Leeds United will have representatives at this year’s FIFA World Cup edition. The Whites survived their first season back in the English top flight.
Their players also caught the eye this campaign, as a few got close to making their country’s list for the World Cup.
After years out of the fold, Dominic Calvert-Lewin earned a recall to the England squad, but did not make the cut for the World Cup. Anton Stach was also in contention to make the Germany team, but missed out.
Leeds will have four players at the competition – Gabriel Gudmundsson, Ao Tanaka, Brenden Aaronson and Noah Okafor.
A recent report from the Sweden camp revealed that Gudmundsson could miss the first game with illness, and is being monitored by the team.
Alan Shearer makes bold claim about former Leeds United manager
Some former Leeds United players and coaches will be at the tournament too. Marcelo Bielsa guided Uruguay to the tournament, as well as Jesse Marsch who is in charge of co-hosts Canada.
Marsch was quite a polarizing figure in his short time in charge at Elland Road, but has done well for himself since.
Alan Shearer thinks the American will help the Canadian team succeed at this World Cup.
“Jesse Marsch has signed a new deal.” he said on The Rest is Football on Netflix.
“They don’t concede many goals; they largely play 4-4-2, get lots of men behind the ball, and don’t take too many chances defensively.
“I think he will do all right; Canada will do all right.”
Canada play their first game of the tournament on Friday as they face Bosnia.
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Pundits are not hopeful about Jesse Marsch ahead of the World Cup
Jesse Marsch has done an okay job in charge of the World Cup co-hosts so far.
But many are not optimistic about Canada’s chances at the competition this summer.
Roy Keane recently called Marsch ‘useless’ and basically ruled him out of doing anything positive at this tournament. That comment would have pleased some Leeds fans, who still dislike the American.
He took over the team after they parted ways with Marcelo Bielsa, and disappointed. After receiving huge backing that summer, he was poor and the team had to sack him.
The poor start to the season ultimately cost the Whites as they were relegated to the Championship in that season.
