It seems just like yesterday when Germany defeated Argentina 1-0 during extra time in front of 75,000-odd fans at the Maracana in Brazil and a TV audience of millions to win the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the most prestigious international football tournament on the planet.
Now four years later football fans the world over are happily preparing for the 2018 FIFA World Cup which will be hosted in Russia from June 14th to July 15th of this year.
The billion-dollar question, of course, is which teams will go into the tournament as the favourites and which will go in as the long-shots or ‘dark horses’?
The favourites are easy to determine: they are led by defending champions Germany, who will be seeking their fifth FIFA World Cup title to tie eternal favourites and current record-holders, Brazil. Other favourites are France, Spain and Argentina.
Much more difficult to predict is how well the dark horses will perform in Russia this year. For example, which of them can excel in the group and knockout phase?
Of the 32 teams entered in the tournament, we have identified the four FIFA World Cup teams we consider the most promising dark horses of this summer’s World Cup in Russia.
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Saudi Arabia
Although Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest long-shots to win the FIFA World Cup in Russia this year, the Green Falcons have more than their fair share of supporters who believe they can make it through the group stage and beyond.
When the national football squad of the sovereign Arab state qualified for the 2018 World Cup in September last year, Saudi football fans couldn’t believe it.
This year’s competition will be the fifth that Saudi Arabia will compete in, having previously qualified in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006.
Although the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup campaigns eluded the Green Falcons, they did enough in 2017 to secure their place as one of the 32 teams that will face off in Russia this summer.
As part of Group A, Saudi Arabia will take on Russia, Egypt and Uruguay.
Statistically, this is the easiest group in the tournament and if the Green Falcons can hold off the tournament hosts as well as their African and South American rivals, they have a good chance of shocking their detractors.
In preparation for the 2018 World Cup, several Saudi players have gained invaluable experience by being loaned out to play for various clubs in Spain’s La Liga.
Nigeria
In the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Nigerian national football squad reached the knockout stage before being unceremoniously dispatched 0-1 by France in the round of 16. This means the Super Eagles have had four years to plot their revenge and be better and stronger than ever before.
Fans of this African team were thrilled when they secured a coveted spot in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. As part of Group D, the Super Eagles will face Argentina, Iceland and Croatia, and while the South American team will be tough to overcome, their European rivals should be less so.
This will be Nigeria’s sixth World Cup outing and the squad will be looking to progress for the first time from the round of 16 to the quarterfinals. Along with Senegal, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, Africa’s World Cup hopes are pinned on the Super Eagles.
Russia
When the World Cup kicks off, millions of Russians will be hoping that their national football squad Sbornaya chalks up a solid victory against Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Favoured to beat Group A rivals the Green Falcons, the Russians are considered to be one of the competition’s anomalies that will either rise to the occasion or crash and burn.
A big question surrounding the hosts is if they will be boosted by home team advantage to make it through the group stage.
Another question is if they will have anything left in their tanks if they do. While few fans or bookmakers expect Russia to excel in this year’s FIFA outing, a handful of crafted goals plus consistent saves from team captain and star goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev could change all that.
Despite coming into the 2018 competition as the lowest-ranked of the 32 teams, having never made it past the group stage in its previous World Cup outings in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 or 2014, Sbornaya will be high on the list of dark horses.
Losing streaks exist to be broken, and what a coup it would be if the Russian national football squad’s performances turn their fortunes around come to the end of the tournament.
Australia
Australia has seen its national football (soccer) squad improve by leaps and bounds over the last decade. In fact, its national team or Socceroos as they’re known down under have managed to qualify for every FIFA World Cup since 2006.
Prior to that they only managed to qualify in 1974.
In the 2014 World Cup, the Socceroos found themselves in Group B where they faced some tough competition in the form of the Netherlands, Chile and Spain. Although the side failed to win a single game and scuppered its World Cup aspirations, many fans believe the Socceroos have a far better chance of making it through the group stage this year when they face France, Peru and Denmark.
While France is a formidable team, Australia should be equally matched against Peru and Denmark.
Brian
Guest
I think they are only more open because Brazil and Argentina aren't there so normally at the Euros you have 3-4 big teams but at the World Cup you have 5-6. This time with Italy not there and Argentina somewhat poor there are only 4 big teams so a surprise could occur. The draw puts winners of Group A, C, E and G on one side and winners of B, D, F and H on the other. So if all goes to as expected the QF matchups are France v Russia/Uruguay/Portugal Brazil v Belgium Spain v Argentina Germany v Poland/Colombia/England But if France fails to win Group C and Brazil fails to win Group E. Then France and Brazil join Spain, Argentina and Germany on the same half meaning someone outside that 5 makes the Final
kangajets
Guest
Eddy Just about every elite sport seeds teams .
Malo
Guest
Egypt - saleh is on fire.
LuckyEddie
Guest
The fact that FIFA seeds teams as far down as the third team for each group is why there will be no dark horse. TV has worked on a dodgy, if not corrupt draw, whereby certain teams are not even allowed to meet each other in the first round. The biggest con in World Sport is the gala event for the fake WC draw. Quite simply FIFA and TV will do everything to ensure the big Euro countries and a few Sth American ones get through to the finals (quarters or semi). A real draw would be everyone in the hat and you get whoever, not the FIFA stitch up. I'm surprised the intrepid 'journalists' out there do not question the racket, well not really surprised they are on the payroll..
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Although Euros are always a lot more open and unpredictable than the WC.
JJJ
Guest
Germany has only won the World Cup once, not four times. You might be confusing them with West Germany.
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
Argentina lost 6-1 to Spain, but if you watched the match or the highlights, it was a really strange 6-1 loss. Argentina should have scored at least 3 and could have scored more. The 6-1 wasn't really reflective of the balance of play in the first half, but certainly in the second half Spain looked much the better side. It was a strange defensive performance from Argentina. I don't think they will be that open again, and I don't think they will cop 6 goals from anyone. Having said that, Spain looked really good and could've beaten anyone on that day.
Nick Symonds
Guest
In a 48 team World Cup we might not have much choice but to share matches with them. I wonder if a joint Australasia bid could happen sooner than 2034 since Australasia wouldn't technically be part of the AFC. Australia and New Zealand competed as Australasia at the summer Olympics in 1908 and 1912 so there is a precedent of joint teams. I'm not sure how popular that would be at the World Cup though. Definitely a dark horse.
Joey b
Guest
A joint bid with anyone other than NZ is crazy. Even then, it would be a bad idea I think. Don't want to give any matches to the kiwis
Nick Symonds
Guest
Melbourne to Bangkok = 7,368 km Perth to Wellington = 5,255 km Melbourne to Jakarta = 5,205 km Perth to Jakarta = 3,013 km Mexico City to Edmonton = 4,784 km Boston to San Francisco = 4,990 km
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Never say never, but the chances of Iceland pulling another rabbit out of the hat are pretty slim.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Argentina do have some quality players other than Messi. It's a shame that Sampaoli seem's to let his ego get in the way and has ousted Dybala and Icardi from the team. They wont do too well this World Cup.
Kaks
Roar Guru
I have friends who were in Germany when they won the 2014 World Cup, and let's just say I was green with envy when I heard their stories. Enjoy mate and fingers crossed for you!
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
Agree that distance in a joint bid would be a problem
kangajets
Guest
Australia would be no where near par with Denmark , unless Christian Erickson is out of the game. A result against Peru maybe . A France meltdown is unlikely, but not unprecedented, we can only hope
Brian
Guest
I noticed the current bidders for 2034 are China and Indonesia/Thailand. Realistically though if China bid they would beat an ASEAN/Australia bid. If however China did not bid the ASEAN bid does have merit. Obviously a lot of hurdles but you would hope the FFA would conduct a feasibility report - Would Indonesia and Thailand accept us as a joint bidder. We're not ASEAN members like Malaysia or Singapore but we would add much needed on field credibility and organisational experience to the bid. - would FIFA accept a bid given the 9 hours flying time between Melbourne and Bangkok. Russia aren't holding games in Siberia - would FIFA except a bid where so many games are played in 32 degree humidity and others at 10 degrees in southern Australia - Is China likely to bid - The 2030 fight looks like being between Argentina/Uruguay and England, will the loser be promised 2034?
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
I am a fan of the Socceroos manager so I think they could surprise.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
Iceland, but the group that they have is extremely tough.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
Belgium should be one of the favourites in my opinion.
Brian
Guest
Germany and Spain are favourites France and Brazil are genuine chances Argentina and Belgium are outsiders England and Portugal are dark horses Hard to see anyone else although I wouldn't say its no chance. Because Italy and Netherlands are not there there aren't many Germany's that smaller teams can't pass. We saw at the Euros how Germany, France, Italy and Spain all ended up on one side of the draw and Portugal went on to win. Should a similar thing occur there are some countries who could have one big upset in them - Uruguay, Croatia, Poland. Not likely but the lack of cream at the top does open it up as well