The 2018 World Cup may be missing some big footballing nations - most notably Italy and The Netherlands - but that's what makes the tournament so special. It's also taking place in a morally bankrupt country with a dangerous, psychotic numbskull as leader and which is full of sinister and sick racist, homophobic scum. But, FIFA - those notoriously corrupt and cowardly appeasers of dictators and criminals - awarded them the tournament, in a 'secret' ballot so bent it was almost 'U'-shaped. We're, therefore, stuck with it now so we might as well make the best of it and, at least, enjoy the football! Anyway, Brazil are looking to bounce back from the national outrage of 2014, whilst Spain, Argentina and France are hoping to dethrone the defending champions, Germany and their atypically impressive and ruthlessly efficient squad. Can the talented Belgians or the European Champions, Portugal make a big splash this time? Do England's squad of overpaid, under-performing prima-donnas have what it takes to get beyond the first round this time? There are more questions than answers, dear blog reader, but here's yer actual Keith Telly Topping's rough guide to the thirty two nation states that qualified.
Group A:
Headed by Stanislav Cherchesov, Russia have hopes of making a positive impact on home soil in what appears - at a first glance - to be the weakest of the eight groups. Host nations of major tournaments can sometimes show difficulties in handling the pressure. But, by contrast, home advantage can produce unexpected success stories such as 2002 in South Korea (plus, you know, 1966 and all that). It remains to be seen what Russia can produce carrying the largest country in the world on their shoulders. Fyodor Smolov made his debut in the national team in 2012 under Fabio Capello. Today, he is the main striker who needs to be in great form if Russia wish to proceed to the knock-out stages of the tournament. Cherchesov became the manager after hugely disappointing performances at Euro 2016 and the former goalkeeper has changed a lot, mainly in defence where he has brought in the youngsters Viktor Vasin (CSKA), Fedor Kudryashov (Rubin Kazan) and Georgi Dzhikiya (Spartak Moscow) to replace Sergei Ignashevich and Vasily Berezutski. He also plays a three-at-the-back system. The biggest talking point has been the exclusion of Igor Denisov, who is arguably the best defensive midfielder in the country but who fell out of favour with Cherchesov at Dynamo Moscow. Russia's attack is rather more impressive. Alan Dzagoev is still going strong and the strikers Smolov and Aleksandr Kokorin scored a lot of goals in 2017. Special attention should be paid to the twins Aleksei and Anton Miranchuk from Lokomotiv Moscow and Aleksandr Golovin from CSKA. They are young technical midfielders who could have their breakthroughs at the World Cup. Russia, however, have a dreadful recent record at major tournaments, their goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev oscillates wildly between Peter Shilton and Pure Shite and they are prone to lapsing into anxious sterility.
Saudi Arabia is the second lowest ranked team in the competition - sixty seventh according to FIFA's monthly standings (Russia are seventieth). The Saudis are largely an unknown quantity, given that they are on their third manager of the World Cup cycle. Bert van Marwijk, now coaching Australia, guided the side through qualification. Ex-Argentina manager Edgardo Bauza followed for five friendlies, before former Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi took the reins just before the World Cup draw. His squad has some talent but lacks much international experience. There is never a dull moment when The Green Falcons are around, however. The Saudis ended a twelve-year absence from the World Cup with a spectacular goal by Fahad Al Muwallad against Japan. Saudi Arabia's hopes of getting out of the group stage will fall squarely on Mohammad Al-Sahlawi, a striker with plenty of pace and one who finished tied for the most goals in Asia's World Cup qualifying (with sixteen). Their chances are hampered with the exclusion of the injured Nawaf Al-Abed, though.
Happy to sit back and defend, Egypt are difficult to break down. Only once (in thirty games) have The Pharaohs conceded more than one goal under Hector Cúper. But, despite taking Egypt to the Afcon final and a sixty three per cent win rate, the Argentinian has been criticised in Egypt for his defiantly defensive style. Egypt's squad are a mixture of youth and experience, with the goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary set to become the oldest player at a World Cup at forty five. In front of him Egypt have the solid defensive partnership of Rami Rabia and West Bromwich Albino's Ahmed Hegazi. The midfield is built around The Arse's Mohamed Elneny and Al Ahly's Abdallah Said, who at thirty two will bring some creative spark. Egypt hope Mohamed Salah's fine form continues and on the other wing can choose from Ramadan Sobhi, Kahraba and Mahmoud Hassan Trézéguet, one to watch for his direct runs into the box. Ultimately, however, The Pharaohs' fortunes come down to the fitness of Salah. He is one of the best attackers in the world and - after his nasty Champions League final shoulder injury - if he does not come back in time for their first group match, against Uruguay, then they may be booking their flights back to Cairo quicker than hoped.
Óscar Tabárez's Uruguay went through qualifying with, for them, unusual serenity. After four consecutive World Cup play-offs they finished second behind Brazil in the South American group to qualify in some style. Now, though, Tabárez has a big decision to make: will he continue to rely on the attacking approach that has served him so well or make changes and revert Uruguay to a more atypical ruggedly defensive style? The answer seems to lie in the changing of the guard in midfield. Federico Valverde (nominally Real Madrid, though having sent last season on loan at Deportivo La Coruña), Matías Vecino, (Internazionale), Nahitan Nández (Boca Juniors) and Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus) are young and attack-minded players who have earned a place in the team, leading to an increased focus on attack. PSG's Edinson Cavani is a world class finisher. However, the November friendlies ended with a scoreless draw against Poland and a defeat against Austria, so expect some tinkering before the World Cup. Like Egypt, Urugauy's chances depend largely on one man; in their case Luis Suárez. In four years with Barcelona, Suarez has amassed a staggering one hundred and ten goals in one hundred and thirty matches. So, they'd better hope he doesn't get himself sent off for biting someone this time around.
Group B:
'Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Germany and France are the favourites to win the World Cup,' says the Portugal coach, Fernando Santos, before adding: 'Then we have other candidates, who want to get as far as possible and win the tournament if possible and Portugal are in this second group.' Santos is cautious, despite Portugal winning Euro 2016 but he is looking forward to the World Cup with optimism and does so with good reason: Portugal seem stronger now than a year-and-a-half ago, having added creativity to the defensive organisation which underpinned their Euro success. Bernardo Silva and André Silva have been important factors in this attacking upgrade and, in general, the team has more depth. The one area which is, perhaps, weaker is the defence, where it has been hard to find replacements for Pepe (who will be thirty five next summer), José Fonte (thirty four) and Bruno Alves (thirty six). Inevitably, most of the focus will be on Cristiano Ronaldo and Sheikh Yer Man City's Bernardo Silva. They and Spain should win the group with some ease. 'Should', of course, being a particularly tricky word to use when related to World Cups.
When it comes to Spain, La Roja are still, magically, La Roja and crashing out at the group stage in 2014 (where the Dutch gave them a hiding they'll never forget) and the even bigger disappointments of Euro 2016 were, seemingly, not at all cathartic. At the age of fifty one and without much experience as a coach at elite level, Julen Lopetegui has managed to conserve the essence of what it was that made Spain so successful over the last decade. The backbone of the team that qualified - brilliantly - for Russia are the same big names who failed so spectacularly in France a year-and-a-half ago. Eight of the team that lost against Italy in Paris would start in Russia if the World Cup began now: David De Gea, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Andrés Iniesta, David Silva and Álvaro Morata. In addition, the wonderful Isco has found his feet with the senior squad, as have several of the under-twenty ones who won the Euros under Lopetegui in 2013. If there is weakness it's that there is not a natural finisher in the squad - such as a David Villa - Diego Costa having struggled to connect with the midfield when he has played. The clash between Spain and Portugal on the 15 June looks set to be one of the matches of the tournament and should - that word again - be the decider for who wins the group and who comes second.
Morocco's Atlas Lions are roaring again. Twenty years after a heartbreaking elimination from the group stage at France 98, the first African team to reach the last sixteen are back at the World Cup. Morocco, the only African team to qualify for Russia without conceding a single goal, have built their game on solid defence and hard work. The experience of Karim El Ahmadi, M'barek Boussoufa and Juventus's Mehdi Benatia fits well with the intelligence of Hakim Ziyech and the strength of Nordin Amrabat. They play with real belief and Ajax's Ziyech is one of the most talented playmakers in Europe. Hervé Renard is in charge but the advice coming from one of his assistants, Patrice Beaumelle, will be vital. The former Coventry City midfielder and hero of 1998, Mustapha Hadji, is also key in the set-up, sharing his experiences and acting as a role model for this current generation. The team's main weakness used to be on the left but Real Madrid's Achraf Hakimi has filled the gap admirably since September. Escaping the group will require some serious upsets but if you're looking for a decent outside bet for one of the surprise packages of the tournament, the Boys from Casablanca could be one of those to watch.
Iran's Team Melli are playing in a second successive World Cup for the first time. Carlos Queiroz's men were the first Asian side to qualify for this tournament and did so with twelve consecutive clean sheets. The main aspect of Queiroz's tactics is 'reactive football' with a deep-lying defence and quick counterattacks. However, in friendlies against Russia, Panama and Venezuela, Iran played with a different tactic, pressing higher up the pitch and adopting a more aggressive approach. Queiroz, despite a temper and petulance which has caused many seemingly pointless controversies in recent years, is very popular in Iran - largely because of the results and performances. Many believe he has given a real character to the national team. Iran have many European-based players this season - Saman Ghoddos, for instance - and Queiroz tends to select those who play outside their homeland. Sardar Azmoun scored seven goals in Iran's qualification and at twenty three years of age, has already netted twenty two times for his country. Mehdi Taremi will join Azmoun up front with Olympiacos midfielder Ehsan Hajsafi joining them. Central defence is a concern, though, as Jalal Hosseini has been dropped, with Queiroz seemingly undecided about who is going to partner Morteza Pouraliganji.
Group C:
'We are not at the same level as Germany, Spain and Brazil - yet,' says French coach Didier Deschamps. 'We may not control all our games with the same authority but still, we have a strong and competitive team with a great potential.' France blew hot and cold in qualifying, winning their group despite losing to Sweden and drawing against both Belarus and - in a major surprise - Luxembourg. Deschamps - the man whom Eric Cantona used to call 'The Water Carrier' - has a thrilling and explosive attack of Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé (if fit and, it's a big if by all accounts). Such, indeed, if the strength of the French attack that Dimitri Payet didn't even make the squad (Alexandre Lacazette and Anthony Martial are also missing). There is a strong midfield too, built around Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi and N'Golo Kanté, lots of technical ability all round with such as Thomas Lemar and a sound defensive axis (Raphaël Xavier Varane). Still, France appear more effective when playing on the break and using their lightning speed. The weakest link? The left-back position as Sheikh Yer Man City's Benjamin Mendy has not recovered from his knee injury. Stottingtot Hotshots' goalkeeper Hugo Lloris can be a bit of a liability; despite making plenty of fantastic saves, he is somewhat prone to errors, particularly in big games.
The thirty first team to qualify, Australia, worked harder than anyone else, with around two hundred and fifty thousand kilometres travelled and trips to such far-flung destinations as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Japan, Malaysia and Honduras. The Socceroos' place in Russia is secure but the identity of the manager who would lead them there remained a mystery for a long time after Ange Postecoglou quit following the play-off win over Honduras in November. Under Bert van Marwijk, philosophically and tactically, it is expected to be a far more pragmatic Socceroos side in Russia. In friendlies against Norway and Colombia the Dutchman rolled back Postecoglou's flirtations with three-two-four-one system, overlapping wingers and dual number tens, reverting to a simple four-two-three-one, with full-backs who were noticeably more defence-minded. Announcing his squad, Van Marwijk reiterated aspects of his philosophy. 'I like to play fast football, I like to play offensive football,' he said. 'But I also like to win.' There is still an over-reliance on the perennial Tim Cahill - who will be one hundred and thirty eight this month - for goals, although the eleven he scored in qualification is the main reason the Aussies are in Russia at all. But with Huddersfield's Aaron Mooy, Hertha Berlin's Mathew Leckie, Robbie Kruse, Tom Rogic and Massimo Luongo, there is talent elsewhere.
Peru are back at the World Cup after thirty six years - which, tragically, included the entire career of Nobby Solano - having gone back to their footballing roots. Ricardo Gareca has brought in young players and reintroduced a style of play which had been lost for decades. Short passes and possession are part of the football DNA of Peru again - and, with exciting results. They are a young side who have responded to tougher discipline with increased commitment. The spine is made up of a very confident goalkeeper in Pedro Gallese; the skilful leader Alberto Rodríguez in defence; the physical and intelligent Yoshimar Yotún, who runs the midfield along with the impressive Edison Flores and Jefferson Farfán and Paolo Guerrero up front. The wing-backs Aldo Corzo and Miguel Trauco are tactically astute. For a bit of inspiration to unlock opposing defences, there is the talented Christian Cueva who plays in Brazil for São Paulo. Peru qualified for the World Cup after defeating New Zealand. Before that, Guerrero scored the crucial equaliser against Colombia which secured Peru's place in the inter continental play-offs against the Kiwis. A long-running drugs ban was overturned just before the World Cup, making Guerrero's time in Russia well worth keeping an eye on (for all sorts of reasons). Peru also a few players from the MLS with Andy Polo of Portland Timbers having recently broken into the national squad. Can they match the almost superhuman performance of 1970. And, more importantly, can they produce anything as thigh-slappingly funny as the night they beat Scotland in 1978?
Not only did a World Cup qualifying campaign end successfully for the first time since 2010 but the Danish public, seemingly, fell back in love with the team. Denmark crushed Poland four-nil and the Republic of Ireland five-one in the space of two months in the autumn, with Christian Eriksen reaching a Michael Laudrup-level of quality, scoring eleven goals in twelve matches. 'The World Cup deserves a star like him,' says the coach, Age Hareide. 'We will be a danger to all teams because of him.' Eriksen is one of the best playmakers in Europe and there is pace on the left side with Celta Vigo's Pione Sisto. Denmark will continue with the direct style of play that Hareide turned to in the autumn, an approach which suited the box-to-box midfielder Thomas Delaney, who was the second-highest scorer for Denmark in qualifying. Up front Nicolai Jørgensen and Andreas Cornelius fight for one place (it could have been worse if Nicklas Bendtner had been been fit), while in central defence Brentford's Andreas Bjelland and the captain Simon Kjær are picked ahead of Moscow Chelski FC's Andreas Christensen. Hareide's first-choice defensive midfielder, William Kvist, has recently lost his place at his club, FC Copenhagen and may not start in Russia, potentially leaving a gap for opponents to exploit. Denmark have never progressed past the quarter finals of the World Cup but will fancy their chances of at least, qualifying from the group in Russia.
Group D:
There are no solid arguments to suggest that Argentina can win this World Cup. They do not have the skill levels of Spain, the structure of Germany or the blend of top-class individuals and team ethos harnessed by their bitter rivals, Brazil. But they do have Lionel Messi and that, in and of itself, is a reason to believe that nothing is impossible. Argentina made it in the end and it will be a farewell party for many of their senior players. Ángel Di María, Sergio Agüero, Gonzalo Higuaín, Lucas Biglia and Éver Banega, among others, are almost certainly about to play in their final major tournament. For Messi - captain and, it's not unfair to suggest, the sole reason they reached Russia at all - it is also pretty much a case of it's now or never. With that in mind, Jorge Sampaoli is likely to go on the attack in his attempt to secure Argentina's first World Cup since 1986. One of Argentina's weaknesses lies in goal, a position up for grabs after Sergio Romero was ruled out with a knee injury. Willy Caballero rarely featured at Moscow Chelski FC last season and his deputies lack experience on this stage. In defence there is only one player of genuine international quality, Nicolás Otamendi and the performance of the entire backline has left a lot to be desired under Sampaoli. The coach has changed personnel and formations frequently, eventually settling on a conventional four-man defence. Gabriel Mercado, on the right, does not feel comfortable in that position and may be another Achilles heel. Otamendin Mercado and Javier Mascherano are likely to occupy spots in the back four, with Biglia and Enzo Pérez expected to take the central midfield places. Mascherano, who turns one hundred and thirty four just before the tournament begins and plays in a piss-weak Chinese league, is clearly in decline and seems to mirror the plight of the national team. Manuel Lanzini's late - and, seemingly, very serious - knee injury means he will be missing from the tournament.
Will supporters from the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup, Iceland, be able to support their team in Russia in the same extraordinary way they did in France? Almost ten per cent of the entire Icelandic nation travelled to Euro 2016 and there could be similar levels this time, though Moscow and St Petersburg are obviously easier to reach than Ekaterinburg and Volgograd from Reykjavik. Iceland had to overcome a series of problems to qualify: the loss of their main striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson to injury, coach Lars Lagerback's departure and a draw which placed them in a group along with three teams who also reached Euro 2016. However, they promptly won the group - with some ease - and Heimir Hallgrimsson, who is now in sole charge of the team, has shown more tactical flexibility than Lagerback ever did. Iceland still mainly play four-four-two but Hallgrimsson changes this to a four-five-one in certain games, usually to good effect. Apart from Sigthorsson, everybody from the starting line-up in France is expected to be in Russia. The side features Premier League regulars Gylfi Sigurdsson, Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Aron Gunnarsson, the glue of the midfield. Iceland will play defensively but seek to punish opponents with well-worked counterattacks and from set pieces, not least the long throw-ins of Gunnarsson. They aim to form the best-organised and most disciplined team in the world but also have great individual qualities in a golden generation of midfielders and strikers who should be reaching their peak about now. It certainly won't be easy - especially as several of the squad have battled with injuries this season - but Iceland is looking to make even more history. 'Our aim is clear and that is to qualify from the group,' Hallgrímsson said when he announced the squad. 'When we qualify we will not have to fear any possible opponent because we will have left two of Argentina, Croatia and Nigeria out.'
As usual, Croatia's results got progressively worse during the qualifiers before, also as usual, the manager got himself fired. The new man in charge, Zlatko Dalic, was appointed two days before the final - and decisive - group game but it was enough for a triumph of improvisation in Kiev. And then Croatia disposed of Greece with some authority in the play-offs. Luka Modric is thirty two and most of the other likely starters will be on the cusp of thirty - and the tournament may well be the last realistic shot at something big for this extraordinary generation, the best Croatia has had since the 1998 bronze-winning team. They have quality and experience all over the pitch, from one hundred and four-cap Modric to ninety-cap Ivan Rakitić, the Barcelona midfielder and the powerful forward Mario Mandzukic of Juventus. But the perennial dark horses have been caught in a web of internal divides involving key national federation men, the fans, the media and politics, decimating their support at home and making it difficult for them to focus on the job in hand. Plus, the defence is a concern with Dejan Lovren likely to partner Domagoj Vida in the centre after injury to the veteran Vedran Corluka.
Placed in a group with Algeria, Cameroon and the 2012 African champions Zambia, Nigeria's Super Eagles qualified for Russia handsomely and with a game to spare. The comeback victory over Argentina in a recent friendly in Russia further fed optimism regarding what this team can achieve under Gernot Rohr. The German coach has radically improved the side, infusing the freshness of youth into a team that failed to qualify for two consecutive Africa Cup of Nations tournaments before his appointment. Since he took over last year, the former Bordeaux manager has lost only one game and knitted together a ruthless counterattacking side who feature The Arse's Alex Iwobi and with Moscow Chelski FC's wing-back Victor Moses playing as a dynamic, talismanic winger. The team are based on a sturdy defence, with energetic ball-winners at the base of midfield and the calming presence of Mikel John Obi to funnel balls to the attack. Behind Mikel are two ball winners, Ogenyi Onazi and the talented Wilfred Ndidi. They operate at the base of the midfield, acting as human shields for the - sometimes very fragile - backline. Both excel primarily in breaking up play but are far less convincing going forward. It is the major criticism of Nigeria's midfield anchors: distribution and transition from defence to attack is often poor, a situation exacerbated whenever Mikel is unavailable. The goalkeeping situation is far from ideal with the nineteen-year-old Francis Uzoho likely to start despite limited game time for Deportivo La Coruña and a high-profile mistake in the recent friendly against England.
Group E:
In Brazil's most recent friendlies, coach Tite struggled to find players who could infiltrate five-man defensive lines of the kind used by Antonio Conte at Moscow Chelski FC. Two were required in particular: a midfielder able to work close to the penalty area and a number nine with physical presence. As nobody was found, the coach has selected Shakhtar Donetsk's Taison in his twenty three - but the winger seems somewhat redundan, as he is similar to at least three other players in the squad. It means Philippe Coutinho - who is used to weaving inside from one of the flanks - could be pushed into a role conducting the midfield from a central position and serving the players who come running in from both sides. There are a swarm of attacking options from wide: Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Willian, Roberto Firmino and Marcelo. This is far from certain though and it is equally possible Coutinho will start on the right. The motto 'never try in a cup what you have never tested before' has prevailed in a predictable squad selection - advice Tite has received from former players such as Rivellino, Gerson and Zico. So, Brazil arrive at this World Cup placing their bets on speed and experience. Despite their width they have little inclination to actually cross the ball: Tite has imposed a very organised method based on playing in triangles, with aggressive full-backs -something of a Brazilian tradition - always close to the holding midfielders in order to build up moves. Brazil's left side poses the biggest attacking threat but is also the most likely area for opponents to breach. Marcelo is prone to leaving space behind him, as he has shown at Real Madrid, but Tite will not restrain the world's most attacking full-back. That will require plenty of attention from the veteran Miranda, who may be pushed further forward than any centre-back in Brazil's World Cup history and the deep midfielder Casemiro. On the right, Dani Alves's injury is a huge blow, partly because of his influence in the dressing room but also because he is a much better player than his likely replacement, Shiekh Yer Man City's Danilo. Brazil can threaten elsewhere, though: Miranda, Marquinhos and Paulinho will pose a considerable threat when they win dead balls in attacking positions. Thanks to the influence of Pep Guardiola, Tite has an exquisite piece of tactical variation up his sleeve in the form of his second-choice goalkeeper, Ederson. If Brazil face a very aggressive, high-pressing side, Ederson can bypass the press by distributing the ball accurately as soon as he has claimed it. The final pre-World Cup friendlies, against Croatia and Austria, will show whether Tite is brave enough to go with Ederson in Russia. All things considered, though, Roma's Alisson is unlikely to see his starting spot threatened.
People in Switzerland expect their team to reach major finals these days so there was little or no euphoria when the place in Russia was booked. The expectation is for Vladimir Petkovic's squad to reach at least the last sixteen. 'My team has a got an excellent team spirit and have a tremendous will to succeed,' says Petkovic. Granit Xhaka is at the heart, dictating the pace of the game. With creative and quick players such as that workshy little shit Xherdan Shaqiri (who, as all Dirty Stoke fans will know, plays when he fancies it - which doesn't seem to be very often these days), Blerim Dzemaili and Steven Zuber, Switzerland are always capable of creating something on the flanks, especially as the wingers have strong full-backs behind them in Stephan Lichtsteiner on the right and Milan's Ricardo Rodríguez on the left. With Fabian Schär and the young Manuel Akanji there is also a solid central defence to lean on. The weakest part of the team is the centre-forward position, which is almost always occupied by Haris Seferović who has enjoyed a thoroughly miserable year at Benfica.
Serbia return to the World Cup after failing to qualify for the 2014 tournament. The nation is hoping that Mladen Krstajic's star-studded squad can overcome a chronic mental fragility which has held them back so often in the past. Eight years on from a poor World Cup in South Africa in which they finished bottom of Group D, Serbia aim to ignore the similarities with that 2010 campaign - once again they won their qualifying group - and put in a mentally stronger and more tactically astute display. The early signs do not offer the expected level of promise, however. Serbia seemed on course to reach Russia as comprehensive group winners in front of Wales and The Republic Of Ireland but a series of poor displays towards the end of the qualification campaign, equally poor player selection and a lack of tactical versatility from Slavoljub Muslin saw the experienced manager blamed, sacked and replaced by his assistant, Krstajic, despite Serbia still - just - qualifying as group winners. In an effort to distance himself from Muslin and his mentor's dramatic fall, Krstajic introduced a number of tactical tweaks and called up the Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, whose untamed personality did not seem to fit in with Muslin's tranquil nature. Krstajic, a former Werder Bremen defender, had no such dilemmas about including the twenty three-year-old. 'Our best players will always have a place in my team,' he said. 'Sergej Milinkovic-Savic proved he can be counted on for the future and is bound to become the backbone of this squad.' With The Sergeant as they call him in Italy in a pivotal midfield position, Krstajic embarked on an Asian tour in November 2017 to prove that the Lazio man could be trusted to play alongside The Scum's Nemanja Matic and the Crystal Palace captain, Luka Milivojevic. Milinkovic-Savic's assist for Adem Ljajic - another of Muslin's disputed selection choices - in a draw against South Korea was deemed more than enough proof that he will have an important role to play in Russia. Steering away from the three-four-three formation Muslin relied on for most of the qualifiers, Krstajic implemented the biggest change in defence. Regarded as the strongest part of Serbia's team along with the burgeoning midfield, a backline including Branislav Ivanovic and Aleksandar Kolarov was expected to help forge an impressive wall in front of the goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic. The back four, however, could struggle against pacier sides and they will also be without the injured centre-back Matija Nastasic. Krstajic has shaken things up by making Kolarov his captain, which raised a few eyebrows after Ivanovic was stripped of the armband. The lone striker is the one part of the team Krstajic will not be altering, with Aleksandar Mitrovic hitting swashbuckling form during his loan spell at Fulham. The Newcastle reject has come a long way in a matter of months since moving to London and could be Serbia's biggest threat in Russia - albeit, he will be facing defences considerably more solid than he did in the Championship. He could be the player who glues together all the parts of the puzzle and provides the guts up front that Serbia have been sorely missing on the biggest stage. Or, he may do something daft and get himself sent off as he so often did at St James' Park. Time will tell. It usually does.
After a surprising World Cup performance at Brazil 2014, Los Ticos will look to repeat their success by sticking to the same formula. Costa Rica have favoured a defensive style since Jorge Luis Pinto took over the team and led them to the last eight four years ago. The coach this time is Oscar Ramírez, part of the Costa Rica squad which made history (and, hilariously, beat Scotland) at Italia 90, securing a place in the knockout stages. Ramírez has kept Pinto's five-four-one system which worked so well in Brazil. This means that Costa Rica will be one of the few teams that start with five at the back, in order to protect the goal defended by their star player, Keylor Navas. Ramírez will probably use Marco Ureña of Los Angeles FC as the lone striker. Under Ramírez, Ureña is not asked to press the backline. His main duty will be to try to beat defences with his speed, hoping this creates chances for Christian Bolaños and Bryan Ruiz to look for diagonals to play him in. Recently he suffered facial injuries during an MLS game and his recovery period was set at four weeks, making his availability for Russia dependent on a last-minute decision. If he is not fit, his place will probably be taken by Joel Campbell, now at Real Betis and making his way back to the starting line-up after being injured for several months. In the middle, Costa Rica like to deploy two central midfielders with David Guzmán and Deportivo La Coruña's Celso Borges in charge of defensive duties. Guzmán will be tasked with winning the ball, although he is more capable of initiating attacks than Yeltsin Tejeda was four years ago. At the back, Los Ticos like to play with Glasgow Celtic's Cristian Gamboa and Bryan Oviedo of Blunderland as the right and left wing-backs respectively. Although, given the season the latter has just suffered, his place in the starting line-up is by no means assured. In central defence will be Giancarlo González of Bologna with Oscar Duarte to his left and Johnny Acosta to his right.
Group F:
For many the Confederations Cup is little more than the misguided brainchild of a few odious FIFA officials with their greed right on. One year before a World Cup, the competition pits the host country against the six continental champions and the reigning World Cup holders. Normally, the only people particularly interested in it are the organisers, as they can test their infrastructure. Even Germany's top players rolled their eyes at the prospect of having to play after a long season and will have been relieved when the national coach, Joachim Löw, told them that they could go on holiday while he contested the 2017 tournament with a squad of second-stringers. Some of the regulars will have been alarmed, however, when they watched the games on television, as Löw's decision yielded some astonishing results. Players such as Leon Goretzka, Sebastian Rudy, Lars Stindl, Timo Werner and Antonio Rüdiger not only won the cup, but became real challengers for the places of those rested. Suddenly Germany's fans, some of whom had become a trifle bored with the national team, got very excited about the reserves. Even though midfielder Ilkay Gündoğan is abroad, at Shiekh Yer Man City, many Germany supporters are glad he has finally been able to play an entire season without fitness problems (although a recent photoshoot with the Turkish Prime Minister saw him booed by home fans in a recent friendly). The playmaker would have won a lot more caps since his debut seven years ago (and would be a World Cup winner) had he not been haunted by injuries. A similar fate befell his former Borussia Dortmund team-mate Marco Reus. The forward made his Germany debut in the same year as Gündogan, 2011 and has only just reached thirty caps. He, too, missed the 2014 World Cup - after sustaining an injury in the final preparation game - and also missed the European Championship due to a groin injury. It means Löw has two outstanding players at his disposal who have something to prove in a German shirt and it gives him options. Löw is not only fond of tailoring his tactics to the opposition by changing his basic system, he also likes to change a game's pattern by introducing different types of players. Leroy Sané was unexpectedly dropped from the squad, showing once again what an incredible pool of talent Löw can choose from, and the Sheikh Yer Man City winger's omission has meant that Reus or PSG's Julian Draxler could start on the left. Despite missing the majority of the past season with a number of niggling injuries, Manuel Neuer looks set to reprise his role as Germany's number one. In defence, Jérôme Boateng has also recovered from injury to claim a place in the final twenty three, where he is joined by Bayern Munchen team-mates Mats Hummels, Niklas Sule and Joshua Kimmich. Despite suffering relegation from the Bundesliga with FC Koln, Jonas Hector has been included, with Matthias Ginter, Marvin Plattenhardt and Moscow Chelski FC's Rüdiger completing the defensive line-up. Germany's midfield is a smorgasbord of talent, filled with veterans of their 2014 World Cup triumph, with the likes of Toni Kroos, Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira expected to feature in Russia. In attack, Thomas Müller will have a chance to extend his impressive World Cup scoring record, while RB Leipzig's free-scoring striker Werner will be aiming to establish himself as his country's chief goal threat for the coming years. If there is a weakness - and it's a big if - there is possibly a lack of leadership in the squad compared with the last World Cup when Löw had vastly experienced players such as Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm and Per Mertesacker to count on. But, these are the world champions, after all. The last time the Germans were in Russian - in the mid-1940s - it ended in catastrophic defeats at Stalingrad and Kursk. It could be very different this time.
Mexico had no problem reaching the World Cup (the perennial CONCACAF winners seldom, if ever, do) but Juan Carlos Osorio is still being questioned, because in more demanding fixtures, such as against Chile in the Copa América Centenario and Germany in the Confederations Cup, El Tri looked lost, being beaten seven-nil and four-one respectively. However, some of his players are in their prime. Guillermo Ochoa, Andrés Guardado, Héctor Moreno, Héctor Herrera and Javier Hernández have at least five years of experience in Europe and this could be the difference which will see Mexico to finally make it to a fifth game at a World Cup. The attack looks potent with Hernández the obvious focal point but the PSV Eindhoven winger Hirving Lozano may well prove to be an even bigger threat. Osorio's system has been changing of late. When the Colombian took over he always used a four-three-three but in two recent friendlies he played with two midfield enforcers, something he may repeat (along with a five-man defence) in Russia.
Euro 2016 saw the end of the Zlatan Ibrahimovic era as well as that of the manager Erik Hamren. The new Sweden team, under Janne Andersson, are extremely hardworking and disciplined. The four-four-two tactics are reminiscent of the successful period from Lars Lagerback's days in the early 2000s but with players from more anonymous clubs. The stars of the Lagerback-era played for teams like The Arse, Juventus and Barcelona; today they represent clubs in Denmark, Greece, Russia, Scotland and the United Arab Emirates (apart from Emil Forsberg at RB Leipzig and Victor Lindelof at The Scum). The fear is that the forward-line may struggle. Marcus Berg plays in the Emirates these days and Ola Toivonen has been out of the team at Toulouse. The play-off win against Italy (after having already knocked out The Netherlands at the group stage) was thoroughly deserved - and sent shockwaves across the world of football. The big question now is whether Sweden can convert an impressive qualifying campaign into making it beyond the group stage in Russia.
South Korea struggled throughout the qualifiers through being positively anaemic in attack and they only narrowly qualified after a poor run which resulted in the firing of coach Uli Stielike. Shin Tae-Yong, who was the manager of the under-twenty threes and under-twentys, is not a master tactician but he is a good motivator and popular with the players. With a team lacking world-class talent, the manager has to depend on two standout players: Son Heung-Min from Stottingtot Hotshots and Ki Sung-Yueng from Swansea City. Shin often plays a four-four-two system but seems obsessed with a fluid back-three system so it is not clear how Korea will play in Russia. They rely on the combination of players in the attacking third. Although they do not have quality strikers they do have wingers and attacking midfielders in good form, such as Son, Kwon Chang-Hoon (of Dijon), Lee Jae-Sung (Jeonbuk) and Hwang Hee-Chan (Red Bull Salzburg). The coach reportedly plans to make Son the forward, having seen him deputise ably for Harry Kane at Spurs, but was dismayed when injuries to the winger Lee Chung-Yong and Kwon Kyung-Won, a defensive midfielder who can also play in defence, meant that both had to be left out of the World Cup squad.
Group G:
Belgium broke all sorts of records in qualifying - and put the shits right up all England fans in the process as soon as they were drawn in the same group: they were unbeaten, they got twenty eight points from ten games, they scored forty three goals and Romelu Lukaku became the country's record goalscorer. However, the last two friendlies - and especially the draw against Mexico - have left fans, pundits and players frankly worried. True, Belgium were without Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Vincent Kompany against Mexico but the replacements could not fill the void. Kevin De Bruyne, for one, did not hold back. 'Mexico were just better tactically,' the Sheikh Yer Man City midfielder said. 'Their system made our five defenders sit deep and we were up against it in midfield - it was five against seven. If we don't have a good tactical system, we will have difficulties against countries like Mexico. It's a pity that we have not found a solution yet.' The main problem is that, after two years with coach Roberto Martínez, there is still no real defensive organisation. The golden generation squad, though, remains the envy of almost every other nation on the planet: Thibaut Courtois, Thomas Meunier, Thomas Vermaelen, Marouane Fellaini, De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Leander Dendoncker, Youri Tielemans, Mousa Dembele, Michy Batshuayi, Adnan Januzaj, Dries Mertens, Lukaku ... They look, frankly, well-tasty.
'We'll go to the World Cup to learn and compete. It's an experience to enjoy,' said Hernán Darío Gómez and he should know: the Colombian has led four teams at World Cup finals. His experience has been crucial in turning a mature Panama squad who had performed well at age-group levels into the country's first World cup qualification. That feat owed much to the defensive colossus Román Torres, who scored the goal that took them to Russia and the midfielder Gabriel Gómez, the brains of the operation. Torres, however, has been injured and will not travel to Russia in the best shape. Panama are a team built on solidity, discipline and hitting on the break. Alberto Quintero's creativity is the key source of chances for Gabriel Torres and Blas Pérez, the most-used forward pairing. Fidel Escobar, Michael Murillo (both of New York Red Bulls) and Deportivo La Coruña's Ismael Díaz add some youthful endeavour. They're outsiders, they should go home with three defeat having taken part in a brilliant learning experience but, this is the World Cup and they're in England's group - funny things happen. And, not infrequently either.
After a twelve-year absence Tunisia are back at a World Cup but their path was not entirely straightforward. They sacked Henryk Kasperczak soon after losing in the last eight of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Nabil Maâloul was appointed in April and steered the country to the World Cup, mainly using a four-two-three-one formation. The full-backs are encouraged to attack and on the left Ali Maâloul of Al Ahly is key because of how much he contributes going forward. The midfield are dominated by two hard-working ball-winners in Ferjani Sassi and Mohamed Amine Ben Amor, with Wahbi Khazri - who had an outstanding season at Rennes after being such a staggering flop at Blunderland the year before - and Naïm Sliti adding flair. Msakni, who plays in Qatar, is a tremendous talent and often carries the team. The manager sometimes switches to four-three-two-one especially against attacking teams (or, you know, Manfred Mann), incorporating the defensive midfilder Ghailene Chaalali instead of Khazri or Sliti. Injury to the squad's most creative player, Youssef Msakni, has left a huge creative gap for Maâloul to fill.
Back home we will, as usual, be thinking about them in every game they play. And, most of us will be half-expecting them to do something idiotic. Which, you know, wouldn't be the first time. Gareth Southgate has claimed his England World Cup squad - which, as usual, went through qualification undefeated if not exactly setting the pulse racing too often - has been picked to 'excite the nation.' Southgate revealed his twenty three-man squad with Adam Lallana the big-name omission. But, Southgate believes, with the likes of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Dele Alli, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, his young England squad offers plenty of encouragement. 'I believe this is a squad which we can be excited about,' said Southgate. 'We have a lot of energy and athleticism in the team, but players that are equally comfortable in possession of the ball and I think people can see the style of play we've been looking to develop. It is a young group, but with some really important senior players so I feel the balance of the squad is good, both in terms of its experience, its character and also the positional balance.' Southgate decided to leave Wank Hands Joe Hart and the talented-but-always-bloody-injured Jack Wilshere at home and has picked a squad heavily-loaded with defenders, reflective of his desire to play with three centre-halves and wing-backs. Trent-Alexander-Arnold could win his first England cap in Russia while the inclusion of Ruben Loftus-Cheek also speaks to Southgate's bold approach. Harry Kane will captain the side. England's main problem may well be if Kane doesn't score then it's difficult to see where else the goals will come from (although, one can guarantee that if anyone else does score from England, Kane will probably claim it.) The most amazing statistic about England is that they have not lost a qualifying match for any major competition since October 2009. It is an incredible run, covering thirty nine games, with three different managers in place since the team, then led by Fabio Capello, went down one-nil to Ukraine. Yet, there remain lingering questions about whether the squad have improved since the ordeal of being eliminated by Iceland at Euro 2016 when playing like a bunch of girls. As usual, the press and fans expect The World. Quite why, since England's records at major tournaments is woeful, is a matter perhaps best left for another day.
Group H:
Adam Nawalka's Poland side always looked certain of qualifying and won eight of their ten games. The captain, Robert Lewandowski, hit a record-breaking sixteen goals and his leadership was crucial as Poland returned to the biggest stage after a twelve-year absence but they are not a one-man team: other players also contributed heavily to ensure that Poland ended up in pot one for the draw. Arkadiusz Milik, for instance, a quality player is back after a serious knee injury. The defence is a concern (Poland conceded fourteen goals - the most of all groups winners) but Nawalka is capable of sorting it out with Poland having the second-best defence at Euro 2016 until the quarter-finals. Poland have a strong backbone of Wojciech Szczesny, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Lewandowski with Hull City's Kamil Grosicki another key player with his pace on the left flank although the late injury to the influential Kamil Glik could be a major blow.
This will be Senegal's second World Cup finals after Aliou Cissé, who was the captain of the 2002 side under the late Bruno Metsu, guided his team through a jolly difficult qualification group containing Burkina Faso, South Africa and Cape Verde. Cissé has moulded a team strong in all areas. The addition of M'Baye Niang to a forward line that includes Keita Baldé of Monaco and Liverpool AlabamaYee-Haws' Sadio Mané has allowed Cissé to play four-three-three, although in the crucial victory over South Africa, West Hamsters United's Diafra Sakho started in a four-four-two formation. Much will be expected of Mané, who has been the star man for several years and has been compared to El Hadji Diouf, the talisman for the 2002 side. His injury problems have slowed down a brilliant start to life at Liverpool and he will need to be at his best in Russia. The team have an impressively strong spine with Kalidou Koulibaly in defence, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Badou Ndiaye in midfield and Mané up front. They could cause some major surprises and, potentially, may be England's second round opponents (if England get that far, obviously).
Colombia will aim to repeat their performance from the 2014 World Cup, when they reached the quarter-finals but it will be harder as they are not among the top seeds this time. 'Qualifying was really hard,' says the coach, José Pékerman. 'We've never experienced a situation where so few points separated so many teams.' Three factors explain the difficulties Colombia had: the need to inject youth in defence, the lack of playing time for the stars (James Rodríguez at Real Madrid and Bayern Munchen, Radamel Falcao at Monaco and David Ospina at The Arse) and the lack of options going forward. Pékerman often plays four-two-three-one but has tried other systems away from home. Colombia had their best results when they were more defensive and compact between the lines, hitting on the counter with speed and very few passes.
Japan have traditionally preferred a possession-based style but Vahid Halilhodzic demanded his side look to play on the counter during qualification. His drastic reforms saw Japan's two biggest stars, Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa, dropped from the squad as they failed to fit into this philosophy - or, in other words, they preferred Japan's traditional approach. There was also no room for Shinji Okazaki of Leicester City, because Halilhodzic opted for a lone forward capable of holding up the play. These choices - and the manager's overall style - were the subject of fierce debate in Japan and they made the, not entirely surprising, decision to relieve Halilhodzic (who took Côte d'Ivoire to the 2010 finals) of his duties in April and replace him with the veteran Akira Nishino. The high-profile trio of Honda, Kagawa and Okazaki are all back in the squad and should lift the team on and off the pitch. Nishino has tried three-four-two-one - a formation used by some top clubs in the J-League - in a few friendlies but the team have struggled to adapt to the changes.
The 2018 World Cup begins of Thursday. It's gonna be great. At least, until England lose, obviously.
Headed by Stanislav Cherchesov, Russia have hopes of making a positive impact on home soil in what appears - at a first glance - to be the weakest of the eight groups. Host nations of major tournaments can sometimes show difficulties in handling the pressure. But, by contrast, home advantage can produce unexpected success stories such as 2002 in South Korea (plus, you know, 1966 and all that). It remains to be seen what Russia can produce carrying the largest country in the world on their shoulders. Fyodor Smolov made his debut in the national team in 2012 under Fabio Capello. Today, he is the main striker who needs to be in great form if Russia wish to proceed to the knock-out stages of the tournament. Cherchesov became the manager after hugely disappointing performances at Euro 2016 and the former goalkeeper has changed a lot, mainly in defence where he has brought in the youngsters Viktor Vasin (CSKA), Fedor Kudryashov (Rubin Kazan) and Georgi Dzhikiya (Spartak Moscow) to replace Sergei Ignashevich and Vasily Berezutski. He also plays a three-at-the-back system. The biggest talking point has been the exclusion of Igor Denisov, who is arguably the best defensive midfielder in the country but who fell out of favour with Cherchesov at Dynamo Moscow. Russia's attack is rather more impressive. Alan Dzagoev is still going strong and the strikers Smolov and Aleksandr Kokorin scored a lot of goals in 2017. Special attention should be paid to the twins Aleksei and Anton Miranchuk from Lokomotiv Moscow and Aleksandr Golovin from CSKA. They are young technical midfielders who could have their breakthroughs at the World Cup. Russia, however, have a dreadful recent record at major tournaments, their goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev oscillates wildly between Peter Shilton and Pure Shite and they are prone to lapsing into anxious sterility.
'Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Germany and France are the favourites to win the World Cup,' says the Portugal coach, Fernando Santos, before adding: 'Then we have other candidates, who want to get as far as possible and win the tournament if possible and Portugal are in this second group.' Santos is cautious, despite Portugal winning Euro 2016 but he is looking forward to the World Cup with optimism and does so with good reason: Portugal seem stronger now than a year-and-a-half ago, having added creativity to the defensive organisation which underpinned their Euro success. Bernardo Silva and André Silva have been important factors in this attacking upgrade and, in general, the team has more depth. The one area which is, perhaps, weaker is the defence, where it has been hard to find replacements for Pepe (who will be thirty five next summer), José Fonte (thirty four) and Bruno Alves (thirty six). Inevitably, most of the focus will be on Cristiano Ronaldo and Sheikh Yer Man City's Bernardo Silva. They and Spain should win the group with some ease. 'Should', of course, being a particularly tricky word to use when related to World Cups.
'We are not at the same level as Germany, Spain and Brazil - yet,' says French coach Didier Deschamps. 'We may not control all our games with the same authority but still, we have a strong and competitive team with a great potential.' France blew hot and cold in qualifying, winning their group despite losing to Sweden and drawing against both Belarus and - in a major surprise - Luxembourg. Deschamps - the man whom Eric Cantona used to call 'The Water Carrier' - has a thrilling and explosive attack of Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé (if fit and, it's a big if by all accounts). Such, indeed, if the strength of the French attack that Dimitri Payet didn't even make the squad (Alexandre Lacazette and Anthony Martial are also missing). There is a strong midfield too, built around Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi and N'Golo Kanté, lots of technical ability all round with such as Thomas Lemar and a sound defensive axis (Raphaël Xavier Varane). Still, France appear more effective when playing on the break and using their lightning speed. The weakest link? The left-back position as Sheikh Yer Man City's Benjamin Mendy has not recovered from his knee injury. Stottingtot Hotshots' goalkeeper Hugo Lloris can be a bit of a liability; despite making plenty of fantastic saves, he is somewhat prone to errors, particularly in big games.
There are no solid arguments to suggest that Argentina can win this World Cup. They do not have the skill levels of Spain, the structure of Germany or the blend of top-class individuals and team ethos harnessed by their bitter rivals, Brazil. But they do have Lionel Messi and that, in and of itself, is a reason to believe that nothing is impossible. Argentina made it in the end and it will be a farewell party for many of their senior players. Ángel Di María, Sergio Agüero, Gonzalo Higuaín, Lucas Biglia and Éver Banega, among others, are almost certainly about to play in their final major tournament. For Messi - captain and, it's not unfair to suggest, the sole reason they reached Russia at all - it is also pretty much a case of it's now or never. With that in mind, Jorge Sampaoli is likely to go on the attack in his attempt to secure Argentina's first World Cup since 1986. One of Argentina's weaknesses lies in goal, a position up for grabs after Sergio Romero was ruled out with a knee injury. Willy Caballero rarely featured at Moscow Chelski FC last season and his deputies lack experience on this stage. In defence there is only one player of genuine international quality, Nicolás Otamendi and the performance of the entire backline has left a lot to be desired under Sampaoli. The coach has changed personnel and formations frequently, eventually settling on a conventional four-man defence. Gabriel Mercado, on the right, does not feel comfortable in that position and may be another Achilles heel. Otamendin Mercado and Javier Mascherano are likely to occupy spots in the back four, with Biglia and Enzo Pérez expected to take the central midfield places. Mascherano, who turns one hundred and thirty four just before the tournament begins and plays in a piss-weak Chinese league, is clearly in decline and seems to mirror the plight of the national team. Manuel Lanzini's late - and, seemingly, very serious - knee injury means he will be missing from the tournament.
In Brazil's most recent friendlies, coach Tite struggled to find players who could infiltrate five-man defensive lines of the kind used by Antonio Conte at Moscow Chelski FC. Two were required in particular: a midfielder able to work close to the penalty area and a number nine with physical presence. As nobody was found, the coach has selected Shakhtar Donetsk's Taison in his twenty three - but the winger seems somewhat redundan, as he is similar to at least three other players in the squad. It means Philippe Coutinho - who is used to weaving inside from one of the flanks - could be pushed into a role conducting the midfield from a central position and serving the players who come running in from both sides. There are a swarm of attacking options from wide: Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Willian, Roberto Firmino and Marcelo. This is far from certain though and it is equally possible Coutinho will start on the right. The motto 'never try in a cup what you have never tested before' has prevailed in a predictable squad selection - advice Tite has received from former players such as Rivellino, Gerson and Zico. So, Brazil arrive at this World Cup placing their bets on speed and experience. Despite their width they have little inclination to actually cross the ball: Tite has imposed a very organised method based on playing in triangles, with aggressive full-backs -something of a Brazilian tradition - always close to the holding midfielders in order to build up moves. Brazil's left side poses the biggest attacking threat but is also the most likely area for opponents to breach. Marcelo is prone to leaving space behind him, as he has shown at Real Madrid, but Tite will not restrain the world's most attacking full-back. That will require plenty of attention from the veteran Miranda, who may be pushed further forward than any centre-back in Brazil's World Cup history and the deep midfielder Casemiro. On the right, Dani Alves's injury is a huge blow, partly because of his influence in the dressing room but also because he is a much better player than his likely replacement, Shiekh Yer Man City's Danilo. Brazil can threaten elsewhere, though: Miranda, Marquinhos and Paulinho will pose a considerable threat when they win dead balls in attacking positions. Thanks to the influence of Pep Guardiola, Tite has an exquisite piece of tactical variation up his sleeve in the form of his second-choice goalkeeper, Ederson. If Brazil face a very aggressive, high-pressing side, Ederson can bypass the press by distributing the ball accurately as soon as he has claimed it. The final pre-World Cup friendlies, against Croatia and Austria, will show whether Tite is brave enough to go with Ederson in Russia. All things considered, though, Roma's Alisson is unlikely to see his starting spot threatened.
For many the Confederations Cup is little more than the misguided brainchild of a few odious FIFA officials with their greed right on. One year before a World Cup, the competition pits the host country against the six continental champions and the reigning World Cup holders. Normally, the only people particularly interested in it are the organisers, as they can test their infrastructure. Even Germany's top players rolled their eyes at the prospect of having to play after a long season and will have been relieved when the national coach, Joachim Löw, told them that they could go on holiday while he contested the 2017 tournament with a squad of second-stringers. Some of the regulars will have been alarmed, however, when they watched the games on television, as Löw's decision yielded some astonishing results. Players such as Leon Goretzka, Sebastian Rudy, Lars Stindl, Timo Werner and Antonio Rüdiger not only won the cup, but became real challengers for the places of those rested. Suddenly Germany's fans, some of whom had become a trifle bored with the national team, got very excited about the reserves. Even though midfielder Ilkay Gündoğan is abroad, at Shiekh Yer Man City, many Germany supporters are glad he has finally been able to play an entire season without fitness problems (although a recent photoshoot with the Turkish Prime Minister saw him booed by home fans in a recent friendly). The playmaker would have won a lot more caps since his debut seven years ago (and would be a World Cup winner) had he not been haunted by injuries. A similar fate befell his former Borussia Dortmund team-mate Marco Reus. The forward made his Germany debut in the same year as Gündogan, 2011 and has only just reached thirty caps. He, too, missed the 2014 World Cup - after sustaining an injury in the final preparation game - and also missed the European Championship due to a groin injury. It means Löw has two outstanding players at his disposal who have something to prove in a German shirt and it gives him options. Löw is not only fond of tailoring his tactics to the opposition by changing his basic system, he also likes to change a game's pattern by introducing different types of players. Leroy Sané was unexpectedly dropped from the squad, showing once again what an incredible pool of talent Löw can choose from, and the Sheikh Yer Man City winger's omission has meant that Reus or PSG's Julian Draxler could start on the left. Despite missing the majority of the past season with a number of niggling injuries, Manuel Neuer looks set to reprise his role as Germany's number one. In defence, Jérôme Boateng has also recovered from injury to claim a place in the final twenty three, where he is joined by Bayern Munchen team-mates Mats Hummels, Niklas Sule and Joshua Kimmich. Despite suffering relegation from the Bundesliga with FC Koln, Jonas Hector has been included, with Matthias Ginter, Marvin Plattenhardt and Moscow Chelski FC's Rüdiger completing the defensive line-up. Germany's midfield is a smorgasbord of talent, filled with veterans of their 2014 World Cup triumph, with the likes of Toni Kroos, Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira expected to feature in Russia. In attack, Thomas Müller will have a chance to extend his impressive World Cup scoring record, while RB Leipzig's free-scoring striker Werner will be aiming to establish himself as his country's chief goal threat for the coming years. If there is a weakness - and it's a big if - there is possibly a lack of leadership in the squad compared with the last World Cup when Löw had vastly experienced players such as Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm and Per Mertesacker to count on. But, these are the world champions, after all. The last time the Germans were in Russian - in the mid-1940s - it ended in catastrophic defeats at Stalingrad and Kursk. It could be very different this time.
Belgium broke all sorts of records in qualifying - and put the shits right up all England fans in the process as soon as they were drawn in the same group: they were unbeaten, they got twenty eight points from ten games, they scored forty three goals and Romelu Lukaku became the country's record goalscorer. However, the last two friendlies - and especially the draw against Mexico - have left fans, pundits and players frankly worried. True, Belgium were without Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Vincent Kompany against Mexico but the replacements could not fill the void. Kevin De Bruyne, for one, did not hold back. 'Mexico were just better tactically,' the Sheikh Yer Man City midfielder said. 'Their system made our five defenders sit deep and we were up against it in midfield - it was five against seven. If we don't have a good tactical system, we will have difficulties against countries like Mexico. It's a pity that we have not found a solution yet.' The main problem is that, after two years with coach Roberto Martínez, there is still no real defensive organisation. The golden generation squad, though, remains the envy of almost every other nation on the planet: Thibaut Courtois, Thomas Meunier, Thomas Vermaelen, Marouane Fellaini, De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Leander Dendoncker, Youri Tielemans, Mousa Dembele, Michy Batshuayi, Adnan Januzaj, Dries Mertens, Lukaku ... They look, frankly, well-tasty.
Adam Nawalka's Poland side always looked certain of qualifying and won eight of their ten games. The captain, Robert Lewandowski, hit a record-breaking sixteen goals and his leadership was crucial as Poland returned to the biggest stage after a twelve-year absence but they are not a one-man team: other players also contributed heavily to ensure that Poland ended up in pot one for the draw. Arkadiusz Milik, for instance, a quality player is back after a serious knee injury. The defence is a concern (Poland conceded fourteen goals - the most of all groups winners) but Nawalka is capable of sorting it out with Poland having the second-best defence at Euro 2016 until the quarter-finals. Poland have a strong backbone of Wojciech Szczesny, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Lewandowski with Hull City's Kamil Grosicki another key player with his pace on the left flank although the late injury to the influential Kamil Glik could be a major blow.
