How Spain, Germany and Argentina could line up at World Cup 2022

The 2018 FIFA World Cup is entering the latter stages and three of the biggest sides have already been eliminated.

Defending world champions Germany, previous world champions Spain and Lionel Messi’s Argentina were all eliminated before the quarter-final stage, with Germany failing to get out of their group. Each nation had an old(ish) squad with players who could go for one final hurrah at Copa América 2019 or Euro 2020.

The likelihood that all three squads remain intact over the next four years, however, is much less certain. New eras are on the way for these three international giants, so just what will their starting XI’s look like in Qatar?

Germany

We begin with the soon-to-be-former World Champions, who exited Russia in humiliating fashion, finishing bottom of their group. Low relied too much on the stars of 2014, but the seeds of their next great side were there.

Marc-André Ter Stegen steps off the bench and deposes Manuel Neuer as the country’s leading stopper (as he should have done in Russia, really).

In defence, Joshua Kimmich continues at right-back, offering tremendous width and creativity. The 2018 back-up centre-backs, man mountains Niklas Sule and Antonio Rudiger are the outstanding candidates to step up and claim the centre of defence, providing Germany with a solid bedrock to play off. Philipp Max and his absurd crossing and set-piece ability comes into the side at left-back.

At the base of midfield, handsome man Emre Can comes in to be the legs next to Toni Kroos – who will be 32 in 2022 but will still be the featured pass master of the German side. Ahead of them is a dynamic trio of Julian Brandt, Julian Draxler and young hotshot Kai Havertz. Havertz will be just 22 in 2022; functioning as the burst of youthful energy the side will need.

In attack Timo Werner keeps his place, with Germany playing a faster and a more vertical style of play he should come into his own and begin to deliver elite performances for his national side.

 

Argentina

The South Americans are a disaster of a national side right now. Jorge Sampaoli was appointed only a year before the World Cup providing him with little time to train his players in his system and he seemed obligated to pick ageing stars.

Sampaoli’s side were terrible, but Argentina should retain him and ensure he has four years and plenty of training camps to build his side.

In goal, Rulli comes in. The Argentine is a relentlessly solid goalkeeper, excellent with his feet and safe with his hands. Ahead of him is a back three as Sampaoli sets Argentina out in his favoured 3-4-2-1 system.

Emanuel Mammana and Nicolas Tagliafico flank Spurs’ young prospect Juan Foyth, the colossal centre-back who developed under Mauricio Pochettino and will anchor the defence.

With a reasonably solid base behind them, the side’s wing-backs are only there to hurtle up and down the touch-line to provide tactical width. Youngster Joaquin Correa would add genuine width and creativity on the right side of attack; on the left Marcos Acuña (who will be 30 in 2022) runs up and down to provide stability and crossing.

In the middle, Leadro Paredes and Giovanni Lo Celso both work hard. Paredes would be the passing pivot who keeps the ball moving while Lo Celso drifts forward to link with the attackers. Speaking of which, striking sensation Lautaro Martinez will be the starting striker, offering pace and goals.

The key area will be be behind the strikers, where Sampaoli will be given four years to figure out how to help Messi and Paulo Dybala play together.

The two stars share a similar style, but with Messi being 35 in 2022 (no chance he retires before one last shot) it will be easier for him to drop deeper and be the side’s key playmaker, dicing the opponents up with his supreme passing as well as scoring key goals.

Meanwhile Dybala does more of the running and dribbling – linking with Lautaro ahead of him. If they need to make changes the first man off the bench is Boca’s brilliant Cristian Pavón.

Spain

Spain were arguably the best national side the world has ever seen from 2008 to 2012, but that era is over now. Luckily for Spain they are a production line of phenomenal young footballers and could have a pulsating young side ready to rock in Qatar.

In goal David De Gea retains his place but hopefully hasn’t retained his tendency to lose concentration when he’s not under constant barrage. Ahead of him Real Madrid will make up two of the back-line, and no, cap-hero Sergio Ramos isn’t one of them (he’ll be 36 in 2022).

Jesus Vallejo is a massive young prospect who should be excelling in 2022 and his partner could be any number of young defenders, but will probably be the impressive Basque stopper Unai Nuñez.

Out on the flanks Alvaro Odriozola will be the established right-back and while there are several options for left-back, Aaron Martin is probably the most reliable of the bunch.

In midfield Sergio Busquets will be gone, but Spain have the perfect heir in Rodri who will be the pivot around which the team will spin. Ahead of him Fabian Ruiz and Saúl are incredible all-round midfield talents. Creative passers, good dribblers and strong tacklers; both men will help Spain control things while Saúl adds a goal threat.

On the left-wing will be Isco. Hopefully he’ll have worked out the kinks in his positional play by then because he’ll be 30 and running the show for Real Madrid and Spain. Meanwhile on the right will be the fleet-footed wing-wonder Marcos Asensio adding pace, thrust and goals.

In between these Madrid players will be Barcelona’s fabulous young forward Abel Ruiz. He’s 18 now and will be 22 when Spain head to Qatar.

His goal-scoring record at youth level is preposterous (27 goals in 37 games at u-17, seven in four at u-18 and three in three at u-19) and given his age, you can see him being transitioned into the Blaugrana first-team as Luis Suárez is retiring. This will leave him in prime position to star for Spain.

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