Italy
World ranking: 4th
Manager: Maurizio Iodice Odds to win tournament: 5/1 Captain: Leonardo Bonucci Star player: Cristiano Ronaldo - now very much morphing into a Lewandowski-esque striker, with a little less dynanism that his early game had, Ronaldo is a lethal finisher who is particularly good in the air. This makes him key both taking and getting onto the end of set pieces. |
2017 Draft World Cup: Semi final
2018 Draft World Cup: Semi final
2019 Draft World Cup: Quarter final
2019 Nations Cup: Did not qualify (Division A)
2020 European Championship: Semi final
2018 Draft World Cup: Semi final
2019 Draft World Cup: Quarter final
2019 Nations Cup: Did not qualify (Division A)
2020 European Championship: Semi final
The only side to make the semis in each of the first two years of the DWCs, last year Italy could only make the quarters before being knocked out by France. Their qualifying form this year raised questions, but they were very strong in the European Championships, and only an extra time defeat to Spain saw them miss out at the semi final stage - yet again.
GK: Donnarumma, Handanovic, Szczesny
DF: Alex Sandro, Bonucci, Chiellini, Danilo, de Ligt, Hernández, Koulibaly, Skriniar
MD: Alberto, Brozovic, Cuadrado, Douglas Costa, Eriksen, Milinkovic-Savic, Pjanic
FW: Dybala, Higuain, Insigne, Lukaku, Ronaldo
Key: AC Milan, Internazionale, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli
DF: Alex Sandro, Bonucci, Chiellini, Danilo, de Ligt, Hernández, Koulibaly, Skriniar
MD: Alberto, Brozovic, Cuadrado, Douglas Costa, Eriksen, Milinkovic-Savic, Pjanic
FW: Dybala, Higuain, Insigne, Lukaku, Ronaldo
Key: AC Milan, Internazionale, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli
China
World ranking: 13th
Manager: He Bin Odds to win tournament: 50/1 Captain: Daniel Carrico Star player: Miranda - the recurring theme of China in DWC-land is how they are great going forward and bad defensively. Therefore the ability of their defenders is always what makes the difference. Miranda is a quality centre back albeit lacking pace in his twilight years. |
2017 Draft World Cup: Quarter final
2018 Draft World Cup: Semi final
2019 Draft World Cup: Second round
2019 Nations Cup: Quarter final
2020 Asian Championship: Final
2018 Draft World Cup: Semi final
2019 Draft World Cup: Second round
2019 Nations Cup: Quarter final
2020 Asian Championship: Final
In each DWC China have at times looked unstoppable, only for their frailties to come to the fore. Only DWC champions Germany and Spain have knocked China out of the DWC, which puts China firmly in the category of teams just outside the elite. A defeat to Colombia spoiled a great chance to win the Nations Cup, whilst they lost to Saudi Arabia in the Asian Championship this year. Overall, China are a nearly team.
GK: Wang, Yan, Zeng
DF: Bastians, Browning, Carrico, Kadar, Mbia, Miranda, Zhang
MD: Dembélé, Fellaini, Hamsik, Hulk, Oscar, Paulinho, Renato Augusto, Talisca
FW: Alex Texeira, Arnautovic, El Shaarawy, Rondón, Zahavi
Key: Beijing Sinobo Guoan, Dalian Professional, Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao, Guangzhou R&F, Jiangsu Suning, Shandong Luneng Taishan, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, Shanghai SIPG, Tianjin TEDA, Wuhan Zall
DF: Bastians, Browning, Carrico, Kadar, Mbia, Miranda, Zhang
MD: Dembélé, Fellaini, Hamsik, Hulk, Oscar, Paulinho, Renato Augusto, Talisca
FW: Alex Texeira, Arnautovic, El Shaarawy, Rondón, Zahavi
Key: Beijing Sinobo Guoan, Dalian Professional, Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao, Guangzhou R&F, Jiangsu Suning, Shandong Luneng Taishan, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, Shanghai SIPG, Tianjin TEDA, Wuhan Zall
Hungary
World ranking: 17th
Manager: László Fekete Odds to win tournament: 125/1 Captain: Roland Juhász Star player: Loic Nego - in all honesty, Hungary's squad is one with few stand-outs. But Nego is a hard-working attacking full back, more solid than his record in English football suggests; 1 appearance for Charlton before being quickly shipped on. |
2017 Draft World Cup: Play-off
2018 Draft World Cup: Group stage
2019 Draft World Cup: Group stage
2019 Nations Cup: Did not qualify (Division A)
2020 European Championship: Play-off
2018 Draft World Cup: Group stage
2019 Draft World Cup: Group stage
2019 Nations Cup: Did not qualify (Division A)
2020 European Championship: Play-off
Hungary have had low-key success in DWC-world, as they have never failed to make at least the play-offs, and have now made three tournaments in a row. They took 0 points in their first DWC, but improved a lot to take 4 points last year, their sole win coming against Nigeria. They will, however, have been disappointed to fail to make the European Championships.
European Play-Offs
With France much too strong for the group, Hungary had to battle for second place. They only had 6 points from their first 6 games, but came through with four wins to pip Denmark by a point and earn a tie with neighbours Austria in the play-offs. Two single-goal wins were enough to see Hungary through yet again. |
GK: Bogdán, Dibusz, Nagy
DF: Blazic, Civic, Fiola, Juhász, Kravchenko, Lovrencsics, Nego, Stopira
MD: Elek, Hadzic, Kharatin, Nguen, Nikolov, Petryak, Plsek, Somália, Zubkov
FW: Boli, Lanzafame, Nikolic
Key: Debreceni, Fehérvár, Ferencvárosi, Kisvárda, Puskás Akadémia, unattached
DF: Blazic, Civic, Fiola, Juhász, Kravchenko, Lovrencsics, Nego, Stopira
MD: Elek, Hadzic, Kharatin, Nguen, Nikolov, Petryak, Plsek, Somália, Zubkov
FW: Boli, Lanzafame, Nikolic
Key: Debreceni, Fehérvár, Ferencvárosi, Kisvárda, Puskás Akadémia, unattached
Nigeria
World ranking: 45th
Manager: Azeez Olisema Odds to win tournament: 500/1 Captain: John Ogu Star player: Dennis Aogo - like China, Nigeria's squad is top-heavy. Aogo is a defensive player, good at both left back and in central midfield. In real life he declined to represent Nigeria in favour of a brief international career with Germany, but as he is a free agent he is eligible for Nigeria in this tournament. |
2017 Draft World Cup: Did not enter
2018 Draft World Cup: Did not qualify
2019 Draft World Cup: Group stage
2019 Nations Cup: Did not qualify (Division B)
2020 African Championship: Winners
2018 Draft World Cup: Did not qualify
2019 Draft World Cup: Group stage
2019 Nations Cup: Did not qualify (Division B)
2020 African Championship: Winners
Nigeria's DWC life started with a 2-0 win over Mozambique, but they were humiliated 5-0 in the return leg to end their first DWC campaign after two games. They were much-improved last year, and made it to the finals. Unfortunately, they lost all their games, but they have qualified again and cemented their status as a serious competitor by winning the African Championship.
GK: Afelokhai, Ejiogu, Rotimi
DF: Benjamin, Esieme, Festus, Okonkwo, Omolade, Showemimo, Zango
MD: Adeyemi, Ali, Aogo, Braaten, Igiebor, N'Gouan, Obinna, Ogu, Sarpong
FW: Anichebe, Martins, Obasi, Uche
Key: Abia Warriors, Enyimba, Heartland, Ifeanyi Ubah, Kano Pillars, Lobi Stars, Niger Tornadoes, Rivers United, Yobe Desert Stars, unattached
DF: Benjamin, Esieme, Festus, Okonkwo, Omolade, Showemimo, Zango
MD: Adeyemi, Ali, Aogo, Braaten, Igiebor, N'Gouan, Obinna, Ogu, Sarpong
FW: Anichebe, Martins, Obasi, Uche
Key: Abia Warriors, Enyimba, Heartland, Ifeanyi Ubah, Kano Pillars, Lobi Stars, Niger Tornadoes, Rivers United, Yobe Desert Stars, unattached
Nigeria are the African Championship victors, which means this group is another contender to be the Group of Death. They will be looking for revenge after losing to Hungary in last year's event. Italy and China both showed vulnerability in qualifying, but as neither team has failed to make the knockout stages they will be strong favourites to go through again.