Sir Didier Drogba
Head Official
Nothing to do with the draft par se, but I was curious to see which nationalities were the most popular with drafters, whether that might form an indicator of which teams we feel will do well and how this will rank up against the bookmaker's odds.
I've excluded players who were picked later as replacements as they are not representative of who we think will do best.
In the very first round 3 Germans were picked, 2 French, 2 Belgian, 1 Portuguese, 1 Swede, 1 Welsh and 1 Pole were picked, but of course many superstars are the only star of their nation.
In the first four rounds, when one can assume most of the very best players were picked:
Germany: 10
France: 8
Spain: 8
Belgium: 7
Croatia: 3
England: 3
Italy: 3
Austria: 1
Portugal: 1
Poland: 1
Sweden: 1
Wales: 1
Not surprising that Germany, France, Spain and Belgium race out front. Interesting that it would appear 10 of 11 predicted starting Germans were picked in the first four rounds (even though some were so far mistakes, eg Can) suggesting we both think they will go far and their talent is distributed across the squad. I am surprised how few England players were picked despite optimism on the forums.
Now looking at the first 11 rounds:
France: 14
Germany: 14
England: 14
Spain: 14
Belgium: 13
Italy: 12
Portugal: 10
Croatia: 8
Austria: 7
Switzerland: 6
Poland: 4
Sweden: 3
Wales: 3
Turkey: 2
Ukraine: 2
Czech: 1
Iceland: 1
Russia: 1
Slovakia: 1
Albania, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Hungary, Romania: 0
Interesting how England shoot up as we all pick our 'non-star' starters, to be one of only 6 teams to have more than 11 players picks, ie more picks than feasible starters. 10 pick from Portugal also surprising given that they are often perceived as reliant on key players and weak elsewhere. Croatia, Austria and Switzerland relatively high suggests them as possible dark horse teams - particularly surprised to see 8 picks from Croatia and 7 from Austria, did not realise that had quite so many good players, especially compared to only 4 from Poland and 2 each from Ukraine and Turkey whom all appear to be decent teams. I am also surprised Sweden has as many as three.
I've excluded players who were picked later as replacements as they are not representative of who we think will do best.
In the very first round 3 Germans were picked, 2 French, 2 Belgian, 1 Portuguese, 1 Swede, 1 Welsh and 1 Pole were picked, but of course many superstars are the only star of their nation.
In the first four rounds, when one can assume most of the very best players were picked:
Germany: 10
France: 8
Spain: 8
Belgium: 7
Croatia: 3
England: 3
Italy: 3
Austria: 1
Portugal: 1
Poland: 1
Sweden: 1
Wales: 1
Not surprising that Germany, France, Spain and Belgium race out front. Interesting that it would appear 10 of 11 predicted starting Germans were picked in the first four rounds (even though some were so far mistakes, eg Can) suggesting we both think they will go far and their talent is distributed across the squad. I am surprised how few England players were picked despite optimism on the forums.
Now looking at the first 11 rounds:
France: 14
Germany: 14
England: 14
Spain: 14
Belgium: 13
Italy: 12
Portugal: 10
Croatia: 8
Austria: 7
Switzerland: 6
Poland: 4
Sweden: 3
Wales: 3
Turkey: 2
Ukraine: 2
Czech: 1
Iceland: 1
Russia: 1
Slovakia: 1
Albania, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Hungary, Romania: 0
Interesting how England shoot up as we all pick our 'non-star' starters, to be one of only 6 teams to have more than 11 players picks, ie more picks than feasible starters. 10 pick from Portugal also surprising given that they are often perceived as reliant on key players and weak elsewhere. Croatia, Austria and Switzerland relatively high suggests them as possible dark horse teams - particularly surprised to see 8 picks from Croatia and 7 from Austria, did not realise that had quite so many good players, especially compared to only 4 from Poland and 2 each from Ukraine and Turkey whom all appear to be decent teams. I am also surprised Sweden has as many as three.
