0:30
Jurgen Klopp confirms Diogo Jota volition miss the World Cup with Portugal aft sustaining a calf injury.
The days are counting down to the commencement of the World Cup successful Qatar, with the big federation kicking it each disconnected connected Nov. 20 erstwhile they instrumentality connected Ecuador.
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All 32 finalists are making their closing plans for the tournament, hoping that prima players don't get struck down by wounded and caput into the World Cup successful apical form. Away from that, there's plentifulness of players who are desperately hoping to interruption into their country's 26-man squad, which has to beryllium named by Nov. 13.
Each week, we'll instrumentality a look astatine the favourites to spot however they are shaping up and besides cheque successful with different nations arsenic their players either radiance oregon struggle.
- World Cup finals bracket and fixtures schedule
JUMP TO: United States | France | Germany | Spain | Portugal | Netherlands | Argentina | Brazil | Uruguay | Mexico | Australia | Senegal | Tunisia | Morocco | Cameroon | Ghana | Japan | South Korea
ENGLAND
Fixtures: IR Iran (Nov. 21), United States (Nov. 25), Wales (Nov. 29)
Squad announcement date: Nov. 10
STOCK CLIMBING
Ivan Toney: Pressed his claims for the relation arsenic Harry Kane's back-up with a brace successful Brentford's 2-0 triumph implicit Brighton. Another objection of his awesome punishment method was peculiarly timely fixed England's past of tourney shoot-out drama.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: Returned from an ankle wounded earlier than expected arsenic a precocious substitute successful Liverpool's triumph implicit Manchester City. Given the fierce contention astatine right-back, Reece James' genu wounded is inadvertently a boost for Alexander-Arnold's hopes.
Joe Gomez: impressed for Liverpool against City, though his chances of making a precocious tally for the squad are remote.
Mason Mount: Is definite to question to Qatar but his spot successful the starting XI is little clear. He scored some goals successful Chelsea's triumph astatine Aston Villa, with manager Gareth Southgate watching on, and showcased his talent. Bukayo Saka is successful a akin presumption and helium besides made a match-winning publication arsenic Arsenal bushed Leeds 1-0.
STOCK FALLING
Reece James: Has not fixed up anticipation of making England's squad but quality that a genu wounded has ruled the Chelsea defender retired for up to 8 weeks makes his engagement hugely doubtful.
Jordan Pickford: The Everton goalkeeper made 2 mistakes successful a substance of seconds against Tottenham, archetypal failing to clasp Matt Doherty's tame changeable earlier clumsily colliding with Kane to concede a penalty. Aaron Ramsdale excelling for Arsenal successful that hard-fought triumph astatine Leeds whitethorn constrictive the spread betwixt them successful Southgate's thinking.
HOW THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING
James was a probable starter and truthful his lack is simply a important stroke to Southgate, compounded by the information Kyle Walker is successful a contention against clip pursuing groin surgery. England's defence already looked susceptible and it volition interest Southgate that his options look to beryllium narrowing further with the tourney conscionable implicit a period away. -- James Olley
UNITED STATES
Fixtures: Wales (Nov. 21), England (Nov. 25), IR Iran (Nov. 29)
Squad announcement date: Nov. 9
STOCK CLIMBING
Timothy Weah: Plenty of eyes person been anxiously gauging the grade to which Weah has recovered from an ankle injury. Last play revealed immoderate affirmative signs. Weah played 25 minutes disconnected the seat successful a 3-0 triumph for Lille against Strasbourg, assisting connected 2 goals that enactment the crippled retired of reach. While Weah's spot connected the roster isn't successful doubt, the information that he's getting connected the tract and contributing to his team's onslaught could beryllium capable to propulsion him into the starting lineup.
STOCK FALLING
Aaron Long: The New York Red Bulls center-back struggled during the September friendlies for the U.S. and his tally of subpar signifier continued with this nine past weekend. The Red Bulls were eliminated from the MLS Cup playoffs owed to a 2-1 decision to FC Cincinnati, with Long showing some a deficiency of situational consciousness and betterment velocity erstwhile helium allowed FCC's Brandon Vasquez to tally past him and slot location the game-winner. The nonaccomplishment means Long won't person immoderate games until perchance the World Cup. With Celtic's Cameron Carter-Vickers backmost connected the field, and with Mark McKenzie enjoying a coagulated tally of signifier with Belgian broadside Genk, Long could beryllium sliding down the extent chart.
HOW THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING
It was a mixed container implicit the weekend. In summation to Weah's awesome show disconnected the bench, Joshua Sargent was connected the scoresheet again for Norwich City successful a 2-1 nonaccomplishment to Watford, his eighth extremity of the season. Haji Wright bagged 2 for Antalyaspor, but the show of Union Berlin guardant Jordan Pefok hobbling disconnected with an wounded is simply a blow, adjacent if he's connected the extracurricular looking successful for a roster spot astatine the moment.
There are besides concerns successful the back. Not lone volition Long beryllium idle for the adjacent month, the aforesaid is existent for chap center-back Walker Zimmerman, whose Nashville SC broadside were eliminated from the MLS Cup playoffs successful a 1-0 decision to the LA Galaxy. Manager Gregg Berhalter is holding a grooming campy for MLS players not successful the playoffs, but who are successful the moving to marque the last roster. The anticipation is that volition somewhat mitigate the deficiency of competitory fixtures for immoderate players.
1:54
Craig Burley says Kylian Mbappe's ego has taken implicit aft rumours of his tendency to permission PSG.
FRANCE
Fixtures: Australia (Nov. 22), Denmark (Nov. 26), Tunisia (Nov. 30)
Squad announcement date: Nov. 9
STOCK CLIMBING
Paul Pogba: Finally immoderate bully quality astir Paul Pogba! The Juventus midfielder is backmost astatine grooming this week aft his genu country a fewer weeks agone and it is simply a monolithic boost for his World Cup participation. There are inactive question marks implicit however acceptable helium volition beryllium comes mid-November but if everything goes according to program and helium doesn't endure immoderate setbacks, helium should beryllium bully to go.
Aurelien Tchouameni: For his archetypal Clasico connected Sunday against Barcelona, helium dominated the midfield and showed truthful overmuch property and maturity that you would person ne'er believed that it was successful debut successful the biggest crippled successful the world, and that helium is inactive lone 22. Tchouameni was outstanding. He continues to get amended and amended astatine Real Madrid and volition beryllium the cleanable replacement for N'Golo Kante.
STOCK FALLING
N'Golo Kante: This is the atrocious quality that Didier Deschamps was dreading. Kante has a hamstring wounded and is retired of the World Cup. It is simply a immense stroke for France arsenic Kante has been truthful important for Les Bleus. His acquisition would person been precise invaluable excessively successful specified a tournament. It is simply a existent shame and a large miss. France volition person to find the cleanable replacement for him.
Kylian Mbappe: After making definite that the full satellite knew past week that helium was not blessed successful Paris and wanted to permission PSG arsenic soon arsenic possible, Mbappe enactment a batch of other unit connected himself. He was inactive bully connected the transportation with a extremity and an assistance successful his past 2 games but helium unconvincingly denied the reports astir his aboriginal and his representation is damaged too.
HOW THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING
There is ever truthful overmuch happening astir this team. Between the Kante wounded and the Mbappe drama, the France caput manager is kept connected his toes the full time. At least, the affirmative quality of Paul Pogba returning to grooming made him happy.
GERMANY
Fixtures: Japan (Nov. 23), Spain (Nov. 27), Costa Rica (Dec. 1)
Squad announcement date: Around Nov. 11
STOCK FALLING
Leroy Sane: After different sterling performance, scoring a extremity and providing 2 assists successful Bayern Munich's 5-0 triumph implicit SC Freiburg, helium has suffered a near hamstring musculus injury. He'll beryllium retired until further announcement and has to beryllium a uncertainty for the World Cup. After being 1 of the signifier players successful the Bundesliga, it could beryllium a large stroke for Germany. -- Derek Rae
SPAIN
Fixtures: Costa Rica (Nov. 23), Germany (Nov. 27), Japan (Dec. 1)
Squad announcement date: Around Nov. 10
STOCK CLIMBING
Borja Iglesias: "The Panda's" banal continues to rise. He produced the cleanable No. 9 performance, extremity included, to assistance Real Betis bushed Almeria 3-1 connected Sunday and ascent into the Champions League places. With 7 goals successful LaLiga this play -- lone Robert Lewandowski has scored much -- helium is making it precise hard for Luis Enrique not to prime him for Qatar aft helium was handed his first-ever planetary headdress past month.
Ansu Fati & Ferran Torres: If some were acceptable and playing regularly, they would beryllium automatic picks. However, Ansu is inactive making his mode backmost from 2 seasons of injuries and Torres has mislaid his spot successful the Barca broadside to Raphinha. However, some came disconnected the seat successful Sunday's Clasico defeat to Real Madrid to punctual nine manager Xavi Hernandez, arsenic good arsenic Luis Enrique, that they tin beryllium utile players. Ansu brilliantly acceptable up the extremity which was converted by Torres and concisely gave Barca anticipation of a comeback.
STOCK FALLING
Sergio Busquets: Save injury, Luis Enrique volition prime Busquets, but helium indispensable beryllium acrophobic by his captain's form. Busquets has made mistakes against Inter Milan and Madrid successful the past week, costing Barca successful some games. Xavi took him disconnected connected the hr people each time. -- Sam Marsden
PORTUGAL
Fixtures: Ghana (Nov. 24), Uruguay (Nov. 28), South Korea (Dec. 2)
Squad announcement date: Around Nov. 10
STOCK FALLING
Diogo Jota: The Portugal has been ruled retired of the World Cup owed a calf wounded aft being taken disconnected connected a stretcher heavy into stoppage clip during Liverpool's 1-0 Premier League triumph against champions Manchester City astatine the weekend. It's different wounded stroke for the Portuguese, with Wolves midfielder Pedro Neto having his World Cup imagination ended past week too. -- Dale Johnson
NETHERLANDS
Fixtures: Senegal (Nov. 21), Ecuador (Nov. 25), Qatar (Nov. 29)
Squad announcement date: Nov. 13
STOCK CLIMBING
Virgil van Dijk & Nathan Ake: The 2 Dutch defenders performed excellently successful Sunday's large Premier League clash betwixt Liverpool and Manchester City. Van Dijk successful peculiar produced an important headed clearance to forestall Erling Haaland from scoring a precocious equalizer.
Frenkie de Jong: Played the afloat 90 minutes for Barcelona against Real Madrid, but helium couldn't marque the quality successful a 3-1 decision astatine the Bernabeu. It's the archetypal clip successful a period that helium has played the full match, and the midfielder was important successful trying to screen Luka Modric.
Arnaut Danjuma: Once again proved his worth for Villarreal. The attacker, who has precocious returned from a agelong injury, scored some goals successful a 2-0 triumph against Osasuna.
STOCK FALLING
Noa Lang: Was near retired of the Club Brugge squad this play arsenic manager Carl Hoefkens tried to "send a signal" to the talented winger. Lang was linked with a determination to bigger clubs successful the summertime transportation model but has recovered himself connected the seat this season. Hoefkens explained that Lang is having a hard clip coming to presumption with being a substitute.
Mark Flekken: The SC Freiburg goalkeeper suffered a 5-0 nonaccomplishment astatine the hands of Bayern Munich, which whitethorn impact his confidence. But helium did person 5 cleanable sheets successful his erstwhile 7 matches. -- Max Toemen
ARGENTINA
Fixtures: Saudi Arabia (Nov. 22), Mexico (Nov. 26), Poland (Nov. 30)
Squad announcement date: Nov. 13
STOCK FALLING
Lionel Messi: He has won the Ballon d'Or 7 times, including past year. This time, though, helium was not adjacent nominated. Messi has ne'er been obsessed by idiosyncratic awards, and this twelvemonth the contented is astir surely adjacent little important to him than usual. It seems undeniable that the nine crippled is not presently his priority, and that helium has astatine slightest 1 oculus and a fractional firmly fixed connected the World Cup -- erstwhile the biggest prize imaginable would beryllium the accidental to assistance the trophy astatine the 5th attempt. -- Tim Vickery
BRAZIL
Fixtures: Serbia (Nov. 24), Switzerland (Nov. 28), Cameroon (Dec. 2)
Squad announcement date: Nov. 7
STOCK CLIMBING
Richarlison: A shudder went done Brazil's coaching unit connected Saturday erstwhile Richarlison limped retired of Tottenham Hotspur's crippled against Everton, and things got worse erstwhile the player, successful tears, said that the past clip helium had suffered a akin calf wounded helium had been retired of enactment for 2 months -- excessively agelong to beryllium successful information for the World Cup. The quality connected Monday, then, came arsenic a large relief. The wounded is little superior than feared, and Richarlison is lone expected to beryllium retired for 2 weeks. This is important for him, arsenic playing successful a World Cup is his puerility dream, but besides for the country. Richarlison has 7 goals successful the past six games, a tally of signifier which has changed the mode that Brazil are apt to enactment up successful Qatar.
A fewer months backmost the astir apt enactment was with 2 wingers and Neymar arsenic a mendacious No. 9. Richarlison has obliged them to spell with a centre-forward. They are not looking for idiosyncratic to acceptable up the play, they already person plentifulness of players to bash that who tin marque the chances for Richarlison to finish. He is simply a straightforward, uncomplicated extremity scorer with punishment country presence, and Brazil person nary 1 other with his nonstop characteristics. His banal has risen adjacent higher aft 48 hours of contemplating Qatar without him.
STOCK FALLING
Bremer: The combat to beryllium the 4th centre-back successful Brazil's squad volition spell to the wire. In theory, it is not particularly important to a World Cup campaign. In signifier it could beryllium vital; connected the eve of USA '94, Brazil mislaid their first-choice brace of centre-backs to injury, and different went down successful the opening game. The trophy was won with a duo who ne'er imagined they would spot action. Coach Tite appears unconvinced by Arsenal's Gabriel, who was near retired of the squad for past month's friendlies. For the archetypal time, Ibanez of AS Roma and Bremer of Juventus were brought into the squad. Bremer saw astir action, playing the full 2nd fractional against Ghana. The wounded that helium picked up astatine the weekend, then, is simply a blow. The musculus strain does not look serious, but the timing is not good. -- Tim Vickery
URUGUAY
Fixtures: South Korea (Nov. 24), Portugal (Nov. 28), Ghana (Dec. 2)
STOCK CLIMBING
Federico Valverde: The grounds of the weekend's Clasico would look to beryllium clear: Valverde is present a star, with teammate Toni Kroos heaping praise connected the young midfielder. Valverde is simply a fig of players successful one, with a operation of formidable lung power, coagulated technique, imaginativeness and intelligence strength. He is simply a big-occasion player, and his juncture is coming. Injury forced him retired of the past World Cup but helium present looks similar the astir important subordinate successful the Uruguay side. One of the tasks of manager Diego Alonso is to permission him sufficiently escaped to get the champion retired of him -- adjacent if it means 3 successful cardinal midfield and lone 1 striker.
Edinson Cavani & Diego Godin: This volition beryllium the past World Cup for a radical of Uruguay players who hauled their state backmost to football's apical array successful South Africa successful 2010. Have immoderate of them hung astir for excessively long? At the weekend, Cavani showed that helium is playing himself into signifier and fittingness astatine the close clip with 2 goals for Valencia. And skipper Godin was backmost connected the squad expanse -- though helium did not spot enactment -- for Velez Sarsfield successful Argentina. Godin had a genu cognition astatine the extremity of August truthful helium volition anticipation to person immoderate crippled clip astatine the play successful the past circular of the Argentine league, and beryllium to himself and others that helium is acceptable capable for 1 last World Cup. -- Tim Vickery
MEXICO
Fixtures: Poland (Nov. 22), Argentina (Nov. 26), Saudi Arabia (Nov. 30)
Squad announcement date: Nov. 13
STOCK CLIMBING
Hirving Lozano: The Napoli striker continued his caller breathtaking tally of signifier with a extremity during Sunday's 3-2 triumph implicit Bologna. The 27-year-old winger has present scored 3 times successful his past 3 appearances and is acceptable to beryllium a cardinal fig successful this weekend's lucifer vs. AS Roma.
STOCK FALLING
Diego Lainez: He spent different crippled connected the seat for Braga, this clip watching his broadside gain a constrictive 2-1 triumph against Felgueiras successful the weekend's Taca de Portugal clash. The young midfielder has struggled to assertion minutes this play and didn't marque an quality successful his club's past 2 matches.
HOW THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING
With question marks regarding Lainez and different attack-minded names for Mexico, it's highly important for idiosyncratic similar Lozano to proceed his momentum up of Qatar. If El Tri make it retired of the radical stage, it'll apt beryllium owed to a game-changing show oregon 2 from the Napoli player. -- Cesar Hernandez
AUSTRALIA
Fixtures: France (Nov. 22), Tunisia (Nov. 26), Denmark (Nov. 30)
STOCK CLIMBING
Harry Souttar: Playing his archetypal competitory minutes since rupturing his ACL against Saudi Arabia astir a twelvemonth ago, Souttar's instrumentality to shot with Stoke City's under-21s was noted with a keen involvement successful his adopted nation, arsenic good arsenic observed in-person by Australia's adjunct coach, Rene Meulensteen. His attempts to enactment his mode backmost into Alex Neil's archetypal squad earlier the Championship breaks for the World Cup volition beryllium watched with an adjacent keener eye.
The Scottish-born defender's wounded against the Saudis represented a sliding doorway infinitesimal for the Socceroos during qualification and, if fit, helium figures arsenic an astir definite starter for Graham Arnold successful Qatar. Given that the Socceroos volition unfastened their run against recently crowned Balon d'Or victor Karim Benzema, Arnold tin bash with each the antiaircraft assistance helium tin get.
Daniel Arzani: The youngest subordinate astatine the 2018 World Cup, a disastrous 4 years followed battling wounded and making ill-suited indebtedness moves from Manchester City. Arzani has returned to Macarthur FC successful the A-League Men successful an effort to rejuvenate his career. And judging by his extremity and assistance successful a man-of-the-match show against Adelaide United connected Sunday, that's going well. The question surrounding Arzani has ne'er been if helium has the endowment to beryllium a subordinate of the Socceroos squad successful Qatar.
The Iranian-born attacker's willingness and quality to instrumentality connected his defender acceptable him isolated from his peers. Instead, the question has ever been if helium could nutrient capable prime shot successful the opening weeks of the ALM play to warrant taking him implicit his peers. And with Marco Tilio stuck connected the seat astatine Melbourne City and Garang Kuol yet to diagnostic for Central Coast owed to Australia under-20s duty, performances similar Sunday's volition help.
STOCK FALLING
Nathaniel Atkinson: Engaged successful a fierce conflict with Fran Karacic for the Socceroos' starting right-back role, Atkinson departed from Hearts' Europa Conference League necktie with Fiorentina with an ankle wounded aft lone 16 minutes, and subsequently near the stadium connected crutches. Even if he's capable to marque a betterment successful clip for Qatar, immoderate extended play connected the sidelines volition unfastened the doorway for his Croatian-born rival to surge up successful the contention to start.
HOW THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING
The chaos and injuries afflicting Didier Deschamps' France are giving Australian fans scope to whimsically dream, but the task up of Arnold's broadside to adjacent registry a constituent successful Qatar, fto unsocial advancement from the group, is inactive significant. Should Ajdin Hrustic's wounded suffered with Hellas Verona beryllium serious, the outlook would worsen adjacent much so. -- Joey Lynch
SENEGAL
Fixtures: Netherlands (Nov. 21), Qatar (Nov. 25), Ecuador (Nov. 29)
STOCK CLIMBING
Sadio Mane: Despite wide Ballon d'Or disappointment, Mane was fixed the inaugural Socrates award, successful designation of his foundation work, to headdress disconnected a good weekend. He's present had a manus successful 5 goals successful his past 5 games aft scoring a deft close-range spot successful Bayern Munich's 5-0 triumph implicit Freiburg, and appears to beryllium firmly rediscovering apical signifier arsenic the World Cup approaches. Full-back campaigner Noah Fadiga -- lad of 2002 World Cup leader Khalilou -- netted his archetypal Ligue 1 extremity for Brest connected Sunday, but was incapable to assistance them debar a 4-1 decision astatine Nantes.
STOCK FALLING
Edouard Mendy: A seventh consecutive Chelsea crippled for Kepa Arrizabalaga betwixt the sticks means Mendy hasn't featured for the Blues since Sept. 3 and that arguable triumph implicit West Ham United. Will helium play again earlier the squads assemble for the World Cup?
HOW THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING
Kepa's sterling show for Chelsea against Aston Villa appears to person extinguished immoderate anticipation Mendy had of making a instrumentality for the Blues nether Graham Potter immoderate clip soon. What was a interest for manager Aliou Cisse is present turning into a crisis, with the keeper present apt to beryllium without a crippled for a whopping 11 weeks by the clip the Teranga Lions look Netherlands. -- Ed Dove
TUNISIA
Fixtures: Denmark (Nov. 22), Australia (Nov. 26), France (Nov. 30)
STOCK CLIMBING
Hannibal Mejbri: A imaginable World Cup wildcard, Mejbri had antecedently been resigned to a substitute relation astatine Birmingham City aft moving to the 2nd tier from Manchester United connected indebtedness earlier successful the campaign. However, he's present started their past 2 matches, playing 86 minutes successful their 2-0 triumph astatine Hull City, representing the archetypal clip successful his vocation that he's made the starting line-up for consecutive fixtures.
STOCK FALLING
Aissa Laidouni: Has present been absent for Ferencvaros' past 3 fixtures -- adjacent though the nine initially communicated his wounded setback was not serious. Tunisia volition beryllium hopeless to spot the midfielder backmost successful action.
HOW THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING
Not lone is wonderkid Mejbri present starting for Birmingham, but he's besides starring arsenic well, with fans purring implicit his tenacious and controlled show against Hull. On caller form, helium could beryllium to beryllium a nonstop upgrade connected Tunisia's existent starting midfield options, peculiarly if Laidouni's wounded is much superior than archetypal feared. -- Ed Dove
MOROCCO
Fixtures: Croatia (Nov. 23), Belgium (Nov. 27), Canada (Dec. 1)
STOCK CLIMBING
Nayef Aguerd: He hasn't yet returned to enactment for West Ham United, but Aguerd posting a photograph to Instagram of his instrumentality to Hammers grooming connected Monday fuels optimism that he'll beryllium successful World Cup contention. The defender, who underwent country for an ankle wounded successful July, volition beryllium an undisputed starter for Morocco successful Qatar ... if helium tin beryllium his fittingness implicit the adjacent month.
STOCK FALLING
Hakim Ziyech: Currently laid retired with a virus, Ziyech missed Chelsea's 2-0 triumph astatine Aston Villa, but could beryllium successful contention to instrumentality against Brentford connected Wednesday. The playmaker has lone played 4 minutes successful the league since precocious August, and arsenic rumours of a January exit proceed to swirl, Netherlands fable Marco van Basten has called connected him to permission the club. Mason Mount's fantabulous caller signifier means that Chelsea -- unbeaten successful the league since Ziyech's past outing -- aren't precisely missing the Moroccan.
HOW THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING
Defensively, the imminent instrumentality of Aguerd arsenic good arsenic Yassine Bounou's masterclass for Sevilla arsenic they defeated Mallorca -- the keeper made 5 saves and kept a cleanable expanse -- should springiness Morocco optimism they tin support the likes of Belgium and Croatia astatine bay successful Qatar. Besiktas' Romain Saiss, however, inactive remains absent owed to a thigh strain. -- Ed Dove
CAMEROON
Fixtures: Switzerland (Nov. 24), Serbia (Nov. 28), Brazil (Dec. 2)
STOCK CLIMBING
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting: Marked his archetypal commencement of the play with an outstanding show arsenic Freiburg were pummelled 5-0 by Bayern Munich, with Choupo-Moting some uncovering the nett and contributing an assistance successful a vivacious attacking display. At 33, the guardant cannot expect to beryllium a regular starter for Bayern, but helium took this uncommon accidental emphatically, demonstrating his lucifer sharpness and enduring qualities. This was the benignant of unselfish, intelligent show that should guarantee helium returns to the Cameroon squad for Qatar.
STOCK FALLING
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa: The midfielder was again sidelined this weekend, having picked up an wounded successful Napoli's Champions League triumph implicit Ajax. After being diagnosed with a musculus wounded successful his thigh, helium sat retired the Partenopei's triumph against Bologna, and volition besides beryllium missing for the AS Roma showdown connected Sunday. Cameroon present look an anxious hold to spot what his information volition beryllium successful travel November.
HOW THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING
Cameroon and Napoli person some had to negociate Zambo Anguissa's fittingness issues already this season, truthful different setback for the influential midfielder is decidedly a blow. Andre Onana's beardown show and archetypal Serie A cleanable expanse -- helium started his 2nd league crippled arsenic Inter Milan defeated Salernitana 2-0 -- should guarantee helium remains manager Simone Inzaghi's archetypal prime until the World Cup break. -- Ed Dove
GHANA
Fixtures: Portugal (Nov. 24), South Korea (Nov. 28), Uruguay (Dec. 2)
STOCK CLIMBING
Mohammed Kudus: Among Africa's revelations of the play truthful far, Kudus netted his eighth extremity for Ajax crossed the Eredivisie and Champions League -- a singular turnaround considering helium was pushing to permission the nine earlier transportation deadline time -- arsenic they smashed Excelsior 7-1. Bursting into the container lone 7 minutes aft being introduced, Kudus stabbed location from adjacent range; conscionable however invaluable could this in-form goal-getter beryllium for Ghana successful Qatar?
STOCK FALLING
Richard Ofori: The Orlando Pirates keeper sustained an wounded successful Friday's 1-1 gully with AmaZulu, yet different setback for a subordinate who has struggled with his just stock of wounded problems successful caller years. A scan this week should find whether he's retired of the World Cup, which would beryllium a stroke for Ghana considering his power successful the dressing country -- he's among the squad's vice-captains -- much than his on-field contribution.
HOW THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING
Jordan Ayew returned to enactment for Crystal Palace against Leicester City contempt an wounded scare, portion Daniel Amartey besides got immoderate crippled clip for the Foxes arsenic helium returned to the starting XI. Both players could person cardinal roles to play for Ghana, and manager Otto Addo surely needs his experienced campaigners to beryllium acceptable and crisp if they're to flight Group H. -- Ed Dove
JAPAN
Fixtures: Germany (Nov. 23), Costa Rica (Nov. 27), Spain (Dec. 1)
STOCK CLIMBING
Daichi Kamada: As question marks proceed to beryllium raised implicit the signifier and fittingness of Japan's superior attacking options, it is becoming progressively hard for manager Hajime Moriyasu to disregard Kamada -- adjacent if the 26-year-old is yet to gain himself an automatic starting XI berth. The Eintracht Frankfurt man's punishment brace successful the weekend's 5-1 triumph implicit Bayer Leverkusen took his tally successful the Bundesliga this play to six goals -- joint-fourth highest successful the full league. Already 1 of his team's playmakers-in-chief, Kamada is present thriving nether accrued work playing for a broadside besides featuring successful the Champions League.
STOCK FALLING
Ko Itakura: Through nary responsibility of his own, Itakura is present moving a existent hazard of missing retired connected Japan's World Cup squad -- having antecedently looked a certainty to astatine slightest beryllium 1 of the main antiaircraft backups. Currently recovering from a ligament strain successful his near knee, which halted a good commencement to the play with caller nine Borussia Monchengladbach, Itakura is not lone facing a contention against clip to regain afloat fittingness but his spot is present nether unit with the improving signifier of Arsenal's Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kawasaki Frontale skipper Shogo Taniguchi.
HOW THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING
How Japan fare astatine the World Cup volition truly beryllium connected however unfastened Moriyasu is to deviating from the tried-and-tested. He has a favourite starting XI that has undeniably gotten the occupation done successful the past, but arsenic their signifier heading into the tourney wavers, it remains to beryllium seen if helium tin beryllium convinced to springiness players similar Kamada a deserved accidental to play a starring relation -- adjacent if they person not proven they tin bash truthful previously. -- Gabriel Tan
SOUTH KOREA
Fixtures: Uruguay (Nov. 24), Ghana (Nov. 28), Portugal (Dec. 2)
STOCK CLIMBING
Lee Kang-In: Once regarded arsenic the adjacent large happening successful South Korean football, Lee's banal did driblet successful the erstwhile planetary model aft helium failed to get a azygous infinitesimal of enactment successful friendlies against Costa Rica and Cameroon. Nonetheless, the 21-year-old tin hardly bash much to impressment South Korea manager Paulo Bento with Mallorca, racking up 3 assists successful 9 games truthful acold (joint-second successful LaLiga) contempt his team's inconsistent performances frankincense far. Lee should marque Bento's squad, but helium should already person been fixed a accidental to amusement what helium tin connection his nationalist team.
STOCK FALLING
Jung Woo-Young: One subordinate Bento intelligibly likes is Jung, and it is not hard to spot wherefore -- arsenic the deepest midfielder successful a squad that similar to propulsion guardant with pace, helium offers a captious shield successful beforehand of the backmost 4 with his contentment for doing the soiled work. But Jung is not enjoying the champion of times astatine nine level, with Al Sadd making a amazingly mediocre commencement to the caller Qatar Stars League season, winning conscionable 2 of their opening 7 games aft going unbeaten successful the entirety of the past 2 campaigns.
HOW THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING
The communicative surrounding South Korea volition ever beryllium centred astir Son Heung-Min and however his displays volition straight power the Taegeuk Warriors' prospects, but successful Lee they person a viable alternate susceptible of besides producing a prima turn. There is simply a mode that Bento tin acceptable Lee into his starting XI without losing that other spot of information which Jung offers, with Hwang In-Beom besides susceptible of playing successful a deep-lying position. But similar with Moriyasu and Japan, it remains to beryllium seen however adventurous Bento is consenting to beryllium with small clip near to hole for the World Cup. -- Gabriel Tan
English (US)