World Cup celebrations to be replaced by hard work
Where do all 32 teams for Russia showpiece stand?
The 32 teams are now known and the coaches and officials of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia can start preparing for their stab at showpiece success.
Here Arab News takes a look at the teams who’ll be battling it out for the World Cup trophy and what the four Arab representatives are up against. and toothless, such as in a shocking 0-0 draw at home to Luxembourg.
Argentina sneaked through by winning their last game, away to Ecuador, and inevitably it was Messi who hit a hat-trick to save his country when staring into the abyss of elimination.
Yet form can be misleading, as Spain and Brazil’s crushing losses to the Netherlands and Germany four years ago illustrated.
England won in 1966, but since then the nation that invented the sport and boasts the richest league in the world has reached just one semifinal. Gareth Southgate, the England manager, has been blooding youngsters from the successful youth teams and there is reason for optimism in England, but 2018 will likely come too soon.
According to FIFA, Mexico has the third highest number of registered footballers — behind only Brazil and Germany — among World Cup finalists, yet in 15 finals appearances they have never gone past the last eight.
With 142 million people, Russia have the biggest population of any of the finalists, but if the hosts were to get much beyond the second round it would be a shock. and Ivan Perisic, which is good, but they finished second to Iceland in their qualifying group, which is not.
Portugal have Cristiano Ronaldo, but their greatest success — winning the 2016 Euros — came despite playing without the world player of the year for three-quarters of the final.
Belgium are enjoying a golden generation, but Switzerland and Denmark have only silver and bronze ones. Poland, not such a small nation in population terms, have the prolific Robert Lewandowski, the top scorer in global qualifying with 16 goals.
Dour Sweden, former finalists, smothered Italy in a playoff but if the smell of glory draws Zlatan Ibrahimovic out of retirement, a blunt instrument would acquire a sharp edge. drew 2-2 in Stuttgart in 2006.
Panama may already have used up their miracle, scoring two minutes from the end of their qualifying campaign to beat Costa Rica, eliminate the US and qualify for their first finals.
LONDON: After Peru beat New Zealand 2-0 to secure the last place in next summer’s World Cup finals the challenge that the four Arab teams will face in Russia was clear for all to see.