As more big players struggle with injury, and World Cup set-pieces are expected to get refereed in a completely different way to the Premier League, a few international managers are already adapting plans.
In the latest episode of Copa Independent, Miguel Delaney, Lawrence Ostlere and Adam Clery discuss THE question: how do you win a World Cup? Can you “playbook” it, as Gareth Southgate tried? Do you need an ideology, as Spain have? How influential are conditions – were Brazil 1970 only so good because no one could press in Mexican midday heat?
For more World Cup analysis, tune in to Copa Independent – it won’t just get you feeling the World Cup, but thinking about it, too. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
