Good stuff Sean. Looking forward to WC this year, despite lack of US, Italy, Netherlands, Chile, Cameroon, and Greece.
Throw in Bosnia & H, Ghana, Hungary, Honduras, Ireland, Northern Ireland, New Zealand,Turkey, and Canada - how did they not set up a crazy tournament here in the US to compete against it?
I think the issue is Chile, Italy and Netherlands really have no reason or benefit to do something like that. It'd be like slumming to something beneath them, and without them, it wouldn't be much worth watching.
There are some interesting things about those 3 teams though when it comes to going forward:
1) The development of Chile will be interesting. Not a ton of youthful talent coming through the ranks with their stars all aging. I actually think Chile takes massive steps back and the team I think that takes their spot is Venezuela. I like their youth and especially like Josef Martinez. Add him to a great crop including the likes of Farinez, Penaranda, Anor, Soltedo, Marquez, Osorio, and Murillo and you have a crop of very young , talented players that could easily elevate Venezuela. They had a great showing in u-20s coming in 2nd and I thought played better than England in the final.
Netherlands is very intriguing to me. When you think Netherlands you think goals/offense. But look at their best prospective young talents. De Light, De Vrij, and Van Djik are 3 of the best young CB in the world IMO. If you keep going you got Ake, De Jong, Pierie, Sandler, Hoogma, Fosu Mensa, Karsdorp, Tete, Vand Dromgelen and Malacia. All of those guys are either CDMs or a back line positions. They have to change their philosophy to their personnel. This could be a team that could put together a defense that is like Fort Knox. They need a coach that plays to their strengths. Instead of playing expansive take a page from Mourinho, grind out results. Pack it in, don't let teams score and then use guys like Kluivert, Depay, Dost, Chong and Promes to counter with elite pace.
Italy- italy just needs their federation to get their head out of their ass and stop letting players control the national team selections. They need to usher in younger CB's. They I think are the opposite of Netherlands. A historically defensive team with some nice talent coming through on the attacking end in Chiesa, Bernardeschi, Cutrone, Kean, Belotti, Barella, Pellegrini and Orsolini as well as young defensive talent and the future best keeper in the world in Donnarumma. And for Christ sake give Balotelli and Giovinco a damn spot back. They could use both. I'm a big fan of Balotelli, yes he is craxy, but he offers thinks at his position that italy doesn't have and could prove useful. Thing is, for both it's kind of too little too late now due to age.
