What if Real Sociedad played the World Cup? | OneFootball

With the World Cup expanded to 48 teams for the first time, imagine Real Sociedad taking part.

According to Diario Vasco, 14 players with a txuri-urdin past or present are at this World Cup. They are keepers Gero Rulli, Argentina, and Matt Ryan, Australia, defenders Caleta-Car, Croatia, Kieran Tierney, Scotland, and Theo Hernandez, France, midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino, Spain, Luka Sucic, Croatia, and Martin Odegaard, Norway, plus forwards Take Kubo, Japan, Alexander Isak, Sweden, Sorloth, Norway, Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain, and Gonçalo Guedes, Portugal.

Julen Lopetegui, Qatar, could even take the reins.

Remiro and Le Normand with Spain and Aguerd with Morocco missed late, while Griezmann has stepped away from France despite a strong season at Atlético. Óskarsson, Aramburu and Yangel Herrera are out because their countries did not qualify.

From a blanquiazul lens, the 14 fall into academy graduates, those who blossomed in Donostia and those who barely figured, with the second group dominant. Oyarzabal is a reference for Luis de la Fuentes and Zubimendi waits behind Rodri, both carrying Zubieta’s flag in the Americas. Barrenetxea’s late muscle injury at Girona hurt his chances.

Several stars first truly emerged at Real Sociedad. Rulli set the template in 2014, arriving aged 22 from Estudiantes after Bravo left for Barcelona. He was Anoeta’s undisputed No 1 for five seasons, making 170 appearances before later playing for two European champions, Ajax and Marseille.

Source: Diario Vasco