ENGLAND

Ranking 12=. Last time Group stage. Manager Gareth Southgate — has been shaping England in his own image since replacing Sam Allardyce in 2016. He plays a 3-4-3 system and wants the players to feel comfortable on the ball, especially playing from the back. There were a few hairy moments in qualifying, but England managed to get through unbeaten. This World Cup will be Southgate’s acid test.

They’re a bit like Arsenal – not good under pressure. Key man Harry Kane — With goalscoring returns that rival the best in the business, England must hope he maintains his fine form and performs better than at Euro 2016 when he failed to find the target and is best remembered as the side’s master corner-taker.

Rising star Trent Alexander-Arnold (right) — Southgate’s decision to pick an uncapped 19-year-old was always going to raise eyebrows but the Liverpool right-back is deserving of his chance, even if he doesn’t actually see any action in Russia. Having seen off strong competition to make that position his own at club level, Alexander-Arnold’s breakthrough season ended in the Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid.

Prospects Quarter-finals and out in all probability. Colombia or Senegal in the last-16 will be tough obstacles too. Then it could be Germany...