2014 FIFA World Cup

[MDK]

He's Klose than ever before

[Cymbols]

It looks quite likely that he will go. Mario Gomez hasn't played for months due to injury, Stefan Kiessling has refused to play under Jogi Low, which only really leaves Klose and Max Kruse as outright strikers. Podoski and Muller are also options but don't often play up front at club level.

[Adam]

-Ross Barkley, Andy Carroll, Fabian Delph, Frank Lampard; will any of them be on the plane?

I expect Barkley will go but none of the others. Lampard at a push.

[Starvinho]

Lampard will go. No one wants him to, but Hodgson will pick him.

[brenchill]

Of course Lampard will go. He's Lampard.

Barkley will. No idea why you are asking if Delph will go.

[Cymbols]

I'm not, just throwing out speculation for discussion purposes.

[METALMAN]

I don't know who Bret Holman is but he sounds like an idiot. What a time to retire. :/

[brenchill]

Yeah, what an idiot.

[Lineker]

I love Lamps. He should go to every tournament provided he's an active professional.

[Sam]

Remember that goal he scored against Germany to make it 2-2...oh wait...

[Blue Rosler]

My Honduras shirt has arrived

Time to deposit money into PaddyPower and take advantage of the long-odds before the start.

[TCO]

Anybody know if there's any sites that do those dirt cheap football shirts that look perfect but are obviously knock-offs? I'd like a few shirts for the World Cup but fuck paying €80 for them.

PM would do if it's against board rules!

[Baddar]

Same here too. I did find one a few weeks back but lost it. Will message you if I find it again. I want the red Belgium shirt.

[EddieG]

First official squad is in, and it's Honduras (Yay Bluey?)

Goalkeepers - Noel Valladares, Donis Escober (both Olimpia), Luis Lopez (Real Espana)

Defenders - Brayan Beckeles (Olimpia), Arnold Peralta (Rangers), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic), Juan Carlos Garcia (Wigan Athletic), Maynor Figueroa (Hull City), Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquake), Osman Chavez (Quingdao Jonoon), Juan Pablo Montes (Motagua)

Midfielders - Luis Garrido (Olimpia), Roger Espinoza (Wigan Athletic), Jorge Claros (Motagua), Wilson Palacios (Stoke City), Oscar Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo), Andy Najar (Anderlecht), Mario Martinez (Real Espana), Marvin Chavez (Colorado Rapids)

Forwards - Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution), Jerry Palacios (Alajuelense), Carlo Costly (Real Espana), Rony Martinez (CD Real Sociedad)

[Blue Rosler]

First official squad is in, and it's Honduras (Yay Bluey?)

Goalkeepers - Noel Valladares, Donis Escober (both Olimpia), Luis Lopez (Real Espana)

Defenders - Brayan Beckeles (Olimpia), Arnold Peralta (Rangers), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic), Juan Carlos Garcia (Wigan Athletic), Maynor Figueroa (Hull City), Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquake), Osman Chavez (Quingdao Jonoon), Juan Pablo Montes (Motagua)

Midfielders - Luis Garrido (Olimpia), Roger Espinoza (Wigan Athletic), Jorge Claros (Motagua), Wilson Palacios (Stoke City), Oscar Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo), Andy Najar (Anderlecht), Mario Martinez (Real Espana), Marvin Chavez (Colorado Rapids)

Forwards - Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution), Jerry Palacios (Alajuelense), Carlo Costly (Real Espana), Rony Martinez (CD Real Sociedad)

It's a very logical squad - a mix of experience, youth and players who are in-form.

There's nobody really there who you can say doesn't deserve their place, which doubtless will be the case for England, and they could certainly pick up a point or two in the World Cup.

[Lineker]

Now Bosnia!

Goalkeepers: Asmir Begovic (Stoke City), Asmir Avdukic (Borac Banja Luka), Jasmin Fejzic (VFR Aalen).

Defenders: Emir Spahic (Bayer Leverkusen), Toni Sunjic (Zorya Lugansk), Sead Kolasinac (Schalke), Ognjen Vranjes (Elazigspor), Ervin Zukanovic (Gent), Ermin Bicakcic (Eintracht Braunschweig), Muhamed Besic (Ferencvaros).

Midfielders: Miralem Pjanic (Roma), Izet Hajrovic (Galatasaray), Mensur Mujdza (Freiburg), Haris Medunjanin (Gaziantepspor), Senad Lulic (Lazio), Anel Hadzic (Sturm), Tino Susic (Hajduk), Sejad Salihovic (Hoffenheim), Zvjezdan Misimovic (Guizhour Renhe), Senijad Ibricic (Erciyesspor), Avdija Vrsaljevic (Hajduk).

Strikers: Vedad Ibisevic (VfB Stuttgart), Edin Dzeko (Manchester City), Edin Visca (Istanbul BB).

[EddieG]

That's provisional though, I believe, Iran's also submitted their provisional, and Brazil have submitted a 9 man squad so far, with 5 Premier League players, 4 of them Chelsea.

[TCO]

Any idea why Bosnia named a provisional 24 man squad as opposed to just naming 23? That one guy who misses out is going to be ruined mentally.

[EddieG]

Any idea why Bosnia named a provisional 24 man squad as opposed to just naming 23? That one guy who misses out is going to be ruined mentally.

Exactly what I thought too.

[Baddar]

Poor Dzeko.