The 2018 FIFA World Cup is set to start in 13 days when hosts Russia will take on Saudi Arabia in the opening match at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
With the best of world football showcasing their talents, this bonanza will certainly entertain fans around the world, and while Netherlands and Italy will be missed, the football faithful will want another Costa Rica story of underdogs defying odds at this World Cup.
Fans around the world will want Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to perform well in what is likely to be their last World Cup.
In this set of articles I will preview the eight groups of the tournament. It can help us provide insights in predicting how the World Cup will shape.
First, Group D.
Goalkeepers: Nahuel Guzman (UANL), Franco Armani (River Plate), Willy Caballero (Chelsea).
Defenders: Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax), Cristian Ansaldi (Torino), Federico Fazio (Roma), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United).
Midfielders: Cristian Pavon (Boca Juniors), Eduardo Salvio (Benfica), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United), Javier Mascherano (Hebei China Fortune), Maximiliano Meza (Independiente), Angel Di Maria (PSG), Marcos Acuna (Sporting CP), Ever Banega (Sevilla), Lucas Biglia (Milan), Giovani Lo Celso (PSG).
Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus), Pablo Dybala (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Captain) (Barcelona).
Manager: Jorge Sampaoli.
Argentina came just short of winning numerous international tournaments in recent years. At this World Cup they will hope to go one better than the runners-up finish of 2014.
The team is immensely talented as an attacking unit. Jorge Sampaoli’s attacking tactics made Chile one of the most attractive teams in world football. With Messi, Dybala, Aguero, Higuain and Di Maria at their disposal, Argentina should play the most eye-catching football of this tournament.
Their defence with Mascherano, Rojo and Otamendi is solid. However, a lack of top-class wingbacks and te absence of first-choice goalkeeper Sergio Romero could come back and bite them.
The route to this World Cup was not the easiest for La Albiceleste. They drew seven and lost four and had to defeat Alexis Sanchez’s Chile to book their ticket to Russia.
This team, though with numerous talented players, looks a bit lopsided. Traditionally they have been overdependent on their attacking third, especially Messi, and arguably the best player in the world has delivered time and again. However, they appear to be lacking top-class players in other positions.
As exhibited at the 2010 World Cup or by Iran in 2014, if Messi is not allowed to get involved in the game, Argentina struggle. Their entire line-up should perform to outclass daunting opposition such as Brazil, Spain or Germany in later stages of the tournament.
If this team play to their potential, Argentina are one of the contenders to win the tournament.
(AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Goalkeepers: Daniel Subasic (Monaco), Lovre Kalinic (Gent), Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb).
Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Domagoj Vida (Besiktas), Ivan Strinic (Sampdoria), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid), Josip Pivaric (Dynamo Kyiv), Tim Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Matej Mitrovic (Club Brugge), Duje Caleta-Car (Red Bull Salzburg).
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Captain) (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona), Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Filip Bradaric (Rijeka).
Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Juventus), Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan), Nikola Kalinic (AC Milan), Andrej Kramaric (1899 Hoffenheim), Marko Pjaca (Schalke 04), Ante Rebic (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Coach: Zlatko Dalic.
Since their third-place finish at the 1998 World Cup led by the legendary Davor Suker, Croatia have failed to qualify past the group stages. For this World Cup Croatia have one of the most talented squads beyond the traditional heavyweights. After all, having 16 out of 24 players in Europe’s big five leagues – the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A, France’s Ligue 1, Germany’s Bundesliga – is quite remarkable.
Luka Modric will have Rakitic and Kovacic as partners in the middle of the park. In Badelj they have another talented midfielder in the squad. With Mandzukic leading the line and Perisic occupying one flank Croatia are expected to line-up 4-3-3 for this World Cup. They have a good blend of youth with experience with immense talent.
However, like Argentina, they seem an imbalanced outfit. While they have good players in the midfield and in attack, they appear weak in defence. Lovren and Corluka are either too old or too inconsistent, and they lack quality wingbacks. While Subasic has been good for many seasons, he can’t be considered a top-class glovesman. This can be a big tournament for the much sought-after Vrsaljko, as he will want to make a name for himself.
In this World Cup Croatia find themselves in the group of death alongside Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland. Every point will count to decide who qualifies for the knockout stages. It appears a safe bet that Argentina will win the group. Unlike other groups, any team among the other three have to join the South Americans. However, pure talent at their disposal can ensure Croatia’s qualification.
Dalic must hope that his troops perform to their potential, collect necessary points and make the knockouts.
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Goalkeepers: Hannes Por Halldorsson (Randers), Frederik Schram (Roskilde), Runar Alex Runarsson (Nordsjælland)
Defenders: Birkir Mar Saevarsson (Valur), Samuel Friojonsson (Valerenga), Ari Freyr Skulason (Lokeren), Horour Bjorgvin Magnusson (Bristol City), Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson (Levski Sofia), Kari Arnason (Aberdeen), Ragnar Sigurosson (Rostov), Sverrir Ingi Ingason (Rostov)
Midfielders: Arnor Ingvi Traustason (Malmo), Emil Hallfreosson (Udinese), Rurik Gislason (SV Sandhausen), Aaron Gunnarsson (Captain) (Cardiff City), Olafur Ingi Skúlason (Kardemir Karabükspor), Gylfi Sigurosson (Everton), Birkir Bjarnason (Aston Villa), Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley)
Attackers: Jon Daoi Boovarsson (Reading), Alfreo Finnbogason (FC Augsburg), Bjorn Bergmann Siguroarson (Rostov), Albert Gudmundsson (PSV Eindhoven),
Coach: Heimir Hallgrimsson
While Portugal won the Euro 2016, it was Iceland who won the hearts. They drew with the eventual champions in the group, knocked England out before coming short against France.
To qualify for this tournament Iceland topped a group consisting of Turkey, Croatia and Ukraine. During the World Cup, Icelandic thunderclap is certain to enthral fans around the world.
They have an inspiring footballing story in which the whole country came together and put their entire weight behind their side to lead them into relevance.
Iceland play a disciplined football and often park the bus against strong attacking units. They have tall, strong players who can outmuscle nearly any opposition. They have great work ethic, are menacing on set pieces and thrive on counter-attacks. The way they blew England away in Euro 2016 awed fans.
A lot of their fortunes will rest on the competent shoulders of Gylfi Sigurdsson. One of the most underrated players in the Premier League, his skill set and right foot can decide how Ireland perform this tournament. In Gudmundsson and Gunnarsson they have two physical, no-nonsense midfielders as well.
Nine Icelanders scored goals in World Cup qualifiers. This highlights their knack for scoring goals from players throughout their line-up.
Iceland come to this tournament with the third-oldest squad of any other nation. Manager Hallgrimsson will hope that their experience counts, and Iceland can get enough points and qualify from this group of death.
With tough opponents in Argentina, Croatia and Nigeria, it will be an uphill task for this Scandinavian country to qualify to knockouts.
(Tobias Klenze / Wikimedia Commons / GFDL)
Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba), Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United), Francis Uzoho (Deportivo Fabril), Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United).
Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (Bursaspor), Leon Balogun (Mainz 05), Ola Aina (Hull City), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasımpaaa), Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes), Shehu Abdullahi (Bursaspor), Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge), Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag), Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv).
Midfielders: John Obi Mikel (captain) (Tianjin TEDA), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor), John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City), Uche Henry Agbo (Standard Liege), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas), Joel Obi (Torino), Mikel Agu (Bursaspor).
Forwards: Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai), Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), Junior Lokosa (Kano Pillars), Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone).
Coach: Gernat Rohr.
Nigeria arrive in Russia with the expectations of millions of African fans on their shoulders. They had a tricky group with Algeria, Zambia and Cameroon in the African qualifiers but remained unbeaten to ensure qualification. Their performances in recent times then have restored the faith of Nigerian fans in Rohr’s management.
In November they trounced Argentina 4-2 in a friendly thanks to midfielder Alex Iwobi’s brace. A similar result will be embraced with both hands by the Nigerian fans during their St Petersburg clash.
They may be tempted to line up with a five-man midfield and two strikers on top. Captain Mikel is their best player and must combine with Iwobi, Moses, Ndidi and their strikers for the Nigerians to tick. Goalkeeping and defence might be a cause of concern for them during this World Cup.
They are the youngest squad of this tournament. While they are undoubtedly quick and energetic, Nigeria also have physically strong players.
This is their sixth appearance in the World Cup. However, they have never qualified for the knockouts from their group. They will want to accumulate maximum points in their first two matches before their 26 June clash against Argentina. Being drawn in the toughest group of the tournament, it can be another heartbreak for this talented side.
All times in AEST
| Game No. | Date | Time | Match | Venue |
| 6 | Sat 16 Jun | 11:00 PM | Argentina vs Iceland | Spartak Stadium |
| 8 | Sun 17 Jun | 5:00 AM | Croatia vs Nigeria | Kaliningrad Stadium |
| 23 | Fri 22 Jun | 4:00 AM | Argentina vs Croatia | Nizhy Novgorod Stadium |
| 25 | Sat 23 Jun | 1:00 AM | Nigeria vs Iceland | Volgograd Arena |
| 39 | Wed 27 Jun | 4:00 AM | Nigeria vs Argentina | Saint Petersburg Stadium |
| 40 | Wed 27 Jun | 4:00 AM | Iceland vs Croatia | Rostov Arena |
Likely qualifiers from this group
Argentina and Croatia
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