Newcastle United v Brighton and Hove Albion

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Newcastle United v Brighton and Hove Albion The Premier League loves to throw up big games every weekend, and this tie between Newcastle and Brighton should fit that bill comfortably. Both teams come into this game in an odd run of form, with Newcastle only winning one of their last six. Brighton have won three, but both teams are struggling a little for form and could use the points.

Newcastle News

The Toon need the points because their top four chase is fading fast. A 2-0 reverse at home to Liverpool has left them both missing their goalkeeper Tom Pope and also missing their confidence. Earlier on in the season, the Magpies looked like one of the form teams in England with a system that worked well for them allowing for easy and effective control of the game.

However, Newcastle have lost much of their previous form and now look a shadow of their former selves. Goals are hard to come by at the moment, and they are also conceding more having had one of the best defences in the league.

Brighton News

Brighton have fared better than Newcastle, but have endured the dreaded win, draw, and loss in their last three games. Their last result, a home defeat, was a big surprise and left the Seagulls looking for answers. New coach Roberto di Zerbi has arguably improved the club over what Graham Potter was able to produce, but they do look a touch more combustible.

Already, the Italian tactician has made noises about being unhappy. Another defeat here could see Brighton lose pace with the European qualifying teams, which would likely cause the divide to open further.

Verdict

Both teams need a result, and that desperation can lead to some mistakes on the part of both sides. Newcastle need to get it together soon, but this could be a tough game for them as they face off against a tough side that know how to counter Newcastle’s style.

SCORE: 2-2

Qatar v Ecuador

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Qatar v Ecuador As far as opening games goes, this might not quite whet the appetite as some would want. If you do not pay attention to Asian or South American football, this could make the Russia-Saudi Arabia game of 2018 sound mesmeric by comparison. Strip away the negativity, though, and Qatar are the current Asian champions while Ecuador are a very handy outfit with excellent tactical acumen.

This could actually be a very good opening game. Why? Because it is so open. The Qatar national team is imbalanced and arguably not physically strong enough to handle a robust fight with the more aggressive Ecuador team. They do, though, boast technical proficiency that could match many teams in Europe – this creates a very intriguing dynamic where we could see the host nation surprise a few with their performance.

Given Holland and Senegal make up the other teams, too, both teams know they more or less need a win here or they will face an early exit.

Who will win this tie?

Two decent teams who are better than they are given credit for, but who have enough deficiencies to miss a shot at glory. Ecuador are adept, physically sound, fast in transition, and capable of scoring goals on the break. They also have in Moses Caicedo one of the most exciting young midfielders around.

Qatar have some very interesting players in most positions, but probably no real star names. Their strength is their teamwork and the fact that they have played together for so long. Definitely not an easy game to call, but there is a case that Qatar might end up being out muscled by a tough opponent.

VERDICT: 1-3

Morocco v Croatia

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Morocco v Croatia As two teams who are perennially mentioned as ‘dark horses’ for tournaments, neither arrive in Qatar with that reputation. For Morocco, they arrive with a bevy of issues in their squad and a real imbalance in certain areas. For all of the attacking flair, they lack balance on the left-hand side of the team. Crucially, they also have a gluttony of left-footed central defenders but precious few who could play on the right.

Croatia, meanwhile, are still trying to drain out more from an increasingly veteran core of players. This has left them coming into the tournament knowing that a group stage exit is as likely as a run to the last eight or four. They lack the same balance and clinical style they had in 2018, and will face off on opening matchday with Morocco knowing it is almost a winner-takes-all from day one.

Who will win this tie?

Score draw. Frustratingly for both teams, the deficiencies will comfortably outweigh the qualities. Neither team comes into the tournament in any kind of meaningful or vintage form. In fact, they both look a bit tired and in need of a refresh. This is likely to see a lot of players coming to the tournament who are not really in the form they should be.

While Croatia have made some bold calls, such as leaving behind the ever-aggressive Ante Rebic, Morocco have arrived with more or less the squad expected. This is a pair of teams who have been together for a long time, and now probably look in need of a reset.

That reset will only arrive after the tournament and amid a flurry of retirements. For Luka Modric, this could be his last ever tournament in the famous red and white checkers of Croatia. A score draw helps nobody, but it feels the most likely outcome for two teams suffering from a paucity of offensive quality.

VERDICT: 1-1

James Ward-Prowse

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It must be hard to come through the Southampton academy, with fans desperate for the ‘next Matt le Tissier’ to shine through. James Ward-Prowse might not have the goalscoring prowess of the Saints legend, but he has established himself as an international standard midfielder.

Capable of scoring and setting teammates in live play and especially from dead balls, few players have been compared to David Beckham with such justification before. And like the former England legend, what Ward-Prowse lacks in pace and power he makes up for with incredible technical and tactical smarts.

What makes James Ward-Prowse worth watching?

For Ralph Hasenhüttl, few midfielders in England suit his system more. The Saints number eight has contributed 8 goals and 5 assists in just 29 league games, all starts. He is a more or less ever-present for Saints. Capable of playing in central midfield as well as doing a shift at full-back, Ward-Prowse is a versatile player who has the passing, technique, and positioning to play just about anywhere he could be asked.

In short, he is a burst of pace away from being a player who competes at the very highest level of football.

Things to improve for James Ward-Prowse

If you were to look at Ward-Prowse, you might wonder where he can improve. His passing is sharp yet ambitious, he is consistent, he works hard on both sides of the ball, and he retains tactical influence. He also tackles, works back, keeps the ball well, and can compete excellently in the air.

Add in incredible long distance shooting and set-piece delivery, and the main thing Ward-Prowse needs to add is a touch of physicality. With a small bit more athleticism, he could hold his own even more in midfield and burst by players with an extra yard of pace. Even if he was merely to become more consistent, though, Ward-Prowse has all the makings of a long-term fixture within the Premier League.

Harvey Barnes

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Seen as a flighty and lightweight winger in the past, Harvey Barnes has developed into a key player for Leicester City in the last eighteen months. At just 23 years of age, he has started in 22 league games for Leicester, and was also crucial in their European run which ended with defeat to Slavia Prague.

In the league, he has contributed a very impressive nine goals so far in the season. A talented wide player who can come inside and finish with aplomb, he uses his stocky build well to fight with full-backs.

What makes Harvey Barnes worth watching?

For one, he can play in a wide variety of roles, regularly playing on the left-hand side of attack or off the forward for the Foxes. His passing is excellent, too, and has become a regular contributor for teammates. He avoids getting involved in overplaying, too, and tends to be useful for laying off forwards like Jamie Vardy and playing in teammates with short, sharp passing.

His quality on the ball is excellent, and his contribution in goals and assists has steadily improved, ensuring he remains a key part of Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Things to improve for Harvey Barnes

For Barnes, the main limit stems from his inability to use his physicality elsewhere. Despite being energetic and willing, he often fails to track the opposition well enough and can be caught out making poor decisions. He also tends to be a poor crosser of the ball for someone with such quality, albeit he often plays with his weaker foot on the outside.

However, for Barnes, using some of that stocky strength and charisma going forward to help out going back the way would help to add another layer of quality to his game. Given his improvement in the last year-plus, though, his progression has been highly impressive.