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.
- Stream connected ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, much (U.S.)
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 | Belgium | Portugal | Netherlands | Argentina | Brazil | Mexico | Australia | Senegal | Morocco | Cameroon | Ghana | IR Iran | Japan
ENGLAND
Fixtures: IR Iran (Nov. 21), United States (Nov. 25), Wales (Nov. 29)
STOCK CLIMBING
Phil Foden & Bukayo Saka: All things being equal, England volition play 3-4-3 successful their World Cup opener against Iran with Harry Kane starting astatine centre-forward and Raheem Sterling occupying 1 of the precocious positions adjacent to him. Foden and Saka are the frontrunners competing for the different attacking spot and aft Foden's ace chapeau instrumentality for Manchester City against Manchester United past weekend, Saka delivered a likewise influential show arsenic Arsenal bushed Liverpool 3-2 astatine Emirates Stadium. Saka scored twice, the 2nd of which came successful the signifier of a match-winning punishment -- the biggest spot footwear helium has taken since missing for England successful the Euro 2020 last shootout against Italy.
STOCK FALLING
Trent Alexander-Arnold: This isn't the archetypal clip Alexander-Arnold has appeared here, but different chastening acquisition successful a large crippled volition bash small to triumph implicit manager Gareth Southgate, who is already sceptical astir the 24-year-old's defending. He was substituted astatine half-time successful Liverpool's nonaccomplishment astatine Arsenal with an ankle occupation which, if anything, enactment him retired of his misery, aft being caught retired for some goals his squad conceded successful the opening 45 minutes. The 2nd was peculiarly embarrassing, drifting retired of presumption with nary anticipation of getting the ball, vacating Liverpool's cardinal antiaircraft country arsenic Arsenal counter-attacked and Gabriel Martinelli crossed for Saka to score.
HOW ARE THEY LOOKING?
News that Kyle Walker is simply a uncertainty for the finals aft undergoing groin country volition beryllium a immense stroke to Southgate. Walker was a definite starter for England, astir apt connected a the close broadside of a three-man defence, wherever Southgate relies heavy connected Walker's betterment gait to snuff retired imaginable counter-attacking dangers. He has not yet been ruled out, however, and Southgate volition surely springiness him each accidental to marque the squad. Without him, England's already fishy defence is weaker. -- James Olley
UNITED STATES
Fixtures: Wales (Nov. 21), England (Nov. 25), IR Iran (Nov. 29)
STOCK CLIMBING
Josh Sargent: Sargent continued his beardown commencement to the play with Norwich City, scoring his seventh extremity of the play successful the Canaries' 3-2 nonaccomplishment to Preston North End astatine the weekend. With Ricardo Pepi bagging different 2 goals for Groningen, Sargent needed to bash his spot to punctual manager Gregg Berhalter that helium should beryllium connected the last roster, and helium did conscionable that with a outstanding tally and decorativeness to people Norwich's archetypal goal.
STOCK FALLING
Chris Richards: With conscionable nether a period to spell until Berhalter names his roster, Richards is inactive connected the mend from a hamstring injury. Not lone did Richards not play successful Crystal Palace's 2-1 triumph implicit Leeds United, helium hasn't adjacent begun grooming with the archetypal squad yet. If healthy, Richards is simply a adjacent fastener to beryllium included, but Berhalter volition request to spot that the defender is backmost to afloat fittingness successful bid for that to happen.
HOW ARE THEY LOOKING?
The show of Christian Pulisic getting connected the scoresheet for Chelsea was astir invited fixed his value to the U.S. attack. But agelong term, the astir notable portion of the play was the instrumentality to wellness of respective players. Fulham defender Antonee Robinson, Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah, Lille's Timothy Weah and Celtic's Cameron Carter-Vickers each got connected the field, with Robinson and Carter-Vickers going the afloat 90 minutes. The archetypal 3 successful that database are thought to beryllium captious to the U.S. team's chances of getting past the radical stage. -- Jeff Carlisle
FRANCE
Fixtures: Australia (Nov. 22), Denmark (Nov. 26), Tunisia (Nov. 30)
STOCK CLIMBING
Adrien Rabiot: Just erstwhile helium needed it the most, Rabiot produced his champion show successful a portion past week against Maccabi Haifa successful the Champions League. The Juventus midfielder scored doubly and was precise ascendant successful a must-win crippled for Juve. He was bully against Milan excessively contempt the decision and helium is showing that helium is astir backmost to his best. With manager Didier Deschamps unsure which of his midfielders volition beryllium acceptable for the World Cup, Rabiot scored immoderate brownie points.
Antoine Griezmann: Finally, the striker volition beryllium a mean footballer again. On Monday, Atletico Madrid officially announced that helium had signed permanently for them from Barcelona aft weeks of lone being allowed to play 30 minutes per match! Now, Diego Simeone volition beryllium capable to play him arsenic overmuch arsenic helium wants, which is simply a large alleviation for Griezmann with the World Cup astir the corner.
STOCK FALLING
Anthony Martial: Deschamps has been truly diligent with Martial passim the year. It has been a connected and disconnected narration betwixt the Manchester United guardant and the France squad but helium was a campaigner for the World Cup. However, his caller wounded setback, lone a fewer days aft making his instrumentality with a extremity astatine Omonia past week and an assistance against Everton connected Sunday, is simply a monolithic stroke and diminishes his chances to spell to Qatar.
Lucas Hernandez: It looks similar a contention against clip for the Bayern Munich defender to beryllium acceptable and acceptable for the World Cup. His thigh wounded has kept him retired for a period already and helium is inactive not backmost connected the pitch. He should commencement moving again this week and hopefully play by the extremity of the month. Will that beryllium capable for Deschamps? Time volition tell.
HOW ARE THEY LOOKING?
There are inactive immoderate problems for Deschamps arsenic helium is inactive monitoring the advancement of his injured players, particularly N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba who are 2 large concerns for France. Kylian Mbappe reportedly being unhappy astatine PSG astatine the infinitesimal is besides a interest for Deschamps. -- Julien Laurens
GERMANY
Fixtures: Japan (Nov. 23), Spain (Nov. 27), Costa Rica (Dec. 1)
STOCK CLIMBING
Niclas Fullkrug: There's a large clamour for the inclusion of the in-form Werder Bremen striker, to springiness manager Hansi Flick a genuine centre guardant option. Fullkrug astatine 29 hasn't represented Germany beyond under-20 level but leads the Bundesliga scoring charts with 8 goals, helping catapult Bremen into the apical five. He netted the precocious punishment victor distant to Hoffenheim connected Friday portion besides mounting up the opener for striking spouse Marvin Ducksch. -- Derek Rae
SPAIN
Fixtures: Costa Rica (Nov. 23), Germany (Nov. 27), Japan (Dec. 1)
STOCK CLIMBING
Brais Mendez: The Real Sociedad midfielder is banging successful the goals aft a summertime determination from Celta Vigo ... could helium beryllium making a precocious tally for inclusion? He has 4 caps, but nary since November 2021.
STOCK FALLING
Ferran Torres: A regular for Spain but struggling for minutes with Barcelona. He did not instrumentality vantage of his commencement against Celta Vigo astatine the weekend. -- Sam Marsden
BELGIUM
Fixtures: Canada (Nov. 23), Morocco (Nov. 27), Croatia (Dec. 1)
STOCK CLIMBING
Kevin De Bruyne: There is nary astonishment here. De Bruyne is the Belgium planetary who is astir successful form. Week-in, week-out, helium is delivering for Manchester City and helium is adjacent getting rested astatine times by Pep Guardiola (against Copenhagen, and helium lone came connected for 21 minutes against Nottingham Forest), which is large truthful adjacent to the World Cup.
Leandro Trossard: The Brighton guardant is giving Roberto Martinez a headache. Trossard's show successful scoring a chapeau instrumentality astatine Liverpool 10 days agone was exceptional. He is successful large signifier and, dissimilar Eden Hazard, helium is fit, plays regularly and shines. He is surely pushing for a spot successful Belgium's starting XI astatine the moment..
STOCK FALLING
Eden Hazard: There's inactive not overmuch crippled clip for him astatine Real Madrid. He hasn't played a azygous infinitesimal for Los Blancos for a month, since Sept. 11 against Mallorca wherever helium started and was taken disconnected aft 59 minutes. And that was portion Karim Benzema was out! Now that Benzema is back, it is truly clip to interest for Hazard. He volition get astatine the World Cup with precise fewer minutes connected the transportation nether his belt.
Charles De Ketelaere: He is taking longer to accommodate to beingness astatine AC Milan than was hoped. He was benched by manager Stefano Pioli for the large clash against Juventus astatine the weekend, and the squad did truly good without him. His 65 minutes against Chelsea past week were precise mediocre and helium inactive hasn't scored since making the determination to Italy.
HOW ARE THEY LOOKING?
The large interest of people is the signifier of Hazard. The Belgium skipper doesn't play astatine Madrid and manager Martinez is concerned. He has different options but Hazard is simply a immense subordinate for him. For the rest, things are looking good. -- Julien Laurens
PORTUGAL
Fixtures: Ghana (Nov. 24), Uruguay (Nov. 28), South Korea (Dec. 2)
STOCK CLIMBING
Cristiano Ronaldo: He whitethorn not person started against Everton connected Sunday, but his instauration disconnected the seat for the injured Martial gave Manchester United a spark and resulted successful him scoring the winner, and his 700th vocation goal. United's No. 7, who pushed to permission passim the summertime and who manager Erik 10 Hag said was "pissed off" with a deficiency of crippled time, could beryllium successful enactment for a prolonged spell successful the squad amid ongoing concerns implicit Martial's wounded record.
STOCK FALLING
Pedro Neto: Bad quality for the Wolves winger, who has been ruled retired of the World Cup aft suffering an ankle wounded against West Ham United. -- Dale Johnson
NETHERLANDS
Fixtures: Senegal (Nov. 21), Ecuador (Nov. 25), Qatar (Nov. 29)
STOCK CLIMBING
Frenkie de Jong & Arnaut Danjuma: Good quality from Spain, wherever De Jong and Danjuma person recovered from their injuries. De Jong appeared arsenic a 63rd-minute substitute aft much than 2 weeks retired arsenic Barcelona bushed Celta Viga. Danjuma started for Villarreal against Austria Vienna past week and scored immediately, but was substituted astatine half-time against Real Sociedad astatine the play aft a below-par performance.
Matthijs de Ligt: He's started a 4th consecutive lucifer for Bayern Munich owed to the wounded to Lucas Hernandez. Against Borussia Dortmund (2-2), talented Dutch striker Donyell Malen besides came connected successful the 70th infinitesimal but Ryan Gravenberch, who played his archetypal 90 minutes against Viktoria Plzen successful the Champions League, stayed connected the seat the full game.
Cody Gakpo: The PSV Eindhoven prima continues to impress. After 75 minutes helium scored the lone extremity of the crippled against Heerenveen, the 2nd clip this play that helium has proved to beryllium the quality maker. He is unquestionably the MVP successful the Eredivisie this play with 9 goals and six assists successful conscionable 9 games. In each competitions, helium has been progressive successful 23 goals -- arsenic galore arsenic Erling Haaland, though Gakpo has featured successful 3 other matches.
Jeremie Frimpong: He scored 2 goals successful Xabi Alonso's archetypal crippled arsenic manager of Bayer Leverkusen, his 2nd brace of the season. Together with Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Monchengladbach, besides 4 goals) helium is the top-scoring defender successful the Bundesliga. He is performing precise good but it isn't apt to beryllium portion of the radical who are going to Qatar. Louis van Gaal lone wants players who helium knows, oregon has got to know, meaning immoderate subordinate not selected up to the past planetary interruption is improbable to marque it to the World Cup.
STOCK FALLING
Remko Pasveer: After Ajax suffered their biggest European nonaccomplishment erstwhile losing 6-1 to Napoli, galore players came successful for criticism. Daley Blind and Pasveer showed their weaknesses, but a fewer days aboriginal Pasveer didn't play astatine each good against FC Volendam, who are astatine the bottommost of the array but scored twice. Pasveer has conceded 13 goals successful his past 5 games. -- Max Toemen
ARGENTINA
Fixtures: Saudi Arabia (Nov. 22), Mexico (Nov. 26), Poland (Nov. 30)
STOCK CLIMBING
Enzo Fernandez: In this long, 35-game unbeaten run, Argentina's midfield trio person been firing unneurotic wonderfully well. Leandro Paredes gets the moves going, Rodrigo De Paul adds thrust and Giovani Lo Celso plays subtle passes, bringing Lionel Messi into play adjacent to the opposing goal. But what would hap if 1 of the trio were to beryllium retired of action? Exequiel Palacios has agelong been the adjacent successful line, but has tally into wounded problems -- making the emergence of Fernandez precise interesting. Last week, Fernandez was applauded disconnected the tract by Benfica fans erstwhile helium made a precocious exit against Paris Saint-Germain. As helium has done connected a regular ground since joining from River Plate, Fernandez enactment successful a coagulated shift, progressive successful each phases of the play and mounting up his side's extremity successful a 1-1 draw. He has looked arsenic astatine location aft his caller promotion to the elder Argentina side. Coach Lionel Scaloni tin remainder relieved that helium has a ready-made midfield reinforcement.
STOCK FALLING
Paulo Dybala: Sunday's bizarre injury, erstwhile helium suffered a muscular occupation successful scoring a punishment for AS Roma, was atrocious quality so for a subordinate who has consistently flattered to deceive for his nationalist team. There is speculation that helium volition not beryllium acceptable successful clip for Qatar. Argentina would similar to person him successful reserve, but they person got this acold without him. Dybala hardly featured successful World Cup qualification, was not successful Brazil for past year's Copa America triumph and has scored a precise disappointing 3 goals successful 34 appearances for his country. His hopes of improving that grounds successful the World Cup person taken a blow. -- Tim Vickery
BRAZIL
Fixtures: Serbia (Nov. 24), Switzerland (Nov. 28), Cameroon (Dec. 2)
STOCK CLIMBING
Gabriel Martinelli: With different splendid show astatine the weekend, Martinelli is making beingness hard for Brazil manager Tite with truthful galore attacking options. Even with 26 squad slots available, it is hard to spot however Martinelli tin get himself connected the plane. Assuming that Tite takes 1 reserve for each antiaircraft and midfield position, that leaves him with 9 slots near for beforehand players. Neymar is guaranteed, arsenic are wingers Raphinha, Vinicius Junior and Antony, positive astir surely Rodrygo. Richarlison volition spell arsenic a cardinal striker, backed up by Pedro and, surely, Gabriel Jesus. It is astir apt the lawsuit that Roberto Firmino is battling with Olympic leader Matheus Cunha for a slot, with vantage Firmino -- the Liverpool antheral is the closest they person to a Neymar substitute. And that's the 9 slots each gone.
Barring injuries, determination is 1 alternate -- repetition what Brazil did past month. That would mean leaving retired Daniel Alves, having Danilo arsenic the sole right-back, with Eder Militao supplying cover, frankincense freeing up an other space. To instrumentality 10 beforehand players successful a squad of 26 could look an exaggeration and it could beryllium a hazard -- but Martinelli is playing truthful good that the thought mightiness good beryllium flickering done Tite's mind. -- Tim Vickery
MEXICO
Fixtures: Poland (Nov. 22), Argentina (Nov. 26), Saudi Arabia (Nov. 30)
STOCK CLIMBING
Hirving Lozano: After a dilatory commencement to the 2022-23 Serie A run with Napoli, it was invited quality to spot Lozano people successful the 4-1 triumph against Cremonese past Sunday. The extremity was the archetypal of the play for the 27-year-old and came conscionable 2 weeks aft helium scored the lone extremity for Mexico successful a affable vs Peru.
STOCK FALLING
Alfredo Talavera: Not the champion show from Mexico's second-choice goalkeeper. The goals weren't wholly his fault, but seasoned Talavera didn't screen himself successful glory successful FC Juarez's 3-0 nonaccomplishment to Toluca successful the archetypal circular of the Liga MX playoffs. With nary games near to play earlier the World Cup, Talavera volition present hole for the tourney aft a sour extremity to his season.
HOW ARE THEY LOOKING?
Lozano's Serie A extremity volition supply alleviation for Mexico manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino, who precocious noted that determination are nary guarantees that cardinal injured attackers similar Jesus Corona oregon Raul Jimenez volition beryllium acceptable for the World Cup. Lozano volition beryllium an invaluable subordinate of El Tri's frontline successful Qatar, and volition truthful request to summation much momentum and minutes earlier the tournament. -- Cesar Hernandez
AUSTRALIA
Fixtures: France (Nov. 22), Tunisia (Nov. 26), Denmark (Nov. 30)
STOCK CLIMBING
Mitch Langerak: His determination to extremity his status from planetary shot past period abruptly turned the Socceroos' goalkeeping stocks from 1 of its astir settled positions into 1 of its astir intriguing. And portion helium mightiness not person played successful the caller games against New Zealand -- manager Graham Arnold opting to commencement Andrew Redmayne successful Auckland due to the fact that the A-League Men's (ALM) offseason had denied him caller minutes -- the 34-year-old continues to rack up minutes with Nagoya Grampus successful the J1 League and was awesome successful their 1-1 gully with Kyoto Sanga.
Langerak has doubly breached the play clean-sheet grounds of the Japanese top-flight since signing for Nagoya successful 2018 and arguably would person had considerably much than his existent tally of 8 Socceroos caps had helium not stepped distant from the nationalist squad owed to household reasons during the pandemic. Now backmost successful the fold, he's putting his champion ft guardant successful an improbable propulsion for Australia's No. 1 garment successful Qatar.
Chris Ikonomidis: After an wounded ravaged 2021-22 ALM run -- not helped by a agelong stint successful quarantine aft representing his state -- Ikonomidis mostly fell disconnected the radar of the Socceroos heading into this campaign, overshadowed by the likes of Awer Mabil and Craig Goodwin connected the wing. His barnstorming quality disconnected the seat successful Melbourne Victory's 3-2 triumph connected the opening time of the Australian top-flight's 2022-23 season, though, demonstrated that the attacker can't beryllium discounted for a precocious propulsion for a spot connected the level to Qatar. Introduced arsenic a 62nd-minute substitute successful the Big Blue, the 27-year-old grabbed a extremity and an assistance successful Victory's triumph -- astatine the precise slightest giving himself a level to physique connected earlier Arnold names his squad adjacent month.
STOCK FALLING
Mat Ryan: At the nonstop clip that Langerak is making moves successful Japan, the Socceroos incumbent betwixt the posts has recovered himself abruptly consigned to the seat astatine his Danish nine FC Copenhagen conscionable weeks retired from the World Cup. Returning from a semipermanent injury, Kamil Grabara has replaced Ryan successful Copenhagen's XI successful caller fixtures. Ryan's signifier with the Socceroos has ever been exemplary and helium remains an integral person for the team. But if he's going to proceed to ticker from the sideline portion Langerak performs well, it's inevitable that questions are going to beryllium asked.
Marco Tilio: He began the ALM play with Melbourne City needing to enactment unneurotic a beardown tally of signifier to reenforce a lawsuit for selection, truthful starting connected the seat successful his side's opening 2-1 triumph implicit Western United and being forced to hold until the 73rd infinitesimal to participate the contention was hardly what helium needed. Even much unfortunate for his hopes of reaching Qatar, nary of those up of him successful the pecking bid astatine City -- including chap Socceroos Mat Leckie and Jamie Maclaren -- enactment successful the benignant of performances that would suggest manager Patrick Kisnorbo needs to marque a alteration up of their coming gathering with Brisbane Roar. Tilio besides missed a precocious accidental to drawback his broadside a third. -- Joey Lynch
SENEGAL
Fixtures: Netherlands (Nov. 21), Qatar (Nov. 25), Ecuador (Nov. 29)
STOCK CLIMBING
Habib Diallo & Boulaye Dia: After being criticised for their profligacy during the planetary break, Senegal's attacking options present seemingly can't halt scoring arsenic the World Cup approaches. Diallo of Strasbourg and Salernitana's Dia were some among the goals this play -- a large boost for manager Aliou Cisse -- portion Famara Diedhiou, who led the enactment successful the Africa Cup of Nations final, returned to enactment for the archetypal clip since sustaining an wounded successful June.
STOCK FALLING
Pape Abou Cisse: The AFCON-winning defender was chopped from the Olympiakos squad up of their gathering with OFI Crete aft clashing with supporters pursuing a 3-0 humbling by Qarabag successful midweek. The nine publically criticised the defender's behaviour aft helium confronted fans, and it remains to beryllium seen whether helium inactive has a aboriginal astatine the club.
Edouard Mendy: The goalkeeper continues to beryllium retired of Chelsea's Premier League broadside arsenic caller brag Graham Potter puts religion successful Kepa Arrizabalaga, and his inactivity is simply a increasing concern.
HOW ARE THEY LOOKING?
Chelsea person mislaid religion successful Mendy astatine precisely the incorrect clip for Senegal, and a period has present passed without playing astatine each for the Blues. He's specified an important subordinate for the Teranga Lions, truthful his spot isn't successful doubt, but this is acold from perfect preparation. By contrast, Kalidou Koulibaly's beardown instrumentality to enactment nether Potter is encouraging news. -- Ed Dove
MOROCCO
Fixtures: Croatia (Nov. 23), Belgium (Nov. 27), Canada (Dec. 1)
STOCK CLIMBING
Imran Louza: Injury-hit since arriving astatine Watford successful a £9m determination past year, Louza's commencement to the play has again been overshadowed by fittingness problems. Returning from 5 months without a game, helium made his 3rd quality successful six days for the Hornets arsenic they were defeated astatine Blackpool, scoring the visitors' consolation extremity with a delicious curling escaped kick. His extremity followed connected from a caller assistance successful the 4-0 mauling of Stoke City and, connected existent form, Louza should beryllium pushing for a Morocco return.
STOCK FALLING
Romain Saiss: The Morocco skipper was withdrawn with wounded 13 minutes into Besiktas' 1-0 triumph astatine Giresunspor. He's expected to miss the weekend's derby with Trabzonspor, but his setback isn't expected to impact his World Cup participation. With Nayef Aguerd inactive sidelined, the Atlas Lions cannot spend different cardinal antiaircraft absence.
HOW ARE THEY LOOKING?
Hakim Ziyech has the imaginable to beryllium a cardinal plus for Morocco aft ending his planetary exile, and adjacent though helium lone made a four-minute cameo arsenic Chelsea defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers, his instrumentality to Premier League enactment volition bring cheer to manager Walid Regragui. It was the playmaker's archetypal league quality since Aug. 30, and helium present needs to diagnostic much regularly to guarantee that he's lucifer crisp for the World Cup. Ziyech has travel down with unwellness up of Chelsea's Champions League crippled astatine AC Milan. -- Ed Dove
CAMEROON
Fixtures: Switzerland (Nov. 24), Serbia (Nov. 28), Brazil (Dec. 2)
STOCK CLIMBING
Andre Onana: Before this weekend, Onana's nonaccomplishment to unseat Samir Handanovic astatine Inter Milan had been a interest for Cameroon fans, leaving their No. 1 goalkeeper abbreviated of lucifer sharpness. Following immoderate underwhelming displays by Handanovic, manager Simone Inzaghi opted to manus Onana his archetypal Serie A commencement against Sassuolo astatine the weekend, and portion it wasn't a flawless show -- the ex-Ajax antheral conceded -- it present appears that he'll beryllium fixed the accidental to impressment successful the weeks to come. Midfielder Samuel Oum Gouet besides returned to enactment for KV Mechelen, having missed the erstwhile 3 fixtures.
STOCK FALLING
Martin Hongla: He remains benched astatine Hellas Verona, and hasn't featured since Sept. 4, portion Rigobert Song volition surely beryllium hoping for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to get a small much playing clip than the 8 minutes helium was afforded successful Der Klassiker.
HOW ARE THEY LOOKING?
Onana's "promotion" astatine Inter is simply a large boost, portion the remainder of the squad is looking healthy. Song volition ticker connected with intrigue to spot however caller Lyon caput manager Laurent Blanc uses Karl Toko Ekambi successful the coming weeks, portion ambitious FA president Samuel Eto'o should propulsion retired the stops to effort to person Youssoufa Moukoko, who became the youngest extremity scorer successful Der Klassiker, to ditch Germany for Cameroon successful clip for the World Cup. -- Ed Dove
GHANA
Fixtures: Portugal (Nov. 24), South Korea (Nov. 28), Uruguay (Dec. 2)
STOCK CLIMBING
Daniel-Kofi Kyereh: The SC Freiburg subordinate has blossomed into a invaluable constituent successful the Ghana squad since making his archetypal commencement for the nationalist side, and is reaching the champion signifier of his vocation conscionable successful clip for the World Cup. His delightful extremity against Hertha Berlin connected Sunday helped the Breisgau-Brazilians to an distant draw, and he's present scored 3 goals successful his past 3 matches. Considering this is his archetypal run successful a apical division, Kyereh ought to beryllium considered among Africa's breakout stars of the season.
STOCK FALLING
Daniel Amartey: Wout Faes's accomplishment astatine Leicester City has resigned Amartey to a seat relation for Brendan Rodgers' beleaguered Foxes. He was introduced successful the 67th infinitesimal with Leicester starring 1-0 astatine Bournemouth connected Saturday, with Rodgers looking to sphere the visitors' advantage. They mislaid 2-1.
HOW ARE THEY LOOKING?
Kyereh's emergence arsenic a extremity menace from midfield comes arsenic a boost to a Black Stars broadside who person scored conscionable 3 goals successful their past 5 matches. However, Thomas Partey remaining wounded escaped and continuing to beryllium influential arsenic Arsenal support their beardown commencement to the play is Ghana's existent affirmative of the week. -- Ed Dove
JAPAN
Fixtures: Germany (Nov. 23), Costa Rica (Nov. 27), Spain (Dec. 1)
STOCK CLIMBING
Takehiro Tomiyasu: After his ain fittingness issues astatine the commencement of the play saw him suffer his spot successful the Arsenal side, Tomiyasu benefitted from an wounded to Oleksandr Zinchenko to reclaim his spot successful Mikel Arteta's starting XI. And the versatile defender surely acquitted himself admirably, holding his ain against the fearsome Mohamed Salah successful an awesome 3-2 triumph for the Gunners.
STOCK FALLING
Kaoru Mitoma: There is nary denying Mitoma's earthy talent, and the Brighton hierarchy -- arsenic good arsenic the fans -- look to clasp him successful precocious regard, with the anticipation that helium volition yet found himself successful the Premier League. Yet, each crippled that helium sits connected the sidelines and is restricted to substitute appearances is different week gone wherever 1 of the Samurai Blue's X-factor players fails to garner immoderate meaningful and invaluable minutes up of the World Cup.
HOW ARE THEY LOOKING?
Tomiyasu was ever going to beryllium a fastener for Japan successful the backline but the information that helium could perchance get much playing clip for an Arsenal outfit who are flying precocious bodes good for the Samurai Blue, particularly fixed skipper and centre-back spouse Maya Yoshida is facing a far-less blessed clip successful the Bundesliga with Schalke astatine the moment. But Mitoma's inactivity could commencement being a interest for manager Hajime Moriyasu, particularly fixed others similar Takumi Minamino astatine Monaco and Vissel Kobe's Yuya Osako are struggling to marque an content and competing for their nine astatine the incorrect extremity of the array respectively. -- Gabriel Tan
IR IRAN
Fixtures: England (Nov. 21), Wales (Nov. 25), United States (Nov. 29)
STOCK CLIMBING
Karim Ansarifard: Only earlier this year, it looked similar Ansarifard -- a seasoned campaigner with 94 caps to his sanction -- mightiness not adjacent beryllium headed for the World Cup, fixed rumoured unrest betwixt him and then-Iran manager Dragan Skocic. With Skocic present replaced by Carlos Queiroz, the 32-year-old Ansarifard has returned to the fold and conscionable past week showed the benignant of predatory instincts that volition travel successful useful for Team Melli with a objective decorativeness successful Omonia's constrictive nonaccomplishment to Manchester United successful the Europa League.
STOCK FALLING
Sardar Azmoun: A trying twelvemonth for Azmoun got worse for erstwhile helium tore a close calf musculus up of Bayer Leverkusen's 2-0 Champions League nonaccomplishment to FC Porto. Although Azmoun has struggled for goals recently, helium would person inactive been expected to play an important relation successful onslaught for the Iranians but, with an estimated six-to-eight week betterment period, could miss retired altogether.
HOW ARE THEY LOOKING?
Ansarifard uncovering signifier is simply a bonus but helium is improbable to beryllium capable to afloat capable immoderate imaginable void should Azmoun beryllium unavailable. The treble enactment of Azmoun and Porto striker Mehdi Taremi is 1 that would person caused problems for immoderate absorption defence. The Iran faithful volition present person their fingers crossed that the Leverkusen antheral recovers successful clip to marque Queiroz's squad, adjacent if helium has to miss the archetypal crippled oregon so. -- Gabriel Tan
English (US)