FIFA World Cup (Men's)

Oh how things change, oh how things stay the same. The Spanish national team enters this year’s World Cup in Russia in a rather strange state. World champions in 2010 and European champions in 2008 and 2012, Spain are sort of favorites for this year’s tournament, as they’re always expected to do well.

After cruising through the treacherous realm of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying with only one defeat from 18 matches, it should come as no surprise that Brazil manager Tite has named a largely expected 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia. 

Germany manager Joachim Low announced his preliminary, 27-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup today — a number that will need to be trimmed to 23 before Die Mannschaft open play against Mexico on June 17. 

First he was banned for 12 months, then his appeal reduced it to six months and now Paolo Guerrero has once again been suspended for the 2018 World Cup. The latest Paolo Guerrero ban comes after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed his shortened suspension and the Court of Arbitration for Sport actually increased the original suspension to 14 months on Monday. 

Mexico included 39-year-old veteran defender Rafael Márquez in its 28-man preliminary World Cup roster announced Monday. The most telling omission from the Mexico World Cup roster is 19-year-old Jonathan González, who switched allegiances from the U.S. to Mexico earlier this year. 

Legendary Mexican center half Rafael Marquez doesn’t really fit the bill of standing 5 foot nothin’, weighing 100 and nothin’ and possessing barely a speck of athletic ability, but there’s something decidedly Rudy about Carlos Vela’s latest quotes regarding Marquez’s possible World Cup inclusion.

Speaking after LAFC’s 2-0 win over Minnesota United on Wednesday, Vela made it clear where he stands with regards to the former Atlas defender's international standing.