourad Delhoum Star player: Abdelmoumene Djabou - Algeria's best player is a classic number 10, all dribbling and technique, arguably a luxury player. Assuming that he is included in the starting XI, he will have to do well to justify it, as it might open up his team at the back. |
2017 Draft World Cup: Did not enter
2018 Draft World Cup: Did not qualify
2019 Draft World Cup: Second round
2019 Nations Cup: Relegated (Division B)
2020 African Championship: Quarter final
2018 Draft World Cup: Did not qualify
2019 Draft World Cup: Second round
2019 Nations Cup: Relegated (Division B)
2020 African Championship: Quarter final
Things kicked off for Algeria as they surprised Tunisia to qualify for the 2019 DWC. And they didn't stop there, as they pipped Saudi Arabia on goal difference to be Africa's only representative in the knockout stages. They couldn't cope with Brazil in the next round, losing 4-0, but they established themselves as a top African side. They backed that up by making the quarter finals in the African Championship, only losing to eventual winners Nigeria.
GK: Chaouchi, Khedairia, Zemmamouche
DF: Belkalem, Belkeroui, Benabderrahmane, Boudebouda, Hachoud, Khoualed, Meftah
MD: Benmoussa, Bouchouk, Bougueche, Delhoum, Djahnit, Karaoui, Koudrl, Makhedjouf, Zerara
FW: Djabou, Djallit, Gasmi, Gueye
Key: CA Batna, CA Bordj Bou Arréridj, ES Sétif, JS Saoura, MC Alger, MC Oran, NA Hussein Dey, Olympique de Médéa, USM Alger, USM Bel Abbés, USM El Harrach, unattached
DF: Belkalem, Belkeroui, Benabderrahmane, Boudebouda, Hachoud, Khoualed, Meftah
MD: Benmoussa, Bouchouk, Bougueche, Delhoum, Djahnit, Karaoui, Koudrl, Makhedjouf, Zerara
FW: Djabou, Djallit, Gasmi, Gueye
Key: CA Batna, CA Bordj Bou Arréridj, ES Sétif, JS Saoura, MC Alger, MC Oran, NA Hussein Dey, Olympique de Médéa, USM Alger, USM Bel Abbés, USM El Harrach, unattached
Germany seem vulnerable this year, and the last time they came into the DWC as defending champions they finished second in their group to Brazil, who went on to finish runners-up. With Turkey looking as strong as they've ever done, there's a chance they'll be in a similar situation again.
This said, the Turkey from the European Championships could turn up. If so, they'd open the door for Colombia and Algeria. With both of those sides making the knockout stages last year, this could be a really vicious group.
This said, the Turkey from the European Championships could turn up. If so, they'd open the door for Colombia and Algeria. With both of those sides making the knockout stages last year, this could be a really vicious group.