AUSTRALIA Fixtures: France (Nov. 22), Tunisia (Nov. 26), Denmark (Nov. 30) Squad announcement date: Nov. 8
STOCK CLIMBLING
Bailey Wright : Harry Souttar and Kye Rowles yet to return to first-team football due to injury and Milos Degenek , Thomas Deng, Harrison Delbridge and Trent Sainsbury all in their off-seasons, Wright will have two more opportunities to press his case for selection with the Black Cats before Graham Arnold names his squad.
The Socceroos: Made global headlines this week when they became the first team to collectively raise their voices and advocate for improvements in human rights in Qatar. They released a video in conjunction with player’s union Professional Footballers Australia to call for the establishment of a migrant resource centre and remedy-seeking mechanisms for individuals whose rights have been infringed and the decriminalisation of all same-sex relationships in the World Cup’s host nation. Led by Wright, Mat Ryan , and Jackson Irvine , the initiative was driven by the players and serves as the latest global example of athletes becoming increasingly comfortable with using their voices to advocate for causes beyond football.
STOCK FALLING
Cristian Volpato : Italy at a junior international level, Volpato’s candidacy for a callup is one of the Australian football zeitgeist’s most prolific culture wars, one which reached a new zenith this week.
Debate previously centred around if his significant potential merited a callup despite an almost complete dearth of minutes of any kind at senior level, but his match-winning cameo off the bench for Roma in their Serie A clash with Hellas Verona soon led to renewed calls for a spot in Qatar. But the 19-year-old’s Australian connections quickly appeared to declare that he would be unlikely to spur chances of playing for Azzurri at a senior level even if offered the chance to go to a World Cup with the Socceroos.
Even if these statements didn’t come from Volpato himself, it’s an added complication for Arnold, who is already juggling the fringe candidacies of several young attacking talents. It’s looking increasingly likely that if Australia are to snatch away a young prospect from Italy via a spot on the plane to Qatar it will be Perth-raised defender Alessandro Circati , who is currently on the books of Serie B side Parma. — Joey Lynch
SENEGAL Fixtures: Netherlands (Nov. 21), Qatar (Nov. 25), Ecuador (Nov. 29) STOCK CLIMBLING
Edouard Mendy : Chelsea after Kepa Arrizabalaga was injured during the Blues’ 4-1 humbling by Brighton, Mendy stemmed the tide for the visitors, only conceding their fourth in stoppage time. The goalkeeper had been unceremoniously axed by new boss Graham Potter, but with Kepa’s prognosis not yet clear after sustaining a foot problem, he may now have an opportunity to make his case. Senegal boss Aliou Cisse will just be delighted to see Mendy getting some more game time after being dropped, with the keeper’s inactivity having become an increasing concern for the African champions.
Boulaye Dia :Salernitana as they secured an unlikely 3-1 victory at Lazio , and with five Serie A goals this term, could yet emerge as a viable option for Senegal’s problem centre-forward position.
STOCK FALLING
Kalidou Koulibaly : Brentford , opportunities are fast running out for Koulibaly to be able to return to match sharpness ahead of the World Cup. Potter stated on Friday that the centre-back has an “outside chance” of featuring against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League on Wednesday, and if he misses this, he’ll only have three potential fixtures to return to top form. There’s no doubt he’ll make Senegal’s squad, but will he be at his best for their opener against Netherlands ?
HOW THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING
All eyes are still on Chelsea, as Senegal will certainly be hoping that Kepa’s absence allows Mendy an extended run back in the team while hoping for Koulibaly’s return as soon as possible. Nampalys Mendy was given a full half against Manchester City , and largely looked comfortable as Leicester City were only undone by a sublime Kevin De Bruyne strike. Will he force his way back into the Foxes’ starting XI in order to get his minutes up before the World Cup? Sadio Mane ‘s vibrant performance for Bayern — two assists and a goal as they defeated Mainz 6-2 — was a superb showing with Qatar only weeks away. — Ed Dove
TUNISIA Fixtures: Denmark (Nov. 22), Australia (Nov. 26), France (Nov. 30) STOCK CLIMBLING
Hannibal Mejbri : Manchester United loanee could offer Tunisia in Qatar. However, he was also withdrawn in the 54th minute after narrowly avoiding a second yellow card, with head coach John Eustace later urging the youngster not to sail quite so close to the wind with the officials.
STOCK FALLING
Yan Valery :Southampton defender’s hopes now appear to be in jeopardy after he was replaced with an apparent broken nose during Angers’ defeat by Monaco, following a collision with Takumi Minamino .
HOW THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING
Wahbi Khazri ‘s return to the Montpellier starting XI was a welcome boost for Tunisia, with the influential attacker having fallen out of favour in recent weeks. It was the first time he’d played 90 minutes since early August, and the Carthage Eagles certainly need him at his best if they’re to stand a chance of escaping their group. — Ed Dove
MOROCCO Fixtures: Croatia (Nov. 23), Belgium (Nov. 27), Canada (Dec. 1) STOCK CLIMBLING
Romain Saiss :
Nayef Aguerd : Manchester United on Sunday, but the big news of the week from a Moroccan point of view was Aguerd’s return from injury in West Ham United ‘s 1-0 victory over Silkeborg in the Europa Conference League on Thursday. It was the centre-back’s first match since signing from Stade Rennais in the summer in a £30 million deal, having overcome an ankle injury that required surgery. Having got through the 90 minutes, his task now is to force his way into the Hammers’ starting XI to rediscover his match sharpness.
STOCK FALLING
Bono :Sevilla ‘s weekend bout with Rayo Vallecano with a hamstring problem, although the keeper was fit enough to sit among the substitutes, with head coach Jorge Sampaoli revealing it was purely a precautionary measure. Bono returned to training on Monday, although Morocco fans will only be reassured when he’s back in action.
Youssef En-Nesyri :
HOW THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING
The return to action of centre-back pairing Saiss and Aguerd is a major boost for Morocco, and the news they’ve been waiting for, while it sounds like Bono’s absence will be brief. Noussair Mazraoui ‘s strong showings for Bayern Munich in recent weeks, not least against Mainz on Saturday, is encouraging considering he will likely start at left-back as the replacement for injured Adam Masina . — Ed Dove
CAMEROON Fixtures: Switzerland (Nov. 24), Serbia (Nov. 28), Brazil (Dec. 2) STOCK CLIMBLING
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting :
STOCK FALLING
Karl Toko Ekambi : Lyon has led to a change of fortunes for Toko Ekambi, who continues to be used in a substitute role by new boss Laurent Blanc. The forward hasn’t started a game since the ex-France boss was appointed, and without a goal since late September, he’s struggling for form as the World Cup approaches. He failed to make an impact during a 24-minute cameo against Lille on Sunday.
HOW THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING
Choupo-Moting’s sensational recent form is the big talking point in Cameroon at the moment, where supporters are hoping that his stop-start — and ultimately unfulfilling — international career can finally reach a climax when the Indomitable Lions need him most. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa ‘s return to action for Napoli — playing just under an hour as they trounced Sassuolo — is even more important for Cameroon, while Bryan Mbeumo ‘s first Premier League assist of the season suggests he could prove to be an asset at the World Cup. — Ed Dove
GHANA Fixtures: Portugal (Nov. 24), South Korea (Nov. 28), Uruguay (Dec. 2) STOCK CLIMBLING
Inaki Williams : Ghana debut during the last international break, and will be pushing to start for his new nation in Qatar. Based on recent form, it would be a big call for Otto Addo to leave him on the bench, with Williams extending his excellent goal-scoring run against Villarreal on Sunday. The forward’s strike was enough to secure a 1-0 triumph, as the attacker made it five goals in 12 games in LaLiga.
Joseph Paintsil :
STOCK FALLING
Alexander Djiku :Toulouse last weekend, Djiku was unavailable for Strasbourg ‘s draw with Marseille as he continues his recovery from a minor hamstring complaint. Both club and country will be desperate to see the composed, authoritative defender back in action as soon as possible.
HOW THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING
The goal-scoring form of Williams and Paintsil gives Addo two different problems, although the coach certainly won’t be complaining to have several in-form attacking options available to him as the World Cup looms. He’ll also be encouraged by Thomas Partey’s goal-scoring display against Nottingham Forest , as the midfield powerhouse slammed home Arsenal’s fourth in their resounding 5-0 triumph to cap off another commanding display. — Ed Dove
JAPAN Fixtures: Germany (Nov. 23), Costa Rica (Nov. 27), Spain (Dec. 1) STOCK CLIMBLING
Daichi Kamada :Marseille last week, Kamada followed up with a clinical long-range effort against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga at the weekend. With 11 goals in 19 games already playing at the highest level of European football, and despite being deployed as an attacking midfielder, the 26-year-old must surely be in Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu’s starting XI.
STOCK FALLING
Kyogo Furuhashi :Celtic . In Furuhashi’s defence, his record of seven goals in nine league games so far this term is hardly a poor record, and it is understandable why eyebrows have been raised at his omission — especially given the Samurai Blue coach justifying his squad selection as a decision to forego experience for “burning ambition.”
– Japan name 26-man squad for World Cup
HOW THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING
Along with Furuhashi, Yuya Osako — arguably Japan’s best performer at the previous World Cup — was the other major exclusion from the 26-man squad. There are question marks over whether the Samurai Blue have enough firepower given the attacking trio of Takuma Asano , Ayase Ueda and Daizen Maeda have combined for just eight international goals. The emergence of Kamada as an avenue for goals — even from a deeper position – and whether or not he can perform at the biggest of stages is looming as even more pivotal for Japan’s prospects. — Gabriel Tan
IR IRAN Fixtures: England (Nov. 21), Wales (Nov. 25), United States (Nov. 29) STOCK CLIMBLING
Mehdi Taremi :Wales . His double in a 4-0 win over Club Brugge last Wednesday saw him earn the Champions League’s Player of the Week award and he still has time to impress further before the World Cup.
STOCK FALLING
Hossein Kanaanizadegan & Shoja Khalilzadeh : Majid Hosseini and even Morteza Pouraliganji in the pecking order.
HOW THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING
The fact that Taremi continues to be in good form is a huge boost for Iran, especially given injury concerns over his strike partner Sardar Azmoun , who has struggled for fitness and form since joining Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen in January. And while Queiroz’s preparations would have been hampered by Kanaanizadegan and Khalilzadeh being absent from the recent training camp, Team Melli still look to be building nicely towards a third consecutive World Cup appearance. — Gabriel Tan
URUGUAY Fixtures: South Korea (Nov. 24), Portugal (Nov. 28), Ghana (Dec. 2) STOCK FALLING
Mauro Arambarri : Edinson Cavani , who after a recent run of promising games pulled up in the first half of Valencia’s match against Barcelona and had to be substituted. It is possible that Cavani paid the price for trying to get up to full fitness too quickly. Uruguay will monitor his situation closely. And Sebastian Caceres , a reserve centre-back, suffered a broken nose, and after resting for a few days will have to train with a mask on. — Tim Vickery
ECUADOR Fixtures: Qatar (Nov. 20), Netherlands (Nov. 25), Senegal (Nov. 29) STOCK CLIMBLING
Pervis Estupinan : Tim Vickery
