Ad Disclosure
Putting Together a World Cup Starting XI Using Philadelphia Athletes
Published:
World Cup #content.
I made a starting XI using Philadelphia athletes from the “four major” teams:
What I did here was pick a formation and fit the players to the formation. This isn’t an exercise in taking the best 11 Philadelphia players and putting them on a team. I went for a group of guys who would work together well in a defined shape and structure, which is a 3-5-2 with wingbacks and an inverted triangle midfield.
It’s modeled after the Juventus teams of 15 years ago, which used three center backs to protect a creative passer in front of them.
The Starting XI
goalkeeper: Dan Vladar
You need a netminder in good form who inspires confidence and commands the box. We feel very comfortable with Darth Vladar in goal. “Sidney Crosby, I am your father.“
center back: Joel Embiid
The central CB in a three-man backline is often a physical presence who can anchor the middle of the park. That’s Joel Embiid, or at least it used to be. For the purposes of this exercise, we’ll say it’s 2018 Joel defensively. He’s also a big soccer fan, so this feels like a natural choice.
right and left center backs: Jamie Drysdale and Quinyon Mitchell
The formation requires guys with mobility at right and left center back. Sometimes the wingbacks will be pushed up and the LCB and RCB will be asked to defend in space, and/or transition, and in that case I like Drysdale’s maneuverability and Quinyon’s penchant for blanket coverage. With Embiid protecting the rim, err, the top of the 18, I think having lockdown guys on either side is preferable.
deep lying playmaker / #6: Jalen Hurts
I need a quarterback running the offense, literally and figuratively.
In this case, Hurts will sit in front of the backline and spray the ball around. He’s going to hit long diagonals to the wing backs and play line-breaking passes to the box 8s and look for the forwards over the top. He’s going to make smart decisions on the ball and not turn it over. He’ll play within himself and keep things consistent and steady. He’s our Regista in this formation.
wing backs: Owen Tippett and Devonta Smith
We’ll require players to bomb the flanks in a 3-5-2, and for me that’s Tipper on the right Smitty on the left. Just think about how beautiful it could be to watch this. Jalen Hurts is on the ball and picks out Tippett on a frozen rope. God damn! Or, he looks to his left and sprays one over to Smitty, just like The Dagger from Super Bowl 59. I’m looking for speed and directness on the flanks and I’ve got it in the Slim Reaper and his Flyers counterpart. I also went for chemistry by putting two Eagles on the left and two Flyers on the right.
box-to-box midfielders: Zack Baun and Cooper DeJean
Since we’ve got Hurts running the show as a defensive midfielder, we’re going to put two destroyers in front of him. These guys can run for days, cover ground, put in a crunching tackle or play a progressive pass. I think Baun and Cooooooop are perfect for this. Think of them as Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio playing in front of Andrea Pirlo. What a beautiful concept, having these two get stuck in.
strikers: Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper
There’s no better choice for a forward than a designated hitter who doesn’t have to play a lick of defense. That’s why I’ve got Schwarbs in the Lionel Messi role. He can just sort of walk around, and then when the ball comes his way, he bangs it home.
Bryce was my other choice for striker because I think the 1-2 punch of a couple of Phillies bruisers up there. Certainly you could put Tyrese Maxey behind Schwarber and have him play a bit off, like a withdrawn striker or a second striker. He’s got a lot of speed and creativity and he’s a crafty. Honestly, I think if this was a 4-2-3-1 or something that used a creative #10 or attacking midfielder, Maxey would be in the starting lineup. You could really go in any direction.
the bench
Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Travis Sanheim, Rasmus Ristolainen, Matvei Michkov, Sean Couturier, Makai Lemon, Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Trevor Zegras
Edgecombe I think would be a good box-to-box midfielder in this shape. He can do a little bit of everything. Same with Coooooots as a former Selke winner and 200-foot player. Sanheim could be your backup RCB or LCB and I like the imposing Risto to spell Embiid when he comes out of the game injured in the 19th minute.
On the wings, certainly Matvei Michkov, just put him on the side that he has played his entire career. I think my other wingback off the bench would be Makai Lemon or Hollywood Brown or any of the guys brought in to replace A.J. Brown.
Forwards, I’m doing a double swap – taking off Bryce and Schwarbs for Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby. Talk about a 1-2 punch! And then if Hurts needs to come off, I think Trevor Zegras could play as a creative #6, unless Maxey goes in that spot. He is a point guard and facilitator and would thrive there.
Who beats this team? Nobody.
EDIT – I would have Doug Pederson coach the team. “You want free-flowing Calcio? Yeah let’s do it.“
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com