This section bears repeating because who doesn’t, random Dominican journalist, who doesn’t?

I’m assuming, btw, Apple translate doesn’t quite translate cockfighting correctly…

Honestly, if Taskmaster fans thought there was risqué fan-fic before, wait till they add furries into the mix

Bosnia, meanwhile, have a big new get in Emir Karic having swapped across from Austria and that, tbh, really sorts their defence out, esp with Kolasinac back from injury. Goals will be a problem given Dzeko is cold and they can't just grind a draw vs Romania and hope on the last day.

Now the clown car of call ups has stopped, Kosovo look a good, settled side but fair play to Aro Muric getting himself suspended for the Slovenia game as a GK. One point across the two games likely books their playoff spot. They'll do that.

The Montenegrin side remains odd. Simun is unlucky to be dropped after looking competent in October (a low bar, but did you see their results?!).

For a side looking to 2028 now, why recall Vesovic over Roganovic, etc? Like Liechtenstein, I half think Gibraltar could get a result here.

Croatia are sans Budimir through injury and there are a few interesting drops that open opportunities - Ivanovic and Matanovic will know a good pair off games books their flight next year. Fruk knows a good pair of games books a starting spot when they land in the US.

Vuskovic starts vs Faroes.

We'll see their shape vs Latvia. They can't really stick to a flattish 5 at the back, it's got to be 3-5-2 and Churlinov trying the Alioski role vs Latvia may be one of the few senior players we see. It's a glorified bounce game to try stuff out.

North Macedonia, by the time they face Wales, will have gone over two years without losing a competitive game, which is a mad record and one you probably didn't expect.

BUT, they're minus Alioski which leaves them short in the one role they have no depth. Try to make Churlinov fit there?

Broadly, this is my guess. Ilic and Stankovic in the middle are probably interchangeable and I wouldn't be too surprised if Ratkov starts up top given form and archetype with Radonjic as an impact sub.

Tactically, Paunovic is very 4-2-3-1 but I don't see that this squad has the wingers to really push up (esp at Wembley!). Radonjic is a wild call up for a coach who has had dressing room issues at his recent clubs given he's spent the season being not exactly Mr Professionalism at Zvezda.

There's positive beneficiaries - Ratkov being the main one, as well as the welcome inclusion of actual full-backs. I don't agree with everything in the squad (Radonjic and Katai, particularly) and the midfield looks quite flat (4-4-1-1 is my guess) but it's a lot more balanced than last time

Speaking of Serbia, it's interesting to see that, save for Rajkovic, all the Middle East based players are gone - no Simic, no Maksimovic (who had done well with his chances lately) and no Mitrovic. A clear sign that you've got to play at a high level to be considered.