World Cup build up thread

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Rumours that Bertrand has been left out of the WC squad completely.

He should be first choice.

I would take:

GK: Pickford, Butland and Hart
DF: Walker, Trippier, Bertrand, Young, Maguire, Smalling, Stones and Tarkowski
MF: Dier, Henderson, Alli, Sterling, Loftus-Cheek, Lingard, Lallana and Shelvey
ST: Vardy, Kane, Rashford and Welbeck
 
Young should be starting LB if it is based on club form, I’d take him and Delph as they can both play more positions aswell
 
It will give a good pre-season at his new club at least

(A firm favourite of mine, dont want him to move on)
 
Are Brazil that good anyway?

I have no idea as I very rarely watch international football. On paper they obviously look good and are filled with big names, but I don't know how they are playing as a unit.

Despite knowing nothing about them I'd still bet they would beat England though
 
My friends in Yekaterinburg invited me, but I have declined as I have work here on the island.

I think I'd go if I had friends to visit Ides; presumably they'd know how to keep you safe. I'd probably avoid large public gatherings involving alcohol though - especially anywhere where England fans mobbed up drinking beer and singing.

The Russian govt will want this to be a success, so I don't anticipate marauding gangs of Russian thugs roaming the streets looking for England fans, as in the Euros. The only gangs of thugs I would be worried about would be the police.
 
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There are some very good players going to the WC with England. Sterling, who has come on in leaps and bounds in the past 12 months, Alli and Kane of Spurs. As with every team, we need the workhorses. Henderson, and I´d go for Milner if he is available as he would keep the younger ones grounded. England´s weaknesses are having a play-maker in the mould of Alan Ball, (sadly the English game does not produce any these days) unlike the 80s when the great Steve Williams could not get anywhere near the England team due to the likes of Wilkins being around, and a world class defender in the shape of a modern day Rio Ferdinand.
 
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