Hot-Seat Watch for World Football Players, Coaches After International Break
International week is done and dusted and as players prepare to return to their domestic clubs, we take stock of the fallout from the latest batch of friendlies and competitive matches between nations.
As ever, a handful of individuals have a barrage of criticism headed their way from all quarters: National papers unhappy at results, social media-based fans claiming what the team should have been and even a few players sniping amongst themselves.
Here is our hot-seat watch following the final international break of the year.
Marc Wilmots, Belgium
1 of 10
Belgium should be walking their Euro 2016 qualification group, but instead find themselves in fourth place after three games—four for most opponents—behind the likes of Israel, Wales and Cyprus.
A 0-0 draw at home against Wales at the weekend was the latest showing which failed to deliver the attacking excellence expected of the squad which contains some top talents, which Marc Wilmots has consistently failed to get the best out of.
The head coach will still be confident of qualifying, but they trail leaders Israel by four points at present. Much better is needed after the new year.
Vangelis Moras and Theofanis Gekas, Greece
2 of 10
Greece were so bad that they managed to achieve a number of seemingly unattainable milestones at once: They lost to Faroe Islands, one of the worst teams in international football, they dropped to the bottom of Group F, below the likes of the Faroes, Finland and Northern Ireland and they also managed to bring in a new boss before sacking their current one.
Claudio Ranieri is on the way out but the players will remain—unless the new head coach deems their efforts unworthy of further inclusion.
Centre-back Vangelis Moras and striker Theofanis Gekas put in two particularly, notably poor efforts against the Faroes and were left out of the next friendly against Serbia as a result.
Fabio Capello, Russia
3 of 10
Fabio Capello continues his regular appearances on our listings after international breaks, as his Russia team yet again failed to pick up a meaningful win or performance.
A narrow 2-1 friendly victory over Hungary isn't exactly something to be wildly celebrated, particularly as it comes after another loss in Euro 2016 qualifying.
The 1-0 loss to Austria leaves Russia in joint-third with Montenegro, behind Sweden and five points behind leaders Austria after four matches.
Jurgen Klinsmann, USA
4 of 10
No competitive action for United States, but boss Jurgen Klinsmann oversaw two difficult defeats in friendly matches.
Firstly Colombia defeated USA 2-1, before a youthful States team were taught a lesson by Republic of Ireland, losing 4-1 to a team who are hard working but not particularly packed with star talents.
It means Klinsmann closes out the year with just one win for his side in their last eight games of 2014.
Thiago Silva, Brazil
5 of 10
Thiago Silva returned to the Brazil squad this week after injury, but not to the starting lineup. He came on as sub against Austria in the 2-1 victory but has work to do to regain his place in the XI, seemingly.
The PSG centre-back also appeared to criticise the way he was stripped of the captaincy of the national team without anybody speaking to him, per Goal, before coach Dunga was forced to step in and smooth things over, again as noted by Goal.
Thiago Silva has dropped below David Luiz and Miranda as the centre-back pairing.
Dave Whelan and Malky Mackay, Wigan Athletic
6 of 10
Former Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay was reported by the Daily Mail to have sent "racist, sexist and homophobic texts" after he left the club, and he has not been accepted into a new managerial post since.
However, per BBC Sport, Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan says he will interview Mackay for the job—which has already led to some criticism on social media.
One thing is clear: Wherever or whenever Mackay gets back into the game, he'll face some tough questioning at his unveiling and will be closely watched by all for any hint of a repeat performance.
Ivelin Popov, Bulgaria
7 of 10
Bulgaria captain and attacker Ivelin Popov has earned his high ranking in the national team by virtue of some outstanding performances and good scoring ability from attacking midfield for his club, Kuban Krasnodar.
At international level though, he continues to deliver a very much sub-standard scoring rate—just eight goals in more than 50 caps—and missed a big opportunity to give his side three points in the Euro 2016 qualifiers over the weekend as he failed to convert a late penalty.
It meant Bulgaria only drew 1-1 with lowly Malta, and remain in fourth in Group H, five points adrift of Norway in third.
Branislav Ivanovic, Serbia
8 of 10
Serbia's national team scene is in disarray—points deducted for the crowd trouble against Albania, playing in front of no fans due to a ban and former boss Dick Advocaat resigning, citing the most "difficult situation in my entire career," per BBC Sport.
On the pitch, the players have to take responsibility for the poor performances going in, which culminated in a 3-1 home defeat to Denmark in their Euro 2016 qualifier.
Branislav Ivanovic, captain of the side, played at right-back during the game before being moved central for the next friendly—a win, incidentally, over equally disastrous Greece—but has to shoulder the burden of helping his team-mates improve significantly, and fast. Serbia are fourth in a group of five, with one point.
Giovani Dos Santos, Mexico
9 of 10
Mexico suddenly find themselves with four forwards to choose from, all playing at a good level in La Liga and of a good age to form part of the team and the squad for a few years to come.
Carlos Vela, Raul Jimenez and Javier Hernandez all featured, showed good intent and scored at least once over the two friendlies against Netherlands and Belarus, but Giovani dos Santos was unable to shine against the latter, floundering in possession and never looking likely to score.
He has plenty more experience than the others but a much poorer strike rate at this level. Dos Santos could easily be the big loser of Vela's return to the international fold.
Kiko Casilla, Spain
10 of 10
Kiko Casilla made his Spain international debut in a friendly on Tuesday night, playing in Vigo against world champions Germany.
The Espanyol stopper is very much a third-choice, behind Iker Casillas and David de Gea, but he will have wanted to make a decent impression in his limited time on the pitch—but failed to stop a late, long-range shot from Toni Kroos which gave Germany a 1-0 win, with the ball skidding off the surface and off Casilla's shoulder into the net.
Spain have plenty to choose from as a third-choice stopper so Casilla can ill-afford such instances of inconsistency at the top level.
