Quick 🧵 of all 32 #WorldCup2022 squads broken down by age and position. Data taken from Wikipedia.
Starting with Argentina 🇦🇷
• Opting for experience at the back
• Three young talents in Mac Allister, Fernandez and Alvarez
• Is it Lautaro's time?
Australia 🇦🇺
• Plenty of players in their peak in the squad
• Aaron Mooy's only 32 ???
• Kuol's introduction before moving to #NUFC in January
Belgium 🇧🇪
• 11 players aged 30+ which is the 2nd most in the tournament
• Reliant on experience at the back in Vertonghen and Alderweireld?
• Doku a star at Euro 2020
Brazil 🇧🇷
• Only u23 players are forwards
• Taking 9 forwards, the joint-most with Belgium
• 12/26 playing in the Premier League
Cameroon 🇨🇲
• Taking the youngest goalkeeper to the tournament
• Have the joint-most peak age players with Iran - 16
• Christopher Wooh has the best name at the tournament don't @ me
Canada 🇨🇦
• 15 peak aged players, the second most at the tournament
• Alphonso Davies as a forward??? Blaming the data
• Juniorr Hoilett is only 32???
Costa Rica 🇨🇷
• Fewest peak age players (6)
• Most midfielders with South Korea (12)
• Bryan Ruiz yesssssss
Croatia 🇭🇷
• Modric still going strong
• Gvaridol is one to watch
• Taking plenty of players in their peak
Denmark 🇩🇰
• A nice mix across the three age groups
• Three exciting young midfielders in Skov Olsen, Damsgaard and Lindstrom
• Joakim Maehle a solid performer at Euro 2020
Ecuador 🇪🇨
• Nearly filling all the boxes :(
• 3rd youngest average age at the tournament (25.6)
• Enner Valencia still going strong
This is long
Engerrrlaaaaand 🏴
• Opting for youth only in midfield and Saka in attack
• Only 5 players aged 30+
• There's probably a smart "could make a squad out of right backs alone" comment here but frankly we're all tired of those
France 🇫🇷
• 10 defenders - most with Iran and Wales
• Only 5 midfielders - fewest of all teams
• Very few experienced players
Germany 🇩🇪
• Fullkrug the only proper #9
• Can't be too critical as I live in the country
• Jamal Musiala is good at football
Ghana 🇬🇭
• Youngest team at the tournament, average age of 24.7
• Only 3 peak aged players, the fewest at the tournament with USA
• Baba Rahman is still playing for Chelsea
Iran 🇮🇷
• Four goalkeepers because why not
• No u23 players in the squad
• Oldest team at the tournament with an average age of 28.9
Japan 🇯🇵
• Plenty of players in their peak, especially in midfield
• There will never be a Japanese #9 with a better name than Shuto Machino
• Super super Tom, super super Tom, super super Tom, super Tomiyasu
Mexico 🇲🇽
• Second oldest team at the tournament with an average age of 28.5
• Poor Kevin Alvarez
• Just the three goalkeepers aged 35+
Morocco 🇲🇦
• Nicely balanced squad across all three age groups
• Some very dribbly boys in Boufal, Harit, Ezzalzouli and Abouklhal
• Will be nice to watch Hakim Ziyech play football
Netherlands 🇳🇱
• So close to filling all the boxes
• Least recognisable group of goalkeepers of any Dutch squad ever
• Finely balanced squad in terms of ages and profiles
Poland 🇵🇱
• 11 midfielders is a lot (some like Zalewski and Kaminski are more like wing-backs though tbf)
• Nice to see Krystian Bielik make the squad, has always had awful injury luck
• Remember when Kamil Grosicki was doing bits for Hull?
Portugal 🇵🇹
• ALL BOXES FILLED SIUUUUU
• Only 5 players aged 30+ - feels different to Portuguese squads of the past
• Squad made up entirely from players in top 5 leagues + Portugal
Qatar 🇶🇦
• Plenty of peak-aged players
• All playing for clubs within Qatar
• If there isn't a "row your boat" chant for defender "Ro-Ro" I'll be upset
Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
• ALL BOXES FILLED
• All players play for clubs in Saudi Arabia
• I need a break
Senegal 🇸🇳
• 5th youngest side at the tournament with an average age of 26.3
• Fairly balanced squad profile across all boxes
• Plenty of young talent in the pipeline (Mendy, Sarr, Jackson, etc)
Serbia 🇷🇸
• Two centre-backs aged 21 both called Strahinja - nice
• Only 7 defenders in total - on the low side compared to other squads
• Mitrovic 😍
South Korea 🇰🇷
• Only two forwards in total (Sonny's definitely a third though?)
• If he's not South Korea have 12 midfielders - the joint most with Costa Rica
• They DEFINITELY have the most experienced players in a squad with 12
Spain 🇪🇸
• Boasting two teenagers in Pedri and Gavi
• You need 261 letters for all the names in the Spain squad, only Brazil (225) need fewer #DataScience
• Looking forward to seeing Sergio Busquets' running data tbh
Switzerland 🇨🇭
• 4 goalkeepers because why not
• Only 3 youth players - very few compared to other teams
• Plenty of experience at the back
Tunisia 🇹🇳
• Stocking up on 30+ forwards
• Only 3 U23s, one of which is #MUFC's Hannibal Mejbri
• Ellyes Skhiri - solid Bundesliga players, surprised no club at the lower end of the PL has ever gambled on him
USA USA USA 🇺🇸
• 2nd youngest team going into the tournament, average age of 25.1
• 6 midfielders is the fewest of all teams bar France and joint with 🇦🇺 🇧🇷 and 🇲🇽
• Reammmmmmmmmmm
Uruguay 🇺🇾
• Fairly balanced across all boxes
• Plenty of peak players in midfield and at the back
• I reckon they'll have Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani up front forever
Wales 🏴
• Plenty of younger players, the 3rd most of all teams
• Already stressed about the prospect of Aaron Ramsey scoring
• I am spent, 32 teams is way too many
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