Atletico Madrid don’t return to motion till the tip of 2022, which suggests the World Cup will now take centre stage for Colchoneros throughout the globe. This yr’s match, held in Qatar, will boast extra Atletico Madrid gamers than any earlier World Cup, with 11 gamers that includes.
This serves as your final information for the nations to control, together with who to observe from their groups, the coaches in cost, and the important thing group stage video games to absorb.
Spain – Koke, Álvaro Morata, Marcos Llorente
Luis Enrique’s squad will characteristic three totally different Atleti gamers, with one in all them important to the staff’s techniques.
La Roja are darkish horses for this match, with a younger era of expertise coming by way of and a coach who’s able to getting the very best out of a robust group. However they could have their work reduce out to go all the way in which.
Álvaro Morata has been Spain’s reference level in assault since Luis Enrique’s return to the bench, and he has proven great religion within the centre-forward. With 27 targets in 57 appearances for his nation, Morata is just two away from coming into the top-five prime scorers of all time for his nation and he’ll begin the match as Spain’s quantity 9 (whereas sporting the quantity seven, after all).
Koke is Mr. Dependable for Spain simply as he’s for Atleti, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him favoured over Gavi.
Trying to set up themselves will probably be Koke and Marcos Llorente. Neither is more likely to break into Spain’s beginning XI for the beginning of the match, however Koke is Mr. Dependable for Spain simply as he’s for Atlético, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him favoured over Gavi in tougher battles. Llorente’s versatility and explosiveness might see him characteristic from the bench, too.
Picture by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Photos
The coach: Luis Enrique is a well-known face given his previous as a participant for Actual Madrid and FC Barcelona earlier than a adorned teaching profession, which has seen him tipped as an eventual substitute for Diego Simeone.
Ex-Atleti gamers: Rodri, the holding midfielder billed because the substitute for Gabi. Since shifting to Manchester Metropolis, he’s established himself as a daily within the Spain facet, both alongside or rather than Sergio Busquets.
Non-Atleti participant to observe: Pablo Sarabia could also be a participant of curiosity for Atleti given the hyperlinks to him in the summertime. Very similar to Carlos Soler, additionally in Luis Enrique’s squad, he ended up at PSG and has by no means nailed down a primary staff spot.
Group stage match to observe: Spain vs Germany, Wednesday November twenty seventh, 10:00pm AST (native time), which pits two of Europe’s giants — and two of the competitors’s darkish horses — up in opposition to each other early on.
Argentina – Nahuel Molina, Rodrigo de Paul
The absence of Ángel Correa from this squad was one of the crucial controversial choices involving an Atlético participant forward of the World Cup. However Atleti will nonetheless have two representatives within the residence nation of their coach, Cholo Simeone.
Disgrace that Ángel Correa just isn’t within the Argentina staff. I consider he deserves to be there on the World Cup. Enzo Fernández made his Argentina debut in September and rightfully included. I’ve my doubts about a couple of of the inclusions however supporting all 26 gamers. Vamos Argentina! pic.twitter.com/MKvc0Ba8Bp— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) November 11, 2022
On this case, each males will probably be anticipating to start out as regulars for Argentina. De Paul and Molina had been stars within the nation’s conquering of the Copa América, and de Paul will characteristic within the three-man midfield whereas Molina affords an offensive full-back choice on the precise.
If an Atlético participant is to get their fingers on a World Cup winners medal as Antoine Griezmann and Lucas Hernández did in 2018, it might properly be these two, who discover themselves a part of one of many competitors’s favourites.
Picture By Joaquin Corchero/Europa Press through Getty Photos
The coach: Lionel Scaloni was nearly unprecedented when he took cost after the 2018 World Cup, however he introduced Argentina their first main trophy in 28 years as they gained the Copa América. A 35-match unbeaten run over the previous three years means his place is safe and expectations are excessive for him and his squad.
Ex-Atleti gamers: None, however there are as many as seven LaLiga gamers on this squad with Sevilla, Actual Betis and Villarreal among the many rival groups whose gamers have made the reduce.
Non-Atleti participant to observe: A sure Lionel Messi could also be acquainted to some LaLiga followers, and it will nearly definitely be his final shot at getting his fingers on soccer’s biggest prize.
Group stage match to observe: Argentina vs Mexico, Saturday November twenty sixth, 10:00pm AST (native time). A match-up stuffed with aptitude and fervour. Mexico might have all of it to play for in the event that they don’t get the specified outcome in opposition to Poland of their opening sport.
Belgium – Yannick Carrasco, Axel Witsel
Belgium come into this match extra in hope than in expectation, with a squad boasting most of the identical names who’ve struggled to ship lately.
One of many elder statesmen on this squad in what’s more likely to be his last bow at worldwide degree, Axel Witsel is a favorite of Roberto Martínez and will probably be anticipating to start out within the 3-4-3 form that sees him sit as a double pivot alongside Youri Tielemans.
Axel Witsel is a favorite of Roberto Martínez and will probably be anticipating to start out within the 3-4-3 form that sees him sit as a double pivot alongside Youri Tielemans.
The identical can’t be stated for Yannick Carrasco, whose inconsistency means his function with Belgium is much like the one he has in Madrid. Timothy Castagne is more likely to be most popular because the left wing-back, purely as a extra dependable participant, however Carrasco does provide a extra offensive various.
Picture by BRUNO FAHY/BELGA MAG/AFP through Getty Photos
The coach: Roberto Martínez was an outdoor choose for the squad, and something however success in Qatar will probably imply this will probably be his last match in command of Belgium’s golden era — which is about to finish with no trophy.
Ex-Atleti gamers: Representing Belgium from this class embrace he-who-should-not-be-named after crossing the divide to play for Actual Madrid (okay, we’ll identify him: Thibaut Courtois), in addition to Toby Alderweireld, who gained the league with Atlético in 2014 alongside Courtois. Alderweireld is now plying his commerce for Royal Antwerp again in Belgium, however he is without doubt one of the leaders on this squad.
Non-Atleti participant to observe: Charles De Ketelaere is ready to blow up a world star after a record-breaking shifting to AC Milan. The 21-year-old winger might use the World Cup because the platform to take action.
Group-stage match to observe: Belgium vs Croatia, Thursday December 1st, 6:00pm AST (native time). This match might see each groups already certified, however may even pit two of the match’s most gifted squads in opposition to each other.
Examine again later this week for Half 2 of our 2022 World Cup information.