KURT’S QUERIES
After touching down in Moscow, Larson hits the ground with plenty on his mind
1 CAN GERMANY REPEAT?
Germany enters this World Cup — its 16th consecutive — looking to be the first side since 1962 (Brazil) to repeat as world champions. Die Mannschaft has reached the knockout stage in every edition of this competition since 1950. They’ve reached the semifinals in every World Cup since 2002. The plethora of players Germany didn’t bring to this World Cup would start for all but a handful of teams in the world. If anyone can repeat, Germany can.
2 HOW FIT IS EGYPT’S MO SALAH?
Mohamed Salah isn’t the best player in the world. But youcouldarguehewasthe best player in the world during Liverpool’s run to the Champions League final. But an untimely shoulder injury put the 25-year-old’s World Cup inclusion in doubt. Some picked the Pharaohs as pre-tournament dark horses to survive a soft Group A and potentially surprise someone in the second round. It will be a shame if the potential Ballon d’Or winner can’t take part.
3 WHERE DOES SPAIN GO FROM HERE?
It’s easy to forget La Furia Roja have underperformed since 2014, when a blowout loss to the Netherlands and a shocking loss to Chile saw the defending World Cup champs crash in the group stage of that tournament. Two years later, Spain went down to a decidedly average Italy side in the European quarterfinals. Coach Julen Lopetegui dropped a few mainstays — Pedro and Alvaro Morata — in favour of new blood in an effort to restore Spain back to the glory it enjoyed earlier this decade.
4 CAN FRANCE REACH ANOTHER FINAL?
The fairytale was written two years ago. Les Bleus were expected to top Portugal in a European final at Stade de France. When Cristiano Ronaldo limped off midway through the first half most expected the hosts to go on and win by multiple goals. It’s rare to reach an international final. It’s even more rare to play one in front of home supporters. They’ll want to make amends for that loss. The bad news for France? They might need to get through Argentina, Portugal and Brazil for a chance to raise a trophy.
5 WHICH YOUNG PLAYER BREAKS OUT?
Three players have claimed FIFA’s Best Young Player Award since the first honour was handed out in 2006. Lukas Podolski (Germany, 2006), Thomas Muller (Germany, 2010) and Paul Pogba (France, 2014) have earned the award. Although the honour certainly depends on minutes played, look for Kylian Mbappe (France), Gabriel Jesus (Brazil), Marcus Rashford (England) and Ousmane Dembele (France) to compete for the award.
6 WILL YOU MISS THE 32-TEAM TOURNAMENT?
This could be the penultimate World Cup before FIFA expands the event to 48 teams in 2026. The new format will divide nations into 16 groups of three, from which two advance to the knockout phase (Round of 32). The move has some pundits up in arms over fears the competition will be watered down to the point it’s unwatchable. My response: There are plenty of watchable teams that didn’t qualify for Russia 2018.
7 HOW DOES RONALDO GO OUT?
Perhaps Cristiano Ronaldo wants to feature in a fifth World Cup in 2022. Perhaps Portugal won’t qualify. So, we’ll assume this could be the curtain call for one of the best players the world has seen. Ronaldo was brilliant at the 2016 European Championship following a disappointing World Cup. You and I both know Portugal can’t win this tournament. Ronaldo, though, thinks he can and should win everything. The great players always do.
8 WHO IS THIS YEAR’S ICELAND?
It won’t be Iceland. Not in a group containing Argentina, Croatia and Nigeria. And Wales isn’t here. So, which underdog story will we be talking about for years to come? Given how balanced the groups are this year I can’t see anyone going on an unexpected run. If I had to guess, though, I’d take Russia to get out of its group and potentially surprise someone in the Round of 16. Can’t see any other quarterfinalists surprising me.
9 WILL BRAZIL’S BALANCED APPROACH WORK?
The Selecao were woefully unbalanced entering a 2014 semifinal that saw Germany embarrass them in Belo Horizonte. The five-time champs brought a far more sensible squad to Russia, one that includes a group of defensive-minded midfielders to support a core attacking group that might be the best in the tournament. That has Brazil as the favourites to rebound and claim another world title.
10 CAN MEXICO FINALLY EXCEED EXPECTATIONS
We expect El Tri to reach the knockout phase — something they’ve accomplished in every World Cup since 1994. But Mexico’s golden generation of players who claimed the 2012 Olympic gold medal are on their last legs after coming up short four years ago in Brazil. Unfortunately for Canada’s CONCACAF brethren, El Tri appears to be on a collision course with Brazil in the Round of 16. That said, they’ve had variable success against the Selecao in the past.
11 HOW WILL VIDEO REVIEW BE RECEIVED?
For the first time in history, every World Cup fixture will be overseen by a “video assistant referee” (VAR), a fifth official who reviews four key decisions — goals, offside, penalty kick decisions and mistaken identity — and remains in radio contact with the referees on the field. I support it. If you don’t, then I better not hear or see you complaining after your team
gets screwed in this tournament. It’s time for soccer to catch up with what other sports have been doing for years.
12 WILL SWEDEN HAVE ZLATAN REGRET?
Swedish football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic could have been coaxed out of international retirement. But Sweden didn’t want him after qualifying for this World Cup without his services. Ibrahimovic blamed Swedish media for pressuring the Scandinavian federation to leave him at home. The Swedes don’t have an abundance of offensive quality in their side. They might regret leaving the best player they’ve known with the L.A. Galaxy.
13 WILL BOTH AFC AND CAF GET SKUNKED?
The Asian and African confederations sent 10 teams to Russia. There’s a good chance none of them see the knockout phase. In a group with Germany, Mexico and Sweden, South Korea might be AFC’s best chance at a Round of 16 berth. While CAF brings loads of talent to another World Cup, all five of the African qualifiers are no better than the third best team in each of their respective groups. Keep in mind only one CAF side (Ghana, 2010) has advanced from the group stage since 2002.
14 WILL THE HOSTS DO PUTIN PROUD?
The Russians are expected to open this World Cup with a resounding win over lowly Saudi Arabia, a side that won’t play more than three games at this tournament. The hosts need three points in Thursday’s Group A opener if they’re to secure passage to the Round of 16 following an embarrassing display in the 2016 European Championship. The teams involved might not be the sexiest, but there are some games we know are do-or-die for the teams involved. This is Russia’s do-or-die moment.
15 IS ICELAND REALLY THAT GOOD?
The first-time qualifiers received endless praise following a decent showing at the 2016 European Championship. Never mind the fact they were crushed 5-2 by France in a one-sided quarterfinal. That’s not to say Iceland shouldn’t be proud of what they’ve accomplished, but can we please stop acting like Iceland is anything more than a middling UEFA side?
16 WILL MLS REFS AVOID CONTROVERSY?
Mark Geiger and Jair Marrufo — two of the better referees in Major League Soccer — join four other CONCACAF referees chosen to officiate in Russia. Geiger was excellent in Brazil, where he was rewarded with a Round of 16 whistle. Assistant referee Joe Fletcher, who often runs the sidelines at BMO Field, is Canada’s only representative. Also running the line in Russia are Americans Frank Anderson and Corey Rockwell. Video review should go a long way in keeping referees out of the spotlight. That said, keep an eye on these representatives from Major League Soccer.
17 WILL MLS BE REPRESENTED WELL?
Eighteen MLSers joined their respective national teams ahead of this summer’s tournament. Panama (6), Costa Rica (6), Mexico (3), Peru (2) and Sweden (1) called up players currently competing across North America. Vancouver centreback Kendall Waston is the only World Cup participant who features in Canada. My guess is we don’t hear good things about most of these players during this summer’s tournament. However, Peru’s Yoshimar Yotun and Los Angeles FC’s Carlos Vela are in good form.
18 WHAT WILL LUIS SUAREZ DO?
He intentionally batted what might have been a game-winning goal for Ghana in 2010. He bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini four years later. If we know one thing about Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, it’s that he’s not going to go quietly. If he’s not scoring, he’s agitating someone. The Barcelona striker is the villain every tournament needs.
19 ARE YOU CHEERING FOR MESSI?
Lionel Messi is responsible for guiding Argentina to four Copa America and World Cup finals. He has lost all of them. You’ll recall Messi “retired” from international soccer following a devastating loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa Centenario final. He came out of “retirement” to help Argentina narrowly qualify for another World Cup. Messi enters this tournament as the best player in the world — and someone most onlookers would like to see win a major international trophy.
20 SHOULD PAOLO GUERRERO BE HERE?
Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero wasn’t supposed to be at this World Cup after testing positive for cocaine metabolites last December following a World Cup qualifier. But Guerrero’s 12-month ban was temporarily suspended after a Swiss court bizarrely ruled further consideration should be given to the merits of Guerrero’s ban. So despite failing a drug test during a FIFA competition, Peru will have its best player throughout the tournament. Does that make sense?