It’s time to put focus on the field and not in the stands
Preview to the kick off Thursday in Moscow
World Cup 2018 may come down to what happens in the stands, and what doesn’t happen on the pitch.
The global soccer spectacle finally gets underway Thursday when Russia kicks off the tournament against Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
The buildup has been more intense than any in recent memory thanks to the multitude of controversies that have resonated out of Russia, and there are serious question marks over how the tournament will shape up.
Hooliganism and racism are slowly being filtered out of football but it is still rife at certain times in Russia, and this has been the source of great concern from governing bodies in the run-up to the tournament. But rarely does anything drastically terrible happen at these major sporting events, and the hope from everyone is that the entertainment on the field is the only thing that dominates headlines.
It is, however, unlikely that we see the sort of free-flowing, glorious attacking football that we all witnessed in Brazil back in 2014.
Pragmatism has taken hold of the international game, and each game carries such importance that it is unlikely that defensive strategy will make way for a more expansive form of play.
Teams to watch
Reigning champion Germany will always be a favourite, and the squad is one of the strongest around. The loss of veterans Phillip Lahm, Miroslav Klose and Bastian Schweinsteiger will hurt on the experience front, but the likes of Leon Goretzka and potential breakout star Timo Werner have brought new life into a team on the verge of becoming a little stale. The decision to leave the explosive Leroy Sane at home is a puzzling decision, however.
Spain is flying under the radar after two disappointing tournament showings in a row. Ridding themselves of Vicente Del Bosque’s outdated tactics was well overdue and they are looking like a much stronger, cohesive side under Julen Lopetegui. The squad has no true weaknesses but they lack the match winner that some of the other sides possess, and in tight games this could make the
difference between progression and elimination.
One such player is Neymar, who will once again take up the mantle as Brazil’s talisman. Brazil will have their 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Germany follow them through this World Cup and it should prove to be an excellent motivator. This team is resoundingly better than the one four years ago, and have arguably not had a stronger squad since their famous 2002 side. They have to go far. France should have won the Euros in 2016 but fell apart in the final, and is expected to go just as far this time around. The likes of Kylain Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann bring youthful energy, flair and excitement to France’s lineup, and they have the quality to score against anyone. They are already the favourites for Qatar 2022, but there’s no reason this team can’t do it all this summer.
Time to perform
Belgium boasts one of the strongest squads in the tournament and have the star quality necessary to go very far this summer. They are defensively strong and have match winners in Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne. Their manager, Roberto Martinez, has plenty of question marks over him but on a team-byteam basis, there is no reason why Belgium shouldn’t progress far in this tournament. They no longer have an excuse to underperform, their squad is too talented for that.
Ones to watch
Sergei Milinkovic-Savic — CM, 23, Serbia, Lazio. The Serbian midfielder could be the next huge money transfer this summer and there’s no better place than the World Cup to showcase his skills. Milinkovic-Savic will shine in a relatively underwhelming Serbian side, showcasing his lethal blend of power and skill, and will add untold millions onto his future transfer fee in the process.
Paul Pogba — CM, 25, France, Manchester United. Pogba has a point to prove this summer after a difficult season, and surrounded by a stacked lineup there is no reason why he can’t dominate at the heart of France’s midfield. If the real Pogba shows up, it might be the catalyst the push France all the way.
The group stages
We are without a legitimate ‘group of death’ this year, but Group E (Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia) and Group F (Germany, Mexico, South Korea, Sweden) represent the two groups to keep an eye out for. The chances of a major upset are greatest in these groups.
Spain-Portugal (June 15), Argentine-Croatia (June 21), and England-Belgium (June 28) represent the most eye-catching games available in the first two weeks of the competition. Put them on your calendars as mustwatch matches.
Keep an eye out for Croatia as an under-the-radar team that could surprise a few.
David Lewis is a sportswriter from Manchester, U.K., with a focus on international and European club soccer.