Final predictions for the Top 23

Now is probably the last time we will be able to speculate the 23 man roster for the World Cup, as I assume we will only get the results of the Manshine-Barcha game while the match itself will be saved for the Nagi spinoff.

With that said, this is my prediction:

1) Isagi 2) Rin 3) Barou 4) Shidou 5) Bachira 6) Chigiri 7) Aiku 8) Kunigami 9) Otoya 10) Nagi 11) Aryu 12) Niko 13) Hiori 14) Karasu 15) Yuki 16) Sendou 17) Gagamaru 18) Reo 19) Kurona 20) Raichi 21) Zantetsu 22) Nanase 23) Fukaku*

Let's break it down. The biggest question mark I think everyone has is: what is Kaneshiro going to do with Itoshi Sae? Will we get a 24 man roster? Will Sae not join the Japanese team? Or will Ego tell #23 (Fukaku imo) to go kick rocks? I think the last option is the funniest, so that's where I'm placing my bets for now, but I do think this is the time to bring him to the front of the cast alongside Isagi and Rin.

Let's be real, this series barely has time for side characters like Zantetsu and Nanase, so don't be surprised if the Top 23 drops Fukaku (who'd just be a bench warmer anyway) and relies on Gagamaru alone for GK. Yes, any serious team would employ two GK, but this team is not serious and their philosophy has always been "lol just score more points."

Next up is Nagi and Reo. Part of me wants to entertain the notion that they both continue to drop in rank, but I just can't see Nagi outside the top 10 and there's no way any of the scrubs have outperformed Reo to a level where he's left off the team.

Lastly, the scrubs (20 and below). Raichi is solid defensively and was on the main character's team, so he's in. Going into this last match, I and many others were expecting a Kiyora breakout that just... never happened. While neither Zantetsu nor Nanase had an assist, they both played full minutes and already had bids. I just cannot see Kiyora being worthy of a bid large enough to put him past Fukaku with only the single assist to his name.

As for Tokimitsu, I wish him nothing but the best in his search for employment.